onionbagblog

Image copyright: Richard Allen.

Another month, another update from the good Richard Allen, Wivenhoe’s very own bird watcher supreme:

“A large and enthusiastic group joined me on a rather grey, but mild morning. There were a lot of birds on show, and we were treated to some spectacular fly-pasts as the flocks of waders were spooked by mostly unseen birds of prey.

We did see a couple of Sparrow hawks which put the roosting flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plover into panic, rising high into bunched defensive formations. There were also large groups of Avocets and Dunlin swirling around along with Redshank and a few Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits.

Earlier a single Mediterranean Gull with its white wing tips had been picked out amongst the more common Black-headed Gulls, and a number of Little Grebes had bobbed around a buoy mid channel.

There was a hint of spring with Skylarks, Robins, Wrens and Chaffinches singing, and a pair of Oystercatchers seemed to have set up territory. On the way back the roosting herons had increased to three, a Little Egret stalked the salt marsh and a Marsh Harrier perched atop a bush beyond the far seawall.

Recent sightings: Buzzards have been in evidence when the spring sunshine has given them some lift above the woods, and a few Fieldfares and Redwings are lingering. Woodpeckers are very active at the moment, and hopefully the first Chiffchaffs will be arriving soon.”

My untrained birding eye is still very much learning how to search and identify many of the remarkable species that find their way around the Colne estuary. With the main winter season almost over, I’ve got a whole summer ahead to play catch up with the reference books.

Still squeezing the last out of the winter wine is Richard, with a couple more guided birding walks before we reach those heady summer days. Saturday 19th March, and Saturday 23rd April, with binoculars at the ready for a 10am start outside the Sailing Club.

You can contact Richard and book a place over here.

Back on the domestic front and @AnnaJCowen has insisted that we take down the bird feeders from the back garden. We’ve been attracting a variety of colourful little friends as the spring starts to settle in North Essex.

Our feathered friends have also been attracting the interest of someone else…