We combined our single household bubbling weekend at mum’s with a birdwatching outing with my brother, Andy. And a very successful weekend it was too!
We started early, and drove to our first stop at Benfleet, where a Marsh Warbler has been present and singing on a footpath close to the station for several weeks. This would be a lifer for us if we were able to track it down, although Andy had previously seen one. However, finding it was the challenge...There were a number of footpaths and no clear directions. We headed in the direction of the railway line and were soon walking alongside some reeds - clue number one, as Andy had seen photos of the bird showing in a reed-bed. Clue number two soon came into view - a couple of men with binoculars dangling around their necks, motionless and staring into the reeds. They quickly confirmed we were in the right place, and within a few minutes the bird fleetingly appeared, but was easily identified by the stream of glorious song it poured forth from deep in the reeds. Eventually it flew out to some nearby scrub bushes, and quickly returned, ensuring we all got the necessary tick. Singing Reed Warblers were also present.
Next we headed to Wrabness, near Manningtree, about an hour’s drive away. You will recall a recent post with some fabulous photos that Andy had taken of Sand Martins. These were easily seen from the beach, swirling overhead and soaring out over the estuary, then either diving directly back into their holes in the burnt red sandstone cliff, or clinging briefly on the edge for a quick check around before entering. They appeared completely unfazed by the ever increasing numbers of people arriving to swim in the sea or pitch up with their deckchairs and sandwiches right underneath the nesting birds, making a mockery of our efforts to maintain a safe, respectful distance so as not to cause any unnecessary disturbance.
A Linnet posed well in a dead tree, allowing Andy some good shots. We walked slowly back from the beach, listening for the soft, gentle purring of Turtle Dove, which we had heard on our way down, but failed to see as we passed down to the water’s edge. We soon picked up the sound again, and spotted a bird obligingly perched atop a dead tree. This gave excellent views in my scope, but unfortunately it flew off before Tim could get any good shots. Another bird soared above the trees in an apparent display flight, and perched just out of sight in the bushy scrub. We continued along the path, and then located another bird, much closer and at a lower height han previously.
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| Turtle Dove purring, Wrabness Nature Reserve |
You can see how the bird puffs out his chest to make the wonderful purring song. There were probably four birds at this site. They are a species in serious decline, at risk from changes in agricultural practice and also from the hunting lobby in Malta. They have disappeared from our traditional Sussex site, although they are present, and possibly increasing, at the nearby Knepp rewilding estate in Horsham.
We continued on from here to Abberton Reservoir. This was very quiet in comparison to previous visits, and we were unable to access large parts of the reserve due to Covid 19 closure. From the causeway, we noted a family of Egyptian Geese, a single Little Ringed Plover actively feeding on the shingle and a brilliantly sunny Yellow Wagtail perching on a stick and bathing at the water’s edge. A Corn Bunting jangled at us from the fence, but there was little else of note.
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| Yellow Wagtail, Abberton Reservoir |
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| Egyptian Geese, Abberton Reservoir |
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| Little Ringed Plover, Abberton Reservoir |
From here we set off in the general direction of home, but aiming for our last destination, Bowers Marsh, near Basildon. Again the reserve was not fully open, but we were able to access the path to the lake, and had the viewpoint -and seat! - to ourselves. Our target bird, Black Necked Grebe was quickly identified, but at some distance, so although it showed beautifully in the scope we were unable to obtain decent photos before it exited stage left. There were good numbers of Avocets with long-legged chicks, a single Lapwing, also with fluffy chick and plenty of common ducks and geese. Black-headed Gulls were plentiful, and as we lounged on the bench enjoying the sunshine , the distinctive whining mew of Mediterranean Gulls overhead drew our attention upwards as they spiralled down towards the lake. This was a new tick for Andy, and the grebe was new for us, so we all ended the day on a high note, despite feeling exhausted after a long day’s driving and our early start.
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