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.
My main target species this morning was Wood Sandpiper that had been reported in varying numbers up to 5 birds for the last few days. I successfully saw 2 Wood Sandpipers from the Ken Barrett hide, this species taking my UK year list for 2025 to 176 species.
The highlights of my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Wood Sandpiper (2), Green Sandpiper (3), Ruff (2), Curlew (6), Common Snipe (1), Black-tailed Godwit (2 flocks of c.50 each), Lapwing (c.25), Great White Egret (2), Little Egret (4), Grey Heron (2), Little Grebe (3), Coot (c.50), Moorhen (c.10 plus 5 juveniles), Mute Swan (4 plus 4 juveniles), Canada Goose (2), Gadwall (c.200), Mallard (c.10), Common Tern (5), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Peregrine (3), Marsh Harrier (2), Kestrel (1), Bearded Tit (several birds calling at 2 different locations), Chiffchaff (1 singing male and 1 calling bird), Blackcap (1 alarm calling bird), Common Whitethroat (1), Cetti’s Warbler (3 singing males)
Another birder reported a Spotted Flycatcher near the Ken Barrett hide.
In addition, I recorded the following: Ruddy Darter (c.10), Small and/or Large White (c.10)
Love nature .... act now
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