Reports 2008-2009

RSPB Rainham Marsh 22nd November 2008

View across Manton Bay towards the QE2 bridge

View across the reserve with a Eurostar train in the background

Moody sunset over Erith across the river

It was cold and windy as we left Hemel Hempstead just as the sun was starting to rise. We arrived at the reserve just after it had opened at 9.30am. The cold northerly wind was still blowing  but we were given a very warm welcome by the staff and volunteers in the visitor centre.

In the week before we arrived there had been some sightings that gave us hope for a great day; Serin, Water & Rock Pipits, Bearded Tit, Short-eared Owl, Arctic Skua, Dartford Warbler and Peregrine Falcon to name just a few. But it wasn’t to be for us; our day was just an ordinary but very cold days birdwatching made warmer by hot soup in the cafe.

The tide was high when we arrived so we spent the morning walking around the reserve using the recently -opened boardwalk through the reedbeds and new viewing platforms. We saw the expected winter ducks, Wigeon, Shovelor, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Teal. Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank were the only waders.

After lunch when we warmed ourselves in the visitor centre cafe, we walked along the river bank on the lookout for the Serins, Dartford Warbler, Bearded Tit and Short-Eared Owl that had been seen earlier in the week (and since) but we saw none of them. One observer in the group caught sight of what might have been a Bearded Tit diving flitting across the reedbed before diving back in but couldn’t be positive about the identification.

Few of the birds were close enough to photograph so I had to be content with a few landscape views to give those of you who haven’t been, an idea of what the reserve is like.

Overall it was a disappointing days bird watching with my species count being 44. The day was made pleasurable by the sociable nature of the group and the staff and volunteers of the Rainham reserve.

Stuart Harrison     

RSPB Rainham Marshes Web Page