Rainham Marshes

A glorious day on the Marshes, the diluted winter sun hanging low, piercing through a milky blue sky.  There wasn't a breath of wind.  I love days like these.  They make dank winter days seem infinitely more bearable.

The aim was to see sixty species.  The end result was sixty-two (including two Peregrine seen on the drive home).

The highlights were;

a Short-eared Owl that perched on top of a small bush at Wennington

the Barn Owl roosting at its usual residence,

ten Avocet feeding in Aveley Bay,

Seven Curlew on Purfleet,

The continuing Water Pipit seen in front of the Butts Hide,

A couple of Stonechat around the Butts Hide,

Two Marsh Harrier quartering Wennington,

five stunning drake Pintail,

Small flocks of Redwing and a single Fieldfare,

A lone Chiffchaff behind the Ken Barrett hide,

...and hundreds of Lapwing.