KGV first

Popped over the reservoir with Jim this morning with Dad opting out due to a bit of man flu.

As we got up the slope at 7.30am Ian L tells us we've just missed a Common Tern which would have been a year tick. A Cormorant posed for a picture on the jetty and a pair of Osyercatchers were our own prizes on south basin. At the causeway we picked out a couple of White Wagtails and then Jim found a Curlew on the causeway which I think is a first for me at the KGV and a first in the patch I call Lee Valley (the reservoir to Holyfield lake) I certainly can't remember seeing one before and my lists back that up so it becomes bird 163 for the patch.

Common Sandpipers

Cormorant

Slav Grebe

A quick chat with Neville before we headed on down North Basin where we found the Slav Grebe now in almost full summer plumage then a couple of Swallows with the Sand Martins before spotting a couple of Common Sandipers on the bank. A drake Scaup remains as do a few Goldeneye and we also saw Red Kites, Buzzard and nesting Raven to add to the day and Jim had a Wheatear on the farm fields too which I missed along with a single Sandwich Tern that Neville had on south basin whilst we were a mile or so away on the north basin.

year list now 178

 PS. Also had a couple of Wheatear at Rainham in the week 

Wheatear at Rainham

Blackcap