More Pipits at Rainham Marshes

2nd January 2015

Our timing today was immaculate!! High tide was just half an hour away so it was straight to our favourite place on the river wall to see what pipits were in attendance. On the way a number of Redwings and Fieldfares were making the most of the remaining Hawthorn berries but, apart from this lone individual, were fairly flighty. The pair of Stonechats were also present but on this occasion it was the male that was the most confiding.

There were only two pipits present today, both Rocks, but this one seemed oblivious to our presence and, when the tide was at its highest, was running around on floating tide wrack. This made photography even more difficult as not only was it moving quite quickly, but was also bobbing up and down. At times it was just 10 yards away.

Now on to the reserve and first stop was the Purfleet Hide. Unfortunately the only birds near the hide were a couple of snoozing Teal.

Next stop was the new viewing platform overlooking the Target Pools where, not surprisingly, everything was fairly distant apart from a small flock of grazing Wigeon.

But the surprise today was at the feeding station by the Cordite Stores woodland where, whilst we were waiting for the woodpecker to show, a Water Rail run out and stole the show. How good is that??