Tuesday 24 January 2017

Spring came Early

A Super-Sunny and Warm Day; very Spring-Like if not almost Summery!

Not long now until Spring.

Arriving in the Norman Road Field on the little of what remains of the Erith Marshes, we almost immediately spotted a couple of Stonechats.

Annoyingly, and for reasons best known to themselves, the current crop of Birds Over-Wintering on the Erith Marshes are inclined to keep their distance viz.


unlike during previous years when it has been possible to get quite close to them. We also chanced upon a couple of Reed Buntings and a handful of Goldfinches.

Up by the Outfall of the Crossness Sewage Works there were, as is usual at this time of year, Ducks Galore viz. Gadwalls, Mallards, Shelducks, Shovelers, Teals and Wigeons beside or swimming in the Thames:







A White-Haired Cormorant viz.


reminded us of the Verse:

'You are old, Father William,' the young man said,
'And your hair it has turned very white' &c.

The ever-present Moorhens were also very much in evidence viz.


There were a number of Waders present viz. Black-Tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, Dunlins, Lapwings, Redshanks and Snipes:





And a Grey Wagtail was pottering about too viz.


A Footnote: just before setting off for home we noticed, Tahilla, passing by, heading downstream. We wondered if it was the Dunkirk Small Ship of the same name but on further investigation cannot be sure either way:


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