Trip away from SS15 - EWT Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

This afternoon, I attended a walk at EWT Two Tree Island which was organised as part of the 4-day Essex Birdwatching Society Big County Birdwatch programme.

SS15 wildlife watching: It is a very special weekend

The walk was led by Steve Grimwade and Matt Turner who put the Essex Birdwatching Society Big County Birdwatch programme together, presented nightly review shoes on YouTube and led other walks across Essex. Huge appreciation and thanks to them for all their hard work!

The final guide walk of #bcbw23 is nearly over and we've had another great day. To find out more time into the last YouTube show this evening: https://t.co/1ZLfCybTVA @EssexBirdNews pic.twitter.com/9lBOSmFTQD

— Essex Birdwatching Society (@EBwSTweets) May 8, 2023

EWT Two Tree Island is situated adjacent to the internationally protected Thames Estuary and it is a winter refuge for a huge diversity and abundance of winter wildfowl (most notably Dark-bellied Brent Geese) and waders plus a wide range of breeding and migrant birds during the rest of the year.

EWT Two Tree Island was reclaimed from the sea in the 18th century when a seawall was built around the saltmarsh and it was originally used for farming. It is now managed as a nature reserve.

Approximately 4 miles of trails, which are a mixture of gravel and grass paths, provide access through the grasslands and scrub areas. At the end of the western section of the reserve is a bird hide which overlooks a lagoon which provides a valuable habitat for roosting and breeding water birds. The eastern section is part of Leigh National Nature Reserve where the saltmarsh is one of the best surviving in the Thames Estuary. 

It proved to be a very productive 3 hour visit this afternoon with 38 bird species and 3 butterfly species recorded.

I was able to add 2 bird species to my 2023 UK list: Whimbrel and Greenshank

Together with the 3 additions to my 2023 UK list recorded during my visit to RSPB Bowers Marsh yesterday (see here), I have now advanced to 154 bird species for the year.

The butterfly species recorded were as follows: Orange Tip 3 males) and Red Admiral (1)

The most notable sightings from my visit were as follows: Whimbrel (4), Greenshank (7), Common Redshank (4), Curlew (2), Oystercatcher (15), Dunlin (2), Avocet (2), Little Egret (3), Shelduck (2), Mallard (2), Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c.200), Canada Goose (10), Moorhen (1), Common Tern (3), Mediterranean Gull (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Black-headed Gull (c.50), Cuckoo (1 male heard calling), Common Whitethroat (8 singing males seen plus at least 5 other singing males heard), Lesser Whitethroat (1 singing male heard), Blackcap (at least 3 singing males heard), Chiffchaff ( 1 singing male seen plus at least 3 singing males heard), Reed Warbler (c.5 singing males heard), Swallow (c.10), Swift (2), Cetti's Warbler (3 singing males heard), Sparrowhawk (1), Linnet (1)

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