Trip Reports 2011

WICKFORD WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Trip Reports 2011

24-04-11 - Vange Marshes (RSPB)

The gorgeous Easter weather continued into Sunday and it was already hot and sunny by the time we got the car park at Wat Tyler and started to wander towards the entrance to the Vange Marshes reserve. Plenty of birds were seen on the way, with Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Rook, Robin, Black Headed Gull, Starling, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Crow, Magpie, Herring Gull, and Chaffinch all very quickly. An all too brief glimpse of Turtle Dove at the gates of Wat Tyler was met by the usual burst of song from a Cettis Warbler. Woodpigeon, House Sparrow and Swallow were added along the road and finally arriving at the entrance, we spotted a very nice male Blackcap, together with Great Tit and distant Green Woodpecker was heard. Into the reserve proper we picked up Coot, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Greylag and Canada Geese. Whitethroats seemed to be in every bush and the reed beds were full of Reed and Sedge Warblers although the former were being hard to spot. A very brief "ping" of Bearded Tits was heard but we saw no sign of these lovely birds. Back to the scrape we picked up Moorhen, Shovelor, Pochard, Mute Swan, Avocet, Reed Bunting and Little Grebe. Then something unexpected - a Little Gull hawking for insects across the water - excellent. Common Terns landed in front of us to give great views and we finally saw Gadwall and Lesser Black Backed Gull before heading home. On the way back we had Lesser Whitethroat, Blackbird, and Chiffchaff (heard) but to top off the day, back in the Wat Tyler car park we could hear a Cuckoo singing to send us home.

Birds - Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Rook, Robin, Black Headed Gull, Starling, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Crow, Magpie, Herring Gull, Chaffinch, Turtle Dove, Cettis Warbler, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Swallow, Blackcap, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Coot, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Bearded Tits, Moorhen, Shovelor, Pochard, Mute Swan, Avocet, Reed Bunting, Little Grebe, Little Gull, Common Terns, Gadwall, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo. (47 Species.)

Butterflies - Orange Tip, Green Veined White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Peacock. (5 Species.)

21-06-11 - Hullbridge - Longest Day Walk

In the car the evening sun was very deceptive because as soon as you stepped out on the river bank, the wind was cutting along the river and very cold indeed. Bringing the fleece was a very good idea. Walking down the river back towards Battlesbridge, we saw Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Black Headed Gull, Mallard and Song Thrush. A Fox cut across our path (only to return later......) and Mute Swans were on the river in force. A Green Woodpecker was seen flying as were Swifts, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Skylarks. A Grey Heron was fishing the river and Blackbird, Dunnock and Common Whitethroat were seen in the hedgerows. Common Terns flew downstream and then we saw a very sizeable flock of Little Egrets - possibly as many as 30 were on the river. Back along the hedgerows, we saw Long Tailed Tits, Crow, Goldfinch and singing Corn Buntings. Shelduck and Herring Gull were seen along the river banks and we finished the bird list with Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Robin on the way back to the pub. Waiting for us along the path was Foxy - this time with his mate - expecting to be fed! We had no food for them, so they wandered off into the woods disappointed, while we headed into the pub. As well as the birds and mammals we also came across some interesting plants - Hairy St John's-Wort, Sea Lavender, Sea Beet, Glasswort, and Common Agrimony.

Birds - Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Black Headed Gull, Mallard, Song Thrush, Mute Swan, Green Woodpecker, Swift, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Skylarks, Grey Heron, Blackbird, Dunnock, Common Whitethroat, Common Tern, Little Egret, Long Tailed Tits, Crow, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting, Shelduck, Herring Gull, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin. (26 Species)

Plants - Hairy St John's-Wort, Sea Lavender, Sea Beet, Glasswort, and Common Agrimony.

Mammals - Fox.

10-7-11 - West Canvey Marshes RSPB

What a great reserve this is! This was the first visit by our society to this fairly new RSPB reserve which is only 20 minutes or so from Wickford town centre. We were again lucky with the weather and the sun was out when we arrived and it got hotter during our visit. The fields and hedgerows were full of wild flowers and consequently were full of bees, butterflies and other insects which grabbed our attention as we slowly wandered around the paths. There are plenty of birds here too being an RSPB reserve of course and they did not disappoint with 3 birds of prey being seen - Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Hobby! The lakes contained the expected water birds and a elusive Green Sandpiper. One of the best birds seen was a Mediterranean Gull - looking great in the sun with its pure white wings. Marbled White butterflies were everywhere and we were told that there were even more a couple of weeks ago! Dragonfly watching too produced some excitement with Emperor's patrolling the ditches and other waterways looking for females and battling with other males and any other species in their way. There was so much to see that we forgot all time and did not get back to Wickford until long after 2pm! A late breakfast / lunch was well worthwhile for such a fabulous morning.

Birds - Starling, Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Little Egret, Cormorant, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Crow, Coot, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Lapwing, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, Redshank, Skylark, Little Grebe, Goldfinch, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Swift, Common Tern, Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting, Pheasant (H), Common Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Kestrel, Blue Tit, Hobby, Avocet, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Sand Martin, Swallow (on way home.) (37 Species.)

Butterflies - Small White, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Large White, Essex Skipper / Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Comma, Gate Keeper. (9 Species.)

Dragonflies - Emperor, Black Tailed Skimmer, Broad Bodied Chaser, Ruddy Darter, Blue Tailed Damselfly (5 Species)