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I know, I know! Moan about the cold and then rejoice when drizzle replaces sunshine! However, the murky conditions suggested that we might get some migrants today and we were not to be disappointed and Pam and Yvonne who accompanied Jerry and myself on the first Blindfold Birding had a great day out...

A proper spring day at last. It was almost warm outside (apparently) and despite being quiet early on the birds (and visitors) increased during the day. Ten Chiffchaff were on site and even broke back into song while a Willow Warbler was giving a half hearted attempt along the river wall. A couple of...

It was another cold day with that biting easterly wind returning to plague us...but...it ended with a little party of Sand Martins feeding over Purfleet Scrape without a care in the world. Given the midge hatch that I saw at RSPB Dungeness yesteday, I suspect that there is food out over the water so...

Sorry all but been off for a couple of day... late news for Sunday the 7th when our first Red Kite of the years was seen long the river all. Many thanks to Richard Norris for sending in the shots below. 9-4-13

With a bit of warm weather and a change in the wind direction it was not surprising that some migrants at last made it into the reserve today... I am sure there will be more to come later but so far I have heard of a Whimbrel, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, four Black Redstarts, Wheatear and three Water...

In recent weeks we have a lots of Great Crested Grebe action on the Thames so it nice yesterday for one to actually turn out to be a Red-throated Diver. This smart winter plumaged bird was first seen in Aveley Bay before hauling itself out on the mud. This was not a very good sign and apparently it showed...

Russ Sherriff got some great shots of our waders earlier in the week. With a bit of patience you too can get good results... Will not be long till a whistling Whimbrel alights on the foreshore posts..... Curlew Redshank male Ruff Dunlin & Ruff Dunlin and one Redshank...

Another cold and blustery day but warming slightly as it moved on... No new migrants at all but the two Bar-tailed Godwits were on Purfleet Scrape first thing with nine Curlew while a Black-tailed Godwit was out on the Shooting Butts Pool. There was no sign of the 33 Golden Plover that came in with the...

March: The male Hen Harrier was last seen on the 3rd and encouragingly at least four Marsh harriers continue to be seen over the marsh. A male Merlin was seen on the 19th and the Peregrines had to compete with a huge female Gyr hybrid on several dates. Three Short-eared and four Barn Owls made for good...

Cormorant may be a common and familiar bird but when did you last look closely at this imposing predator? Birds at Rainham are normally heading up or down the Thames or perhaps bobbing round out on the river. Occasionally one will come to fish on Aveley Pools or in the Perimeter Ditch but rarely do you...

This is one of the two Brown Rats that has been feeding around the centre feeders. They cause quite a stir dashing out to grab a seed but, come on, you have to admit that he is rather cute with his pink little hands and blackberry eyes... Great shot from Rachael Webb... 4-4-13

There are still a few Scandinavian Rock Pipits on the foreshore (in fact there were nine on Saturday!) and at least one Water Pipit at the Concrete Barges. Scandi Rockits are a headache at this time of year to the unwary as, unlike our British birds, they change into a smarter summer plumage that can...

With such a strong cold wind it is always a good idea to seek out sheltered spots for little birds where they can get some respite and feed more easily. This was how I found the Redwings yesteday and where Russ and Dave caught up with several ground feeding Chiffchaffs . Insect life is tricky to find...

No change in the weather... still absolutely freezing with a bone numbing easterly wind but there was some signs of movement today with at long last the first Blackcap suggestive of being a migrant in the honeysuckle outside the centre first thing and then a little flurry of waders on the river with...

A female Ring Ouzel was found by Keith Rayment at the west end of the river wall this morning. It was typically flighty and was last seen heading towards the Serin Mound Scrub. A quick search revealed five Redwings grubbing around with three female Blackbirds and Linnets were in fine song on the gorse...

Starlings are so under-rated. Combine a petrol sheen, smart arrow head spots, punky hair and yellow dagger bill with heaps of character and attitide and you have a quintesentially English bird. There are less around now as the thousands of migrants head back to Eastern Europe but our local birds are...

Apologies to those of you who have had problems trying to find my latest posts this week. The home page has been stuck from the 23rd until Saturday morning although you could access the posts via the 'Read Our Blog' tab. I have not missed a day so just scroll back a few pages and you will...

It is not only the Water Rails that are getting bold at the moment but the Cetti's Warblers are actually showing fairly well and are singing heartily when the feeling takes them. Alan Reynolds saw this little beauty on Good Friday and managed to get this great shot. And taliking of Water...

Wheatear and Black Redstarts are still at the west end and and adult Med Gull has flown over. Out on the trails a female Bearded Tit put in a brief appearance which is encouraging. Oh and got this nice shot from Tony Shaw of the male Marsh Harrier from earlier in the week. Curlews are now in and up to...

Although migrants were again notable in their absence it was still quite a productive day out on the marsh in the end with 8 Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, 48 Redshank, 105 Dunlin, 37 Curlew, over the high tide. In addition there were about 60 Lapwing, 57 Golden Plover, 48 Snipe and 5 Ruff on the flashes...

Sue Harvey was helping us out in the hides today and was lucky enough to snap this wonderfully stripy Snipe out infront of the Purfleet Hide. How do they get to those difficult to reach places with such a long bill?. 30-3-13

Pat Hart got some video of the two Scoter yesterday. Nice that they came in quite close. Very cloudy here today and very cold and windy again..... a Sand Martin would be nice! He has even got the characteristic stretch up, head bob, wing flpa that this species does with some regularity. 30...

Not sure what Rattus norvegigicus live off of on the foreshore at the end of Ferry Lane but I suspect that it is not just Sea Slaters! There are several in the same area as the Black Redstarts and Wheatears and the chats have been observed by several people to follow the Brown Rats around waiting to...

And by that I mean that the sun came up, I saw it clear the horizon and illuminate the marsh in an amber early morning glow. There was no wind, the Skylarks were arising, Lapwings were displaying and for a short while it almost felt vaguely springlike (albeit still on the very chilly side). Just...

A quieter day today with just the usual Wheatear with his Black Redstart friends to be found. Not one Golden Plover or Ruff today but three Grey Plover that were just starting to come into breeding plumage with black faces and a few belly feathers. Highlight for me was the 1st summer Kittiwake that...