Recent sightings...

Sorry for the few days quiet!  Plenty to be seen out on the marsh with the easterly and northerly winds and waders have still been arriving in good numbers. A Wheatear was still about on Saturday 5th.

• 5^th November: 3 Short-eared Owl, 101 Black-tailed Godwit, 51 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew, 56 Redshank, 258 Dunlin, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 9 Shelduck, 255 Teal, 69 Shoveler, m Pintail, 4 Gadwall, 134 Stock Dove, Rock Pipit, Wheatear, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Wheatear

Brents in the murk (Andy Tweed)

• 6^th November: 309 Black-Tailed Godwit, 71 Redshank, 192 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 5 Rock Pipit, 3 Goldcrest, 106 Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank, 1st yr Little Gull, 3 Yellow-Legged Gull, 2 Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Short-Eared Owl, Ruff, Snipe, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Ringed Plover, Peregrine Kestrel, Ring-Necked Parakeet, Kingfisher, 3 Stonechat, 3 Fieldfare
• 7^th November: juv Pomarine Skua, Lapland Bunting, Little Gull 60 Blackbird, 10 Song Thrush, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Lesser Redpoll, Brambling, Yellowhammer 80 Greenfinches

The Short-eared Owls have been showing regulalrly at the west end and can be seen from the path through Rainham West and at least three have been seen quartering the fields.

Who's watching who? (Shaun Harvey)