Rainham Marshes - Summer Migrants

Apparently "one Swallow does not make a summer".......So i presume then Swallows, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler & Wheatears is a step in the right direction.

By 8.30am i was over at RSPB Rainham Marshes car park and heading along the Thames towards Aveley Bay and Serin Mound; the tide was in and not much was about along the river, a few Teal and Mallard dotted about with the odd Reed Bunting darting here and there.

However a single Swallow came along the bank, low and on to the bay; my first of the year. Last year i saw my first on the 13th April, today being 15th.

As i got to Serin Mound i heard the unmistakable scratching of a Whitethroat, it was sitting high on the bushes just before the Gorse. Then another a little further in. To my left a Wheatear flew over the mound and down towards the field; a couple on the ground there rather than on the pathway area by the bay where i was hoping to catch them.

Last year; my first Wheatear at Rainham was 22nd April and the first Whitethroat of 2011 was 15th April.

courtesy of my dad

Into the reserve and i headed round via the Marshland Discovery Centre, with Redshank x4. I managed Sedge Warbler x2 (2011's first Sedge was 22nd April) but heard a couple more along with hearing Cettis Warbler x3 and another Whitethroat.

The drake Garganey was resting on the right hand edging of Aveley Flash but viewable from both jetties. Binoculars from the first jetty from Butts Hide. Two Avocet and a single Redshank.

Chiffchaff, Blackcap along with the more common in the woodland; 53 species in total.