A month dominated by breeding birds with some good records, but more of that later in season when all the figures are in.... A few early returning passage waders had arrived before the end of the month with a couple of Avocets, Green Sandpipers, Curlew and Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. Marsh Harriers were still about and Red Kites were seen on the 11th (two) and 21st. Two Egyptian Geese were the first of the year (23rd…

Evening all....

Stephen Roberts is a keen volunteer at RSPB Rainham Marshes in Essex and is passionate about the RSPB and the work that we do.

So, on Saturday 12th July he will be cycling as part of the Dunwich Dynamo challange from London Fields in Hackney all the way across Essex to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast where he will finish overlooking the amazing RSPB Minsmere where Springwatch was held just a few short weeks…

You remember all those spiky black caterpillers from a few weeks back? Well they are all now emerging as pristine shiny, technicoloured adult Peacock butterflies!  The Cordite Woodland was full of them yesterday, queuing up to sip at the lilac buddhlia bar...

This rather smart bee-mimic hoverfly by the name of Eristalis intracarius was also lapping up the sugary offerings....

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The Black-tailed Godwits are still here and actively feeding on the dropping Purfleet Scrape. Seemed to be 23 again this morning with a Green Sandpiper and several Redshank for company. The first 'autumn' Whimbrel was seen yesterday and the Bearded Tits were putting on a fine show earlier on the Northen Trail and at the Dragonfly Pool. Three Yellow Wagtails flew over the sea wall so things are one the move....

I wanted to let you know about the different activities that we are running over the summer holidays (26 July - 31 August).

We have a variety of different activities for all age groups. Unless stated otherwise: you can just turn up on the day, the activities are £1 per child and free for accompanying adults.

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 Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)

Every Tuesday morning, 11 am-12 noon, children…

With at least our third brood of Bearded Tits on the wing, there is a pretty good chance of connecting with these enigmatic little reed dwellers...

The second platform on the Northern Trail still seems to be a good bet although the family were seen at the Dargonfly Pool in recent days....

Thanks to Tom Bell for the shots of these youngsters...

Listen for that pingin and you too could have a Beady encounter in the…

They may not even look like they have wings but Little Grebes are actually very good flyers and most of our breeding population actually leaves the marsh in the winter and heads off to local deep water gravel and chalk pits where the water remains open and the fishing easier.

Sometimes you may see birds power running over the surface with feet and wings whirring but they seldom seem to actually take off...

Russ Sherriff…

The big boys and girls are starting to get airbourne and the air is full of the largest species of dragonflies now with Black-tailed Skimmers, Emperors, Migrant and Southern Hawkers all on the wing.

These intelligent aerial predators offer some great photographic opportunities and waiting on a bridge to capture one as it completes its regular terratorial circuit is probably your best bet.

Black-tailed Skimmer (Mark…

It is getting to the time of year when young Cuckoos start to fledge from their poor worn out foster parents get a chance for a break from feeding the mega-baby in their little nest.

A male Cuckoo having a breather... (Russ Sherriff)

Reed Warbler (Mark Vale) 

So next time you see a Reed Warbler flitting around with a bill full of food, stop and wonder if the poor little bird is busy feeding up someone elses baby…

Evening all....

Stephen Roberts is a keen volunteer at RSPB Rainham Marshes in Essex and is passionate about the RSPB and the work that we do.

So, on Saturday 12th July he will be cycling as part of the Dunwich Dynamo challange from London Fields in Hackney all the way across Essex to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast where he will finish overlooking the amazing RSPB Minsmere where Springwatch was held just a few short weeks…

Mr Kingfisher has been seen in front of the Ken Barrett Hide in recent days and Tom caught him hovering for over five minutes over the pool the other day. How he kept this going for so long is surprising! He eventually decided that either the fish were too big, too few or just too elusive and he flew off back towards the Mar Dyke.

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Dare I say it.... autumn is coming.  I had four Black-tailed Godwits on Monday out on the pool snad this morning that has gone up to 23. All are adults in rich chestnut plumage and I suspect that they are fresh in from Iceland.  Hopefully this is a taste of things to come in the coming weeks as the water levels drop and become more appealing to passage waders.....

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