Rainham

I visited Rainham on Thursday and had a quick walk along the sea wall and up to the tip where my reward was Barn Owl, Peregrine and Red Kite. I failed again to hear or see any Corn Bunting which seem thin on the ground this year. Skylarks and Meadow Pipit are very vocal on the hill leading to the tip though. A Wheatear was reported but Dave and I couldn't relocate it. Dave had seen Little ringed plover on Purfleet scrape but they weren't showing when I arrived. There was plenty of Avocet in Aveley bay and still lots of Wigeon and Pintail about but otherwise little of note.

Friday saw much of the same although time was limited again. I failed to find anything new for the year but did again see Barn Owl and Raven.

I was busy with my granddaughter's birthday party Saturday when things picked up at Rainham. A Green-winged Teal, three Little gulls, the first Sedge Warbler of the year, Red breasted Merganser, Scoter and Brent Geese all being reported along with more reports of LRP and Corn Bunting. KGV also had a couple of Scoters and some Brent Geese drop in on Saturday whilst I was absent.

So this morning I set off for first light in the rain and walked the sea wall, tip mound, Serin mound etc.

First I heard my first Sedge Warbler of the year followed by at least three more. At the top of the tip I finally found a Corn Bunting singing from a fence post. Along the sea wall a Weasel came out and showed for about ten minutes as it ran along several sleepers on the hunt. The Barn Owl came out when the rain stopped and a couple of Spoonbill were seen distantly from Serin mound. A Raven was seen several times in flight and did drop to feed on a carcase for a while too. As I walked back along the sea wall Dave C. had the Green-winged Teal in view so I stopped to check that out for a Rainham tick and then moved on in search of Little ringed plover and eventually found two on Purfleet scrape for my third year tick of the day. 

pointless year list now 163