Rainham RSPB

Had an evening stroll around Rainham hoping to catch up with the Green-winged Teal that has relocated from Crossness, think I was quite lucky seeing this bird as at first scan only a few Eurasian Teal were seen until a Marsh Harrier spooked more from cover and it appeared on view.

Twenty Swifts were feeding over aveley pools and this were my first of the year.

Aveley bay held a single Black-tailed godwit and good numbers of Whimbrel with at least a dozen birds present, two harbour porpoise were moving out the river.

Marsh Harrier

Quick patch visit this evening paid off in the shape of a female Marsh Harrier through, having picked the bird up low it was quickly set upon by the local crows before gaining height and heading north.

#96 for the patch and only my second in three years.

Ringing 27-04-13

On the patch at dawn this morning and a good selection of birds trapped and processed including my first Sedge Warbler alongside two male Common Whitethroat and a couple of Reed Warbler the other migrant highlights, several Blackbirds two each of Wren, Dunnock and a pair of Long-tailed Tits.

long tailed tit pair.

my first Sedge

Other birds seen were two Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow wag and Siskin over and a pale Common Buzzard thru of note.

green-veined white.

A great morning and many thanks to EC and PJ.

Barking's Buzzing !!

Walked to the patch this morning arriving at 06:45 there were plenty of more arrivals in the shape of Common Whitethroats in abundance and Chiffchaff and Blackcap all over.

On the foreshore a single Bar-tailed godwit alongside three Curlew were first up and a Tern roosting on the mud was my first Arctic of the year.

Several Yellow Wagtails over were new as was a stunning male Whinchat.

Though highlight of the morning was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and was only my second for the patch and the first spring record for me.

Common Redstart

Mike Bateman alerted me to a Common Redstart today at Barking Creekmouth, and checking out this evening I found not one but three birds ( inc 2 males).

Although called Common Redstart these birds are still fairly scarce locally and its not every year your guaranteed to catch up with one on the patch, so well done Mike.

So here is my poor record shot :

plenty of Whitethroat around now too.

Black-Tailed Godwit - Recovery

Found this colour ringed Islandica Black-wit on the patch on the 31st of last month, and thanks to Pete potts for the history of this well travelled bird.

N LNY OLO 18-Aug-08 Levington, Orwell Estuary, Suffolk,
> SE England
> S LNY OLO 01-Sep-09 Alton Water, Tattingstone, Suffolk,
> SE England
> S LNY OLO 19-Sep-09 Abberton Reservoir, nr Colchester,
> Essex, SE England
> S LNY OLO 14-Feb-10 Paimboeuf, Loire Estuary, W France
> S LNY OLO 16-Mar-10 Ouderkerk ad Amstel, The Netherlands
> S LNY OLO 10-May-10 Cley, North Norfolk, E England
> S LNY OLO 22-Jul-10 Thorpe Bay, Trimley St Martin,
> Suffolk, SE England
> S LNY OLO 13-Jul-11 Cliffe Pools RSPB reserve, Thames,
> Kent, SE England
> S ? LNY OLO 27-Dec-11 Rainham Marshes, Thames, Greater
> London, SE England
> S LNY OLO 16-Sep-12 Mistley Walls, Manningtree, Stour
> Estuary, Essex, SE England
> S LNY OLO 31-Mar-13 Barking Bay, London, Essex, SE
> England

phone scoped

Willow Warbler

OK spring for me is when the first Willow Warbler arrives and today was that day whilst doing some scrub clearance work on the patch we came across a singing bird busy flycatching along middle ditch, a good spring bird here and fairly hard to pick up in the autumn too.

A few Sand Martin through today were new for the year also.

Little Gull

Had a nice surprise this evening whilst actually checking the scrub for my first patch wheatear or ouzel  when this nice adult Little Gull appeared over head and headed inland, just managed to grab the camera from the bag and fire a few shots as it headed off north......

Also added a single Swallow thru which puts me on 81 for the year.

Patch Migrants !!

Finally got some summer migrants today yesterdays Ringed Plovers got swapped by a pair of Little Ringed Plover in exactly the same spot !!

Three Whimbrel headed west up river on the ebbing tide and a distant Common Tern headed towards the Crossness incinerator.

The Ingrebourne Valley held 4+ Red Crested Pochard and yesterdays Garganey pair still on the viewing area, Two Common Buzzards in the top paddock.

Barking Blues....

Still struggling on the patch for migrants after a good shift this morning, but did have a brief White Wagtail through and the single Chiffchaff still in middle ditch but no wheatear or martins as yet.

The rising tide pushed a pair of Ringed Plover on to site and 23 Black-tailed Godwit were on the other side were a high count for this year !!

Added both Jay and Jackdaw today which are both fairly hard to catch up with on this site.

The Outfall held two Common Sandpiper and a probable Water Pipit flew away but not good enough views to clinch.

ringed plover

mipit