A BIRD WALK AT RAINHAM MARSHES

RAINHAM 9^TH September 2023

On our London Bird Club day at Rainham Marshes (9^th Sept. 2023) a hardy bunch of 22 birders braved the 30+ degree heat to accumulate a respectable total of 56 species:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S149505002

The mirror like quality of the Thames, alongside the reserve, reflected the day`s soporific essence. Gulls floated dreamily backwards on the tide as if cranked by an unseen hand on an infinite aqua revolving carpet. Lesser Black backed, Herring and Black headed joined together in this comic cruise interspersed with the oil slick dancing of diving Great Cormorants.

Any temptation to somnolence was offset by the heartening flocks of House Sparrows chitter chattering amongst the Hawthorns, their precocious vitality kickstarting our journey past the Purfleet scrape. Here a quick scan provided views of Grey Heron, Little Egret and two exotically coiffured Cattle Egret. On closer inspection, a furtive Greenshank provided more excitement amongst the Mallards and Shovelers which were displaying the pigmented emergence of post moult recovery; a sign of seasonal transition and continuation of avian cycles, despite the temperature.

The marshes displayed palimpsests of previous owners and usage, echoes of World wars reverberate alongside Elizabethan groynes and footpaths whilst remnants of the latter-day Ministry of Defence firing range are obviously visible. Names and features on the reserve absorb and reinforce this rich history as we walked clockwise towards the distant shimmering Shooting Butts hide. Rainham provided a literary backdrop to our entourage with Water Vole, Marsh Frog and Grass Snake all encountered and with our sunhats and shorts and creams and optics and not a little perspiration, it felt like Beau Geste had met Kenneth Grahame….although there was no wind in the willows.

Hawking hirundines energised the drowsy narcotic atmosphere with Swallows and a solitary House Martin gymnastically charming within the lazy haze of invertebrate soup whilst Darters and Hawkers supplied late summer sustenance for several swooping Hobbys building up for their migration to West and Southern Africa. Wagtails, both Yellow and Pied, danced a delicate chorus line in a midsummer day`s dream amidst the snouts and hooves of bovine browsers; cattle grazing being an intrinsic annual component of the habitat management on the reserve. Omnipresent Marsh Harriers eventually dignified us with their presence, the languid rise and fall of their primaries paralleled the day`s tranquillity yet disguised their predatory intent.

Continuing past Dragonfly Pool we were rewarded by the appearance of two Bearded Tits. At this corner on the reserve the reeds are cut back and a grit box of crushed oyster shells furnished for these gourmands (and birding photographers!) as they transition from an insect to a grain diet post breeding season; in the past few months piping colonies of these birds have been increasingly noticeable as they co-operatively feed the late broods. Onwards towards the hide we encountered Buzzards thermaling over the proximate landfill site, airborne tranquilisers, masterful in their command of invisible eddies, soaring effortlessly in the midday torridity.

We were welcomed to an avian party at the Butts hide by a flyover Great White Egret, the maitre de all neck, feather boa and bright ivory sophistication.  Two elegant Ruffs canapéd at the edge of the scrape, their neatly scalloped bibs at odds with the binging Teals gorging themselves amongst the sludge. With sleight of wing five Snipe flew in before magically flirting in the shadowy reedy recesses performing their usual camouflaged birding conundrum.

The RSPB have been busy this year at the reserve as, apart from completing the usual conservation and maintenance protocols, during the winter of 2022/23 they installed a new electrified perimeter fence with the intention of increasing the breeding productivity of ground nesting waders by forestalling the predatory instincts of foxes and a rogue mink. Additionally they have reinstated the  circular walk after over a year`s absence. The boardwalk in places had been deemed too dangerous for the public and a pre-existing service track has been utilised to complete the circuit. However we decided to forego this new route and backtracked towards the Thames path for a welcome respite from the heat and to lunch.

After refreshments a short walk along the Purfleet riverfront to where the Thames bends to reveal, at low tide, a significant area of mudflats.  Sixty plus Black-tailed Godwits were found probing in the nematudinous glute replenishing much needed proteins after long journeys and energy sapping post breeding moults. Alongside, Dunlins and Shelducks feverishly drilled and skimmed, mudlarking for nutritious treasure.

The heat bouncing off the concrete flood defenses, the day was nearly over and we walked back by blackberry bushes shaking with rapscallion scrumping Starlings murmurating within the bramble.

We were left with the thoughts formed from a juncture of the seasons, a straddling of annual epochs, slowly moving merging spells. Although some Chiffchaff, Sedge and Willow remained the Whitethroat and Reed had gone, no longer to warble until next year. A day to enjoy and reflect, a day of joy and bittersweetness, a day to repeat again.

DAVE CLARK September 2023