A weekend roundup

It was a busy weekend on the marshes that started with ‘Mayflower’ thundering through on Saturday morning and the KBC walk then proved most productive with superb views of Marsh Harriers and Buzzards, plenty of smart dabbling ducks and the finding of a female Black Redstart flycatching from the electric fence.

Black Redstart - Tom Bell

There were at least 12 singing Chiffchaffs - Chris Barnes

Pintail - Tony O'Brien

A pair of dapper Wheatear, early scratchy Sedge Warbler and a quartet of Sand Martins added to the vaguely spring-like feel while two Water Pipits, 18 Redwings and a Fieldfare reminded us that the winter was but a short while ago.

Fieldfare - Tom Bell

Pat Hart got some great video clips of some of the species present...

Here are the full highlights:

Saturday 23rd March 2019

• RSPB Rainham Marshes: 2 Black Redstart, Sedge Warbler, 4 Sand Martin Fieldfare, 18 Redwing 2 Wheatear, 2 Oystercatcher, 22 Golden Plover, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, Barn Owl, Bearded Tit, 12 Pintail, , 3 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egret, 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Common Gull, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnet, 10 Reed Bunting, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 20 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Water Pipit, f Peregrine, f Sparrowhawk, 3m 5f Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 16 Buzzard 33 Snipe, 2 Ruff, Curlew, 35 Redshank, Oystercatcher, 102 Coot, 66 Shelduck, 158 Shoveler, 18 Pochard, 35 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 6 Pintail, 19 Mallard, 443 Wigeon, 137 Teal, 108 Greylag, 73 Canada Goose, 4 Little Grebe, 6 Great crested Grebe, 2 Water Rail, pr Stonechat, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 Reed Bunting

Sunday was a lot nicer and incredibly busy but also quieter on the bird front with no new migrants although one of the Little Ringed Plovers from Friday was heard flying around the Purfleet Scrape in the morning.

A Kingfisher dashing by was the first in some time and the Mute Swans put on a graceful display for the visitors and a pair of Stonechats are still about - let's hope they stay.

Stonechat - Andy Tweed

Sixteen Curlews and 70 Black-tailed Godwits were seen over the high tide and the local Little Egrets were looking resplendent in their gauzy finery.

Little Egret - Tony O'Brien

Little Egret - Steve Knox

The even finer weather had both the Harriers and Buzzards up skydancing and a Short-eared Owl was having a fly round high up before returning the safety of Aveley Bay.

There were plenty of insects too but more of that in another blog...