Trip reports

Bird Walk at Colne Point EWT Reserve.

Saturday, 13 October 2007

Twelve people participated in the walk on a cloudy but still day. Early mist at home did not appear to affect the coast. We headed generally in a westerly direction past the holiday bungalows to enter the reserve and cross over the bridge across the creek to the Warden's hut which was unattended and the notice board outside had very few recent sightings. We then went to where a hide once stood overlooking a small marshy area which used to be good for waders but the area was dry and much vegetation had sprung up, but anyway the hide was no longer there. I believe it was inundated and swept away two or three years ago by particularly high tides during a time of strong onshore winds. I do not know whether there are plans to replace it but presumably the area around it has now been allowed to regenerate naturally.

We then moved down to the foreshore where the low state of the tide meant several sandbanks were exposed and on these were large numbers of Oystercatchers, Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, and also many smaller waders which were rather distant to observe. However, one of the birds of the day was observed not too far away on the end of one of the sandbanks, a fine Peregrine, probably a female from its size in comparison to other birds around. There was almost nothing on the sea birdwise but a motorboat moved quickly very close to the sandbanks and disturbed the birds which all flew up including the Peregrine which headed inland.
We visited the other hide overlooking the creek where it widens before turning towards the sea. Up to seven Little Egrets were seen in flight and on the saltmarsh, and waders feeding on the mud included several Redshank, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and just a few pensive looking Grey Plovers. One Great Crested Grebe was seen and then a small group of Grebes was spotted hard up against the furthest mudbank which made them rather difficult to observe. However the shape was wrong for Great Crested and three were definitely showing signs of reddishness on the necks so it was agreed that these were in fact Red-necked Grebes and a later report on Birdguides confirmed their presence.

A Great Grey Shrike had been present in the area for the two previous days but although we looked extensively for it there was no sign and other searchers also drew a blank. We had several sightings of Wheatears, either on wires, buildings or posts, and it is likely that at least two different birds were present, maybe three, and a pair of Stonechats were seen on wires or sueda bushes. A group of Turnstones were along the foreshore and as usual were reasonably approachable.

As the walk had taken longer than anticipated (down to me thinking we could crossover round the creek further up the coast and consequently having to retrace our steps), the field meeting drew to a close at the car park. A few of us stopped very briefly near the sewage works on the exit road (the use of the word 'road' is particularly generous), and scanned the fields. Slightly longer may well have produced a Merlin on the ground which was reported very shortly after we left. However many good birds were seen and everyone seemed to enjoy the birding experience and the fresh air.