Trip reports

Car trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes

Curlew, RSPB Images

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Terry Smith led todays walk around the reserve and the Thames path. We were fortunate to have a sunny day, mild, with only a light wind - very pleasant. The reserve was very busy - we were told that today was their 2nd busiest day ever!

24 supporters joined Terry and were rewarded with a star bird - a juvenile serin, seen by all. At least 2 peregrines were seen perched on pylons, a female marsh harrier was seen hunting over the marsh, and a buzzard was being mobbed by crows as it flew over. A sparrowhawk and a kestrel were also seen.

Total Species Recorded : 62
Cormorant, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kestrel, peregrine, pheasant, water rail (H), moorhen, coot, golden plover, lapwing, snipe, black-tailed godwit, curlew, redshank, black-headed gull, common gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, woodpigeon, collared dove, skylark, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, stonechat, blackbird, fieldfare, song thrush, redwing, mistle thrush, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, serin, greenfinch, goldfinch, linnet and reed bunting.

Mammals :
Rabbits, wood mouse and fox

Thanks to Terry for leading this trip.