RSPB Rainham Marshes is not far from my home and easily visited by public transport which I do several times a year.
RSPB Rainham Marshes protects 411 hectares of ancient, low-lying grazing marsh in the Thames Estuary. Its complex of wet grassland, reedbeds, scrapes, pools and ditches, together with grassland, scrub and woodland, supports many breeding and wintering birds. Wildlife also includes scarce wetland plants and insects and a key population of the nationally declining Water Vole.
On my visit today, I had 2 main objectives other than the usual long circular walk around the reserve. For some weeks now, there have been some incredible photos of a presumably wintering Dartford Warbler and a very approachable female Kestrel, both seen regularly from the riverside footpath along the River Thames and overlooking the reserve.
Although I see Dartford Warblers annually, usually on either Westelton Heath or Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, it is a bird that I have yet to record in Essex. Did I hear it, see it and photograph it at RSPB Rainham Marshes? No!
Although declining at an alarming rate, Kestrels are still relatively easy to see in any suitable remaining habitat. Did I see it and photograph it at RSPB Rainham Marshes? Yes, in respect of the former but only very distantly from the far side of the reserve after giving up looking for it along the riverside footpath and obviously no in respect of the latter!
After giving up on my 2 main objectives and consoling myself with a coffee and some excellent cake in the Visitor Centre, I spent several hours walking around the reserve on a beautiful warm and sunny autumn afternoon and managed to record 50 species. However, photography opportunities were somewhat limited.
Amongst the large number of ducks and waders, the undoubted highlight during my visit was 7 Cattle Egrets (more on them below) ably supported by a very approachable pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, 3 Marsh Harriers, a female Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard and at least 22 Common Snipe.
Cattle Egret is one of a number of heron/egret species that is expanding its range northwards and it can now be found reasonably easily at various sites in East Anglia and southern England. It can often be found associating with cattle (there is a clue in the name!) where it forages for food items turned up by those animals as they wander and graze.
It was therefore no surprise to see Cattle Egrets at RSPB Rainham Marshes as they commuted between several groups of cattle grazing out on the wet grassland and in fact they have been reported from the reserve for some time.
However, it was one of the cows that provided the "event of the day". Whilst sitting in one of the hides, a lady came rushing in saying "You will never guess what I have just seen!". Expecting the confirmation of an unusual or rare bird sighting, she announced that she had seen a cow giving birth!
This was actually recorded by someone else on the Facebook page for Friends of Rainham Marshes (plus there are many photos of the Dartford Warbler and Kestrel which will not be mentioned again!) .... see here.
I must have been taking photos of the Cattle Egrets surrounding the cattle just before the birth occurred (see below) but I definitely saw the young calf later in the afternoon up and about on its feet and feeding from its mother.
Here are some other photos from my visit ....
Photo: male Stonechat
Photo: male Shoveler
Photo: male House Sparrow
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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