A Barn Owl in the Golden Hour

8th November 2025

After a most successful morning at Two Tree Island time to move north to see what Wallasea Island has to offer. During the week the first Short-eared Owl of the winter had been seen from the entrance track so I decided to set up camp there with Rog Warner and Ian Plume. 

Still early afternoon so I had a walk down the road looking for Corn Buntings. There were several flocks with up to 20 birds in each giving a total of 100+ birds. Unfortunately they were very mobile and were mostly dropping into cover, but on a couple of occasions sat up in a bramble bush or Hawthorn.

From my vantage point at the entrance I could see a ring-tail Hen Harrier hunting along the south wall by the River Roach so walked up the track in case it came any closer. That didn't happen but I did grab a record shot, bearing in mind it was 600 yards or 1/3 of a mile away as measured on Google Earth.

As I was waiting a Barn Owl appeared and sat on a nearby post surveying the scene.

It then took off and went on a hunting mission, flying past at a range of about 25 yards. As it was now getting late in the day we were entering the golden hour where the sun is low in the sky and gives everything a golden hue, which I find particularly attractive when photographing Barn Owls.

Every now and then it would hear a rustle in the grass and hover while it assessed the situation.

And then when it was sure it would flip upside down and dive, dive, dive in for the kill!!!!

WOW, what an amazing 30 seconds and certainly worth coming for.

High Tide at Two Tree Island

8th November 2025

I arrived at Monty's Look-out a few hours before high tide and the view was absolutely stunning with wall-wall blue sky, and Tiffany and her team had done a great job in clearing the vegetation in front of the hide.

On my last visit on the 25th September I also arrived early but then there were about 500 waders, mainly Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits, already in the roost. However, today was back to normal with about 50 Redshank, no Avocets and not a single Black-tailed Godwit. There were a few distant Mallard and Teal, but the ducks nearest the hide were Shelduck and Wigeon. In fact the Wigeon numbers were exceptionally high compared to normal.

Of the waders there were no more than a couple of Lapwings, and a handful of Redshanks.

A little later a few Avocets flew in and it can be seen from the second photo the bird on the left has colour rings which are enlarged in the third photo, two yellow rings and a blue flag J3. I am awaiting the ringing history and will report back on my next visit.

Considering the number of Curlews on the estuary they are fairly scarce visitors to the lagoon with normally just one or two, and by no means every time.

A few waders were now starting to leave the estuary mud for the lagoon starting with a couple of Grey Plovers.

And at that point I heard a Golden Plover flying over.....................

.........................and when I looked back two more had landed on one of the islands.

And then the flood gates opened with wave after wave of Dunlin flying in.

This was followed by wave after wave of Ringed Plovers....................

...........................and then some mixed flocks.

But what had been a very relaxing and peaceful day ended up with two violent incidents. Although there were no Black-tailed Godwits present when I arrived, two had flown in and despite there being acres of water for them to feed in they both flew to a small corner of the lagoon and took up what can only be described as an aggressive posture, a standoff with bills open.

They then got closer and started testing each others defences..................

.......................eventually engaging bills.

And then back to your corners. This behaviour is called a fencing duel and is normally carried out during territorial disputes on the breeding grounds, which is why this is the first time I have ever witnessed it in Essex during the winter months. Not quite sure why they felt it necessary in November!!!

Unfortunately, the second instance was more worrying. Just below the hide a Redshank appeared to be trying to drown another Redshank.

But the more the incident evolved, the more it seemed to be less of a violent attack, but more of an over-amorous male trying to force his attentions on a rather unsuspecting female!!!!

And then it ended as quick as it had started and both swam off side-by-side into the sunset.

Well that visit was a bit more eventful than usual.

And it was also good to meet George from the South Essex Ringing Group, and to have a chat with Hazel and Val.