A Few Surprises At Lemsford Springs

16th August 2026

A couple of hours to spare so off to Lemsford Springs to see if any of the celebrities like the Fox, Stoat, Kingfisher or Red Kite were going to put in an appearance. No luck there, although the Kingfisher did put in an appearance for three seconds but then saw my lens and was off. Don't have this problem with the Kingfishers at Rye Meads as they seem to think the lenses grow on the hide and don't take any notice.

Not much out of the ordinary to report, just the usual suspects but no photos of the Little Egret as it was staying down the other end while the local Heron was digesting its meal in the bare tree opposite.

Always a couple of Grey Wagtails about and lots of preening activity today.

Stock Doves are regular here but only stay a few seconds to get a drink.

And of course the site specialty the Green Sandpiper.

Note how this one is eyeing up a potential threat overhead.

And then came the inevitable bath. Their technique is to fly a short distance erratically and then plunge into the water to get those feathers wet.

And then the compulsory wing flap to dry the wings.

But the rest of the day was a bit of a surprise. I don't usually come to Lemsford at this time of year, mainly in the winter months, As a result I saw no less than five species of bird that I wouldn't normally even think of seeing here. The first was a flock of 20+ Linnets which were coming down to drink every 20 minutes or so as their normal puddles and ponds out on the fields had dried up,

The second was a male Blackcap which was showing well in the large Sallow on the island opposite the first hide.

And then in the same tree a Lesser Whitethroat.

And then again in the same tree, and the biggest surprise of all, a cracking Spotted Flctacher.

And can it get any better? Well yes. At that point I heard a call which I am very familiar with but never associated with Lemsford............a Yellow Wagtail. I fact when I looked round no less than five had flown in and were feeding right in front of the hide!!!

Well, I won't be forgetting that day in a hurry!!!!

A Mid-August Visit To Rainham Marshes

11th August 2026

A few reports now coming through of Wheatears and waders on Autumn migration so time to try my luck. No Wheatears along the river wall, so off on a circuit to check out the hides. There was a reasonable supporting cast with Goldfinches coming down to drink and both Pied Wagtails and Black-headed Gulls feeding on the drying mud.

These top two are juvenile Pied Wagtails..............

.......................and this is an adult female with a grey mantle.

This is a juvenile Black-headed Gull.

Plenty of returning Teal now and spending their time sifting the mud in the shallows, but why are they all females? Well the males are all now in eclipse plumage and look like females, and it will be a couple of months before they moult back to their male plumage.

These two are part of the Rainham Synchronised Sifting Display Team.

Probably the biggest surprise of the day was the appearance of a juvenile Cuckoo which did a couple of laps.....................

..........................before landing on top of a bush right in front of the hide. Why can't they all be this cooperative?

No Spoonbills, Great White Egrets or White Stork today, so the water birds were represented by Little Egrets and Herons.

So now on to the seven specis of wader present. Of course there were a few of the usual suspects like this Lapwing.................

.................but what was surprising today was the total absence of Redshanks apart from a couple of juveniles looking very speckly.

Also very few Avocets today apart from a few well-grown juveniles which were good to see.

Only four Curlews today and this one was pretending to be asleep, but keeping his eye on me.

Good to see so many Black-tailed Godwits around today, sixty in fact, one of the largest flocks I have seen here.

This one was changing position and flew very close to this Common Tern, but the tern didn't seem that bothered.

And finally the sandpipers, Common and Green. There were couple of Common Sandpipers around and I managed to get some shots, albeit a bit distant.

This one had just pulled a large grub out of the water and I have no idea what it is.

And finally the Green Sandpipers of which there were at least four, and thankfully much closer, sometimes down to just 8 yards.

And here is the Green Sandpiper Synchronised Walking Display Team.

Well, what a fantastic visit to one of my favourite reserves.

Also good to have a long chat with Dennis and Debbie.