Still bleak and unlovable, but a little bit more enjoyable

Target Pools

Seeing how much I really enjoyed Rainham yesterday I visited again this afternoon, for more of the same. I suppose I only really went as I knew that if I didn't leave the house I'd feel like I'd wasted the day, but 24-curlews-on-a-pond later I was definitely more in the mood.

A few more pintails, around 50 redshank and a handful of snipe were the best on offer on Aveley, and up at the Targets the knot and ruff were still in with the golden plovers. We gave it a good long look for the hen harrier but had no luck, instead finding an immature male marsh harrier - still a good bird for Rainham. Up on the sea wall we found five corn buntings on a stunted bush, a long, long overdue patch first for me, and the three male goldeneyes were still roosting in the bay.

I don't really know what the difference was. The site and weather were the same as yesterday, grey and a little bit horrible, and for the most part I saw literally the same birds in exactly the same places. But I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more, and I don't really know why. Not complaining.

Goldeneyes sleeping in a "we're locally scarce so adon't have to perform well to hold your attention" way.