Part 2: Rainham Marshes

It was a very windy day at Rainham Marshes. Tom and I walked to the reserve along the river from Rainham station, passing the 'Stone Barges'. These are actually made of ferroconcrete and are of a type used in World War II, particularly for the D-Day invasion where they acted as defences for the floating Mulberry Harbours. There were brought up the river in 1953 and sunk to act as coastal protection.

A Weasel and what was probably a Common Shrew appeared on the path for a moment but so briefly that we didn't get pictures. 

A Devil's Coach Horse beetle ran across the path at a more leisurely rate.

There were two Wheatears ...

... wary and keeping their distance.

A Common Lizard rested on one of the recycled plastic planks in the boardwalk. They prefer these to wooden ones as they get warmer in the sunlight.

There were quite a lot of butterflies in spite of the wind. Two Wall butterflies appeared but neither of them would settle in a good spot.

A Red Admiral perched on a patch of ivy.

Most of the views were at the Purfleet hide. Sand Martins were passing through on their way south.

Lapwings circled and by chance I got a Greenshank flying with them.

An enlarged detail from the same shot.

It landed on an island beside some of the Lapwings.

A closer view of two Lapwings.

A Snipe emerged from the reeds ...

... followed by another. A Coot feeding in the background shows how small they are.

A Little Egret was flying in the distance but wouldn't come close enough for a clear shot.

A Grey Heron landed neatly on the edge of the reeds.

A Pintail ...

... upended while a Shoveller and a pair of Gadwalls passed by.