All Change on the Marshes !

 Autumn colours are nearing there end as the winter winds strip the trees of there leaves, there is a whole different atmosphere on the marshes now, the reedbeds are much quieter, except for the occasional Cetti's warbler bursting unseen from reedbed scrub.

Butterflies are a distant memory, the occasional Ruddy Darter still making an appearance when the sun does shine. but the night time temperatures are dropping fast.

Time to start looking for those winter arrivals, Rainham RSBP has been hosting a couple of Short -Earred Owls of late,  a passing Hen Harrier, Rough-Legged Buzzard and the resident Marsh Harriers making this a very attractive reserve to visit.

 Not to mention the Cattle Egrets and now a Bittern showing occasionally. to a lucky few.

Thought I would do an anti-clockwise walk, so that I would end up near the river wall for a late afternoon search for the Owls. As I walked through the woodland I could see quite a few Redwings, my first winter bird observation, no Fieldfares for me although they have been reported here.

My first port of call was the Ken Barrett Hide, the scrape here has been re-profiled of late, looking a bit stark, but there are a few birds around the muddy margins, in particular Snipe.

Snipe

Other birds noted here were Coot, Moorhen, Heron, Shoveller, Mallard, Teal, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Starling and a brief appearance of a Marsh harrier which disappeared into the reedbed.

Marsh Harrier

Grey Heron

Walking through the Reedbeds along the Northern walk  all strangely very quite, just the odd appearance of a Wren, Blue Tit, Blackbird, on the main pools I could just make out a small flock of Black Tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Cormorant, Common Gull, Herring Gull, no sign of any Cattle Egrets unfortunately just a Little Egret.

Arrived at the Shooting Butts Hide for lunch. where I entertained myself watching the Teal, engrossed in there bathing sessions, my second winter visitor was seen or rather heard here in the form of Wigeon, there soft whistling calls a reminder that winter has arrived.

Teal

Scanning around the pool margins a few waders were found, always a bit distant though.

Ruff

Black Tailed Godwit

Ruff, Lapwing,& Snipe

Green Sandpiper

Light was beginning to fade, time to move up to the sea wall and wait for that elusive Short Earred Owl.

Greylag Geese

Unfortunately no sign of the Short Earred Owls, settled for a female Kestrel which presented itself on a nearby tree, still a bit distant for my lens.

With a cold chill setting in and the light fading fast, time to make a move. just two winter visitors so far, Redwing and Wigeon,but plenty of time as the winter season just starting.