Stanpit Marsh - 6th October

Highlights were Arctic Tern, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit and Kingfisher.

A great walk today with many birds and several unusual species.. The weather was cloudy and mild, but the rain held off. As we walked towards the new Visitors Centre we saw several Little Egret and a small group of Black-tailed Godwit flew past and disappeared onto the marsh. We walked to Crouch Hill and scanned the harbour with Stonechat on the bushes near us and several Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail on Crouch Hill. As we approached 2 Snipe flew off. As well as good numbers of Wigeon, Cormorant, gulls and Redshank we found a Spotted Redshank with the Redshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover and one or two Grey Plover. A little further on there were several Swallow flying over, two Wheatear, a Little Stint with the Dunlin and a young Arctic Tern flew over us. A Kingfisher also showed briefly as we watched the Little Stint. Over the rest of the walk round we saw a few Teal, Little Grebe and Heron on the water of Parky Mead Rail and a group of Long-tailed Tit with a Chiffchaff were in the reeds on the other side of the river where we heard two Cetti’s Warbler singing several times. Lastly we heard a Water Rail squealing as we walked past the last area of reeds. A good number of birds for a short morning walk!
Simon Curson.