In the last few days, and despite the weather, there has been an increase in the number of Water Vole sightings around the trails. If it is calm listen out for the sound of fresh green shoots being merrily munched and for a stem receding into the undergrowth!

David Howarth took this great shot last week.  I am sure that over the coming weeks there will be more to follow!

Oh and had a Raven go over early doors so eyes…

Seldom does a bird look more content than a Snipe when it is happily probing for worms in a nice marshy field.  Try to imagine having a mouth so sensitive that you could put it on the ground and feel a worm wiggling beneath you. There is probably a random element too but they only seem to suffer when the ground freezes.

It is still pleasing to find that they like the area infront of the Purfleet Hide. The waters have…

Morning all...  Having a few problems getting into today as North Kent seems to be experiencing it own little wintry micro-climate and I currently have driving snow billowing horizontally past my window. I did try and drive in but the A2 and side roads seem to have been missed by the gritters....

Anyway, enough of my griping... found this request that has been circulating amongst various birding email groups and thought…

Incredibly cold today and the wind is picking up fast... still no sign of the Black-necked Grebes but three Avocets in Aveley bay, a pair of displaying Peregrines over the carpark and two Sand Martins zipping through (missed by me again!)

oh and if any of you are on Facebook then there is a really good RSPB Rainham Marshes page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/73050316205/?fref=ts

10-3-13

On Friday Clive Watts spent most of the day in the Purfleet Hide and had a splendid Lapwing outside throughout. The iridescence in the sunlight was splendid. Every petrol colour you can imagine! Being so close even allowed him to capture the moment that this one caught a tiny thin worm and teased it from the mud delicately so that it did not break... need a lot of these to fill a belly!

16-3-13

In recent days we have seen an unusual gathering of Great Crested Grebes in the mouth of the Mardyke with up to 17 being seen.  Most have been in pairs and there had been quite a lot of dancing going on between couples although there have not resorted to seaweeed to cement the dance!

with an appreciative Black Headed Gull (Brenda Clayton)

26-3-13

... and at last!

Saw the same bird that Russ photographed yesterday this morning along with two smart male Black Redstarts. In total eight Wheatears were seen today along with three Scandinavian Rock Pipits, Corn Bunting, the first White Wagtail, nine Ruff, five Curlew, three Ringed Plover, 50 or so Snipe, 250 Golden Plover (new in or returned?), showy Water Rail and two female and the juvenile male Marsh Harrier…

Friday 29 March to Sunday 14 April 0930 - 1700

Price: Wildlife Explorer members £1.50, Child non-members: £2.00 per sheet

Fun for all the family! Can you crack our brand new Easter treasure hunt? Pick up a trail sheet from reception and head out onto the reserve – can you find the clues, solve the puzzle and collect your reward? Everyone gets a prize! Wildlife Explorer…

On Friday evening Mel (our Visitor Services Manager) attended the annual Thurrock Business Awards.  We were entered into two categories and were up against tough opposition and much to our delight we won the award for Environmental Awareness! 

I think Mel was equally surprised that she had to go up on stage to collect the huge plaque!

14-3-13

Shaun Harvey also got a shot of one pair of Scoter today along with both Black Redstarts.  I do not know if the Wheatears have been seen today though.

24-3-13

The adult Little Gull that was seen on the Thames yesterday was still around this morning and put on quite a show with the Black-headed Gulls as it dipped down to the surface after floating grub. although it did not have a black hood it did have the making of a nice pink flush on the front.  Cute bird.

Shots by Brenda Clayton.. note the solid black underwings with a white border and tips.

A single Wheatear was again…

It is a pity that the Black Redstarts have been frequenting the far end of the reserve as I am sure many people are just visiting there and going on their way!  Come on folks...  come and have a walk around the trails on a fine spring day.  A Sand Martin has already been seen at Walthamstow Reservoirs (4th) and the first Wheatear was in Wales on the 5th so come and be the first person to find a summer migrant on our wonderful…

After a quiet spell photographically with our Kestrels, Bob Cooper got these stunning shot recently as she almost hovered over his head. 

22-3-13

As you will see in these three little videos from Clive Watts, our Snipe are battling trough the appalling un-spring-like weather and have been managing to feed pretty well. One looks like it was finding some chunky worms deep down in that grass!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Enjoy....

27-3-13

It is not just the traditional wintering species such as waders and wildfowl that will soon be off.  Most of our Redwings and Fieldfares have already gone with only singles on the marsh in recent weeks and the number of ticking reedbed Robins had suddenly dropped as they too head off towards northern Europe for the summer. Russ Sherriff caught this nicely orange breasted bird on the foreshore earlier in the week. Such…

I have been on a 4x4 course for work in the delightful Eastwell Park in Kent for the past two days so missed out on the first two proper spring days of the year... however had great fun in the woods albeit a little scary at times!

Dave Jordan our Lookerer and I with a slightly muddy Defender...

The big hill... a lot steeper than it looks!

The views were great and there were some cracking Fallow Deer and plenty…

Our Linnets are starting to properly pair up now and the males are beginning to acquire some of their spring finery.

This fine posing cock bird is showing signs of his vibrant rosy bikini! (Paul Sherer)

7-3-13

The Water Rails on the Northern Trail showed very well today and both Trevor and Mark got some good shots as one of them fed unconcerned just in front in one of the reed cuttings....

(Mark Vale)

(Trevor Oakley)

27-3-13

Jerry got some nice video of the Lesser Redpolls last week.  Such cute little birds...

www.youtube.com/watch

8-3-13

It never shows up in the books or paintings but if you get the light just right on a male Pintail then the head is not completely rich chocolate brown. In strong light the area behind the eyes takes on an iridescent purplish hue. Dave McGough must have been sitting  next to Alan yesterday and got some fantastic shots....

and one from Brenda too...

13-3-13

A bit like the Black Redstarts we are wondering if the Marsh Harriers may stay and breed this year.  At the moment there would appear to be up to five birds using the area with adult, sub-adult and immature (brown) males and at least two large brown female types one of which at least is still retaining juvenile feathers. It is amazing enough that we get to see them nearly everyday now so to take that to another level would…

Those rubble mounds are perfect for Black Redstarts and today they drew in another chat in the form of a fine first-summer male Wheatear (brown worn wings age it in case you were wondering!).

Unfortunately, no more were seen out on the trails in appalling murk, rain, drizzle, hail, mist and increasing wind and cold... The Grey Plover was still with the Golden crowd but over 300 Lapwing have gone overnight. A male Me…

Mr Tail Flasher is still holding his own at the west end with his  two lady escorts... I am sure that his plumage had actualy improved since he was first found on the 23rd February. Surely one of our smartest little birds?

(Brenda Clayton)

(Chris Lowe)

(Russ Sherriff)

I do not know if the male Hen Harrier was seen again today but he was certainly around yesterday.

5-3-13

The early evening hunting by the Wennington Barn Owls is amazing and completely against the grain. Shaun is still trying for that killer shot and is getting there!

19-3-13

With all this activity on the foreshore it is interesting to see what the Black Redstarts, Robins, Pipits and Wagtails are eating. It mainly appears to be small sandhoppers that they seem very adept at finding amongst the debris and detritus that washes up with every tide. Two Chiffchaffs have also been seen down there and the Common Sandpiper that is wintering will be after similar prey.

Black Red...

Fluffed up…