Brilliant - and welcome to the club ;-) I was out there on Saturday and the Stonechats were posing nicely then as well. It's a great place for a day out (assuming sun and no wind blasting up the estuary of course).
"Let loose the Kraken!"
I was very lucky with the weather too. It was supposed to rain all afternoon but it didn't at all. Some parts were flooded though restricting my movements (I must remember my wellies next time!)
I would love to see a stonechat - it's a bird I've never managed yet to find. Glad you had such a great day.
See my Flickr photos here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115745582@N04/
Here's one of the Stonechats from Rainham on Saturday.
Saturday was a nice day at Rainham - brilliant sunshine, blue sky and a mass birds. Highlights for me were Gadwall (aways one of my favourite ducks) the flocks of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Greylags flying against the blue sky, the Stonechats and a cooperative Dunnock. The flooding wasn't too bad, passable in waterproof hiking boots, the other birders were as friendly and chatty as ever and the soup of the day was delicious ;-)
White Greylag (sadly not a Ross's Goose ;-)
More Greylags
Obliging Dunnock
Obligatory Robin
Sounds like you had a good day Chris! I'm glad that you7 enjoyed your visit!