A High Risk Strategy at East Mersea

14th December 2019

Today's strategy was high risk. There was a weather front travelling at high speed across the country from the west and was forecast to clear Mersea by 12.00pm leading to bright sunshine. The strategy was therefore to toodle across Essex in the morning calling in on Abberton on the way, and be on the sea wall at Mersea at 12.00pm to enjoy the sunshine during the afternoon. The risk was that the timings could be way out as is often the case which would result in a totally wasted day. But we all trust the forecasts don't we?

The morning was as predicted with gloom all the way on our journey. When we arrived at Abberton for the customary breakfast break the weather was just as bad, which was a shame as some female Goosanders were feeding inside the sluice providing some great opportunities for close-ups.

I said that we should stop on the Layer Breton causeway "to see if the Smew had returned to fish by the reed bed"........and as we pulled up it had!!! The light was atrocious, but I did manage to get sme shots. This is a male still emerging from eclipse plumage. Thanks to Lee Evans for the information.

So now to test our strategy. We were in place on the sea wall at East Mersea at noon and, as if someone had flicked a switch, the sun came out. How good is that!! Well, to be perfectly honest we did have to wait a few minutes for the sun to come fully out before snapping these Wigeon grazing in the meadow.

The numbers of Brent Geese were also building up but still a long way to go for the usual winter levels.

On the beach by The Point a lone Redshank seemed unphased by our presence and just stood there by the crashing waves as we crept closer and closer. A little further on a couple of Turnstones were feeding on the tide-wrack.

Although in was a particularly high tide the number of waders on the Golf  House roost was quite low and was predominantly made up of Dunlin, Grey Plover and the odd Turnstone.

Closer in on the salt-marsh a party of four Sky Larks were foraging amongst the vegetation. A male Teal was also dabbling in one of the pools.

A couple of Curlew were also on the high tide roost pools and put on a display as they flew further up Brightlingsea Reach and continued to feed along the edges.

But by far the best bird today along the sea wall towards the Oyster Company was this lone Grey Plover that was enjoying its own company in  the afternoon sun.

But the stars of the day were the 50 or so Sanderlings on Stone Point. Photographing Sanderlings can be tricky because, although they allow you to get very close, run around at great speed. However, today it was a bit easier. There was a very strong wind and so the long line of Sanderlings were all feeding and walking into the wind to avoid their feathers getting ruffled, and so it was just a matter of positioning yourself ahead of them so that they walked towards you and past you.

Well, a huge gamble today with the weather or more to the point the forecast, but in the end it all came good. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together. I dedicate this one to Sylvia undata.