Garganey and Pectoral Sandpiper at Abberton Reservoir

3rd October 2024

After a great morning at the high tide roost at Fingringhoe Wick, time to pop into Abberton Reservoir on the way home. The causeways were very quiet apart from a very distant Black-necked Grebe from Layer Breton, and it soon became clear that all the action was from the Billets Farm screen.

When I arrived a handful of birders were watching three Garganey and a Pectoral Sandiper, all at the water's edge. Unfortunately the water's edge is about 80 yards away which is not too bad for a bird the size of a Garganey, but a bit challenging for a tiny Pectoral Sandpiper, especially in poor light.

Here are my shots of the Garganeys but couldn't manage to get all three in one shot.

And here are the records shots I managed of the Pectoral Sandpiper

At least you can see what it is!!!!

An Early Autumn Visit to Fingringhoe Wick

3rd October 2024

Time for a visit to Fingringhoe Wick to see how the high tide roost is developing.On the way to Margaret's Hide I came across this rather impressive fungus which I believe to be a Parasol Mushroom, but am willing to be corrected.

There were very few passerines around but this female Reed Bunting posed for a shot.

Now in the hide and a few of the usual suspects were already in the intertidal area including this Little Egret. Goodness knows what it has being doing, but it was busy trying to recover the situation

Very few ducks around but there was a group of five Shelducks. This one was having a wing-flap after its bath...................

...................and these were asleep or preening.

Now on to the waders of which there were 10 species. Rather surprisingly the Turnstone is quite scarce here with only two individuals today, but along the Essex coast is very common. Perhaps Fingringhoe is just a bit too far inland.

Curlews are present in small numbers but nowhere near as common as say East Mersea, less than a mile away.

Avocets are very common here with usually 200+ birds present, but difficult to count today as were flying around in smaller flocks. Always love to see them flying against a dark cloud of which, unfortunately, there were several today.

Dunlin is another species which bucks the trend here because, being probably the commonest small wader in Essex, here they are in the distinct minority.

Black-tailed Godwits however are the commonest species here with already 300+ present and building. Unfortunately today they were all on the far bank.

Probably 100+ Ringed Plovers today although fairly well scattered and good to see so many juveniles.

Fingringhoe is Redshank City with many birds present and often feeding right in front of the hide.

Also today there were up to five Greenshanks present and provided a good comparison with their Redshank cousins.

When you have an itch..................

This was taken later at the Kingfisher Hide.

There has been an Osprey around for a few weeks now often centred on Geedons Marsh, but today it was fishing down the River Colne.

Unfortunately, although not a threat to birds, it did manage to spook the whole high tide roost until it was escorted off the premises by a squadron of Avocets.

And finally it was great to see the first of the Golden Plovers back from their breeding grounds with 80+ birds present.

But like their Lapwing cousins they are easily spooked for no reason at all which provides some great opportunities for some flight shots

And finally a mixed bag with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Golden Plover and a single Knot on the right.

Well another superb day at Fingringhoe Wick and nice to meet William and Linda from Cambridgeshire.