RSPB Rainham Marshes (14 May 2025)

RSPB Rainham Marshes is a relatively local RSPB site that we had not visited until yesterday.  So, taking advantage of the lack of child care responsibilities for the day, we set out shortly before lunchtime for "The Albion".  You can read what others thought of it here: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g2052502-d2509265-Reviews-Albion-Rainham_Essex_England.html. We had a very nice older person's meal in an almost empty pub, but we did arrive at 11:50. 

After that, it was only a short drive to the reserve.  The Visitor Centre is an impressive building, sadly it was almost unoccupied.  No refreshments of any sort available, despite it being a warm, bright day.

We walked the 'wrong' way round, so the first hide was some distance away. 

This hide is quite a distance from the scrapes, so the Grey Heron is very small. It flew around a few times.  An impressive bird. We also saw: Sandpiper Lapwing Canada Goose Grey Heron Greylag Goose Mallard M&F Pochard Lapwing Great White Egret Northern Shoveler M Oyster catcher Black Headed Gull Red Shank Moorhen

Coming at this time of year means we also get to see some young. Here a Greylag family are scouring the edge of the scrape, near where we're walking.  We also heard (according to the Merlin App): Eurasian Blackbird Canada Goose Greater Whitethroat European Goldfinch Cetti's Warbler Common Cuckoo Eurasian Wren House Sparrow European Robin Eurasian Blackcap Eurasian Blackbird Eurasian Blue Tit Common Chiffchaff Great Tit Great Spotted Woodpecker

By far the most exciting of those was the cuckoo. I hadn't heard a cuckoo for years.

Sadly, the reserve has suffered some damage. This level of vandalism is appalling. The hide will be out of action for a considerable time.

The reserve has a considerable war time (WWII) heritage. The RSPB also do their best to preserve this and make it accessible to the public.

	There is also, of course, loads of plant life.  There are also quite a lot of these in various places, pretty now, but don't eat the berries later in the year.  It's Deadly Nightshade, if you don't recognize it.