Trip away from SS15 - Woodham Fen

I lived in South Woodham Ferrers from the age of 10 years until I left home to go to Reading University.

During those carless years, my local patch site was Clements Green Creek and the River Crouch and the marshland and rough grassland between them which eventually became known as Marsh Farm Country Park. Many years after leaving home, I visited the area again in January 2022, primarily to see a vagrant Red-breasted Goose which was associating with the large flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese .... see here.

One site that I didn't visit whilst living in South Woodham Ferrers was the adjacent EWT Woodham Fen which I decided to visit this morning.

Divided by the Wickford to Southminster railway line, the Crouch Valley Line, EWT Woodham Fen is former common land between and near the tidal limits of 2 small creeks running south into the River Crouch. The southern part is saltmarsh and the northern part is rough grassland with a transitional zone between them. This is of special interest because this natural transition is now very unusual in Essex.

The land was originally donated in the 12th century by the Lords of the Manor to the community to graze animals. The Essex Wildlife Trust now works in partnership with South Woodham Town Council to manage the nature reserve which lies within a much larger area of common land.

EWT Woodham Fen has the following environmental designations: Local Wildlife Site (LWS), Ramsar site, Siteof Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and SpecialProtection Area (SPA).

During my visit to EWT Woodham Fen, I did not record a large number of species and I suspect that this was mainly due to it being 29°C and very sunny.

However, I did have some notable records ....

Dragonflies and damselflies: Banded Demoiselle (5+), Emperor Dragonfly (1), Broad-bodied Chaser (2), Blue-tailed Damselfly (5+), Common Blue Damselfly and/or Azure Damselfly (5+)

Butterflies: Marbled White (2), Large Skipper (c.5), Gatekeeper (30+), Large White and/or Small White (30+)

Birds: Common Sandpiper (2 flew along the creek), Little Egret (3 on the creek), Yellow Wagtail (1 heard calling and a juvenile seen), Grey Wagtail (1 on the adjacent sewage works), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male seen and another heard calling), Chiffchaff (1 singing male heard), Blackcap (1 heard calling), Swift (group of c.15 birds seen on several occasions flying over the adjacent residential area), Greenfinch (1 heard calling), Green Woodpecker

My sighting of a Yellow Wagtail was my first record of the year, bringing my 2022 year list to 195 species.

Here are some photos from my visit:

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Banded Demoiselle

Photo: Common Blue Damselflies

Photo: Gatekeeper

Photo: Little Egret

Photo: Little Egret

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