12/06/2016 Rainham Marshes with the East Grinstead RSPB Group

Sunday 12 June 2016
Rainham Marshes, Essex
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

With showery weather forecast for most of the day we took a chance and went ahead with our visit to this excellent reserve by the Dartford Bridge.  10 of us enjoyed a good day out, often in the rain, and managed to get a species list of over 60

• Conditions were dry at the start and whilst we were waiting for the reserve to open we were directed to a yellow-legged gull on the waters edge on the far side of the River Thames.  Apparently it was a second year type.  The key ID features were the very white and well rounded head.  Surprisingly I had a year tick!

• We took the clockwise route, hoping to see and hear the grasshopper warbler that had been around for some days down by the turnstile exit.  Unfortunately we had no luck but we compensated for this with superb views of sedge warblers, reed buntings and reed warblers.

• At the shooting butts hide, Patrick alerted us to a ringed plover and soon after we spotted our first marsh harrier of the day. 

After stopping off at the Ken Barrett hide, the rain had really set in so we headed back to the centre to have our lunch.

• A quick visit to Coalhouse Fort in the afternoon added a couple of cuckoos to our list along with buzzard, stonechat and avocet.

Under the circumstances we had a quite productive day!