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Leigh on Sea

The seaside seemed like a good place to blow away the cobwebs on New Year's Day so a drive down to the Thames Estuary seemed to be in order.

The tide was at its lowest ebb so most birds were a long way out where the food was nearer the surface but there were a few old friends and one surprise. A few redshank were foraging in the creeks and out on the mud there were several groups of brent geese. Singletons included a greater black backed gull and a grey plover.

I haven't been down to the estuary since last winter and not for several years before that visit so I was not sure what is common there now. It was striking that there were no turnstones around the cockle sheds, these used to be very common. While walking something white at the corner of my eye didn't look quite right for a gull and turned out to be the first little egret that I have seen on the Thames. It was active, moving frequently so I am not sure if I saw the same bird several times or different individuals.

All in all a civilised environment for birding, expecially when accompanied by a non birder. Rounded off with lunch in The Strand Tea Room which is the only cafe I know that serves soft roes on toast as a regular menu item.

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