The Deskbound Birder: Spotted Crake, Hornchurch CP and Red-necked Grebe, Roding Valley Meadows

Thursday, 28 September 2017

Spotted Crake, Hornchurch CP and Red-necked Grebe, Roding Valley Meadows - 28th September

I had a bit of an epic survey day today, leaving home at 05:00 I was at Dagenham Docks (even less glamorous than it sounds) by 07:15. After this survey I had to cross Greater London in a north-west direction to St Albans. So having started so early I had a little time to play with and a couple of birds en-route.

First-up I visited Hornchurch Country Park in the Ingrebourne Valley where a Spotted Crake has been present since 16th September. The bird showed well soon after I arrived and I enjoyed excellent views for the time I was there. Also here were Water Rail (two), Cetti's Warbler (six) and a handful of Teal, Gadwall and Snipe. I have seen around seven Spotted Crake in the UK but not for many years and I have never photographed the species. It was a cracking little bird showing fairly well in an area of cattle grazed flooded swamp.

Spotted Crake (juvenile) - Hornchurch Country Park

Next I visited Roding Valley Meadows near to Chigwell where a juvenile Red-necked Grebe has been present since 22nd September. While I have seen many Red-necked Grebe I have not seen the species in juvenile plumage so was keen to see this bird as I was pretty much passing by on route to St Albans. The bird was fairly mobile and often distant on the lake but eventually showed well in a secluded corner in the north-west of the lake.