Rainham Marsh visit

A few hours spent over Rainham Marshes today. Makes a nice change for it not to be raining, a bit chilly, but the sun was shining. First port of call the Purfleet scrape hide, Shelduck, Teal, Mallard, Widgeon, Lapwing, Moorhen and Coot.

  Wigeon & Lapwing

                        Shelduck, Moorhen, Lapwing                             

Walking along the southern trail towards the M.D.Z hide good sightings of 2 pairs of Stonechats, 1 pair of Reed Bunting and a brief viewing of a Cetti’s Warbler before it disappeared as normal. Into the M.D.Z hide, hoping to get a sighting of any Kingfishers that might be looking for a nesting hole ( 1 seen yesterday) from the M.D.Z , but no luck, Just 2 Mute Swans, 1 Coot and a Little Grebe. Returned to the Visitors centre for a nice cuppa and a comfort break.

Then a walk around the Cordite Woodland and around the ‘loop’ to the woodland feeding station. Plenty to see Redwing, Great tit, Blue tit, Long- tailed  tit, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and another pair of Reed Bunting’s feeding off of the feeding table. A Great spotted woodpecker paid a visit to the ‘seed hopper’, even two field mice came out to pick up the fallen seeds.

Redwing

A further walk up to the Ken Barrett hide hoping to get a better view of the Dartford Warbler, no such luck ! A walk back to the centre and home as the light was not very good, but managed to see a lovely Song Thrush and hear it singing, a good end to the visit.