Sunday November 27th
Following on from the boat survey on November 14th, another survey was organized, this one land based to cover as many roosts as possible, basically from East India Dock Basin to West Thurrock Marshes. Many of my mates gave up their spare time on Sunday and for this they have my thanks, without them none of these counts would be possible.
The idea of the boat survey on the 14th was to identify any new roosts, also photograph any derelict jetties that could be enhanced for the benefit of wildlife; this survey was to provide far more accurate counts than those given by me and Paul on the boat survey. Additionally to this, this survey coincided with the highest tide of November so I was hopeful of some good results. It also provided direct comparison data to the 2010 survey undertaken on December 19th, albeit 3 weeks earlier.
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| A derelict disused Jetty, at the moment long grass, shingled out it could provide not only roost but breeding habitat |
The results were pretty impressive and shows the significance of the Inner Thames as a wintering area for Waders, especially Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit and Dunlin. Black Tailed Godwit for example shows, in the latest 2008 Essex Bird Report, WeBS totals of 610 for the Outer Thames in November; on this survey we reached a splendid total of 583 in the Inner Thames. As you can see not a lot of difference, what makes it far more impressive is that the outer Thames is a larger section of river and has more and wider mud flats available at low tide.
On this Survey such was the height of the tide it flooded out some roosts, Fords for one, also the new
roost at Erith Yacht Club was empty, it seems many of the Redshank headed for Crossness and Rainham RSPB.
Results - roosts
2011 2010
Barking Outfall
Black Tailed Godwit – 10 Common Sandpiper - 2
Curlew – 2 Curlew - 2
Dunlin – 2 Grey Plover - 1
Redshank – 87 Redshank – 182
Barking Bay
Curlew – 6
Lapwing – 46
Crossness
Black Tailed Godwit – 19 Black Tailed Godwit - 100
Dunlin – 940 Grey Plover - 3
Lapwing – 103 Lapwing - 40
Redshank – 420
East India Dock Basin
Common Sandpiper – 5 Snipe - 16
Redshank – 12 Common Sandpiper - 1
Jack Snipe – 1
Redshank - 8
Fords
Common Sandpiper – 1 Black Tailed Godwit - 93
Snipe - 3
Curlew - 8
Lapwing – 179
Redshank – 303
Rainham RSPB
Black Tailed Godwit – 550 Snipe - 16
Curlew – 1 Curlew - 4
Dunlin – 400 Dunlin - 137
Golden Plover – 80-100 Grey Plover - 1
Lapwing – 620 Lapwing - 14
Redshank – 435 Redshank – 85
Stone Barges
Black Tailed Godwit – 4 Black Tailed Godwit - 280
Dunlin – 5 Common Sandpiper - 1
Lapwing – 2 Snipe - 14
Redshank – 32 Dunlin -220
Golden Plover – 1
Grey Plover – 2
Jack Snipe – 2
Lapwing – 12
Redshank – 90
West Thurrock
Snipe – 4 Avocet - 59
Curlew – 25 Bar Tailed Godwit - 1
Dunlin – 100 Black Tailed Godwit - 115
Redshank – 350 Snipe - 10
Oystercatcher – 8 Curlew – 25
Dunlin – 850
Grey Plover – 5
Lapwing - 170
Redshank - 220
Totals
2011 2010
Avocet - 0 59
Bar Tailed Godwit - 0 1
Black Tailed Godwit - 583 588
Common Sandpiper 6 4
Curlew 34 39
Dunlin 1447 1207
olden Plover 80 – 100 1
Grey Plover 0 12
Jack Snipe 0 3
Lapwing 771 415
Oystercatcher 8 0
Redshank 1336 888
Snipe 4 59
Some of the results, like Redshank are hard to understand, a massive increase this year and as yet no cold weather movement up the Thames, this time last year it was very cold and if I remember correctly there was snow around. It will be interesting to see what the 2nd winter period brings in.
Observers
Dave Bradnum
Dave Lambert
Dave Morrison
Gary James
Martin Redfern
Nick Tanner
Paul Hawkins
Steve Bacon
Shaun Harvey
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