Skip to main content

Mud Flats

For the first time in quite a few years I was able to find time for a trip to Leigh on Sea. I hadn't checked the tide tables and took my good bins but not the scope so I didn't see a lot but there were some old favorites taht I hadn't seen for a long time.

On arrival we parked in the car park on the marshes. This was free last time I was there but the princely sum of one pound wasn't going to break the bank. An old boat, partially sunk in the mud was totally covered in redshank while another, afloat this time, seemed to be home to most of the resident turnstones.

There were some changes around the cockle sheds but in the old town itself Osbornes were still providing traditional sea food and the wonderfully old fashioned Strand Cafe seemed unchanged with soft roes on toast on the menu just like my last visit. Its always a hard choice between the two.

As the tide went out the turnstones swarmed along the shore while the brent geese just seemed to put their feet down and wait for the tide to drop them onto the mud. Flocks of dunlin started moving in and the geese kept up their usual chatter.

Apart from the redshanks I didn't see any other waders but did hear a curlew calling from the other side of Two Tree Island.

I will have to make time for a serious birding trip, this one was in the company of a non birder and I could only decently spend the briefest spells actually scanning the flats.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where are the finches?

 The garden has been disturbingly quiet this month when traditionally the feeders will be continously active. I am seeing a handful of blue and great tits on the feeders but no finches and only the occasional long tailed tit. Normally I woukld expect goldfinches and a few bullfinches on the feeders and chaffinches and redpolls on the ground at this time of year. It has been a strange winter, very mild apart from one cold snap so I hope that they are simply don't need to come into the gardens. On a better note I saw a pair of sparrows in the front hedge this morning so, hopefully, they might be spreading from their stronghold in privet hedges at the other end of the village. Away from home a family trip to Yorkshire netted three pairs of goosander on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Shipley and Saltaire. I think this is the first time that I have been close enough to get a good naked eye view. I have been neglecting this blog, probably because most web browsing is now done on t
Post a Comment
Read more

Sparrows

 I was quite excited this morning when I disturbed two house sparrows on the fat feeder in the front garden. Luckily they did return later. I didn't get a chance to look out of the window but I also heard a great spotted woodpecker call in the front garden. In the back garden we had our first nuthatch sighting of the year which makes three garden firsts for 2022. The redpolls didn't linger this year and I haven't seen the coal tits for a while but we have had the usual regular selection including blackbird, robin, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch, goldfinch and bullfinch. Out and about sightings have included red legged partridge alongside the A418 near Tiddington, skylark on the fields behind the house and a trip to the Forest of Dean with a far too brief glimpse of a dipper but consolation from a pair of kingfishers along the Cannop Brook.
Post a Comment
Read more

Not So Quiet

 During September and October the garden normally seems to be devoid of birds. For the last few days there has been a flock of tits on the feeder. At least 5 blues at a time plus two or three long tailed as well as the occasional great and coal. This only takes place later in the afternoon, usually at around 5.
Post a Comment
Read more