11th March 2011
Brickfields LNR
Out and about this morning around the reserve, about 10:00am it was, lazy birder,  I'll have to get over there earlier, because it was quiet this morning and there was not much about, except the usual birds. The Sparrowhawk was about though, flying over Frank's Wood. You know I saw a Male Mallard all on his own, swimming around on Monday the 7th, well it looks like he has now a lady friend, as a female Mallard has joined him.....I'm not the one for gossip, but spring is in the air I feel !
What I have done this morning was to hang up a fat ball opposite the two wooden seat's within the wooded area just behind the children play area. I'll pop over there tomorrow and see how much is left, if any.
Bye for now.

                  Male Mallard                                            Female Mallard

9th March 2011
Visited Rainham Marsh & Belhus Woods CP
Rainham Marsh in the morning for my Wednesday walk as per usual. I was hoping to see some Goldeneye Ducks, three were sighted on Monday 7th, but they were not seen yesterday and we did not see them today....Shame. But there was plenty to see, Pintail, Gadwall, Ruff, Black-Tail Godwit, Golden Plover, Dunlin and disapperaing faster then a speeding bullet, a Water Rail. They are a bit shy, just like me (cough) So if they see a group approaching they dive for cover, just like me, but only if I owe them money!  Along the river front there were a couple of Rock Pipits & Water Pipits. I'm glad there were some experts with me, as they are quite hard to tell apart ( The Rock Pipit is the darker of the two, see pict. ). Oh nearly forgot, Spring is just around the corner, I saw and heard at least four Skylarks, always reminds me of warm Summer days, do you remember them !
If  that was not enough, on my way home I stopped off at Belhus Woods CP  as I saw a few Fieldfares flying as I was driving along in that direction. Well I was right as I counted about 40 in an open field, it's still winter then !  I also saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker as well as the Tits ( Great,Blue and Long tailed, but not the Marsh tits, that I know  are there )  Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Late home and a slapped wrist awaiting, sorry dear , any tea in the pot, guess what...........
Bye for now.
                 Water Pipit                                             Rock Pipit

7th March 2011 
 A little stroll around the reserve, just after lunch, I thought I’ll count the House Sparrows, there's excitement for you! There has been a huge decline in this once most common bird,  how many do you see in the streets now?
Observations: Well, I estimated 100+ House Sparrows , in and around the bushes and hedges near the Car Park. It soon livened up when at 1:20pm a lively  Sparrowhawk ( see pict.)  went flying though the Car Park looking for it’s lunch !  Well it went hungry for a little bit longer, because it was unsuccessful in catching anything.
Other birds sightings : 3 Green Woodpeckers, they were very noisy today with that ‘Laughing call’. There were  also Great tit, Blue tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Wren and Jay. All these birds were seen just sitting down on one of the benches inside the wooded area for 10-15 minutes, and last if not least, on my way home, a lovely Mallard Duck ( male) swimming around in the newly cleared pond all on his own...ah Bless !
Bye for now  
                                             Sparrowhawk  flying & perched.

4th March 2011
Altered the website a bit and now there are seperate  pages for the Reserves history, Photographs and a List of Bird sightings.
The photographs are of  recent work undertaken on the reserve in the past month. There is still more work to be done like more tree planting (several hundred trees to be added this month) and carved sign posts giving directions ( more about that later ). During the three weeks of work,  doing the groundwork for the paths, the weather was terrible, it did't just rain it chucked it down,nearly every day !  All credit to the contractors 'Pearl' and their workers for a good job well done in such difficult circumstances. I am having a little difficulty  in putting a map on the website, but I will get there. The map is needed otherwise you might not get there!
Bye for now.