onionbagblog

The whole point of the Great Escape out to the North Essex Wilds was to *ahem* get back to nature. Not in the purest naturist sense (although you never know…) but being at one with wildlife and all that hippy sort of stuff.

Having dipped my birding beak at The Nottage last month, my binoculars have been firmly focussed on the fine Richard Allen and his monthly birding walks out of Wivenhoe and along towards Alresford Creek.

My lone bird feeder in the back garden hasn’t seen much action recently. I put this down to the presence of Catsy, who thankfully / sadly hasn’t been spotted around these parts of late.

I’m fine at spotting um, pigeons, and perhaps at a stretch, a personal fly past as the local swallows take formation ahead of storming the High Street. But I was in need of an expert eagle pair of eyes. I was in need of Richard Allen.

We set out from outside the Sailing Club on Saturday morning, a happy band of birders, armed with binoculars, cameras and wellies. For a nominal sum of £8, Richard will guide you at an incredibly leisurely pace out towards the Creek, picking out gatherings of different species, that otherwise would have passed you by.

See that grey blob on the opposite sea wall banks of the Colne? At first I thought it was simply the estuary mist failing to lift. A professional birder’s eye guided my binoculars ever closer, and soon I was gazing in astonishment at the delights of a golden plover.

The further downstream we followed the Colne, and the greater the variety of birds emerged. The coming weeks are the ideal time for any keen Wivenhoe birder, as the migration from the east takes hold.

Even for a mild Wivenhoe weekend morning, the barren weather elements out towards the Creek started to creep up on me. It is only here that you get a sense of the extreme climate conditions that are visitors are escaping, in order to bask in the delights of a north Essex winter.

The return leg back down towards the town took in an outward tide, leaving our feathered friends many mud banks to explore and dig away for some dinner. A fellow birder in our gathering rather generously handed around some homemade flapjack – fantastic.

Just past White House Beach and we saw the stunning sight of a selection of Brent Geese skimming the water surface ahead of a graceful landing. The lack of wing movement, and a reliance purely on the delicate air streams, was simply magical to witness for a Saturday morning.

We took pity on the turkeys up on the farm towards Alresford. Plumage was on full show, and soon so will the brussel sprouts come Christmas Day.

In keeping with the Wivenhoe Society Wine Tasting evening of twelve hours previous, I though it only proper to keep a tick of the booze I necked birds I twitched as the events unfolded. Happy to report the absence of any ropey wine, or even dodgy birds. But not both at the same time, you understand.

Eyes right for…

Oyster catchers

Aversets

Grey and golden plovers

Redshanks

Curlews

Shell ducks

Brent geese

Great crested grebe

Little crested grebe

No pigeons.

The next bird walk by Richard Allen will take place on 11th December at 10am. You can contact Richard over here to reserve a place. I may just join you.