Trip reports

Rainham Marshes 20th Jan 2008

Wednesday, 23 January 2008

The group's first visit to Rainham Marshes took place on an overcast, windy but relatively mild day. Plenty of wildfowl were in evidence including gadwall, wigeon and teal as well as pintail, pochard and tufted duck. Waders were harder to come by. A few curlew and black-tailed godwit were seen and a large flock of lapwing regularly took to the skies (for reasons unknown as no large raptors were seen all day). One of the highlights of the trip was the presence of about 80 golden plovers, which offered good views both in flight and on the ground. Passerines were most obvious near the feeders, (greenfinch, goldfinch and some linnets being especially noticeable), with stonechat being found elsewhere on the reserve. As regards rareties, a first winter iceland gull was readily visible on the Targets pool, its light brown colour and white wing tips contrasting nicely with the neighbouring dark plumaged great black-backed and lesser black-backed gulls. Moreover, some members of the group managed to find water pipit frequenting the banks of the nearby Thames; less fortunate individuals had to make do with sightings of rock pipit and pied wagtail. All in all a site well worth a return visit, especially as more hides are due to be built this summer.