1:30pm. Weather: dull, breezy, cold.
A free weekend allowed me to take Kim to the LWC for the first time. Closer than Rainham but not with the same variety of species, nonetheless a good day out.
Entrance Area:
Great Spotted Woodpecker - heard from the trees adjacent to the carpark.
Magpie, Crow, Starling, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck.
Goldfinch, Blackbird, Ring-Necked Parakeet.
Wildside:
Egyptian Goose - a pair over & away from the reserve.
Greenfinch, Wren (heard), Cormorant (over).
Hide:
Grey Heron, Teal, Little Grebe, Great-Crested Grebe.
Black-Headed Gull, Gadwall, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Shoveler, Common Gull.
Wildside:
Green Woodpecker, Robin, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Jackdaw, Mute Swan.
Towards Peacock Tower:
Bittern - along the path we passed a couple of obliging birders who pointed out its whereabouts & when we arrived at the viewing place another birder helped us point in the right direction. Although only a few reedstems from the water's edge the amazingly cryptic plumage still meant that it was perfectly well-concealed, just a suggestion of density with the naked eye & difficult to see even with a 'scope, though I could pick out the detailed plumage & was impressed with its almost russet & dark upper head & neck. It then skulked back & forth before the cold persuaded us to move on.
Water Rail - also heard from the reedbeds nearby.
Peacock Tower:
Wigeon - feeding on a grassy bank.
Woodpigeon, Lapwing, Herring Gull (1st winter).
36 species.
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