Rainham Marshes - Whimbrel

Finally and with thanks to a computor virus that has over the last couple of days been chewing its way through my hard drive i got out; recovery disks in and a good few hours install, i managed to get over to Rainham for a bit.

Bird wise not a lot within the reserve; although earlier, Whimbrel, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and Snipe x3 all seen from Purfleet Scrape. About five or six had gathered and looking but nothing in sight when i arrived.

A brisk walk along to Butts Hide and my ever increasing interest in the butterflies and moths resulted in my first Marbled White

courtesy of www.butterfly-conservation.org

Followed quickly by a Small Tortoiseshell

Small Tortoiseshell

Heading out of the reserve and over to Aveley Bay i was on the look out for Yellow Legged Gulls and Whimbrel both of which i havnt had this year. Not overly confident with the Yellow Legged Gull due to ID but they have been in the bay quite a bit of late.

In the bay were plenty of gulls a lot of Black Headed. No Meds amongst them. Lots of younger gulls and i managed to ID Herring, Lesser Black Backed & Great Black Backed; I did go over them time and time again but couldnt see any Yellow Legged, although thats not to say i didnt miss them.

Then from the back of the bay a Whimbrel took flight and headed to the other side of the Thames; a 2012 tick.

The only other birds in the bay were Great Crested Grebe & Oystercatchers.

Another Whimbrel on the way back to the center.