A Mid-summer Visit to East Mersea and Abberton Reservoir

8th July 2021

It's that quiet time of year but I fancied a walk along the beach at East Mersea and a look round Abberton in the afternoon. At Stone Point the tide was on its way out and there was quite a race between The Point and Brightlingsea. I am not sure I would want to negotiate that in the foot ferry.

On the beach a pair of Ringed Plovers were scurrying around. It would appear that they were used to passers-by as they were quite happy to stop and pose for photos.

This one even obliged with a scratch.

At Abberton it was fairly quiet with just the usual suspects, and plenty of juvenile Pied Wagtails. Also the female Ruddy Shelduck was back. It is suspected that she is from the Dutch population and has been coming here for the last couple of years to moult.

Great White Egrets are now resident at Abberton and this one was standing having a preen on the wall below the heronry. Not quite sure what is happening to the Great Whites at Abberton because they were more numerous a couple of years ago.

But the stars of the show today were the Common Terns which were putting on a superb display as they were fishing along Layer de la Haye causeway. What a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Abberton never disappoints!!!