A Stroll Along Walton-on-the Naze Beach

30th July 2026

Walton-on-the-Naze beach is one of my favourite beaches. No, I am not talking about the family beach along the promenade, but the beach north of The Tower that runs from where the sea wall turns inland, to Stone Point, a length of just over a mile. So what is so special? Well, despite normally seeing a rather limited number of wader species compared to other sites, it has the advantage of allowing you to get close to the waders, very often down to just 10 metres.

As soon as I stepped down to the beach I was welcomed by several large clumps of Golden Samphire, one of my favourite coastal flowers.

There were a few Sandwich Terns around, this one loafing on the mud, and others flying along the coast.

The commonest wader by far was the Ringed Plover with probably 100+ present along the beach.

Also good to see a number of juveniles.

The advantage of coming here at this time of year is that the Turnstones are still in their summer plumage.

And still more flying in.

There were more Dunlins than I expected this early in the season, and also a bonus seeing them in their summer plumage.

This is a juvenile.

And as the tide was coming in more waders were arriving.

But my favoutite wader on this beach is the Sanderling. I was told by Brian Combes they were back but failed to find any on my outward journey. Then on the way back I managed to find just one, a juvenile. I suspect more will arrive at high tide.

Well, another fantastic day on the beach at Walton and I am sure I will be back later in the year.

Green Sandpipers Galore at Lemsford Springs

25th July 2026

Lemsford Springs is never a high bird diversity site with just a few regulars and the occasional unexpected visitor, but today was even more so, probably due to the time of year. Apart from the site speciality, the Green Sandpiper, the only two support acts were a single Little Egret......................

.......................and a couple of Stock Doves.

But to compensate the Green Sandpipers were out in force.

And the more you looked, the more you found....................

....................with some just loafing around.

Here is a group of four........................

...............and here a group of five, probably the largest group in a frame I have ever taken here. Altogether there were 12 birds present and the day before that there were 14. The record for the site is 20.

At that point this bird decided to have a bath and started with a soak and a gentle ruffling of feathers to get those feathers wet.

Obviously that wasn't working, so the ruffling of feathers went up a gear.

And in final desperation the bird took to flying a yard and then plunging head-first into the water.

When Green Sandpipers have a bath they really go for it!!!!!