A day at Rainham Marshes
Despite being a regular visitor to my local RSPB reserve, it's no surprise that amongst all the ragwort pulling, reed screen building, vole counting and water level monitoring, I rarely get the chance to soak up the sights and sounds of the place by simply going for a stroll. But that’s what myself and my mum finally had the opportunity to do yesterday, and we were graced with a number of exciting encounters!
Within seconds of stepping out onto the main trail, we managed to get a great view of some black-tailed godwits, little egrets and grey herons going about their business in and alongside the scrapes. We couldn't resist dropping into the first hide we passed for a more intimate view of these residents, as well as a quick peek of the art exhibition it was holding host to. It was reassuring to see that the adjacent reed screen I'd helped build back in April was still standing - it did take more than one attempt to secure!
The highlight of the day's little adventure was yet to come: as we approached a small bridge, we made sure to keep our eyes pealed in the event that a water vole happened to be lurking nearby. Britain's fastest declining wild mammal has disappeared from the many parts of the country where it was once common. Threatened by habitat loss and predation by the invasive American Mink, the water vole has, in recent decades, become increasingly rare. Fortunately, owing to tireless conservation efforts, Rainham Marshes is now quite the stronghold for these furry critters.
And today, we struck lucky. Right in front of us a vole was perched, nibbling away at a short piece of fresh, green reed. It didn't seem too phased by our presence, and so remained in its spot for quite some time. With a distinctive plop that's no doubt very familiar to any water vole lover or conservationist, the creature dropped down into the water and disappeared from view. Moments later however, it reappeared, carrying in its mouth a hefty chunk of dry reed which must have been twice the length of its body. It dragged the piece of vegetation right under the bridge on which we stood, emerging from the other side of it to climb up into its bankside burrow. Amazing!
We crossed paths with house martins, marsh frogs, moorhen and coot families, and myriad butterfly and damselfly species before reaching the spot where I'd hunkered down for the night just two weeks previous, at the reserve's Big Wild Sleepout event. After a quick tour of the area, we continued along the trail to the next hide, meeting a lapwing and numerous reed buntings and warblers along the way. It was here that I was treated to another fantastic sighting, this time of a hunting marsh harrier.
A heavy shower cut our time in the reserve's woodland short, and we were glad to finally reach the shelter of the visitor centre café, where we sat and enjoyed a couple of hot drinks. I returned home with not only some thrilling accounts of our riveting rendezvous, but also a fair few goodies from the gift shop! No doubt I'll be making a return again soon... Fingers crossed for slightly drier weather!
Within seconds of stepping out onto the main trail, we managed to get a great view of some black-tailed godwits, little egrets and grey herons going about their business in and alongside the scrapes. We couldn't resist dropping into the first hide we passed for a more intimate view of these residents, as well as a quick peek of the art exhibition it was holding host to. It was reassuring to see that the adjacent reed screen I'd helped build back in April was still standing - it did take more than one attempt to secure!
The highlight of the day's little adventure was yet to come: as we approached a small bridge, we made sure to keep our eyes pealed in the event that a water vole happened to be lurking nearby. Britain's fastest declining wild mammal has disappeared from the many parts of the country where it was once common. Threatened by habitat loss and predation by the invasive American Mink, the water vole has, in recent decades, become increasingly rare. Fortunately, owing to tireless conservation efforts, Rainham Marshes is now quite the stronghold for these furry critters.
And today, we struck lucky. Right in front of us a vole was perched, nibbling away at a short piece of fresh, green reed. It didn't seem too phased by our presence, and so remained in its spot for quite some time. With a distinctive plop that's no doubt very familiar to any water vole lover or conservationist, the creature dropped down into the water and disappeared from view. Moments later however, it reappeared, carrying in its mouth a hefty chunk of dry reed which must have been twice the length of its body. It dragged the piece of vegetation right under the bridge on which we stood, emerging from the other side of it to climb up into its bankside burrow. Amazing!
We crossed paths with house martins, marsh frogs, moorhen and coot families, and myriad butterfly and damselfly species before reaching the spot where I'd hunkered down for the night just two weeks previous, at the reserve's Big Wild Sleepout event. After a quick tour of the area, we continued along the trail to the next hide, meeting a lapwing and numerous reed buntings and warblers along the way. It was here that I was treated to another fantastic sighting, this time of a hunting marsh harrier.
A heavy shower cut our time in the reserve's woodland short, and we were glad to finally reach the shelter of the visitor centre café, where we sat and enjoyed a couple of hot drinks. I returned home with not only some thrilling accounts of our riveting rendezvous, but also a fair few goodies from the gift shop! No doubt I'll be making a return again soon... Fingers crossed for slightly drier weather!
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