Wild coast of essex

Despite visiting the essex coast alot last weekend paid my first to Holland Haven and the great great country park at first just followed the sea hoping to see some waders but only birds around the shore were a mixture of gull including a few Greater-backed Gulls. Then walked inland where in the fields where at least 3 Short-eared Owls were hunting across the fields some flying close at times which was quite a suprise as there were still hunting by late morning.

Hunting Short-eared Owl

Then came to the Rough-legged Buzzard which at first flew across the field and was eating something in the field before flying across to the seawall where it hunting and was seen hovering a few times before it flew over my head by the seawall and settled on a post around the Golf Club.

Flyby Buzzard

Hovering Buzzard a trait of the Rough-legged

Buzzard sitting on the post

Then ended with a visit to the hide where there plenty of Wigeon and Teal and a few Black-tailed Godwit feeding in the water while a Kingfisher briefly landed by one one the pools while had a super view of a Short-eared Owl past the hide as well as a hunting Kestrel and a distance Sparrowhawk.

Next was a visit to Mersea Island and the Causeway which can be good for waders with the right tide around the edge lots of Dunlin, Turnstones and a few Redshanks and Little Egrets were feeding on the edge.

Reflecting Dunlin

Redshanks in with the Dunlin

Dunlin in flight

Then ended at Heybridge Basin where despite been quite busy with people enjoying the sunny day a great grey shrike was showing pretty well mainly preening and darting between bushes.

Great Grey Shrike

Out in the estuary of the basin plenty of waders with Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, curlews and dunlin feeding pretty close while on the Opposite shore a group of 300 or so Golden Plover was seen while A few Brent Geese,Teal and Wigeon were feeding out on the river and Bearded Tits were heard in the reeds

Black-tailed Godwit feeding in the mud