Back from my hols on the Greek island of Lesvos (birding of course) and in work for one of the busiest Bank Holiday Mondays I can remember.....
I added three species to my Rainham year list in the first five minutes with Swift, Reed Warbler and Cuckoo before I stopped the car.
Cuckoo (Jim Willett)
The rest of the day was a bit of a meet and greet blur but a short walk and a meet up with Paul Hawkins after work gave a combined wader list of some note with..... 18 Whimbrel, Curlew, many Redshank, three Greenshank, Green, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Dunlin, three Knot, five Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstone, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Grey Plover, Lapwings with many chicks, two Oystercatchers and a Snipe......17 species all told!!
Summer plumaged Dunlin (Paul Hawkins)
Ringed Plover (Paul Hawkins)
With a Little Gull, Arctic and Common Terns, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, four Hobbies, Bearded Tits and our feeding Kingfishers on show, it was a great day to visit the marshes....
Whimbrel (Andy Tweed)