10 members met in the Visitors Centre on a very warm sunny morning.  Whilst sitting outside at the Centre on the verandah enjoying a drink and snack, details on the Next of Kin form and Membership Form were checked and updated where necessary.

At the first hide there didn’t seem to be much birdlife at first.  However, Cormorants, Mute Swans and a Grey Heron were spotted on a spit of land in the far distance.  A Great Crested Grebe was diving and several Common Terns flew overhead.  Two waders were spotted on the near shoreline and after a great deal of discussion members came to the conclusion that they were probably Ruffs – back at the Visitors Centre this was confirmed.

On the way to the second hide around 30/40 Greylag Geese were seen flying overhead.  From the next hide we watched 3 Pintail on the water’s edge; Mallards and a Skylark were also spotted.  Walking towards the next hide a Sparrowhawk was seen sitting on a post.

There was more activity at the next hide where there was quite a large number of Coots, several Gadwall, Lapwings, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mallard, Cormorant, Pochard and Wigeon.

There were a number of wildflower meadows around the reserve and the wildflowers identified by our experts are listed below.  Very few butterflies were seen – those that were seen are listed below.

After going back to the centre to eat our lunch some of us went to the Causeway on the way home.  We had been told that Spoonbills, who are now regular summer visitors to the area, had successfully nested at Abberton Reservoir, a first for the county, and we weren’t sure whether they were still there.  However, we got talking to one of the birdwatchers on the Causeway who showed us where they had nested but said that they had now gone.  In addition to some of the birds mentioned above a Buzzard was seen overhead and a number of Pied Wagtails.

We all agreed that it had been a very enjoyable day – good weather, good company and lovely surroundings.

Birds seen: Moorhen and 2 young, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Ruff, Grey Heron, Common Tern, Gt. Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Greylag, Lapwing, Pintail, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Coot, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Gadwall, Lapwing, Pochard, Carrion Crow, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pied Wagtail, Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Goldfinch, Starling

Butterflies: Gate Keeper Large White, Small Blue, Comma, Small Heath

Wild Flowers: Birdsfoot Trefoil, Bristly Ox-tongue, Centaury Common Knapweed, Fleabane, Grass Vetchling, Great Reedmace Hairy Tare?, Mallow, Marsh Thistle, Purple Loosestrife, Ragwort, Red Clover, Ribwort Plantain, Toadflax, White Clover, Wild Carrot and Willowherb, Common Vetch, Cow Parsley, Buttercup.

Other: Blue Damselfly, Dragonfly, Blackberries Dogwood Berries, Haws, Hips, Sloes, Squirrel Grasshopper, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee.

Next Meeting: 13 October, 2021 – Heybridge Basin.  Meet in Daisy Meadow Car Park at 10 a.m.

Joy Deacon