Nine members met in the Car Park at Abbotts Hall Farm on an overcast morning.

The main office of Essex Wildlife Trust is at Abbotts Hall Farm which Essex Wildlife purchased in 1999. It is a 700-acre working coastal farm south of Colchester and Abberton Reservoir.

To create additional coastal marsh the 3.5-kilometre sea wall has been breached in a number of places. Walking down to the hide overlooking this area we only had fleeting glances of a few small birds which we identified as Blue and Great Tit. From the hide it was very quiet and the few birds that we could see were quite far away but we identified Lapwing, Little Egret, Shelduck, Oystercatcher and Cormorant. We were delighted to see 3 Hares playing in the field adjacent to the hide which we watched for some minutes.

Leaving the Hide it started to rain and as this was forecast for the rest of the day we decided to go on to Abberton Reservoir where we had a very welcome hot drink before we ventured out in the rain to the nearest Hide. Some small birds were flying in and out of the grass and shrubs in front of the Hide which we identified as Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit. On the Reservoir there were a number of Mute Swans and Canada Geese, also Egyptian Geese, Greylags, Pochard, Common Terns, Great Crested Grebes, Mallards, Black-headed Gulls and a number of Swifts flying overhead. Skylarks were heard but not seen. After eating our packed lunch in the Hide we decided to call it a day as it was still raining quite heavily.

In spite of the weather it was an enjoyable day with good company.

Birds seen: Lapwing, Little Egret, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coot, Moorhen, Shelduck, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Swift, Teal, Pied Wagtail, Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Greylag, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Reed Bunting, Skylark (heard), Pochard, Gt. Crested Grebe, Meadow Pipit.

Wild Flowers: Oxeye Daisy, Buttercup, Elderberry, Dog Rose, Comfrey.

Other: 3 Hares

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 10 July 2019 – Bradwell – Meet at Bradwell Marina Car Park at 10 a.m.

Joy Deacon