A Water Pipit at Rainham Marshes

22nd October 2026

There has been a Pectoral Sandpiper at Rainham Marshes since the 12th October, but it can go missing at times, so time for a look. I started in the Purfleet Hide where there was plenty to keep you occupied. A Pied Wagtail was feeding on the margins of the closest island and a Snipe was doing its best to be un-noticed whilst pretending to be asleep. Unfortunately they can hear the camera shutter so keep an eye on you.

The male Shovelers are now well through their eclipse moult and are nearly back to their breeding plumage.

Wigeon are starting to return for the winter and although there were about six present today, only one come close enough for a shot.

Had a quick wing stretch................

...................before deciding to have a bathe.

And then time for a little preening..................

......................before the wing flap to dry those wings.

Still only about six Pintails around and no obvious males....................

......................but this one on the right was showing signs of some pale grey feathers on its flank.

There were a few waders present on the high tide rosst, mainly Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits. 

But then as the tide started to go out they left the scrape to feed on the exposed mud on the river. But how did they know how far it gone out, or were they just hungry?

No sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper on its favourite haunts on or around the Ken Barrett Hide, so on to the Butts Hide where a Stonechat appeared on the electric fencing along the track.

As I arrived at the Butts Hide Paul Richardson had just found a Water Pipit. Unfortunately it was on the far bank so quite a long way away for such a small bird, but I did manage to get some record shots.

A great find Paul, but next time can you find one a bit closer?!!!

Also managed to get a lone Rock Pipit on the rocks by Aveley Bay. Only a back view I'm afraid, but even from this angle you can see the smudgy striations on a grey ground colour.

So OK I dipped on the North American Pectoral Sandpiper which may still be present but hidden away on this large reserve. However, it was more than compensated for by the discovery of this Himalayan Red Panda hiding amongst the Hawthorn on the river wall. I have seen them in zoos, but this is the first one I have seen in the wild!!!

Well what a great day and good to have a catch-up with Russ Sherriff, Tom Bell, Paul Richardson and Stephen Elwell, and to meet Cameron Tramley and Barry Jones.

A Couple of Hours in the Draper Hide

19th October 2026

An afternoon visit to the Draper Hide today to see what was on show. Recently the first bird you see as you peer out of the window is a very showy juvenile Cormorant sitting on its favourite perch right outside the window, an absolute poser. Well, that is a good start.

Then there were the other usual suspects including the resident Heron, Little Grebe and Stock Dove.

The Common Terns have all departed now so the only flight shots were of the handful of Black-headed Gulls present.

Autumn migration is also all but over, and today the only waders present were a distant Lapwing and two Green Sandpipers.

And then, for me at least at Rye Meads, three scarce birds. The first was a pair of Egyptian Geese that flew in, which are fairly common in the Lea Valley but possibly the first I have seen at Rye Meads.

The second was a Red Kite which as we all know are very common in Hertfordshire including the local area, but a bird I rarely see at Rye Meads. Over the past few years I have possibly seen more Marsh Harriers here than I have Red Kites.

And finally a Jay which is definitely the first I have seen from the Draper Hide.

So back to the Cormorant. The water in front of the hide is currently very shallow so when it dives after fish it creates a bow wave on top of the water and absolute chaos underneath, with fish charging around in all directions.

This was soon noticed by the Little Egret which went over to investigate...............

.......................and was soon joining in the feeding frenzy....................

........................with good results achieved by all!!!

I arrived in the hide at 2pm and it wasn't until 15 minutes before closing time that the adult male Kingfisher appeared and put on a show.

It sat quietly motionless for a while.........................

........................and then READY................STEADY...............

........................GO!!!!!

No success this time, but it provide an opportunity for some shots.

One of the interesting things about Kingfishers is that they have two stomachs. When they swallow a fish it passes down to the first stomach, the glandular stomach aka the proventriculus. Here digestive enzymes are used to break down the meat, and the bones and scales are left behind.

The bones and scales are then passed to the second stomach, the muscular stomach aka the gizzard. Here the powerful muscular walls crush the bones and scales into a compact, smooth and oval-shaped pellet. It takes 8-10 hours for a pellet to form. When the bird is ready to expel the pellet it will extend its neck, open its bill wide and cough up the peanut-sized bundle.

Here is a sequence I managed to capture today.

And away!!!

Well, what a brilliant three hours and also good to have a long catch-up with Alan Harris who I have known for 52 years going back to the 1970s at the Rye Meads Ringing Group. Alan of course is still there.

Happy Days!!!!!