Nightingales at Fingringhoe Wick

10th April 2026

Well into April now and Nightingales are arriving on our shores so time for a visit to our local hotspot Fingringhoe Wick. A survey the day before recorded 27 singing males across the whole site which I seem to remember is about par for the course in recent years. However, this year their numbers and behaviour have been different is some respects.

I normally keep to the area in and around the picnic area early in April when most of the trees and bushes are still not in full leaf. At this time of year you might expect there to be 6-8 singing males in this area, but today there were at least 10-12 in what I would consider to be a conservative estimate. However, despite the larger numbers photography was more difficult as they would often ALL stop singing for 20 minutes or more.

Also I have found in the past that the early arrivals are keen to establish their territory and will often be seen out in the open, even sometimes singing from the top of a bare tree, but today they were all keeping undercover, so it was a matter of trying to find a tunnel through the branches and twigs.

I managed to photograph three individuals as shown below.You can tell which bird is which by the background.

On bird 2 you can see the chestnut tail.

Well, no birds on tops of trees, but that will do nicely.

Adders at Fingringhoe Wick

6th April 2026

It's that time of year again when the air warms up and Adders emerge from their winter hibernation and sun themselves on their favourite bank, so off to Fingringhoe Wick. As soon as I opened the car door I could hear Spring had arrived with Chiffchaffs singing everywhere.

Also one or two male Blackcaps.

First stop today was Robbie's Hide as the tide was on its way in and it would be interesting to see if there are any waders remaining, still to make their journey north. There were a few distant Curlews and Oystercatchers, but the main interest today were the 500+ Black-tailed Godwits, nearly all in their reddy-brown breeding plumage. Here they are flying in.

Just look at those wing-bars and black tails.

And then settling down for a bit of feeding before the high tide roost.

But now on to the business of the day and go in search of Adders. Unfortunately today only two were on view. This female was coiled up in a small hole which severely restricted her movement so it was only possible to get one shot. Just look at that lovely reddy-brown eye top left.

The male had only recently shed his skin so was a very distinctive black and white. Also, as he was out in the open, it was possible to get a range of shots.

Hopefully there will be a few more next time.

I Wonder How the Spoonbills are Getting On?

6th April 2026

My last visit to Abberton for the Spoonbills was on the 11th March when they had just returned to the heronry for the breeding season, so time for another visit to see how they are getting on.

I started the day at the Layer de la Haye causeway which was very quiet apart from a couple of White Wagtails on the bank.

The only other excitement was provided by this Pitts Special which was performing acrobatics over the main reservoir.

A quick visit to Billets Farm produced a male Kestrel and a couple of early migrants.

This smart male Wheatear was perched on the fence by the reservoir..................

................and this male Yellow Wagtail was feeding in the grass amongst the dandelions.................

..................and then on the same fenceline as the Wheatear, both fairly distant.

Now on to the Layer Breton causeway where most of the action should be, and walked into a pair of dancing Marsh Harriers. What a good start.

On  the eastern side of the causeway was my first Common Sandpiper of the year and a particularly confiding individual

At that point David Curle arrived and said that someone had reported a Yellow-legged Gull on the causeway. There were only two large gulls by the sluice, one a Lesser Black-backed Gull and the second a "Herring" type. However, compared to a Herring Gull the bill was richer coloured and the eye ring was red, whereas on a Herring it is yellow/orange.

Also it had yellow legs. What a nice surprise.

In the north-east corner of the causeway the Cormorant breeding season was well underway. The number of nests was impossible to count, with many being inside the trees.

Now at the heronry the usual suspects were already established with many nests occupied.

But now joined by six Spoonbills with some on nests.

Apart from their private nests they also have communal meeting areas down by the water's edge.

Also quite a bit of toing and froing.......................

..........................followed by some rather ungainly landings.

You will notice this bird has a white ring on its left leg above its knee..................

..........................which is enlarged here. The 4-letter code is NFLA. This bird obviously likes attention as it appears in many Spoonbill photos taken at Abberton. The bird was ringed as a pullus on the 25th May 2024 at Zierikzee, Pikgat in The Netherlands

Since then and over the last two years there have been multiple reports from Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent and Essex as well as a couple of trips back to The Netherlands.

Well, what a great day and also good to have a catch-up with David Curle and Ian Plume.