Rails and Reptiles

Had a pleasant wander around Rainham this afternoon – nothing mega rare to report, but a few nice bits and bobs. A Peregrine was perched up on the usual pylon pulling its lunch apart, while 5 Greenshank and two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits were on the small amount of mud surrounding Aveley Pool. All along the northern boardwalk, Common Lizards were sunning themselves… these were taken with the 100-400mm lens, wish I’d had the macro with me! Note that the bigger individual of the two has lost his tail somewhere…

Further round towards the Targets, the highlight was a wonderfully confiding family party of Water Rails. I can only recall seeing small young Water Rails once or twice before (given that they’re usually buried away deep in reedbeds), but these obviously hadn’t read the script and were content to run around pretty much in the open!