KGV Reservoir and Lee Valley Glossy Ibis

I've recently made a couple of brief local excursions hoping to connect with some returning migrants. An early morning trip to the KGV Reservoir proved rewarding when a Black Tern was found flying along the West side of the South Basin. Hirundines were spotted flying overhead, mainly Swallows and Sand Martins but among them were several Swifts, another welcome addition to the year list.

The Red-necked Grebe, now in its smart summer plumage was still present but remained distant in the middle of the South Basin.

A Turnstone was an unexpected but welcome addition to my London list while searching for Common Sandpipers, and soon the Sandpiper was spotted further along the reservoir edge. The walk to the causeway added a further two Common Sandpipers. 

The hirundine numbers had slowly been building during the morning and we soon had several groups flying between the South and North Basins. House Martins were now present in good numbers and several were perching on the wires.

3rd May

Late morning a Glossy Ibis was reported at Lee Valley. Brian was busy with family duties, but Robert was keen to go, so we headed over there and after a quick scan we found the Ibis busily feeding at the back of the scrape. It was soon being harassed by Coots and took flight serval times, each time it didn't go far but it never landed close.

Glossy Ibis

Although I had seen a Glossy Ibis already this year, this was a new addition to my London list. 

There had been reports of a Greenshank on the small pool near the "Goose Fields". Needing it for a year tick we headed that way and after walking the length of the track down to the sailing club, we eventually found an area to view the pool. Thankfully the Greenshank was still present. Also, present along the edge of the same pool, we found a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Spotted Redshank. Both were needed for my Lee Valley list.