Trip reports
Trip to Two Tree Island , Essex
Monday, 12 November 2007
Failing to spot him, we moved on to Southend Pier, where at the end of the mile long train ride to the pierhead,we were greeted by very tame Turnstones, scurrying around our feet. As some of the group admired a Gt Crested Grebe, I spotted a Red-throated Diver 25mts out from the pier and quickly called the group to come and view it. It must have heard me, as it promptly dived, to emerge 50-60mts further out.
As the tide was approaching it's full height, Turnstones gathered on the launching ramp to rest and squabble with each other. Amongst them ,one of the star birds of the day, 4 Purple Sandpipers ( 3 adult, 1 juv) snoozed oblivious to the jostling around them.
On the rusting ironwork above the ramp gulls roosted, amongst the Black-headed and Herring Gulls, were 5/6 Mediterranean Gull and through telescopes were able to study these smart gulls, for some of the group , the first time they had seen up close this bird.
A Guillemot floated by on the tide, perhaps blown into the estuary by the severe weather and "surge" that had occurred a few days earlier.
Leaving the pier ,we headed back to Westcliff and Rossi's for another look for the Ring -billed Gull. Scanning the flock of loafing gulls we eventually located "Rossi" as he is known.
At the lagoon on Two Tree Island, a 400+ mixed flock of Grey Plover and Dunlin roosted on the main island, along with Greenshank,Avocets, Black-tailed Godwit,Lapwing, Ring Plover, Curlew, Snipe, Little Egret, Teal and Shoveler with a Kingfisher zipping through.
As the tide dropped and the eelgrass was exposed, Brent Geese moved in to eat the succulent food ( to them), numbers topping 2000+.
As we returned to the minibus, a Short-eared Owl being harried by Gulls, came into view. A superb ending to a great day.