It was a different sort of day when I arrived at Rainham station for it was unbearably hot. I was meant to be with Dante, however Dante had gone off to twitch a Red Footed Falcon and Greenish Warbler; to be honest who could blame him for going to see two most spectacular birds. Just as I crossed over the bridge with a Eurostar zooming though below me I noticed a small fluffy black Moorhen chick playing around on the rubbish that sat in the small channel below. As I moved further along the bridge to get a better view I could see that there were three Moorhen Ducklings and also an Adult moorhen playing around in the trash. Not the nicest conditions to be brought up in so hopefully they will find what they need and move on. Walking through Rainham North the most numerous birds were Goldfinches and Reed Warblers. It wasn't just singing Reed Warblers either, it was the fledglings that stole the show with them popping up every now and then. In total throughout the day I had 68 Reed Warblers which is pretty impressive. Below: Goldfinch Next my walk through Rainham west became a bit cold as it had clouded over a little. This didn't seem to affect the Reed Warblers, Whitethroats or Sedge Warblers. Skylarks were also up and about doing their usual happy song. I also noticed a lot more Reed Buntings whilst walking through here than I ever have before, because the males were singing from the tops of the reeds and bushes all around me. Next 2: Common Whitethroat Above: Singing Wren Below: Dunnock Above: Reed Warbler I then reached the Bend in Rainham West and stopped to listen here for a bit. Before long I could here a Grasshopper Warbler singing from over towards the A13, however unlike recent trips no Cuckoos could be heard. I then walk to the Bridge and there on either side of me was a singing chorus of Marsh Frogs. I then carried on my journey through Rainham West with a singing Chorus of Common Whitethroat and Cetti's Warblers. Occasionally a Sedge Warbler would crop up close to me insect hunting and then see me and dive back into the dense shrubs around me. Reed Warblers also occasionally showed and a rather loud Starling flock was all around me in the fields nearby. Above and Below: Common Whitethroat I then moved onto the path that runs up to the Stone barges. Again the Reed Beds here were full of Reed Warblers, as well as Croaking Marsh Frog and the occasional outburst from a Cetti's Warbler. A couple of Chiffchaff also sang, and so too did at least 2 Blackcap. Chaffinches also put on a good display just behind me. The wild roses were also amazing and in full bloom. Above: Male Chaffinch Below: Marsh Frog Above and Below: Male Chaffinch Above: Male Blackbird Below: Wild Rose I then walked past the Stone Barges when I was stopped in my tracks by something floating down the Thames. At first I thought that It might have been a Great Northern Diver, however given that it is the Thames and it was basically summer I think it must have been a piece of plastic. It did however get me onto a group of 3 fins that had appeared at the top of the water, which I assume was probably a pod of Harbour Porpoises, however no sooner had they surfaced, had they disappeared. Above and Below: Unidentified blob.... (Most likely plastic) I then continued along the sea wall. I picked up the first Gadwall and also the first Shelduck of the day on the Thames. There was still a chorus of Common Whitethroats singing from the side of the tip and the all of a sudden I heard the "cuckoo oo" of a male Cuckoo, as it flew past me on the side of the tip. This caused the Skylarks to alert to incoming danger and saw many have a go at it, however the Cuckoo was unfazed by this and kept on its journey. Out on the river from Coldharbour point was a large Gull flock and also 48 Common Tern feeding in between them. This was then interrupted by two intruding Arctic Tern which flew downstream past the feeding Common Tern and carried on their journey unfazed by the feeding frenzy below them. Above: Mainly Herring Gulls Below: Harvester of some sort (The Trick is spotting it) I then moved along the sea wall and as I did the sun started to reappear and make it quite uncomfortably hot. A sign that spring migration was still going was a new singing Reed Warbler between the path over the landfill and Coldharbour point. An Oystercatcher was also added to the day list and then as I made it towards the path over the tip I stopped to listen and there was a Corn Bunting singing. Sure enough I found it singing from a perch in the middle of the meadow flowers. I managed to get a few photos of it unmoved even though some really large lorries had gone between me and it. Even though this bird is on my Life list I can't actually recall seeing it before and therefore I think this might have been a lifer for me. When it did finally decided to fly off I saw it chase a second male off a nearby perch that I hadn't spotted before. Above: Oystercatcher Next 2: Corn Bunting I then took the path over the landfill which was becoming quite over grown, however it was really nice to see so many wild flowers including poppies growing up there. The main species to see up here today were Linnets, Meadow Pipits, and Skylarks. Next 3: Meadow Pipit Below: poppies Everything was looking really green which was great. There wasn't much from Serin mound bar a flock of 20 or so Shelduck and also a Marsh Harrier courting the Marsh. That was only until the noise of a bubbling Female Cuckoo came out from my left hand side followed by the call from a Male Cuckoo. The Female shot into a bush just below where I was and the Male Carried on and I couldn't quite make out where he went down. I then carried on my journey listening to an annoyingly close Grasshopper Warbler Reeling its heart out, however despite my desperate attempts I could only pick out a Male Pheasant. I did eventually pick out a Male Stonechat too which was great to see. Another Male Pheasant gave great views further along the sea wall. Above: Male Pheasant Below: Some sort of Wild flower, but I like it... Above: Male Stonechat Next 2: Male Pheasant I then headed back to the visitor centre to have lunch. Once in the visitor centre I watch the young Starling fighting over the food at the bird feeders as well as annoying the other locals such as House Sparrow, and Collared Dove. Next 3: Juv Starlings I then headed out onto the reserve. where all was quiet. Even Dents Drop was quiet with only a few Redshank. I then headed round to the woodland where a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaff were singing their hearts out. A Great Spotted Woodpecker also flew into one of the large trees near the cordite store and also a Robin flew on the post that I was leaning on which was a bit odd and I think I might have given it the fright of its life. Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker Below: Robin Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker Next 3: Singing Chiffchaff Above: Dunnock I then headed round to the woodland feeders where a couple of rats fed and not much else. The Barn Owl was viewable from his box as per always and I think that I might have actually seen one of his youngsters, but either way they are always special birds to see. I then went into the Ken Barret Hide, however there wasn't too much to see in here except a Coot feeding its chicks so I swiftly moved on. I then moved onto the first viewing platform which was full of the song of Reed Warblers from all around. The main attraction here was the group of Pochard, Coot, and Tufted Ducks out in the middle. There were also some Grey Heron and Little Egrets dotted around the banks and a large flock of Gadwall had gathered which I guess is a group of non breeders coming in from elsewhere. I then moved round to the second platform, not really expecting to see anything. It started off the way that I had thought however a stunning Drake Wigeon swam into view followed by a female. This may not seem exceptional however given that it is going to be June tomorrow rather than December this is quite something. I am not entirely sure what they were doing here however all I know is that they should be a lot further North than here right now and they should be breeding. Interesting.... Above: Greylag and family Below: I think it is a Honey Bee... Above and Below: Drake Wigeon Below: Pair of Wigeon and a Mallard I think... After that shock I moved round to the Butt's Hide. I had a look out onto target pools however apparent from a Hobby there wasn't much until three Common Tern came into view. The other side of the hide was jam packed with Pochard and Tufted Ducks sitting asleep on the banks. Above: Drake Pochard Below: Drake Pochards and Drake Tufted Ducks Above: Drake Pochard Below: Hobby I then left the hide because it was getting late and had a look in the neighbouring field. There were Shovelers and also Lapwing and Redshank about. Reed Buntings sang as I went past the Dragonfly pools and then a pinging sound came out of the reeds in front of me and out popped a Female Bearded Tit which flew along the tops of the reeds pinging and then disappeared out of sight in another dense reed bed. I decided to have one last look into the Ouzel field and it paid off as I spotted a group of young lapwing chicks running around in the ever growing grass. Above: Drake Shoveler Below: Male Reed Bunting Above: lapwing with Chicks Below: Redshank I then headed back to the centre on a walk which was rather disappointing. A Skylark was the highlight having a dust bath on the path ahead. Above and Below: Skylark Above: Male Reed Bunting... There were a lot of these guys around today As I headed for the station I thought to myself of what could have been however with my life list still sitting at 172 I decided that I could be happy with the progress I had achieved over the last few days and weeks and with the confirmation of Corn Bunting today I was most happy, and to think that 2 weeks ago I had never seen a Cuckoo and now I have seen almost 20 individuals is crazy. I also had a stunning Male Marsh Harrier flyover me as I headed towards the station to head home. Keep a look out over the next few days for my blog posts about my days at Blashford Lakes and also RSPB Ham Wall
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AuthorI have been a birder since i was 8 however only really started to be able to go out to places by myself in Summer 2016 (Blame the parents) My blogs will be from all over the place, but mainly from RSPB Rainham Marshes and Totteridge Valley! Photography done by Samuel Levy aged 16. ArchivesCategories |