When reports of a Long-billed Dowitcher being found at Rainham Marshes yesterday, Brian was well placed as he was visiting family only 10 minutes away.
The reserve is only open from 9.30am - 4pm but you can view some areas from the sea wall. I waited to see if the bird had stayed overnight and with positive news that the bird was still present, we met up with Brian and arrived in the car park shortly after 10am.
The dowitcher had been reported on Purfleet Scrape, only a short walk down the metal walkway from the reserve centre. We joined a small group of birders and saw the dowitcher immediately. It was feeding along the front edge of the reeds but soon moved to a small strip of land behind the main island.
I'd not seen a Water Pipit this year, so we walked the seawall and found a single bird feeding among the rocks east of Aveley Bay. It was flushed by people walking from the opposite end flying directly over our heads towards the reserve.
The dowitcher is the first record for Rainham Marshes and only the third record for London. The last record was in 1987 some thirty-four years ago at Staines Moor and the first ten years earlier at Staines Reservoirs.
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| View of Purfleet Scrape from sea wall |
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| Long-billed Dowitcher with Lapwing |
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