Rainham Marshes

120 sightings last month, with some of the rarer sightings being a Bittern, Little Gull,  Little Stint, Nuthatch, Kittiwake, Roseate Tern , Spotted Redshank, Blue winged Teal and Red Crested Pochard

Avocet Common Scoter Gadwall Gull - Black-headed Kingfisher Oystercatcher Redshank - Spotted Shelduck - Ruddy Swift Turnstone Bearded Tit/Reedling Coot Garden Warbler Gull - Common Kittiwake Peregrine Falcon Reed War…

Last Thursday (15th May) I had the pleasure of leading the Not so Dawn Chorus Walk.  We had 12 people join us on one of the few opportunities to get onto the reserve early. Before the walk even started, we were treated by a wonderful view of the Spoonbill and Great White Egret both in breeding plumage on Purfleet Scrape.  The route then took us along all the woodland paths and Cordite Store where we saw Whitethroats, a …

We had 119 sightings in April 

Avocet Coot Godwit - Bar-tailed   Gull - Common Kingfisher Pheasant Redstart snipe - jack  Tern - Arctic Water Rail Bearded Tit/Reedling Cormorant Godwit - Black-tailed   Gull - Great Black-backed Lapwing Pintail Reed Warbler Sparrow - House Tern - Black Wheatear Blackbird Cuckoo Goldfinch   Gull - Herring Linnet Pipit - Meadow Ring-necked Parakeet Sparrowhawk Tern - Common Whimbrel …

March 2025 Round-up - Thanks to Ben Rumsby for this comprehensive monthly review. 

 

The month started with the occasional sightings of Short-eared owl across the 5^th-8^th from the silt lagoons through to Ouzel field.

A 1^st winter Caspian gull was seen around the river and Wennington Marsh throughout the month.

The first summer migrant of the year were seen on the 13^th with 2 Sand martin seen flying through the reserve and…

Following the incident of significant vandalism at the Shooting Butts Hide at RSPB Rainham Marshes on 22^nd April, Crime Officers from Essex Police have visited the scene and have taken away several pieces of evidence, including fingerprints, DNA and footprints. We urge anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Essex Police at https://www.essex.police.uk/ro/report/. Reserve staff at RSPB Rainham thank…

For our monthly sightings you need to click on the actual posting to show you the full table, rather than just looking at the post in the list as the names run into each other if you do. 

In March we have had over 100 bird species spotted., with the hi- lights being Arctic Skua, Common Scooter, a Little Gull, a Merganser, a Spoonbill and a Green Winged Teal. 

Avocet Egret - Great White Gull - Little Pochard Stonechat Wren  Arctic Skua Egret - Little Gull - Mediterranean Raven Swallow   Bearded Tit/Reedling Gadwall Harrier - Marsh Red Kite Swan - Mute   Blackbird Godwit - Bar-tailed Jackdaw Red-breasted…

There have been 89 Bird species spotted in February with the hi-lights being a Goosander, a Caspian Gull, a Short Eared owl, a Water Pipit and a Yellowhammer.  

Avocet Goldfinch Lapwing Robin Wagtail - Grey Blackbird Goosander Linnet Sandpiper - Common Wagtail - Pied Blackcap Goose - Canada Magpie Shelduck Water Rail Brambling Goose - Egyptian Mallard Shoveler Wigeon Bunting - Reed Goose - Greylag Moorhen S…

A busy morning on the reserve with both a male Garganey (no photos as of yet) spotted on the Purfleet scrape as well as a Hoopoe (stock photo below) spotted flying around the train tracks and cordite store.. The Garganey is an unusual duck in that it is summer visitor arriving in early spring from its wintering grounds in Africa. The male is most easily recognised by a broad white stripe over its eye. The Hoopoe is an…

Thank you for your patience

Spoonbill showing really well  on Purfleet scrape today.... 

The Little Ringed Plover is still showing well on the Purfleet scrape and we now have a Green Winged Teal (no photos yet) that is best seen from the sea wall looking in on the reserve from above the turn style area. Good luck.....Thanks to Richard Hadfield for the photograph.  

Our Great Crested Grebes have been performing their courtship dances on the Purfleet scrape in the sunshine this week....its an amazing site. Thank you to Sean Mulqueen for the pictures. 

The days are getting longer and our opening hours are changing.... 

There have been over 95 Bird species spotted on the reserve in January with the hi- lights being the Dartford Warbler, the Short-Eared Owl, Barn Owl and the Goosander. Please click on the post to see the full list. 

Avocet Gadwall Harrier - Marsh Pochard Thrush - Mistle Bearded Tit/Reedling Godwit - Black-tailed Jackdaw Raven Thrush - Song Blackbird Goldcrest Jay Red Kite Tit - Blue Bunting - Reed Goldfinch …

Please find below our sightings for December....January to follow shortly. Please come and see us in February to see what you can see.... 

December Sightings                    Avocet Gadwall Jackdaw Raven Tit - Blue Bearded Tit/Reedling Godwit - Bar-tailed Jay Red Kite Tit - Great Blackbird Godwit - Black-tailed Kestrel Redpoll Tit - Long-tailed Bunting - Reed Goldeneye Kingfisher Redshank Tufted Duck Buzzard -…

RSPB Rainham Marshes Cafe and shop will be permanently closing at the end of business on Sunday 2nd February.

We will temporarily be closing the top half of the Visitor Centre for the whole of February whilst this area is reconfigured. The reserve trails, car park and toilets will be open as normal but entry will temporarily be via the side of the building through the garden gate. Our Welcome area will be moved to the…

Our Marsh Harriers continue to be active at all times of the day  - thanks to Andy Reid for the photo.  

The Dartford Warbler continues to be spotted from the Sea wall lower path - thanks to Jim Camball for this wonderful picture  

Widgeon,and Pintails taken by Jim Camball from the Purfleet Hide. Black tailed Godwits, and a collection of various wildfowl both taken by Andy Reid also from the Purfleet Hide. 

To ensure our longer-term sustainability, the RSPB has reviewed its operations across the UK so that everything we do aligns to our charitable and strategic aims and delivers the most impact for nature and wildlife possible. We must focus on what we do best and where we can do this most effectively, with the resources available to us.

Our most recent challenge has been the global and domestic financial pressures of the…