Trip away from SS15 - EWT Blue House Farm, North Fambridge, Essex - 25th February 2022

Today I had a visit to EWT Blue House Farm, a 242.8 hectare nature reserve and farm in North Fambridge on the north bank of the River Crouch between Burnham-on-Crouch and South Woodham Ferrers in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.

Most of Blue House Farm was originally saltmarsh until sea walls were constructed to capture land from the sea. It was then used as grazing pasture for cows and sheep and this practice continues today. Some of the higher, drier fields were used for crops but have now reverted to grassland. The site includes marshland, ponds, creeks and ditches, reedbeds and a 20 hectare field is flooded during the winter to provide feeding grounds for large numbers of wildfowl and wading birds

 

Its wildlife is internationally important, particularly over-wintering birds (most notably around 2000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese) but also breeding Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtails and Avocets and passage waders plus Water Voles, Brown Hares, butterflies, insects and coastal plants.

 

It is a working farm, managed by maintaining high water levels and balancing livestock farming with wildlife conservation.

Access is only available via a permissive footpath through the farm, which has 3 bird hides along it, or along the sea wall.

Having arrived at North Fambridge railway station, I walked for about a mile down to the historic Ferry Boat Inn which was established in the 16th century.

 

After an excellent home-made steak and kidney pie and 2 pints of one of my favourite real ales, Woodforde Wherry, I took the footpath from the rear of the pub towards Blue House Farm and the entrance to the reserve.

One of the first birds that I spotted was a large bird of prey soaring overhead which turned out to be not the expected Marsh Harrier but a Red Kite.

I quickly found the flock of c.2000 grazing Dark-bellied Brent Geese but unfortunately, due to looking straight in to the very bright sun, it was impossible to locate the regularly reported Red-breasted Goose. However, I was not particularly disappointed since I had previously had excellent views of this rare wintering goose when it had been present at South Woodham Ferrers for a few days in January …. see here.

 

I did not complete the lengthy circular route around EWT Blue House Farm but instead walked out to the first hide when I remained for around 2 hours. Surprisingly, the large wetland area in front of the hide was largely dry with only isolated patches of open water.

 

Nonetheless, I did manage to record a large variety of bird species including 2 additions to my 2022 year list: Green Sandpiper (2) and Reed Bunting (1 male). I also saw a distant Red Fox.

 

Birds of prey (in addition to Red Kite): Marsh Harrier (3), Common Buzzard (2), Sparrowhawk (3), Kestrel (2)

 

Geese (in addition to Dark-bellied Brent Goose): Canada Goose (c.100), Greylag Goose (1)

 

Ducks: Teal (22), Mallard (2), Shelduck (12)

 

Waders (in addition to Green Sandpiper): Common Snipe (4), Ruff (1), Lapwing (c.200), Black-tailed Godwit (possible c.10 seen very briefly and distantly)

 

Other water birds: Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Mute Swan (2), Coot (6)

 

Other notable records: Linnet (c.50), Skylark (7), Meadow Pipit (2), Fieldfare (5), Pied Wagtail (c.20), Starling (c.200), Stock Dove (25), Pheasant (1)

 

Unfortunately, I failed to see either Barn Owl or Hen Harrier as the afternoon progressed.

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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature