BWW

Seventeen members met in the Visitors Centre at Hanningfield Reservoir.  The weather was once again very kind to us; the sun was shining and it was a lovely morning to be out.

We enjoyed a cup of coffee in the Visitors Centre which looks out over the Reservoir.  On the Reservoir we could see a large number of Tufted Ducks, Mallard and Canada Geese.  On and around the feeders we spotted Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon and a Grey Squirrel

From the first hide we could see a large number of Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese and among them we spotted Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Greylag, Egyptian Geese and a number of Cormorant on a raft at the far side of the Reservoir.  We were also delighted to see two male and one female Goosander, and one of our members was told by staff in the Visitors Centre that this was the first time in 30 years that Goosanders had been seen on Hanningfield Reservoir.

Walking to the next hide we spotted a lone bird sitting on a branch of a tree and had some difficulty identifying it.  After a lot of discussion, and ruling other species out, we agreed it must be a Fieldfare although some of the markings were not typical of a Fieldfare.  Also  Fieldfares are usually seen in large flocks and it is very rare to see just one.

Also spotted in the woodland were Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin and Blackbird.

On our way back to the Visitors Centre we were delighted to see Goldcrests flying from tree to tree.  Goldcrests are Britain’s smallest bird and Hanningfield Reservoir is one of the places we go to where you are almost certain to see them.

After leaving the Centre four members stopped on the Causeway and were very fortunate to see two Bean Geese; also a solitary Goldeneye, five male and one female Goosander and a large number of Lapwing and Teal.  Also in a field near the Reservoir two members saw Pink-footed Geese.

Altogether a very productive and enjoyable morning.

Birds: Blackbird, Robin, Goldcrest, Fieldfare, Blue, Great & Long Tailed Tits, Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker,  Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goosander, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Pink-footed, Egyptian, Canada, Greylag & Bean Geese, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Redshank, Lapwing, Cormorant, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

 Other: Grey Squirrel

 Next Meeting:  9 January 2019 – Maldon and Christmas lunch – details to follow

Joy Deacon

The most interesting sighting today was that of a Merlin that obliged us by sitting on a fence giving us a long and good view of it.   Occasionally it dropped to the ground and returned to a slightly different spot and then eventually flew low over the ground and was gone.  Fortunately two members had brought their telescopes so many of us saw it clearly.

It was a glorious day warm enough for shorts! 12 members met in the car park and as the tide was rising and would soon be covering the mud, we made our way down to the riverbank in the hope of seeing waders.  There was nothing remarkable there but from the seawall we could see over the fields where cattle grazed and where we hoped we might see Cattle Egrets, two of which had been sighted recently; we weren’t so lucky.  The sight of Swans flying upriver brought us all to a standstill as we watched them fly past.  Two men with expensive cameras and large lenses informed us that they had photographed Bitterns a day or so ago and one of the men was pleased with his picture of a flying Kestrel catching a Dragonfly – we saw plenty of Kestrels and Dragonflies but no Bitterns.   The one wader we were delighted to see was the Golden Plover and a group of them stood on and by raised mounds close to the water line. Amongst the sightings on the farmland were Meadow Pipits, a flock of Canada and Barnacle Geese and amongst them some hybrids of the two.

The glowing sun brought out the red of an attractive plant that grew in the dry margins of a dyke. A member identified it as Common Glasswort and later, when a specimen was found on the seawall another member armed with his mobile ‘phone and an App for identifying plants, confirmed this.  Apparently the higher marsh areas, which are inundated less frequently than the flooded lower parts, are the home for Glassworts, which, at this time of year, take on their autumnal colours of pinks and red.

Another good identification was that of the Petticoat Mottlegill (panaeolus sphinctrinus), a fungus that is a late coloniser of dung in farm fields.  Having spent so long viewing the Merlin the group fragmented so we passed each other coming and going from the hides, reporting what we had each seen as we passed.

The water level in what should be the flooded parts of the reserve is low, too low, and we were told the pump used to pump water into the area has not been turned on.   However at the eastern end of the reserve there were pools of water and we saw a variety of ducks, waders and a close-up view of an obliging Stonechat.  In the distant fields a large flock of Stock Doves were foraging for food, most likely seeds, roots, shoots and leaves, (courtesy of Lynne Truss!)

The last sighting of the day was a flock of Brent Geese that rose up disturbed by a Buzzard and then dropped out of sight.

Birds:, Sparrow, Goldfinch, Robin, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Starling, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Linnet, House Martin, Stock Dove, Pheasant, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Kestrel, Buzzard, Merlin, Greenshank, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Mallard, Teal, Shelduck, Brent, Canada and Barnacle Geese, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Flowers: Bristly Ox-tongue, Yarrow, Ribwort Plantain, Marsh Thistle, Great Reedmace, Ragwort, Common Glasswort

Fungus: Petticoat Mottlegill

Other: Dragonfly, Crane Fly.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 14^th November 10.00 Two Tree Island – meet at the furthest car park

11 members met in the car park on an overcast morning – it had been raining for the previous few hours but by the time we arrived the rain had stopped. We made our way slowly from the car park through the village to the seawall – identifying a few wildflowers that lined the banks and grass areas on the way. A Swallow flew overhead and Blackbird, Blue Tit, Crow, Robin and Wood Pigeon were seen. The tide was low and we had hoped to see feeding waders but apart from a Redshank and Little Egret there was little else.

Tollesbury Wick reserve covers 600 acres of coastal grazing marsh, sea walls and saltings. It is possible to walk around the reserve, about 5 miles, but we limited ourselves to the section between the entrance to the reserve near the marina and along the seawall that runs beside Woodrolfe Creek, to the bird hide. Most of the inland areas have restricted access.

The bird hide overlooks a lake which to our great disappointment had virtually dried up due to the very hot summer and there was very little bird life. However we did spend some time in the hide and were eventually rewarded by having a good sighting of a Marsh Harrier (the highlight of the morning). We also spotted a Kestrel hovering nearby, some Gadwall flew in and a Grey Heron appeared out of the reeds. Several Cormorants also flew overhead.

On the way back a Robin was heard singing, a Pied Wagtail was spotted on the beach and 30-odd Starlings were jostling for position at the top of a crane.

A welcome drink and snack were then enjoyed in the cafe.

Birds: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Crow, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Mallard, Collared Dove, Redshank, Little Egret, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Grey Heron, Starling, Sparrow.

Wild Flowers: Ragwort, Valerian, Bristly Ox-tongue, Yarrow, Black Horehound, Bird’s Foot Treefoil, Fleabane, Buttercup, Dandelion.

Other: Blackberries, Hazelnuts, Hips and Haws.

Joy Deacon

Next meeting: Blue House Farm, Fambridge – Wednesday, 10 October, 2018 – Meet in Car Park at 10 a.m.