Trip away from SS15 - Hythe Lagoons, Colchester, Essex

This morning, I had a long journey using 3 different bus services to visit Hythe Lagoons just to the south of Colchester.

Hythe Lagoons is a 17 acre site which lies to the south of Colchester's former harbour between the Hythe and Rowhedge. It comprises a number of former dredging lagoons. The dredging ceased in the mid 1970s and the location has turned into a valuable haven for wildlife.

More information .... Colchester Hythe Lagoons

The main target for my visit was a male Garganey which had been reported for several days. I successfully saw the this uncommon summer visiting duck species but it was a telescope view and far too distant for any photos. 

The most notable sightings from my visit were as follows: Garganey (1 male), Shoveler (c.20 on lagoon), Teal (c.20 on lagoon), Shelduck (4 on lagoon), Gadwall (2 on lagoon), Mallard (8 on River Colne and c.20 on lagoon), Black-tailed Godwit (26 on River Colne foreshore and c.50 on lagoon island), Common Redshank (2 on River Colne foreshore and 6 on lagoon island), Oystercatcher (2 on River Colne foreshore and 2 on lagoon island), Little Egret (1 on River Colne foreshore), Greylag Goose (1 on River Colne foreshore), Canada Goose (4 on River Colne foreshore), Cormorant (1 on River Colne), Coot (4 on lagoon), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 on River Colne foreshore), Black-headed Gull (c.20), Green Woodpecker (1 between Rowhedge and Hythe Lagoons), Linnet (2 between Rowhedge and Hythe Lagoons), Sedge Warbler (1 unseen male heard singing in scrub at the edge of the lagoon)

From the bus back from Chelmsford to Basildon, I saw a pair of Common Buzzards soaring over a wood between Galleywood Common and Stock and a presumed pair of Swallows flying around the barns at Barleylands.

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