A Couple of Hours in the Purfleet Hide

16th January 2018

I had a bit of spare time so what better way to spend it than in the Purfleet Hide at Rainham Marshes. The water levels were now very high due to the recent rain, which had the advantage of bringing the wildfowl much closer to the hide. The Wigeon in particular were very close, even grazing on the bank right outside the window.

There was even a chance of a flight shot and this time the settings just happened to be right.



The Shovelers were also resplendent in the sun and were intermingling with the Wigeon and Pintail.

The Shelduck was absolutely stunning in its breeding plumage and was swimming the closest I think I have ever seen. As a child armed with only The Observers Book of Birds, this was the first "rare" duck that I saw, as opposed to the Mallard down the park, and is still one of my favourites.

But the stars of the show today were the Pintail. I photographed a Pintail here on the 7th February 2013, just after the hide opened, but have never seen one close enough for a photo since. So today was an absolute bonus and was the perfect end to a couple of hours in the Purfleet Hide.