Essex bound

From Stanford to Cliffe

This week's outing took us through the Dartford tunnel to Essex. We had planned to visit either Canvey Island or Two Tree Hill, but finally decided on the marshes just outside Stanford-le-Hope. Our welcome to Stanford was a bullet hole or two through the reserve sign, but a couple of locals gave us helpful advice on the best way to walk.  They also explained that enroachment had been allowed which had resulted in a new seawall route. Armed with sound advice, we set off.

Along the flooded river side were large flocks of shelduck, teal, and black-headed gulls.   In the shrubby area alongside the path, fieldfare took advantage of the berries, a blackbird gave an alarm call, robin and chaffinch were also calling.   On the inside of the old sea wall redshank, curlew, grey plover and a turnstone sheltered.   Looking across the river we could see the familiar sights of Cliffe with the Black Barn and the Radar showing well.

On our return to the car, we spotted a group of little grebe on a pond.   A kestrel hovered for a short while.

Caddis Fly

Muddy Creek

Our next stop was Wat Tyler Country Park.   Here there are several visitor facilities, with an RSPB centre and educational area.   The Wat Tyler Country Park centre with a shop, cafe and picnic tables.   After our lunch we obtained a key for the two RSPB hides and started on our walk.   The muddy creeks around the reserve are a haven for gulls, waders and ducks.   Little egret, pochard, mallard, teal, herring gull, great and lesser black-backed gull, curlew and black-tailed godwit.   A lone avocet fed with black-headed gulls.   A jay was spotted in a distant tree, and a bird of prey shot through the trees away from us - mobbed by eight magpies.   In the bushes and trees lining the path there were blue tit, great tit, and long-tailed tit, linnet, robin, and starling.   A redwing flew overhead, and large numbers of starling created their distinctive artistic patterns in the sky.

From the final hide we saw 12 little grebe, green sandpiper, tufted duck coot, moorhen, two young little grebes were near their nest, and in the reeds a snipe fed.   A wren appeared in front of us in the reeds, but just as quickly flew, not to be seen again.

On the way home we took a quick tour around Tesco's car park in Pitsea, just in case there were any birds feeding on the berries.   Then it was time for the trip home, which was made in good time - there being no delays on the M25.