Birdwatching group visit to Heybridge Basin

 Blue sky, bright sunshine – and the recent chilly east winds a distant memory. Ideal conditions for a morning's birdwatching.

So it was with something of a spring in our step that 13 members stepped out on Heybridge sea wall on 2nd March – the second day of meteorological Spring.          

We were not disappointed. Out on the mudflats, a plethora of waders and wildfowl were taking advantage of the bountiful food supply to be found in the mud. It is always good to see avocets, elegant black and white waders with long upturned beaks. It is also the emblem of the RSPB, symbolising the bird protection movement in the UK more than any other species. The increase in avocets after their return in the 1940s marks one of the most successful conservation projects.            

Another welcome sight was a greenshank, an amber listed wader in the UK most often seen as a passage migrant between its wintering grounds as far south as Africa and breeding grounds on boggy moorland in Scotland. More of its commoner relative, the redshank, were also probing the mud for food as was a curlew with its long downturned bill, which will soon be heading to inland moorland breeding grounds.         

Ducks could be seen in good numbers, including teal (Europe's smallest duck), pochard, wigeon, tufted and shelduck which are fond of nesting in rabbit burrows in old sand dunes. Other waders included godwit and oystercatchers, which can be remarkably long lived, typically surviving around 12 years in the wild with some living 41 years.

The group's next destination is Felixstowe to see bird ringers at work at Landguard Fort on Saturday 5th April .

Rendezvous will be earlier than our usual 10.am, to be advised by Peter Gaywood nearer the time.

For further details please Contact the Membership Secretary on 01245 329435