Valley birding

In terms of birding the patch its been a good week. It started  from last Sunday when I picked up 17 Black-tailed Godwit on the viewing area which was flushed from the Dagenham chase minutes earlier per Steve Drake. The Godwits are a scarce visitor to the valley, so are a welcome patch year tick. Tuesday Dave Mc pulls out a immature Avocet which is only my second record for the site in 19 years and while I'm twitching the Avocet I pick out a female Mandarin Duck which is a Mega patch bird too. Now on Saturday 23rd August the Godwit numbers have increased to a  whooping 54! Add in the Juv Garganey, Spot Fly and 2 Wheatear  its been a cracking week for the Ingrebourne Valley and its small core of birders......