JCS
Friday 10th April 2009, 16:37
A brief report on my first trip to the new RSPB reserve at Rainham Marshes.
The circular walk is pleasant, easy going and not far! Probably just under two miles. As yet hides are few and far between and it is not always possible to get close to the birds. History boards detailing the story of the marshes going back a few thousand years and more recently the use of the land by the army, add another interest.
All in all, this is still very much a Reserve in progress. The walk at this moment only gives access to a third or a quarter of the land and we can only hope other parts of the marshes will be opened up in the future.
I was surprised not to see a Marsh Harrier or a Kestrel, but did see my first Swallow of the year and a top-class view of a Ring Ouzel. Dabchicks and Reed Buntings were plentiful, a handful of Little Egrets, one Pied Wagtail and I was pretty sure I heard a Cetti's Warbler, but didnt get any type of decent view of the warbler that did come up momentaily out of the reeds.
At this moment Rainham Marshes isnt going to challenge Elmley as my favourite reserve in the south-east, but it will be interesting to watch the progress in the year's to come. The sighting of the Ring Ouzel means I have lots of enthusiasm to return.
The circular walk is pleasant, easy going and not far! Probably just under two miles. As yet hides are few and far between and it is not always possible to get close to the birds. History boards detailing the story of the marshes going back a few thousand years and more recently the use of the land by the army, add another interest.
All in all, this is still very much a Reserve in progress. The walk at this moment only gives access to a third or a quarter of the land and we can only hope other parts of the marshes will be opened up in the future.
I was surprised not to see a Marsh Harrier or a Kestrel, but did see my first Swallow of the year and a top-class view of a Ring Ouzel. Dabchicks and Reed Buntings were plentiful, a handful of Little Egrets, one Pied Wagtail and I was pretty sure I heard a Cetti's Warbler, but didnt get any type of decent view of the warbler that did come up momentaily out of the reeds.
At this moment Rainham Marshes isnt going to challenge Elmley as my favourite reserve in the south-east, but it will be interesting to watch the progress in the year's to come. The sighting of the Ring Ouzel means I have lots of enthusiasm to return.