Gull ID Workshop - Rainham Marsh

[Tony Kennelly]

For those who like an ID challenge, come to Rainham Marsh on saturday 17th january between 10am - 2pm to join all the others for a gull ID workshop. The top local birders will be there & me too, to help those having trouble identifying all the gull age plumages. As well as the usual 5 gulls some of the rarer gulls are found too (many eyes make light spotting!). Med, Yellow-legged, Caspian, Iceland & Glaucous gulls have been found previously!! No Ring-billed so far at rainham but the 2 regular wintering birds on the Isle of Dogs & Westcliffe on Sea are there this winter if you wish to make a detour for 11 species. Having helped there last winter, it's well worth an hour or 2 standing in the cold! Also waders, ducks, geese, raptors & owls are seen there during the same time.

For those who can't make it, there will be others during february & march. I will let you know the dates when I have them.

for devilish IDs!

Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

See most of you in Norfolk so save me a bacon butty

Tony Kennelly

[Tony Kennelly]

For those who can't make it next month, the final date is saturday 14th february. The gulls are usually on the reserve lakes during high tide but remember to check the foreshore on the falling tide for rock & water pipits too.

Tony

[Tony Kennelly]

Whilst hanging around waiting in vain for the penduline tits to appear on saturday, I & many others saw a first winter glaucous gull flying over the target pools. It stood out very well even 200m away!! It was a lifer for me too, so let's hope an iceland gull is obliging too next month. I was only there to help out with the christmas ramble earlier on in the day. I saw a grey seal on the river too, whilst watching the water pipit amongst the rock pipits.

My last merry christmas & a happy birding new year to you all.
Hope to see some of you in norfolk soon.

Tony

[Tony Kennelly]

I had a look around rainham before going to watch the gulls, but the bad weather kept the penduline & bearded tits down in the reeds. However the siberian chiffchaff showed very well along the reed trail, indeed too close for binos to focus!! Andy harrison made the journey across london by train to enjoy the sunshine & strong breezes. The gull numbers were a little disappointing but 1 juvenile yellow-legged & 1 adult caspian gulls were found. The gulls & waders were regularly put up by the peregrine. We went to look over the silt lagoons at the western end but no short-eared owls were seen but 30 ring-necked parakeets heading south over the river to roost.

A barn owl was seen at the western end the following day & a f merlin has been seen on the reserve recently too (just not when I'm there!).

the next gull ID workshop is on february 14th, but I suspect most of you will be off to somerset the following weekend instead. Good Birding

Tony