Penduline Tit, Rainham Marshes

Been meaning to get down to Rainham Marshes RSPB nature reserve since it officially opened on 13 November 2006. I’ve been just once before (for the Sociable Lapwing back in December 2005) so a wintering Penduline Tit and a Grey Phalarope this month were definitely worth going to see. Public transport being so slow, it was midday before I arrived and walked from Purfleet station. The phalarope was about seven miles out on Aveley Flash – hence the dodgy pic below. While waiting around for the Penduline to show I noted Black Redstart, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Stonechat and good numbers of duck and Lapwing. After about three hours, someone came to tell us that the Penduline Tit was showing about ¼ mile away between Aveley hide and the Tank Hill Road. It showed well, but distantly, and I couldn’t approach any closer due to the area being out of bounds and cut off by a large ditch – hence, another distant record shot.