Super Saturday

Kicked off at the Stone Barges and had my first Water Pipit of the year. Then it was a quick walk to the vistor center at Rainham Marshes as Jonathan Wasse found a 1w Iceland Gull on the mud on the Kent side along with another RM year tick Avocet. A Great crested Grebe was on the river, so that was another year tick.

With another 2 Avocet in Avely bay it was a real super Saturday locally....

Female Kestrel from the car window 27th Feburary Rainham Marshes

Follow that Stonchat

Although it was a windy and overcast morning at Rainham Marshes on Sunday the birding was a lot brighter in the form of the Dartford Warbler showing well at times near the metal gate just before the Ken Barrett hide.
It's still hanging out with the Stonechats in search for insects. So, if you haven't seen it yet just keep following where the Stonechat go and the Dartford normally keeps tight in with them as I witnessed.

Another RM year tick was the Barn Owl poking out of the next box. Other than that normal service resumed.

Record shot of the Dartford Warbler on 21st February.

From the car

Since the start of the year my camera has been stuck on ISO 1600 due to the poor light but on Sunday it was back down to a more normal ISO 400 and you can always rely on a Stonechat for a image for the blog. This Male was papped from the car window down Coldharbour lane.

Other birds seen at Rainham Marshes were Peregrine and Marsh Harrier out on Wennington marsh but failed to see the Dartford Warbler and the Brambling. On a more positive note Green Woodpecker is now on that all important RM year list.......

Windy

Despite the windy conditions on Saturday morning at Rainham Marshes I still added some descent birds for the all important RM year list. A lonely Brent Goose was drifting down  river, a Raven plus a pair of Peregrine were out on Wennington marsh as was a Kingfisher that flew down one of the small streams.

The camera was firmly zipped in the bag, so the image below was from Thursday late afternoon.

Female Kestrel