The X factor

It's certainly been a good week birding locally again with Stone Curlew, Great white Egret and Black Tern all added to my Rainham year list on Thursday evening after work. Then Saturday afternoon at Vange Marsh RSPB 2 Black-winged Stilt graced the pools but the star of the week was the gorgeous female Red-footed Falcon found by Steve Arlow.

The Falcon just had that 'x factor' about it as it flew over the reed bed giving great views to all the birders throughout the afternoon, stunning bird!

Red-footed Falcon

Black-winged Stilts

Happy valley

The Ingrebourne Valley is providing some quality birding in terms of patch birding in the last seven days, Greenshank, Garganey and last night a elegant Wood Sandpiper showed well at the viewing area found by Dick J. With the water levels looking just right at the moment, we're all hoping for another wader to grace the valley.

 Wood Sandpiper taken with the x2 converter at F11 ISO 400

F5.6 1000/1

F5.6 1000/1 ISO 400

Wryneck at Rainham Marshes

Hot on the heels of Razorbill and Stone Curlew, a Wryneck was found at the west end of the reserve on Saturday morning at Rainham marshes RSPB but was elusive and wasn't seen again. So when I finally managed to turn up Sunday morning I didn't except to see it fly across the small path and sit up in the reeds and pose for a few seconds and wait for me to unzip the camera from the bag! 

Andy T and Pat the volunteer also got views when it flew to a nearby tree and when it perched on a wooden post where the cattle are grazing, which was the last time it was seen just before 9.00 am

Wryneck

Also on the move were  50 Swifts, 9 Whimbrel, 2 Yellow wagtail and 3 Female Wheatear.

 Female Wheatear