Ornithological Summary November 2021
RSPB Rainham Marshes:
The Cattle Egret duo became five on the 2nd and by the 7th there were ten following around the cows with at least three making it through to December. This was a new site record and a taste of things to come I think while Great White Egrets were seen on five single dates. A single Barnacle Goose (9th) was seen with the vast Canada flock and a couple of Scoter were seen on the Thames with a female Goldeneye on the 20th also and a single Brent Goose on the 22nd.
Cattle Egrets - Ben Rumsby
With a continued westerly air stream duck numbers actually dwindled rather than increased. Caspian Gulls were regularly noted along with adult Little Gull (27th), the odd Yellow-legged Gull and a cracking ‘Viking Gull’. Two Ruff were wintering and Jack Snipe were occasionally seen along with both Green and Common Sandpipers. Four Knot (22nd) were noteworthy with about 1000 Dunlin and one or two Grey (but still no Golden) Plover were seen.
Avocets - Bob Cooper
Knot, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Teal - Andy Tweed
The ‘usual’ raptors all put on a good show and a ring-tail Hen Harrier drifted quickly through on the 18th. The only Short-eared Owl was one high and south on the 3rd and Raven once again became a daily feature.
Hen Harrier - Tony O'Brien
Raven - Mick Brockington
The lingering Ring Ouzel stayed till the 3rd and the Dartford Warbler was true to the river wall throughout. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were seen and a Firecrest was noted on the 19th and 20th while Bearded Tits, Water and Rock Pipits were still to be found. The star find of the month though was a crisp Hooded Crow that flew north on the 23rd and was probably the first one since the 1980s.
Ring Ouzel - Tony O'Brien
Dartford Warbler - Andy Reid
Hooded Crow - Rudraksh Chodankar
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer