Beckton Sewage Works

November 20th



With good weather and sunshine promised, albeit absolutely freezing at dawn, (-1) I headed straight down to the Barrier on arrival.

Checking out the mudflats showed the first wintering Redshank flock present, 18 birds, no doubt colder weather has pushed them upriver to the Barrier for the winter.
No Black Tailed Godwit present anywhere, but 2 Curlew were on the mudflats, Duck numbers have also increased no end with the cold stuff.

Elsewhere wintering Chiffchaff numbers are building with double figures present now, the sewage works as we know a major wintering ground for this species.

In regard to Raptors, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Kestrel were all seen, just a fleeting glance of Sparrowhawk which is usually the norm of this ambush hunter, unless aloft.
I managed to get a relatively close view of the Common Buzzard hunting from a bush, certainly one of the best views I have had at the Sewage Works, they are usually unapproachable.

The male Kestrel was hunting the Pied Wagtails also on the Sewage Works, however no sign of the female.

I finished the morning on 46 species, the year list stands at 95 so just 5 more needed to reach the annual target.