This morning I had a
visit to EWT Two Tree Island, a site that I can easily reach from
home by public transport.
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.
There are excellent views of Hadleigh Castle from the western end of EWT Two Tree Island.
I arrived at EWT Two Tree Island at 10:30 a.m. after walking down
to the bridge over Leigh Creek from Leigh-on-Sea railway station.
I initially walked down
to the slipway overlooking the marshes and Hadleigh Ray before then walking
along the seawall to the westernmost point of the island and "Monty's
Lookout", the hide overlooking the lagoon.
I timed my visit so
that I was in the hide for more than an hour before high tide when the lagoon
normally becomes packed with roosting waders.As I arrived at "Monty's
Lookout", there were already large numbers of birds on the lagoon either
roosting or feeding.
It proved to be a very
productive 3 hour visit to EWT Two Tree Island with 12 species of waders recorded.
The highlights
from my visit, including the walk from Leigh-on-Sea railway station to the
entrance to EWT Two Tree Island were as follows: Black-tailed
Godwit (at least 300 on the lagoon), Avocet (at least 100 on the
lagoon), Ringed Plover (at least 100 on the lagoon), Common Redshank
(at least 100 on the lagoon), Dunlin (at least 50 on the lagoon), Lapwing
(at least 15 on the lagoon), Knot (5 on the lagoon), Greenshank (4
on the lagoon), Common Snipe (4 together on a pool between the railway
station and Two Tree Island), Oystercatcher (2 on the lagoon), Grey
Plover (2 on the lagoon including a summer plumaged bird), Sanderling
(1 on the lagoon), Little Egret (c.100 on the saltmarsh outside the
railway station, c.50 more distantly at the east end of Two Tree Island and at
least 3 on the lagoon), Grey Heron (2 between the railway station and
Two Tree Island and 2 on the lagoon), Wigeon (200 flew over heading
west), Teal (c.30 on a pool between the railway station and Two Tree
Island and c.10 on the lagoon), Shelduck (5 on the lagoon), Common
Gull (4 on the river), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 on the lagoon),
Cormorant (3 on the river), Swallow (3 flying south), Chiffchaff
(3) Cetti's Warbler (3 singing males, none seen)
Here are some other photos
from my visit ....
Photo: Black-tailed Godwits
Photo: Black-tailed Godwit
Photo: Black-tailed Godwits
Photo: Black-tailed Godwits
Photo: Black-tailed Godwits
Photo: Avocet
Photo: Avocet
Photo: Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits, Common Redshanks and Grey Plover
Photo: Grey Plover
Photo: Grey Plover
Photo: Grey Plover and Ringed Plovers
Photo: Grey Plover and Common Redshank
Photo: Grey Plover and Ringed Plover
Photo: Lapwing
Photo: Little Egret
Photo: Little Egret, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits
Photo: Little Egret
Photo: Little Egret
Photo: Grey HeronLove nature .... act now
Restore and rewild our natural world
Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife
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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
