More Kingfishers at Rye Meads

19th March 2026

After a disappointing last two years the Kingfishers are back at Rye Meads and on my last visit were alternating between the Kingfisher banks at the Draper and Kingfisher Hides. Now they seem to be concentrating on the Kingfisher Hide, although to confuse the issue a third Kingfisher has been seen (all three seen together) and even a report of a fourth bird but as far as I am aware not confirmed.

Both the birds at the Kingfisher Hide are ringed on the right leg, but one of the new birds is reported to be ringed on the left leg. The uncertainty here is that all birds ringed by the Rye Meads Ringing Group are ringed on the right leg so if it is ringed on the left leg it would have been ringed on another site. A photo of the left-ringed bird would be useful.

Here are some shots of the male.

And the female with that striking orange on the lower mandible.

And some together.

No idea what is going on here!!!

Then came a food pass from the male to the female.

And now for some action shots. This one nearly got away!!

Ready, steady..............go!!!!!

.................and bring me back a fish!!!!!!!!

An amazing couple of hours.

St Albans Cathedral Peregrine Falcons Update

19th March 2026

Not much activity when I first arrived with the male sitting on his favourite overflow pipe on the tower. No sign of the female.

The male then flew off and was not seen again before I left.

Shortly after the female flew in and perched on top of the cross. Obviously a good view-point for her but partially hidden for photographs. They can't sit right on top because the lightning conductor is in the way!!

What is amazing is that while all this was going on a rather mis-guided Stock Dove was walking around by the picnic tables being watched by the Peregrines!!

The Peregrines have been seen mating in the last few days and the female has been visiting the nest tray on the roof and has created a small depression at this end of the tray where the eggs will be laid.

To view the live cam on the nest go to https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/peregrine-live-cam

and...................................................WATCH THIS SPACE

A Historic Moment at Rainham Marshes

18th March 2026

A lovely spring day and as I stepped from the car I could immediately hear a singing Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs so hopefully a good omen, but unfortunately nothing after that. I started by walking along the sea wall and despite the lack of bird song there were signs of spring everywhere like this Peacock butterfly. There were also many Brimstones but all too busy to settle.

There was also a good selection of wild flowers.

Alexanders

Red Dead-nettle

Storksbill

Sweet Violet

Dandelion

There was a nectaring bee on the Dandelion which I suspect may be a mining bee but will have to wait until the experts come along.

As I have said in previous posts this winter there has been a bumper crop of Hawthorn berries. However, I suspect there has also been a bumper crop in Scandinavia as the winter thrushes did not start arriving until January and then in onlysmall numbers, and here we are in March with not a single berry eaten!!

The bushes were very quiet apart from a few Linnets which were starting to pair up.

Aveley Bay was also quiet despite a rising tide with just a single Curlew near the shore.

So now on to the Purfleet Hide to photograph the usual suspects in perfect light. First up was this Heron which was feeding quite close in.

And today a Lapwing was strutting its stuff right outside the window. Just look at that kaleidoscope of colours!!!

And the Shovelers and Pintails looking resplendent in their best gear.

But my favourite today was this rather cute female Pochard.

So what about the historic moment? Well I was making my way back up the ramp to the visitor centre when I heard a rather interesting aircraft engine. I turned round and there in the distance was a red biplane.

I looked up the registration number G-ACDC and was amazed at what I read. It was first registered in 1933 and was only the 3rd Tiger Moth ever built. It entered service with the RAF as BB726 during World War II and was restored in 1953. 

This was the oldest Tiger Moth still flying but that didn't count for much in the 1960s so it was flown in crazy flying displays and ultimately came to grief at Rochester in Kent on the 8th September 1963. All four wings had to be replaced and the forward fuselage rebuilt. That was a wake-up call and was treated more gently afterwards and here it is still airworthy in 2026.

So now not so much the oldest Tiger Moth flying because of all its replacement parts, but more like Trigger's Broom!!!!!