Part 2: Rainham Marshes

Sorry that part 2 is so late. It was a good day at Rainham Marshes but a long one, and the Underground went very peculiar on the way back with two trains halted on the way first because of graffiti (very odd, had they only just noticed?) and then apparently because of a protest (of which there was no sign when I abandoned the train and came up in the street to take a bus). Then I had about 750 photographs to go through. But finally here we are.

The female Kingfisher brought two fish to a chick in the nest hole.

Her mate paid a short visit.

A Reed Warbler perched for a moment behind them.

A young Bearded Tit moved around in the reeds. There were a lot of these, with adults calling out of sight farther way.

Goldfinch flocks flew through the bushes. One perched on a thistle.

There were several Linnets. This is a female.

A Common Tern flew down the river looking for fish. There is a well populated tern raft in the reserve.

Curlews flew in from the river.

A group of Lapwings loafed around on an islet.

A Little Egret caught several fish. You can also hear a Little Grebe calling.

A Little Grebe chick fidgeted and preened on a bit of floating wood.

A parent brought it a fish.

A Shelduck family with nine ducklings cruised on the river. The ducklings looked just like young Egyptians, to which they are quite closely related even if these are described as geese.

More Shelducks flew in.

Common Lizards basked in the sunshine.

Marsh Frogs croaked occasionally.

A well camouflaged Harvestman walked through the grass on its eight very long legs.

Insects included a male Norfolk Hawker dragonfly, the first I've ever seen.

A Peacock butterfly sunned itself on a leaf.

A Holly Blue butterfly browsed on a head of Goat's Rue, of which there was a great deal all over the reserve.

There was a Burnet moth on a Queen Anne's Lace flower.

A Red Soldier beetle crawled over a Ragwort flower.