Bird & Wildlife Watching

Arriving at the car park a Kestrel was seen hovering. It was a bright but cold morning and 12 members met in the warmth of the Visitors Centre and enjoyed a hot drink.

On the way to the first hide we heard and watched Skylarks. The Skylark is a small brown bird renowned for its display flight and song. Also, birds on the feeders included Bluetit, Goldfinch, and Great Tit. From the first hide we saw a large number of Wigeon Teal, Tufted Duck and Mallard.

On the way to the next hide we spotted two Egyptian Geese, and from the hide we were fortunate to see a Black-necked Grebe (a first for the Group), also Black Swan, Mute Swan, Greylags, Canada Geese, Black-tailed Godwit, Teal and Wigeon.

At the third hide there were a very large number of Coots, Goosander, Shoveller, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe and some of the above mentioned. Outside the hide and on the way back to the Visitors Centre we watched small birds in the trees including Linnet and Wren.

After having our lunch we saw on the sightings-board that Scaup and Long-tailed Duck had been seen on the Layer de la Haye Causeway. We managed to spot the Scaup but, unfortunately, the Long-tailed Duck eluded us, which was a disappointment as some of us had never seen one.

At the Layer Breton Causeway we were delighted to see (with the aid of a telescope) several male and female Smews at the far end of the Reservoir. These are beautiful ducks and in winter the male, in particular, is stunning and one of the most attractive ducks. Also, we were very pleased to see a number of Pochards which we seem to be seeing less and less in recent years and we are told that Pochards migrating to the UK has declined by 60% since the 1980s.

There were also a large number of Cormorants in the trees; every spring since 1981 Cormorants have nested in the trees around the Reservoir. This is an unusual sight and is one of the few places in Britain where they do this.
Altogether 49 species of bird were seen which I think could be a record for the group and we all agreed that it had been a very good day.

Birds: Skylark, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Sparrow, Starling, Robin, Wren, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Pheasant, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Smew, Mallard, Pintail, Pochard, Shelduck, Goosander, Scaup, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Flowers: Gorse

Next meeting: 13 March 2019 – Heybridge Basin and Chigborough Lakes.

Joy Deacon

What can be a better start to the New Year than a day in the sunshine with a group of cheerful friends?  It was the day of our New Year lunch, preceded by two hours bird watching.  Eleven of us gathered at Madison Heights, Maldon where, on arriving, I found them enjoying café lattes and cappuccinos.  We left the warm and went out into the bright, cold day and, taking a footpath that led between the new housing and farmland, we reached the track leading to Northey Island.

The first delight of the day was a field where over 100 Lapwing were feeding – on closer inspection through binoculars and telescopes, we realised that in the middle of the group were an even greater number of Golden Plover.  When the birds rose up it was the Lapwings that, in their somewhat untidy fashion, landed first and shortly after the Golden Plover once more settled in their midst.  Also in the field were three Egyptian Geese, a Little Egret and a pair of Pheasants.  With the bright sun low on our right it was perfect for viewing the waders on the exposed mud of the River Blackwater.  The tide was slowly making but the whole extent of the causeway to Northey Island was visible.  We didn’t cross over (just in case!) but spent a long time viewing the numerous birds and were pleased to see Avocet (100), Dunlin in equally large numbers and other waders including Curlew and Godwit and ducks of varying types.

The cold got the better of us and we moved on along the seawall towards the Promenade Park.  There was nothing on the lake beside the seawall but the pleasure on this stretch was the chatter of Brent Geese as they flew low overhead (where’s the camera when you want it?)  It was our intention to walk back via the park waterfront but we were drawn to a newly built lookout (part of the Saltmarsh Project) and climbed the steps where we read the informative notices and enjoyed the view – a perfect spot for a G&T on a summer’s evening – bring your own chair.

Our time had run out, so we went directly back to Henry’s Steakhouse where three more members joined us.  The carvery was excellent and the other dishes, I am told, were good too.  Over lunch we formulated a plan for the forthcoming season.

This day will be hard to beat but I’m sure, weather permitting, February’s outing to Abberton Reservoir will not disappoint.

Birds: Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Magpie, Pheasant, Crow, Dunnock, Golden Plover (150), Avocet (100), Dunlin (100), Lapwing (100), Redshank, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Teal, Wigeon, Pochard, Shelduck, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Egyptian Geese, Ringed Plover Little Egret.

Flowers: Groundsel, Yarrow, Red Deadnettle.

Diane Caulkett

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

12 members met in the cafe at the Golf Range on Two Tree Island on a warm and sunny morning.

The name of the island originates from two large elms that were a prominent feature until they were brought down by storms in the early 1960s.  Two Tree Island is situated south of Leigh on Sea train station and consists of 640 acres of grassland, scrub, reedbed and lagoons and supports a wide variety of birds, particularly migrants.  Avocets breed on the island each year.  Essex Wildlife Trust manages the island as a nature reserve.

After enjoying a cup of coffee in the cafe we made our way down to the far car park.  The tide was out and a few waders and gulls could be seen on the mud – Curlew, Redshank, Godwit and Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls were identified.

Walking along the seawall, and from the hides, Ringed Plovers, Brent and Greylag Geese were seen and in the far distance we could see patches of white which we first thought were Gulls.   However looking through the telescope they were clearly identified as Avocets, at least 20 – 30 of them.  A Grey Heron flew overhead.

At the hide overlooking the lagoon a number of ducks were spotted, including Mallard, Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon and Shelduck.  Also waders including Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Lapwing and Redshank.  One of our members with a telescope then spotted what he thought was a Snipe which was asleep in the reeds with its long beak across its back.  It could not be seen through binoculars or by the naked eye and by taking it in turn to look through the telescope we positively identified it as a Common Snipe, and a little later two more were also seen.

A number of small birds were seen in the trees but it was difficult to get exact identification for most of them although we did identify Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Starling and Pied Wagtail.

Some of us then went back to the cafe and sat out in the sunshine to have a drink and eat our lunch.

Altogether it was a great day out with super weather.

Birds seen:  Birds: Starling, Robin, Great Tit, Pied Wagtail, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Cormorant, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Shelduck, Grey Heron, Brent & Greylag Geese, Common Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Black-headed & Great Black-backed Gulls

 Next meeting:     Wednesday, 12 December – Hanningfield Reservoir – Meet in Visitors Centre at 10 a.m.

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.