• Lovely conditions for ducks

    Andrew Gouldstone
    The marshes are very wet at the moment, which is great for our wintering birds. Recent counts found 5,083 birds on the marshes and surrounding parts of the Thames, including 1,373 wigeon, 735 teal, 175 shoveler and 1,218 lapwing, plus a supporting cast of pintail, gadwall, pochard, dunlin and others. 
    The wintering flock of redwing and fieldfare are still with us, feeding on the grassland, often mixed in with starlings…

  • You'll need welly boots

    Andrew Gouldstone

    If visiting for essential local exercise, the wet conditions on some sections of the path means that welly boots are a must at the moment.

  • Big Garden Birdwatch and Recent Sightings (17/1/21)

    Louise Moss

    I hope you are all staying safe and well.

    Big Garden Birdwatch

    I just wanted to do a quick post as a reminded that the Big Garden Birdwatch is nearly here!


    Enjoy an hour with nature and discover the wildlife on your doorstep! 

    Spend an hour counting the birds, between 29-31 January, you see in your garden or from your balcony, then tell us what you saw. It really is that simple!

    Go to rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more…

  • Big Garden Birdwatch 2021

    Andrew Gouldstone

    #BigGardenBirdWatch registration is now OPEN

    The world’s largest wildlife survey is back from 29 - 31 January, and we need your help to determine how our feathered friends are faring. Join in the fun by signing up here

    https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

     

  • Update - reserve staying open.

    Andrew Gouldstone
    As we enter Lockdown3, and in line with government guidance the reserve will be staying OPEN for local, essential, daily exercise only.
    We will be open Thurs-Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm.
    Our car park, trails and toilets will be open.
    Our shop, café and hides will be closed.
    We strongly urge you to follow the legislation around non-essential travel and please visit your most local nature reserves and green spaces only.
    …

  • Lockdown 3

    Andrew Gouldstone

    Following the Government announcement of a #lockdown, we are looking into the details of their guidance and our staffing levels for safely managing our sites, to ascertain what is possible on our reserves. We will update you on here as soon as we know more. Thank you for your continued support and patience in these challenging times.

  • New viewing screen

    Andrew Gouldstone
    With our hides currently closed due to the Tier 4 restrictions, we have created two simple viewing windows in the screen near the Purfleet hide, that allow excellent views of the Purfleet scrape.
    Lots of wildfowl still to be seen on the scrape here, plus curlew, black-tailed godwit and lapwing.
    Short-eared owl seen on the reserve over the weekend, plus water pipit still present

     

  • A cold morning

    Andrew Gouldstone
    A cold and frosty morning here today, and large areas of the marshes frozen since yesterday.
    Creates a very different looking landscape, and wildlife has to adapt and often behaves differently - always makes it worthwhile if you can dress up warmly and brave the weather.
    The area of unfrozen water on the Purfleet Scrape below held 1050 wigeon, 105 shoveler and 32 pintail. Amazing how they cope with the cold.

    …

  • New Years Day

    Andrew Gouldstone
    A reminder that our Christmas opening will be as follows: 
    Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day – CLOSED
    Dec 27th and 28th – OPEN
    Dec 29th and 30th – CLOSED
    Dec 31st – Jan 3rd – OPEN 
    Please also note, that on New Years Day, our car park will be open from 8am to allow early access to the riverwall. Main reserve trails will open at 9.30am as normal.

  • Tier 4, and a Christmas reminder

    Louise Moss
    Following the Government's announcement yesterday we are now in Tier 4 -  the reserve will be staying open, but please note all the hides, shop and bike hire will now have to close.
    The reserve will be open Thurs-Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm, and our café (takeaway only, 10am-4pm) and toilets will remain open (see Christmas opening times below).
    We will continue to operate a track and trace system, and will be asking…

  • January's guided walks

    Andrew Gouldstone
    Unfortunately, the guided walk events we had planned for January have now had to be postponed. We hope to bring them back as soon as we can - we will update when we know more. 
    Sorry for the disappointment, and thank-you for bearing with us.

  • Hot food and wonderful wildlife

    Andrew Gouldstone

    From tomorrow, hot sausage rolls, cheese and onion pasties and hot soup now available for takeaway from our café, plus teas, coffees, cakes etc. And bring your binoculars for a festival of wintering duck, lapwings and marsh harriers.

     

  • As we enter Tier 3, and plans for Christmas.

    Andrew Gouldstone
    As we go into Tier 3, the reserve will be staying open, but please note all the hides will now have to close.
    The reserve will be open Thurs-Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm, and our café (takeaway only, 10am-4pm) and shop and toilets will remain open (see Christmas opening times below).
    We will continue to operate a track and trace system, and will be asking visitors to wear a face covering in the shop and café.
    …

  • Guided walks starting again, from January.

    Andrew Gouldstone
    We are starting our guided walks again, from January 2021.
    Join us and explore the marshes, with an experienced and friendly guide who can show you the wildlife to be seen on the reserve at the moment.
    These walks will be conducted in a Covid secure way, following all available guidance and safeguards.
    Please book via the links below, using Eventbrite, its quick and easy...
    Wildlife Walks: https://thewildlifewalk…

  • This week...

    Andrew Gouldstone
    An update of our opening times, and the facilities that will be available... 
    The reserve remains open, Thurs-Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm. 
    Great news - our shop and café will re-open this week, in line with government guidance for this area. 
    The café will re-open on Thursday 3rd Dec, serving a take-away menu between 10am and 4pm. 
    Our shop will re-open on Friday 4th Dec, at 10am - call in to discover a whole…

  • Next week

    Andrew Gouldstone
    We expect that from next week, our shop and café will re-open, also some of our hides.
    Our opening days will remain Thurs-Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm.
    More details once our plans are confirmed.

  • Spoonbill puts in a visit

    Andrew Gouldstone

    This immature spoonbill was seen on the reserve last weekend - the dark wing tips give away its age. Thanks to Judy Harrington, one of our visitors, for the pic.

     

  • Don't forget the pin badges

    Andrew Gouldstone

    If you’re missing being able to purchase your pin badges from us here at Rainham Marshes at the moment, then check out the official RSPB eBay page for pin badges here: www.ebay.co.uk/str/rspb. #ShareHowYouWear

     

  • Mobility scooter available again.

    Andrew Gouldstone

    Our mobility scooter is available again, to enable you to explore the reserve trails on the days that we are open - Thurs-Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm..

    It will be cleaned and disinfected between uses.

    Please contact the reserve office, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, to book the scooter - 01708 899840

  • Bearded tits out on the boardwalk

    Andrew Gouldstone

    I remember last year seeing bearded tits out feeding on the boardwalk, and it happened again yesterday - and almost in the same spot.

    In the bright sunshine of a warm November day, a male and a female were feeding, presumably on seeds or small insects that they were finding on the planks of the northern boardwalk. They were not at all bothered by me as I stood watching them from just 10 yards away.

    Several times, something…

  • Staying open

    Andrew Gouldstone

    For many of us, our Rainham Marshes reserve provides enjoyment and solace in the natural world throughout these challenging times. In line with Government guidance on essential, daily exercise outdoors, during #SecondLockdown, our car park, trails and toilets remain open for you to visit, Thurs- Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm.

    Please follow all current Government guidance around social distancing, who you can visit with, hygiene…

  • #SecondLockdown

    Andrew Gouldstone

    Following the Government announcement of a #SecondLockdown beginning this Thursday, we are looking into the details of the Government guidance, our staffing levels to safely manage our sites, and which facilities it might be possible for us to keep open on our reserves. We will update you on here as soon as we know more. Thank you for your continued support and patience in these challenging times.

  • Anthills and other insect homes

    Andrew Gouldstone

    Whilst out with our contractors on Aveley Marsh this week, some early morning and low sunshine has been lighting up the yellow meadow ant anthills rather nicely.

     

    They make for a striking and unusual landscape. These ants tend to favour very old grasslands that have not been disturbed, so their presence in such great abundance here is testimony to how good these marshes are.

    As well as working on our scrapes and ditches…

  • Diggers and autumn colours

    Andrew Gouldstone

    Its that time of year when we have contractors out on to the marsh helping with our habitat management.

    Every year, we de-silt and reprofile the edges of some of the scrapes and ditches on Aveley Marsh. This helps keep them open and in good condition for wintering duck and waders, and also our breeding lapwing and redshank. The sides are kept very irregular, creating lots of ‘edge’, and they are given a very gentle slope…

  • Woodpeckers

    Andrew Gouldstone
    Its been a good few days for woodpeckers here - three great-spotted woodpeckers in one tree together, and green woodpeckers have also been very vocal around the car park and in the woodland.
    This pic of a female green woodpecker taken from our woodland photography hide by John Humble.
    Email the reserve on rainham.marshes@rspb.org.uk to enquire about hiring the hide.