Trip reports

Birds of a Feather

Sunday, 19 April 2009

At 7.00 on a Sunday morning, when the clocks have changed the night before, you don't expect people to be very cheery. The stifled yawns and grimaces were slowly disappearing into the cool morning air as the Group assembled for the run down to Rainham Marshes. Although it is motorway almost all the way our trip coincided with an FA Cup semi final to be played at Wembley between teams from the North, so we were apprehensive about both road traffic and human congestion at service areas. Fortunately the early start meant we were ahead of the game and a quick, uneventful trip ensued.

A very cheerful and enthusiastic volunteer at Rainham gave us the welcome speech and an update on what was about. Earlier in the week Red Kite, Osprey and Grasshopper Warbler had all shown. Sadly, none of them were around on the day. The Water Voles, usually so shy elsewhere, stayed in open view and posed cutely for cameras. From the reedbeds came the occasional sound of Little Grebes arguing over mates. Even the Eurostar trains swooshing their way to and from France were not intrusive, drowned out as Marsh Frogs shouted at the tops of their voices, the most astonishing cacophony!

As birding days go it was perfectly normal. No mega rarities showed up, or if they did we missed them. Wheatears were easy to see on the open grassy banks. Reed and Sedge Warblers sang their songs in the sunshine, delightful precursors of Spring. From a hawthorn bush a Whitethroat's scratchy notes contrasted with a determinedly loud Skylark taking off from the grassland nearby. For many of the Group the target bird of the day was Garganey. This elusive chap was eventually located by one of our number carefully scanning distant water margins. The light helped with clear views of the head stripe, although the bird regularly disappeared behind clumps of reed. Patient watching and careful sharing of scopes gave good views to most of us. Green Woodpeckers and Linnets were pleasing sightings as we wandered round. By the time we were ready to go the party seemed to be assembling in the cafe for a refreshing cake, and good they were. Once again the weather was ultra-kind and the trip was deemed a great success. And the right team won the semi final!