Shoeburyness is a town in south east Essex situated 3 miles east of Southend town centre and it is easily accessible by the c2c train service from my home town of Basildon. It was once a garrison town and still acts as host to MoD Shoeburyness …. see MOD Shoeburyness.
Unlike most of Southend’s beaches, the beach at Shoeburyness is a quarter-mile long stretch of mainly sand but with some shingle and shell deposits. Apparently it gets very crowded during the summer time and even on my February visit it was relatively busy with walkers, some with their dogs.
Fortunately, the wader roost of interest to me is located on the other side of the high metal boundary fence to the restricted access MOD Shoeburyness site and therefore the birds remain undisturbed by people or dogs. Whilst access is not possible, excellent views and photography opportunities can be obtained by looking through the fence.
I arrived around 2 hours before high tide on the assumption that the incoming tide would push increasing number of birds off the extensive mudflats.
The highlights from my visit were: Oystercatcher (at least 1000), Dunlin (at least 300), Turnstone (at least 50), Common Redshank (at least 50), Sanderling (c.10), Curlew (1), Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c.100), Cormorant (2)
Here are some photos from my visit ….
Photo: Oystercatchers
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Goose
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