Hi Folks.
I know it is not even a week ago since Aiki and I visited Rainham with GrahamC but today we had the chance to meet up with more forumites this time Clare and Limpy travelled down from Suffolk to visit Rainham Marshes and we decided to all meet up. Aiki and I arrived at opening time and went to the woodland area first in the hope of seeing the Lesser Whitethroat seen last week as well as a pair of Cuckoos known to be in the woodland. We hear the Cuckoos and did see the Lesser White Throat again, we milled around the woodland for a while to pass time as we knew Clare and Limpy were hoping to arrive around 11am we then headed to the Purfleet hide as it was the nearest to the visitors centre. There was plenty out on the Marsh which was alive with the sounds of Marsh frogs but also making a welcome appearance were some Whimbrels.
I then recieved a text saying they had arrived so Aiki and I headed to the cafe in the visitors centre and were greeted by two smiling faces belonging to Clare and Limpy,we all hit it of straight away so knew we were in for a good day. We went out on the reserve and headed back to Purfleet Hide and thanks to Aikis quick spot we were treated to a pair of Cuckoos flying and flirting together as they flew right in front of the hide and over to the woodland area. What a cracking start and certainly my best ever views of Cuckoos. We eventually all agreed to move on the the next hide and see what else was round and Limpy spotted a Water Vole almost straight away things were getting better, we were a bit disappointed though to find the the hide near the Kingfishers nest site closed at around 12.30 when it had been open from 11am to 3pm :-(
We saw plenty doing a nice slow leisurly circuit of the reserve including, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, Blackcaps, Cetti's (heard), Whitethroat, Lesser Whitehroat, Kestrel, Hobby, Whimbrel, Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier (2), Herons, Little Egrets, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coots plus one with chicks, Mallard including a family with 7 chicks, Gadwall, Lapwings, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese a fly over by a Ross's Goose (correct me if im wrong aiki) plus all the usual I'm sure my forumite friends will add many more to this list.
Anyway heres a variety of photos from my wee camera, if cameras had feelings might have got a little depressed with the lenses it was up agains lol.
Sedge Warbler
I think this was the Lesser Whitethroat.
Comma Butterfly
First Damselfly for this year mybe a Red Damsel I will leave Aiki to confirm or correct me.
Sedge Warbler.
Green Veined White
Tailess Magpie
Looking across the reserve towards the Purfleet Hide.
The Water Vole Limpy spotted.
Distant Cuckoo
Marsh Frogs check out the video to hear how loud they were.
Peacock Butterfly
Male Reed Bunting
Willow Warbler who impersonated a Chiffchaff, it would start off chiffinng then break into song.
Anyway that my bit I'm sure the others will add to this report of a really good day having made two new friends off the forum.
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
So enjoyed looking through all your photos, folks! What a dream day out you all had.
Thanks for sharing your lovely photo's, glad you were all able to meet and have a fantastic day out :-)
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
Fabulous report and photos all round. Love the noisy toad. That cuckoo shot is superb aiki. Glad you all enjoyed the day and thanks for sharing your adventures with us
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
I'm going to post three more pictures - I'm going to have to ask very nicely what they all are!! I think the third one is a chiffchaff but I'm not sure about the others:
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Thanks for adding more fab pics, Clare and Limpy :) These three warblers are 1) the mixed-singer warbler, which was doing a mix of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler song, 2) Chiffchaff, 3) Sedge Warbler.
I've done some reading up on the mixed-singing thing and am not really any the wiser. One theory is that the bird imitates the other species' song to discourage individuals of that species from moving into its territory, another is that mixed singers are hybrids. I liked the idea that we should call them 'Whiffwhaffs' :) Plumage and structure-wise, this particular bird looked like a Willow Warbler to me, albeit a rather drab one.
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
aiki said:I liked the idea that we should call them 'Whiffwhaffs'
That made me smile. Isn't that what our revered Mayor of London (BoJo) calls table tennis.?
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thanks, Aiki - love the word Whiffwhaff! I could certainly apply that to Limpy and our daughter the next time they have baked beans!
Thanks Clare, Aiki and Limpy for all your great photos added to this thread and a special thanks to all who have added their king remarks and praise to us all, I've said it once but hey who cares it was a great day with great company. Regarding the Whiffwhaff we were not the only birders to find it, Howard Vaughan blogged about the same bird.
www.rspb.org.uk/.../what-s-been-seen-today.aspx
Nice photographs Shane, I was over Rainham on Sunday trying to get a shot of the Kingfisher, no such luck, got some nice ones of the Mute Swans fighting, I may pop over there this Sunday for a second attempt.