A (little) bit of movement

It was pretty encouraging news from Rainham yesterday, where there were a whopping 7 Wood Sands on Aveley Pool. Having not been able to get out to Crossness since last weekend, I was out there early this morning schlepping it to West Paddock to check the flood. And, er, there was a Redshank and 3 Lapwings wader wise there plus an elusive Little Egret. All this rain just means no muddy margins, and the grass has grown too high to be able to see some areas! However, back on the foreshore some wader movement was evident - 8 Black-tailed Godwits still in summer kit, glowing in the sun. Though they all looked very nice, this early on in the season surely means they're breeding failed.

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, Crossness July 2012

Heading back to Rotherhithe as there was little else of note, the tide was good for gulls at what I call 'the beach' - an area of mud/sand on the bend by The Hilton Hotel, directly opposite Canary Wharf. Large gulls gather here, and offer close views so ring reading is easy, and just occasionally the odd Yellow-legged Gull decides to join the party. Like today... with this adult as well as a more distant 2nd-summer.

Yellow-legged Gull, Rotherhithe July 2012

Yellow-legged Gull, Rotherhithe July 2012