Little Hadham Birding: Rainham Marsh Visit

reed bunting

Set off this morning for Rainham Marsh RSPB Reserve, my first visit here this year. Having negotiated the M11 and the M25 I arrived just as the reserve and visitors' centre was opening at 9.30. Off on a clockwise wander around the reserve, a walk of around 3 miles.
I was surprised to see ice upon the open water as the temperature was rising as the day progressed. Coots and mallards walked across this as a large flock of wigeon and lapwings rose from the fields. Into the Purfleet Hide, but little of note, a distant pintail pair so I moved on. Outside, a male stonechat in brambles and the familiar pinging call as a solitary bearded reedling flew over, heading towards the targets and down into the reeds.

greylag geese

coot

Meadow pipit

same meadow pipit

Wigeon

The Marshland hide didn't give up too much either so I continued. On the Target Pools plenty of shoveler, teal, more pintail and numerous wigeon. Several curlews called, as did a pair of redshanks. Into the main hide where the water and marsh in front gave up more views of the same. Several casualties of the extreme weather: A coot in one of the drains near the Marshland hide and what looked like a canada goose in the middle of the reserve. Gulls, mainly black headed and common were on the list as I headed towards the Ken Barrett hide, where just a few wildfowl were seen. A water rail squealed from reeds as I approached the Cordite where great, blue and long tailed tits were seen. A great spotted woodpecker drummed as a green woodpecker called. A male linnet sang from a bramble before I found myself back at the centre. In total, not too much seen but a wonderful walk, with the bearded reedling being a year lister.