Rainham Marshes, RSPB, on a Very Quiet Day

I stopped off at Rainham Marshes on the way back from Kent - beautiful sunny day but very little about in the way of birds - hoping to see the firecrest (or even goldcrests) but no luck. Anyway, here a record of what I did see for the diary: juvenile Chiffchaff, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Teal, Snipe and Ruff.

Greenwich Skyline 65 Years Later

Comparison of the skyline as seen from Greenwich Park in 1953 and yesterday. The park itself is little changed except for fences to stop kids rolling down the hill (our favourite game as children)

Oxleas Wood, Shooters Hill, South London

As I was south of the Thames, I decided to spend a day visiting some of my childhood haunts, starting with Shooters Hill. Oxleas Wood is one of the few remaining areas of ancient deciduous forest in southeast London. Some parts date back over 8,000 years to the end of the last Ice Age.  It is also home to Severndroog Castle, a folly built to commemorate Commodore Sir William James who, in April 1755, attacked and destroyed the island fortress of Suvarnadurg  on the western coast of India. James died in 1783 and the castle was built as a memorial to him by his widow, Lady James of Eltham. From its elevated position, it offers views across London, with features in seven different counties visible on a clear day.

There were lots of Green Parakeets in the woods.

Elmey Marshes, Isle of Sheppey

I stopped for a couple of hours on the Isle of Sheppey on my way to give a talk at Ashford PS. Mainly spent the time bird watching but first a few infrared landscapes followed by some of the birds.

Welney Birds on Beautiful Crisp morning

The water levels are still fairly low at Welney Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve so abundant waders, mainly Black-tailed Godwits and dabbling ducks (Widgeon) in front of the main hide. A very obliging Kestrel hunted in front of the hide for a time. From the Lyle hide everything was pretty distant but good to see Great White Egret, Curlew, pair of Marsh Harriers, Dunlin and Stonechat. Whooper Swans in evidence but not much flying in the very strong winds.