Wednesday was a complete contrast to the delightfully dire, gloomy, drizzly murk of Tuesday with blue skies and a stiff northerly breeze that brought the temperatures back down once again and although a couple of Scoter and a single Little Gull were seen it was another white winged gull that stole the show. 

Mediterranean Gulls are quite frequently encountered in the spring as birds return to their North Kent colonies alongside the Thames and Medway but what happened between 845am and 130pm was remarkable with no less than 87 Meds recorded.

Some were singles but most were in small groups and almost all were gleaming adults with matt black heads and the ‘kaoww’ calls could be heard in the sky above almost any time you went outside.

Med Gulls - Sam Levy

They are one of my favourite birds and having them drifting overhead gleaming translucent and white is always a special moment. I am lucky enough to have them over my house in Rochester most days from this time of year.

The first Arctic Terns of the year bounced down the Thames and a fine Red Kite – probably a second year – drifted low over the car park before quickly circling up over Aveley Marsh and into the blue.

Thursday was even colder and quite grey until late afternoon but I still managed an hour on the river wall before work which revealed not only the withering of my frozen digits but also a fine male Common Redstart in all his spring glory and three each of fresh in Willow Warblers and Blackcap. Tthe Redstart had browner wings than the one on Tuesday and was obviously also a new arrival. Twelve Sedge Warblers and the first Reed Warbler of the year sang from the perimeter ditch while both the adult male and two female Marsh Harriers were up already and making a nuisance of themselves on the marsh with the Lapwings given no quarter what so ever.

Redstart - Bryan Bland

And so to Friday which was equally cold and uninviting but with a good scattering of young eyes out there, there were birds to be found – the best of which was a White Stork that Tom Bell picked up and frantically phoned me about.  I was in the visitor centre but managed to get everyone on it as it looped around over Wennington and the landfill and everyone had nearly 30 minutes to connect with this huge bird.

James McCulloch

Tom Bell

James McCulloch

After a final circuit it drifted slightly off to the north west and was lost to view.  Everyone was over the moon and Tom was beaming from ear to ear when he came back in.

Andy Tweed

And a video from Sam Levy - I think that the young lads were all very excited!

The first Grasshopper Warbler was heard and three Bar-tailed Godwits along the foreshore were also new for year. 

The list for the day was actually quite good given the freezing conditions and I wonder what we can find over the next two days?

Friday 12th April 2019

  • RSPB Rainham Marshes: White Stork, Red-breasted Merganser. 30 Common Tern, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew, Whimbrel, 5 Blackcap, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet, 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Swallow, 60 Sand Martin, 33m Cetti's Warbler, 13m Sedge Warbler, 2m Reed Warbler, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Rock Pipit, m Peregrine, 16 Snipe, 6 Little Egret, 5 Marsh Harrier, 9 Med Gull high NE, 2 House Martin, Kingfisher, 3 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard, Jay, 3 Bearded Tit, 4 Ruff, Rook, m Stonechat, 11 Stock Dove, 3 Corn Bunting, Raven, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, House Martin  Little Ringed plover