Fingringhoe Wick, May 2016
FINGRINGHOE WICK MAY 2016
A warm sunny day welcomed our arrival at this Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve on the banks of the River Colne. Last visited in May 2014, we were heartened to still hear the strident songs of nightingales as we drove up to the car park.
After a quick coffee, the group walked round the reserve; we were serenaded by around 5 nightingales, as many blackcaps, chiffchaff and even a nearby cuckoo....the sounds of spring still delight those with ears to hear.
We enjoyed a sunlit picnic set to the tune of yet another nightingale, and the flutey notes of a blackcap keen not to be out done.
From the estuary hide we were amazed to observe the speed of the incoming tide edging towards the hide. A group of godwits was slowly being driven towards us but they flew down the river before we could get a really close view. Through the telescope they seemed to be two distinct sizes and Peter wondered if they were a mix of bar-tailed and black tailed species.
Dave spotted a distant curlew which obligingly flew by the hide to settle closer but out of sight. Oystercatchers stood out but the far off brent geese were at the limits for our binos. The white neck bar could just be seen, or were we imagining?
Thanks to Bryann Ward for orchestrating an enjoyable day and to Dave Shearing for supplying the bird list
Birds seen (36 Species)
Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Great Tit Swallow, House Sparrow, Robin, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Pochard Black Headed Gull, Little Grebe, Greylag Goose, Kestrel, Jackdaw
Rook, Blackbird, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Shelduck, Oyster Catcher,Cettis Warbler, Reed Warbler, Herring Gull, Cormorant
Sand martin, Great Crested Grebe, Godwit ? Black Tailed, Little Egret, Curlew,Carrion Crow, Avocet
Birds heard
Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Blue Tit Nightingale, Chiffchaff,Blackcap
Butterflies/Moths/Insects:-
Speckled Wood, Cinnabar Moth, Red Admiral, Orange Tip Peacock, Hornet, St Marks Fly
We also saw Common Newts in one of the ponds
Peter Heath