Today, I had my first visit to EWT Blue House Farm since my last on 2nd August 2024.
EWT Blue House Farm is 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 EWT 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.
The wildlife of EWT Blue House Farm is internationally important, particularly for over-wintering birds (most notably around 2000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese) but also breeding Avocets, Lapwings, Common Redshanks, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails. It is also an important site for spring and autumn passage waders plus Water Voles, Brown Hares, butterflies, insects and coastal plants.
EWT Blue House Farm 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 down through the village where I saw 2 fly-over Grey Herons and several noisy Rooks already at their nesting rookery.
After some lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn, I visited EWT Blue House Farm but only as far as Round Marsh Hide. I therefore did not complete the long circular walk taking in the River Crouch seawall.
The highlights from my visit were as follows: Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c.300), Canada Goose (c.300), Barnacle Goose (c.20), Teal (c.300), Shoveler (21), Shelduck (13), Mallard (5), Lapwing (c.200), Curlew (c.15), Water Rail (1 heard calling), Sparrowhawk (1), Marsh Harrier (1), Corn Bunting (10), Skylark (7), Meadow Pipit (several heard calling), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male heard only)
In addition, I saw 5 Brown Hares.
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