A Couple of Hours in the Purfleet Hide

29th November 2024

A couple of hours to spare so off to Rainham Marshes to see what the Purfleet Hide has to offer. The Canada Geese were obviously pleased to see us as they immediately took off from the far side and flew to the water right in front of the hide, so that was a good start.

This female Mute Swan was having a bath and really throwing herself into it.

That's better!!!!

Earlier in the season a pair of Great Crested Grebes were buidling a nest close to the Purfleet Hide but failed after a couple of attempts. However the presence of this humbug in late November suggests that they were indeed successful eventually.

There were a few Lapwings around..................

....................and they were still carrying out their fast erratic flights which you normally associate with courtship.

There were about five Curlews on the scrape which is quite a low number for high tide...............

.....................but as the tide dropped they all flew out to feed on the exposed mud.

This female Gadwall was sneaking a bath while her partner had a sleep followed by a wing-flap to dry off.

Meanwhile a lone drake Teal was sifting the mud right outside the hide.

Male Shovelers are now looking dapper in their new breeding plumage.................

...................and were also partaking in baths....................

.........................and a wing-stretch.

There were about six Shelducks present, mostly at the far end but one did venture closer for some shots.

There was alos a nice group of Wigeon feeding very close, all looking very smart now that they have shed their eclipse plumage.

But the stars of the show today were the male Pintails up-ending out on the mere. One or two eventually came closer enabling a few close-us which was the perfect end to a great day at this fabulous reserve.