Rainham and KGV

A quick walk round Rainham on Friday gave me my first Common Tern of the year when two birds flew down river early morning as me and Steve B scanned the river waiting for the reserve to open. At the entrance to the reserve I had my first Willow Warbler of the year and on the reserve my first ever booming Bittern for Rainham marshes. This Bittern has now boomed for over a week so is officially considered as on breeding territory. Other birds of note were a couple of Curlew, Raven, Marsh Harriers and seven Fieldfare. Lapwing, Avocet and Redshank are all busy with the breeding season now.

On Saturday I headed along the sea wall and found no fewer than five singing Sedge Warblers for another year tick. Raven, Turnstone, Curlew and Fieldfare again the highlights of this short walk.

Today saw me and Jim hit the KGV at first light after last nights storm Dave. It was cold and we did get wet as the last of the storm moved off but our reward was our first two Common Sandpipers of the year and another male Wheatear which is only our second for KGV this year. Greater Scaup, Smew and the two Slavonian Grebes were all still present and a female Goosander flew down the river. Two Sparrowhawk and a Red Kite were both nice to see but we missed a distant fly over Osprey which Nev and Harry had as I was busy photographing the Wheatear on the opposite bank. A total of 55 Species on this visit.

Year list now 173