Rainham Marshes August 18th

Day off from work, so visited in the very slim hope that yesterdays White Winged Black Tern may have returned after its encounter with the local Peregrine.As expected this proved negative but not having walked the reserve for a few weeks now, it was a very enjoyable walk.
I missed out on the Spotted Flycather that has been seen recently, and also the Goldcrest that is in with the Long Tailed Tit flock in the cordite are, both are year ticks.LastWinter, on the reserve, Goldcrest were non existant, you were more likely to see a Firecrest, this was also the case on my other patch, Ingrebourne Valley.
Ended the walk with a good assortment of species along with some migrants.
Oystercatcher - 6 in Aveley Bay
Avocet - single Bay
Ruff - 2 on Aveley Pools
Black Tailed Godwits - 9 pools
Ringed Plover - 10 pools
Redshank - 4 pools
Dunlin - 8 pools
Hobby - 2 overhead hawking
Sparrowhawk - female
Wheatear - 3 reserve
Whinchat - 1 reserve
Yellow Wagtail - 2 in with the cattle
Also caught up with the first Wasp Spider of the year for me, looked like it had caught a Grasshopper.

Hobby hunting Dragonflies

Wasp Spider with Grasshopper