Nose-saddled Tufted Duck at East India Dock Basin, May 2011
As I arrived at the basin this morning a flock of seven Mute Swans were heading east down the Thames, the highest count of the year so far and a feature of the last three springs when herds of between six and eight birds have been noted, mainly at Bow Creek; the two male Shelducks, one on the basin and one on the creek, are almost certainly awaiting the arrival of ducklings, which, if my suspicions are correct, should appear around the end of the month. The male nasal-saddled Tufted Duck was on the basin and an attempt to lure him close enough (with wholemeal bread) to photograph failed, but amazingly it attracted the female in the above pictures; hopefully the cryptic markings will make sense to somebody and we will learn the provenance of these birds. A flock of six Common Sandpipers flew down the Thames mid-morning, the largest group I have seen here, the only other waders recorded today were two very vocal Oystercatchers on the Millennium mudflats. Other migrants today included a nice male Wheatear found by Gary on Orchard Wharf, a single Swallow flying north and two House Martins. Most of the recent warblers seem to have moved on with just three Reed Warblers, three Blackcaps and two Common Whitethroats present this morning. Other notables today included a pair of Greylag Geese, a Sparrowhawk, seven Common Terns, a 1st-winter Common Gull, two Stock Doves and a singing Chaffinch.
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