Trip reports

Coach Trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes

Sunday, 15 February 2009

Our visit to Rainham got off to a good start as a red kite flapped lazily across the M25 as the coach made its way through Essex! We were greeted warmly at the reserve and appreciated the first class visitor facilities throughout the day. Rainham is quite a large reserve, with the 2.5 mile circular walk allowing us to see a good proportion of it. Unfortunately the wintering penduline tits weren't around when we visited, but we did see excellent numbers of a wide variety of water birds and waders, as well as cettis warbler, water rail and peregrine. In the afternoon some of us walked along the River Thames, which borders the reserve, and saw water pipits and rock pipits amongst the ubiquitous meadow pipits. A full list of the birds seen on the day can be accessed from the website: www.roystonwildlife.com.