Rainham Marshes

An early start at Rainham this morning found me in the car park at 7.30am with nobody around. I headed up the Thames towards Avely Bay finding a good mixture of birds.

More Rock Pipits than i have seen in one go before, totalling 9 and a steady stream of mixed gulls heading for the landfill site for breakfast.

A large group of Woodpigen headed from over the reserve and accross the Thames towards Kent, i counted 70 odd but there could have been more.

As i approached the bay i could make out more than just gulls, the tide was out and the sun was low coming up from over my shoulder so i new that if i walked on further and viewed it i wouldnt be able to see much becuase of the sun.

There were a few Curlew, a single Great Blacked Backed Gull, 3 Redshank along with 23 Black Tailed Godwit. Most of the Godwit flew up the Thames towards London after a few minutes.

Carrying on past the Bay i kept river side and down the side of the landfill. Meadow Pipits and Skylark were a plenty along the landfill side along with a small Linnet flock of about 12 birds. On the shore side a count of 13 Herring Gull, 12 Black Headed Gull, 8 Great Black Backed Gull and a few Lapwing.

Other Birds seen: Teal 3, Cormorant 3, Shelduck 3, Robin, Blackbird, Kestrel, Magpie, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit, Goldfinch, House Sparrow 6, Reed Bunting (F).