Thames Estuary set for bird invasion

Thousands of migrating birds are expected to take advantage of the rich food sources of the Thames Estuary in the next few weeks.

Many of the birds that arrive on the Thames are on their way to Africa or Asia and rely on these feeding grounds to give them enough energy to complete their journey.

The Thames Estuary is ranked the fifth most important site for waterbirds in the UK, having 12 species occurring in internationally important numbers.

These are: dark bellied brent goose, teal, shoveler, oystercatcher, avocet, knot, grey plover, ringed plover, dunlin, black tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit and redshank.

A third of a million waterbirds a year have been recorded on the estuary.

Julian Nash, the RSPB’s North Kent Marshes Site Manager said:

“The mud on the edge on the Thames might not look particularly tasty, but it is extremely important for wildlife. “It is estimated that a square metre of estuarine mud has approximately the same number of calories as 16 chocolate bars.”

Three of the best places to get close-up views of these amazing globe-trotting birds are;

• RSPB Rainham Marshes near Purfleet
• RSPB Wallasea Island Wild Coast project near Burnham on Crouch
• RSPB Elmley Marshes, on the Isle of Sheppey.

The RSPB owns and manages about 50 square kilometres of land along both banks of the Thames and has spent more than £50 million during the past decade regenerating land and opening up large areas for people to enjoy.

All of the RSPB’s sites along the estuary regularly stage events.