Trip reports
Beached Bird Survey at Tollesbury, Essex
Sunday, 22 February 2009
The South-East Herts Group has been participating in the Beached Bird survey for more than thirty years, monitoring a stretch of the Blackwater estuary in Essex, at Tollesbury. We routinely walk the same section of coast, searching the shoreline for dead birds. This count provides an important baseline dataset for assessing the effects of unusual weather phenomena or oil spills (its original purpose) on seabird mortality around the North Sea. Records are submitted to RSPB regional office in Norwich.
This year the survey took place on Sunday 22nd February, a weekend during which participants from all the countries bordering the North Sea were counting their respective coastlines in an internationally coordinated effort. Six people met at Abberton reservoir before moving to Tollesbury. It was a cloudy day with a fresh wind, but thankfully more mild than of late. The recent snow and cold weather suggested it was likely that there would be a high count on the survey, but fortunately we found only one dead bird. More good news is that there was no evidence of oiling on the beach.
The list below shows the birds we saw on the day. Perhaps best of all was the barn owl from the car park as we were ready to leave for home.
BEACHED (DEAD) BIRDS: Grey Plover.
LIVE BIRDS SEEN Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Smew, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Long-tailed tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.
TOTAL = 70 SPECIES
The Survey provides valuable conservation data and is a good day out. We often see some very good (live) birds as the list below confirms. No expertise is required in order to come out with us; you can participate in the survey or not as you wish. Please join us and help the Society in its vital conservation work.
If you would like details of the 2010 survey, which is currently scheduled for Sunday 28th February, please contact Ted Bell at a group event or on 01920 467809.