Barking Outfall November 20th

The first Tufted Ducks have arrived, only 3, but these are the first for this 2nd winter period, numbers will steadily build as the weather gets colder, especially when they get frozen out of other areas.

Black Tailed Godwit

 Located a small flock of 13 Black Tailed Godwits feeding on the mud at dawn, although present in good numbers a couple of miles down river, they rarely come up beyond Barking Bay.                                    

Black Tailed Godwits sitting on the river, unusual sight

 With a rising tide everything was feeding manically, it also bunched waders and wildfowl and gave me a chance for some good accurate counts. Totals seen were-

Redshank – 207, good numbers this early in the winter

Curlew – 1

Green Sandpiper – 1 flyover calling

Common Sandpiper – 1 on the foreshore rocks

Teal – 410 – Outfall and the Creek

Mallard – 58 Thames Water Outlet

Shelduck – 63 Outfall and foreshore

Shoveler – 31 Outfall

Additionally a Chiffchaff was heard, 130 Linnets feeding in the Sewage works, 2 Rock pipits seen on the foreshore and good numbers of both Pied and Grey Wagtails in the Sewage works.

Grey Heron waiting for a meal, not only Fish, Frogs and Voles but small Birds also