A Glossy Ibis at Hockwold Washes

5th July 2025

A Glossy Ibis was reported from Hockwold Washes at Lakenheath Fen on the 1st July so time for a visit with the possibility of some Bittern flights. In the event the reserve was fairly dead on the bird front, which would explain the near empty car park, with just two distant views of  Marsh Harriers, a single Hobby and not a Bittern in sight. However, by way of compensation there were good stands of Purple Loosestrife and a single spike of Marsh Woundwort, a plant I have seldom seen in Hertfordshire.

There were also plenty of Red Admirals and Gatekeepers, and just a single Large Skipper

The two dragonfly species that were numerous today were Ruddy Darters and Black-tailed Skimmers. There were plenty of male Ruddys around but were all unusually very flighty, so just this one photo of a female.

At the Mere Hide there were virtually no dragonflies apart from the usual Four-spotted Chasers.

Today the Hogweed heads were alive with insects with up to 10 on each head primarily, in order of appearance, Marmalade Fly, Soldier Beetle and Solitary Wasp Ectemnius sp.

So now on to Hockwold Washes which was the centre of all the action today. A male Kestrel was hunting over the pool but would regularly take a rest in the poplars behind the river bank.

Out on the pool itself four Oystercatchers were disturbing the peace with their raucous calls and including some flight action.

And then the unexpected. A flock of 17 Black-tailed Godwits flew in and performed a few laps of the pool before landing.

Once on the ground they had a quick look round to ensure it was safe before feeding.

So on to the star of the show, the Glossy Ibis. The ibis had been commuting between The Wash and Hockwold, but luckily when we arrived at Hockwold it was already present and feeding on the far muddy margin.

But then after a few minutes it took to the air and flew back to The Wash.

Wow, that was lucky, so now on to Cavenham Heath,

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

A Mid-summer Visit to Rainham Marshes

27th June 2025

Time for a quick visit to Rainham Marshes before the heat-wave kicks in, starting with the usual breakfast pit-stop in the Purfleet Hide. Fairly quiet as would be expected at this time of the year but you can always rely on the Little Egret to put on a show.

This, however, was bettered by the Heron which virtually stuck its head through the window.

The rest of the cast was a single Shelduck and a male Wigeon, one of a pair that for whatever reason has spent the summer here.

At the MDZ were just an adult and juvenile Little Grebe and a rather overgrown Kingfisher bank.

The only other bird of note today was a rather tatty Peregrine Falcon that was soaring over the Ken Barrett Hide.

Even on quiet days you can usually find a Marsh Frog.

Flowers were fairly well represented with swathes of Goat Rue along the paths. Goat Rue is a very invasive plant and can easily take over a reserve if not controlled. You certainly wouldn't want it out on the marsh.

Other flowers seen were Lesser Bindweed, Mallow, Creeping Cinquefoil and Birds-foot Trefoil.

Dragonflies were surprisingly few and far between with just Blue-tailed Damselfy and Small Red-eyed Damselfly photographed.

Butterflies faired a little better with Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Peacock and Red Admiral.

And have you ever wondered how the Comma butterfly got its name? Well here is a photo of the underwing showing the white comma.

And also my first Cinnabar Moth caterpillars of the year feeding on their food plant Ragwort.

And nice to finish off the day with a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and Thick-legged Flower Beetle

But the memory I shall take away today is the large shoals of Rudd present in all of the ditches. I have seen them here before but today broke all records.