Hey, Get out of the car! Bastard!

I managed to get a couple of hours this afternoon and was heading over to the Stone Barges, however i decided that as i hadnt actually been in Rainham RSPB for a while (Bailons being the last time and even then the walk round to Butts was in the dark) it would be something different.

 

As i was heading up the old A13 news came in for Bewicks Swan x3, 2 adults and 1 juvenile, this was good news, not only a patch first but a life first and 2012, a London first and Essex first...oh the lists......

 

Upon leaving the center and heading down the ramp it was looking promising, two swans on purfleet scrape. One head later and my attention shifted form the Mutes and was draw to a guy digiscoping at the end of the ramp. Maybe he could help, no he hadnt seen them and at the moment a guy passing us heard the conversation and pointed them out over the far side near the Canada Goose flock.

 

courtey of www.natureconservationimages.com

 

After some good scoped views i headed off to the bus stop in search of Jack Snipe; Snipe x2 but no Jack, a male Stonechat obliged at 5ft on the Reed tops, Black Tailed Godwit x3.

 

Heading into the Woodland area, the Redwing were in fair numbers with a single Fieldfare and a male singing Cettis Warbler.

 

Not that i needed a way to recall this however thanks to Bird Watching magazine (lates issue) who have now annoyingly planted "Hey, Get out of the car! Bastard! in my mind. I used to enjoy hearing this song lets hope i can forget the above pretty quickly.

 

Heading out of the Woodland and a Kingfisher sat neatly on the fence post by the stream on the left, promptly firing off back the way i had come.

 

I got as far as Barrets hide and decided to head back rather than complete a circuit. Back where the feeders are in the woodland i find my digiscoping gentleman who shows me a great shot of a Great Spotted Woodpecker that had just dropped in.

 

After a chat it turns out this is my second boozy birder i have come in contact with, Ron Colson aka The Brickfield Birder.

 

After a wonder back to the center with Ron i left for home with a final Ring Necked Parakeet x9 in the car park.

 

A really enjoyable couple of hours plus the added benefit of no dogs, i forgot what that was like. I've not been to Rainham as much this year, something to be rectified for 2013.

 

Ron - Great meeting you and see you again.