A Summer Visit to Rainham Marhes

28th June 2022

A lovely sunny day so time for a visit to Rainham Marshes. A bit quiet on the bird front due to the time of the year so an opportunity to have a look at some of the summertime specialities, the flowers, insects and Marsh Frogs with each one labelled individually

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Chicory

Creeping Cinquefoil

Goat's Rue

Lady's Bedstraw

Mallow

Meadow Vetchling

Small Tortoiseshell

Comma

Holly Blue

Large Skipper

Common Carder Bee

Marsh Frog

On the bird front today's objective was to photograph Bearded Tits so I started at the bridge by the Pyefleet Hide where they had been seen recently. I did get a few glimpses but the stiff breeze was keeping them low and hunkered down, so time for a walk along the trail to the Dragonfly Ponds. You can always rely on Goldfinches and Linnets to pose for a photo.

In the Butt's Hide a lone Little Egret was doing it best to catch a fish but without success, but was certainly making a splash in the process.

Also, a Wren was busy collecting insects for its brood.

For most of the summer a pair of Cuckoos have been around the Butt's Hide and today the male was post-hopping on the fence-line by the target pools.

So it looks as though I have dipped on the Bearded Tits today so time to get back to the visitor centre. As I was walking back up the slope towards the viewpoint overlooking Pyefleet Scrape I heard a pinging coming from the ditch below. Two juveniles were present but were keeping no more than a couple of inches above the water and were always on the move.

However, with a little bit of patience and balancing on the bank I did manage to get a few shots.

Mission Accomplished!!!!!