Today we saw a combination of sunshine, some blue sky and rather a lot of visitors. The birding was not half bad for a very mild un-wintry day with 86 species amassed between a few observers. I do not think that I have quite got everything on the big list below but you get the idea!
Three Great white Egrets, 5 Barnacle Geese, Dartford Warbler and Firecrest were highlights but if anyone saw the Bearded Tits, Goldcrest or Great Spotted Woodpecker today let me know!
Dartford Warbler - Henry Wyn-Jones
Great White Egret - Sam Levy
At the very least it should give you the incentive to visit in the coming days...
Great White Egret - Pete Woods
Stonechat - Lawrence Rogers
Wigeon - there were 100s - Jeff Harrington
The adult male Marsh Harrier is stunning - Pete Woods
Saturday 1st January 2022
• RSPB Rainham Marshes: 3 Great White Egret, 5 Barnacle Geese, Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, 189 Greylag Goose, 389 Canada Geese, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, 31 Shelduck, 211 Shoveler, 162 Gadwall, 627 Wigeon, 44 Pintail, 336 Teal, 80 Mallard, 20 Pochard, 33 Tufted Duck, 2 Pheasant, 3 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 158 Coot, 13 Stock Dove, 22 Collared Dove, 18 Woodpigeon, 300 Feral Pigeon, 27 Avocet, 800 Lapwing, 15 Curlew, 87 Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, 500 Dunlin, 98 Snipe, 99 Redshank, 3500 Black-headed Gull, 42 Common Gull, 2500 Herring Gull, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 1w Caspian Gull, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 85 Great Black-backed Gull, 16 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 5 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, Peregrine, Ring-necked Parakeet, Jay, 15 Magpie, 50 Carrion Crow, 10 Jackdaw, 4 Raven, 14 Blue Tit, 18 Great Tit, 32 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Skylark, 2 Chiffchaff, 23 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Wren, 9 Blackbird, 6m Song Thrush, 18 Redwing, 53 Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, 22 Robin, 8 Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 16 Meadow Pipit, 4 Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 20 Chaffinch, 12 Greenfinch, 122 Linnet, 63 Goldfinch, 14 Reed Bunting
Water Pipit - Henry Wyn-Jones
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - Gemma Towe
And Kirsty Kestrel was still keeping an eye on the visitors - Andy Reid