Above: Water Vole, Rainham Marshes RSPB, London - 7th March 2010. Whilst watching the individual above I was fascinated to learn from a warden at the reserve that during the population crash of circa a couple of decades ago, numbers of this species at Rainham Marshes were not affected and as a result held 10% of the national population at the height of the 'crash'. Nowadays as numbers have recovered nationally, Rainham holds 1% of the population, with between 5,000-7,000 Water Vole estimated to be present on the reserve currently.
Above: drake American Wigeon, MMWWT, Lancs - 13th March 2010. Axillary colour not seen during time of observation, but a cracking bird otherwise!
Above & Below: 4 Med Gull (2pr), Brockholes LWT, Lancs - 18th March 2010. Fabulous birds and a single day site record count I think. Also, 5 Sand Martin, LRP and Ringed Plover seen.
Above: Water Vole, Rainham Marshes RSPB, London - 7th March 2010. Whilst watching the individual above I was fascinated to learn from a warden at the reserve that during the population crash of circa a couple of decades ago, numbers of this species at Rainham Marshes were not affected and as a result held 10% of the national population at the height of the 'crash'. Nowadays as numbers have recovered nationally, Rainham holds 1% of the population, with between 5,000-7,000 Water Vole estimated to be present on the reserve currently.
Above: drake American Wigeon, MMWWT, Lancs - 13th March 2010. Axillary colour not seen during time of observation, but a cracking bird otherwise!
Above & Below: 4 Med Gull (2pr), Brockholes LWT, Lancs - 18th March 2010. Fabulous birds and a single day site record count I think. Also, 5 Sand Martin, LRP and Ringed Plover seen.
