The last two days have been glorious although we did see a few snowflakes before the front moved off east and the blue sky appeared while today was also a blue sky day although the wind has at last gone east with dropping temperatures and the chance of some birds from continental Europe arriving...
A Glaucous Gull has been around for the last three days and has been seen roosting out on Wennington from the Serin Mound. it is a huge beast!
Galucous Gull - Paul Hawkins
But to be honest it is all about the duck and the Lapwings still with over 2000 of each out on the marsh. They are putting on a superb spectacle especially when the raptors give them gyp. Snipe are still in abundance and 11 Golden Plover joined the Ruff and were new in today.
Lapwing - Bill Crooks
Golden Plover - Ian Plume
Snipe - Pete Woods
Pintail - Pete Woods
Shoveler - Tony O'Brien
Wigeon - Tony O'Brien
Teal - Tony O'Brien
The Marsh Harriers have been superb with at least six birds using the marsh including the return of the gree wing tagged ZR young male that was born in Norfolk last year while a couple of Buzzards and regular Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and about five Peregrines have kept everything on edge.
Marsh Harrier - Tony O'Brien
Sparrowhawk - Bob Cooper.
The one above has been especially keen on the Starling flocks out feeding with the Lapwings and has been seen takign one or two!
Starlings - Mike Gibbons
The Short-eared Owls have been seen sporadically at the end of the river wall but are by no means guarenteed...
Short-eared Owl - Andy Tweed
I will leave you with the edited highlights from today's 70 or so species seen...
Friday 18th January 2019
• RSPB Rainham Marshes: juv Glaucous Gull, 30 Pintail, 4 Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Water Rail, 37 Avocet, 11 Golden Plover, 5 Curlew, Ruff, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 300 Dunlin, 19 Snipe, Barn Owl, Kestrel, 3 Peregrine, 30 Skylark, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, 6 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, Blackcap, 5 Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Water Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit. Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail