A New Year's Visit to East Mersea

6th January 2023

A New Year's visit to East Mersea and amazingly we worked out it is our first visit since February 2022!!! We made our way down past the hide and viewed the grazing fields behind the sea wall. These used to be flooded during the winter months and attracted large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews as well as wildfowl. However, due to the lack of rain they have been dry for the last couple of years and have been mainly devoid of waders.  But due to the heavy rains this winter they are now flooded once more, but have yet to attract the usual numbers of waders and wildfowl.

In fact the only waders present in the first meadow were three Black-tailed Godwits which luckily were quite close to the gate.

Still plenty of Wigeon on the meadows as they are not dependent on the floods for grazing. Like many birds they get spooked very easily so quite a lot of flight action..

Along the borrowdyke the Teal were making the most of the sun and the majority of the Brent Geese were in their favourite field just berfore you get to Stone Point. There was also a handful of Curlews.

Now walking north along Brightingsea Reach and the Shovelers were gathering ahead of high tide and a pair of Brent Geese flew to their high tide roost.

A lone Curlew surveyed the scene before also flying to higher ground.

As high tide approached the level of activity increased and large flocks of Dunlin started to fly in and join the Redshanks and Grey Plovers.

Redshank were present in good numbers.....................

.......................and as this photo shows included a leucistic individual.

The numbers of birds continued to increase as more and more birds flew in, an absolutely incredible spectacle. One of the attractions of high tide roosts is the opportunity to photograph tightly packed flocks of waders.

And they kept on coming in.

Back on Stone Point the usual flocks of Turnstones and Sanderlings had gathered to feed on the high tide line. Luckily both of these species are fairly tame so it is just a matter of settling down and waiting for them to run past you.

This one got disturbed by a dog walker and took his shellfish with him.

And finally those jewels in the crown the Sanderlings that scurry around at the water's edge.

What a fantstic way to end the day.