As the seasons turn the summer visitors have long departed, the autumn migrants are gone, the colder and darken days of winter once again bring a whole new world of anticipation and excitement for visitors to RSPB Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve.
Not far from central London (Purfleet station is a 15-minute walk away), surrounded by the A13 arterial road, railways lines, industrial parks, and the Thames Estuary to the south, Rainham stands out as a natural and historic haven for all kinds of wildlife - birds, mammals, insects, and plants - all year round.
The reserve has a long history. Evidence of human occupation goes as far as back the Neolithic era and was used for grazing livestock since at least early mediaeval times. The Ministry Of Defence used the reserve as firing range from 1906 until it was acquired and developed by the RSPB (after a big clean up) in 2006.
It’s the ideal habitat for resident and winter waders such as lapwing, redshank, godwits, curlew and snipe, and abundant wintering wildfowl including greylag geese, teal, pintail, and widgeon ducks. Not forgetting the nationally important population of water voles and other resident wildlife!
The reserve and its hides are easily accessible on foot or by mobility scooter. The nature trails are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs and are a mix of flat gravel surface paths and boardwalks with information boards in large print. The paths and boardwalks mean that Rainham Marshes is a good place to walk at all times of year.
1. Circular route is the main trail around the majority of the site. Allow a couple of hours for this approximately 2.4-mile (4km) for this circular walk.
2. Woodland walk is a half-mile (0.8-km) trail. Allow yourself at least half an hour.
3. Riverside walk - this is a 1.5-mile (2.4-km) walk. Make sure you allow yourself an hour.
Additionally the Thames Estuary and Riverside walk outside the reserve enhances the attractiveness of the RSPB’s marshes. Look out for seals hauled out at low tide, and numerous wader and gull species taking advantage of the exposed beaches to forage before moving back to the reserve at high tide.
Late winter brings flocks of hungry fieldfares and redwings competing with the resident thrushes and blackbirds to strip the last remaining berries from the trees and shrubs along the estuary wall and inside the reserve.
This diverse environment attracts winter birds of prey, too. Special highlights include frequent sightings of wintering marsh harrier, peregrines, barn owl, and short-eared owl - the latter becoming active as the day ends and evening begins. They replace the likes of summer hobby, and - if you’re very lucky maybe an osprey - on spring or autumn migration.
Even on a cold, wet and windy winter’s day - wrap up warm and take advantage of the four hides - the big ‘East Anglian’ sky provides a glowing, translucent light and scudding clouds over the reserve to help your bird spotting. On a clear and still day ‘scopes and telescopic lenses can be brought to bear on resident bearded reedlings, reed buntings, Cetti’s warblers and the winter visitors.
Leave the reserve as you entered it, through the Visitor Centre, comparing bird and wildlife notes before heading home with the day’s happy memories.
rspb.org.uk
