The good old days of surveying the Marshes in winter with Paul are now pretty distant, but the lure and magic of the landscape will always be there.
Entering along the track, it was quite obvious that it was going to be a windy morning, however despite this good numbers of Corn Bunting were still singing, by the time I had got to the Barn I had recorded 7, 3 of which were singing.
2 Marsh Harriers were also seen along the track along with countless Skylark and a few Mipits, however the surprise came when I drove past the Barn, 3 Barn Owls exited. I would expect these were inside sheltering from the strong wind, remarkably 2 started to hunt along the Berm and the 3rd relocated nearby.
I moved off and sure enough eventually 2 of the Barnies went back to the Barn, unusual to see them in the Barn, over the years they have rarely used it, Little Owls yes but not Barnies.
Moving on to the Pools produced 11 Black Tailed Godwits and a few Lapwing but no other waders, I then moved onto the mudflats.
Plenty of waders here with 20+ Curlew, around 120 Black Tailed Godwit, probably 300 Avocet and at least 4 Whimbrel scattered along the Thames shoreline.
Dragons were everywhere as were Butterflies, Painted Lady and Marbled White being the pick of the bunch, but the best Butterfly came on leaving. On an area near the woodland, out of the wind on a section of bushes near the ditch with lots of flowers, a Silver Washed Fritillary was buzzing around. A first for site for me and an unusual Butterfly to see in this area, especially as it wasn’t in large woodland.
As usual the Marshes and its wildlife never disappoints.
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