Trip reports

MINIBUS TRIP TO RAINHAM MARSHES RSPB RESERVE - Saturday 8th November 2008

Saturday, 8 November 2008

19 set off in wet and windy weather for our first visit to this recent RSPB acquisition. On the advice of the volunteer warden, we walked the riverside trail before lunch. This is actually outside the reserve itself, but overlooks the Thames and the southern section of the reserve. Initially blustery showers made birding difficult, but after an hour conditions improved, although the light remained poor. During the previous 7 days several serins, a twite, a snow bunting and a Dartford warbler had all been seen from this track, but alas, despite checking through all of the goldfinch/linnet flocks, none of these were discovered. Very distant waders on the mud on the far river bank included an oystercatcher, some dunlin, a few black tailed godwits and several ringed plovers. On the near bank, we had much better views of 2 curlew and 3 redshank. Stonechats and meadow pipits were also enjoyed on this walk.

By the time we returned to the Reserve Centre the weather was dry and mild, with occasional glimpses of the sun - good enough for a picnic lunch! A distant peregrine, scaring a lapwing flock was seen by some, and later was 'scoped from the main pathway, as it perched atop a pylon. The afternoon walk around the reserve was notable for a lack of waders on the flashes, with the exception of hundreds of lapwing. Probably the most exciting spectacle was of a couple of hundred greylag geese transiting noisily from wet meadows to Aveley flash.

Other species : - Cormorant, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (3), Mute Swan (1), Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Pintail, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Snipe (2 seen in flight), BH Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, GBB Gull, LBB Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher (JV only), Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing (2 overflying on arrival), Cetti's Warbler (2 heard), Blue Tit, Starling (some large flocks), Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, House sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting. (54 species recorded)

Reported by Steve Oakes