Thames, a strip about half-a-mile wide whose embanked sides
rise 15ft. above the general level of the surrounding
marshland. The little road over the manned level crossing
to the east of Rainham Station runs directly to the
reservoirs dividing them into two. The liquid mud comes
from dredger ships operating in the Thames Estuary which, on
being discharged, is conveyed in a huge pipe to various
points over the system. Several of the reservoirs had
already reached capacity, upon whose hard caked surfaces
weeds now grew in profusion. As the dark liquid pours out,
the water forms into shallow pools or even floods whole
areas. As we ventured up the nearest likely bank it was
clear that the adjacent W.D. rifle range had ceased
shooting for the day. This was as well, as the parts we
wished to visit were in a direct line of fire from the
ranges.
Our first view was rewarded by the sight of some 50 to
100 ringed plover feeding in the immediate area. Among
these chocolate—brown birds, were several sandpiper, bobbing
about in their characteristic way. Still in summer plumage,
a few dunlin, showing the striking black patch on their
bellies. A pair of pied wagtails chased flies near a small
pool, while a yellow wagtail searched amongst some weeds.
Leaving our first vantage point, we walked around the
perimiter and up one of the dykes that divide the mud. A
large flock of black-headed gulls rose noisily at our
approach. Already they had lost their black heads for the
white of winter. Occasionally a linnet or a goldfinch, or
some other small bird would fly up, while most of the time a
kestrel could be seen hovering in flight in the distance.
Later we saw ten herons in a group. They kept their hunched
posture, which, from a distance, gave the impression of
little old men with long skinny legs.
Our progress startled a pair of green sandpiper into
flight. We noted the fox prints across a mud-lined stream
while a fine, large hare was surprised on a bare mud patch.
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