Wheatears and a Cattle Egret at Rainham Marshes

27th September 2023

I had arrived at the Purfleet Hide at mid-day to coincide with high tide expecting the scrape to have at least some Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews at roost. In the event there was only 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlews and a handful of Lapwings.

The usual suspects were present with a Grey Heron and a Little Egret.................

......................but also a Cattle Egret which for some reason had strayed away from the cattle.

Majestic on the ground and even more majestic in flight.

And then back where its belongs.

Still plenty of Marsh Frogs making their presence known, albeit fairly subdued compared with the height of the breeding season.

Along the trail to the river wall turnstile now and a male Stonechat was sitting up quite nicely. Not as many these days as there used to be.

On the river wall the tide was in so it was a case of wading for the Shelducks.

Also one of the tame Kestrels was putting on a good display.

But the stars of the show today were the two very tame and much photographed juvenile Wheatears which were not only very confiding but also a couple of posers.

Why can't they all be like this?