The late chat show

This Black Redstart was a welcome - and overdue - Rainham patch tick.

It's been a long time coming, but at last today a Black Redstart put in a prolonged showing on the reserve at Rainham - my first there this year of a species which used to breed regularly in the area.

The second half of November is very late for Northern Wheatear.

Even more unexpected, in terms of date, was this tardy Northern Wheatear - probably the latest I've ever seen in London, if not Britain. It turned up yesterday and, though feeding OK (I watched it despatch a large grub with ease), was deemed to seem rather unwell by some observers. Let's hope it heads off shortly on the long journey south - it's only four months until the species returns again in spring.

European Stonechats are back in numbers on the reserve.

Completing the chat line-up today were three European Stonechats. A lone dapper male didn't sit still long enough in the Aveley Pools reedbed, so a shot of this smart female will have to do instead.

Other species recorded today included several Northern Pintail, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 223 European Golden Plovers, a Ringed Plover, 22 Dunlin, 14 Common Snipe, Yellow-legged Gull, several Ring-necked Parakeets, 15 Redwings, two Cetti's Warblers and at least 10 Bearded Tits. One 'Beardie', an adult male, was ringed - I will post on this bird shortly.

Rainham patchlist 2010 update:
155. Black Redstart.