Tuesday 5 November 2024

Wheatear, Black-necked Grebes and other birds at Walthamstow Wetlands on 9th October 2024

An adult Great Crested Grebe was lurking around the edge of a reservoir with three juveniles when I first arrived at the Wetlands




An Egyptian goose walked up the bank at the edge of a reservoir

I nearly missed this well-disguised Grey Wagtail

I had hoped to see a Northern Wheatear and, indeed, I luckily managed to see a female perching at the edge of Lockwood.  She stayed for a few minutes, allowing a few photographs, before she disappeared.

A pair of Gadwalls swam across the reservoir

Three Black-necked Grebes appeared in the distance

Little Egret at the edge of a reservoir with the railway line and tall buildings in the background

A pair of synchronised Great Crested Grebes

Three Northern Shovelers were hanging around


A group of Tufted ducks swam across the reservoir

Two Little Egrets were wading around at the edge of a reservoir



A pair of Egyptian geese were on the grassy bank

A fox was slowly limping along a grassy path

A Robin was sitting on a post near the Copper Mill stream

Views of London buildings from Lockwood reservoir


Closer views of the Black-necked Grebes on a very dull day!


The view from the far end of Lockwood reservoir

Three Black-necked Grebes in the centre of the reservoir!


Monday 4 November 2024

Birds, including a Great White Egret, at Rainham Marshes on 7th October 2024

I had heard that a Great White Egret had been seen at Rainham Marshes, so I went there in early October with the hope of being able to see it and was rewarded by this lovely Great Egret wading around in front of the Purfleet Hide as soon as I had arrived there.  It did not stay long and flew off into the far distance.


Male Teal swimming in the lagoon

and a female Northern Shoveler duck

Two distant Long-tailed Tits in the woodland

Plenty of Sloe berries in the woodland

White butterfly on a Buddleia in the Cordite Store

Red berries along the woodland walk


Four Gadwall drakes following a female

Lapwings in the lagoon in front of the Purfleet hide

View from the Purfleet hide

Plenty of Black-tailed Godwits were lined up along one of the spits of land in the lagoon

Pair of Gadwalls

Some Avocets had just flown in from the Thames and came down near a flotilla of Canada geese


The Avocets joined up with the Godwits

Wandering Lapwing

Black-tailed Godwit and female Northern Shoveler

Lapwing stretching out its rather large wings

Kingfisher perching on a distant post

Black-tailed Godwit wandering around right in front of the Purfleet hide window

Another view from the window of the Purfleet hide

Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings just before I went home after a great day at Rainham