DAVID'S NATURE BLOG

10 APRIL 2025 - ABBERTON RESERVOIR, ESSEX

A reasonably early start from my house at 0800 hrs saw John, Mike and I arrive at the Layer de La Haye causeway shortly after 09.30 hrs, but too early for the Visitor’ Centre which opened at 10.00 hrs. So, we tried unsuccessfully, to see at least two male Nightingales which we could hear singing loudly from a wooded area nearby. On the reservoir, we gained distant views of at least two Little Gulls (though John had five through his telescope) among a myriad Black-headed and other Gulls, with a group of five Black-necked Grebes much nearer - all approaching full summer plumage; whilst overhead a couple of Mediterranean Gulls made their presence felt. Towards the Layer Breton causeway in the distant south of the reservoir there were huge concentrations of mainly Black-headed Gulls; Tufted Ducks; Great Crested Grebes etc with at least one Common Tern in their midst (though I couldn’t get on it) before we decided to try for Lesser Scaup reportedly seen recently from the viewpoint at northern end of the reservoir, near St. Andrews Church.

Here, we were more successful, with good views of two male and a female Lesser Scaup amongst the Tufted Ducks. We also saw a large flock of Sand Martins (approaching 100 strong) which appeared suddenly from the east; three Swallows on nearby telephone lines, and a male Sparrowhawk. There were several Chiffchaffs at this location too, all singing heartily.

The morning thus far had been very dull and rather chilly it must be said, with the prospect of the cloud breaking to bright, warm sunshine around midday. It should be noted that even under grey skies there were huge clouds of mosquitos, which intensified dramatically as the day grew warmer and brighter, providing nourishing food for gulls and passerines alike, though were nothing less than plain annoying to us birders.

Anyway, back through the Visitor’ Centre we began the normal circuit of hides beginning with Gwen’s Hide, where a male and a female Goosander were still present on reservoir, together with a couple of Goldeneye; a pair of Wigeon, and a pair of Northern Pintail. A male Common Whitethroat obliged from the scrub in front of the hide. Further on at the Island Bird Hide - as the cloud lifted into warm, bright sunlight - a couple of Little Gulls could be seen in front of the distant water plant (though the views weren’t especially good); a few Wigeon and Pochard were seen here too. On the way to Hide Bay Bird Hide a male Blackcap could be heard singing loudly (but wasn’t seen), but good views of a singing male Willow Warbler (though there was probably two in the vicinity) and a Chiffchaff or two lifted one’s heart. Overhead a Western Marsh Harrier and a displaying Kestrel were seen. At the Hide Bay Bird Hide, there was very little activity of note, except for another Goldeneye and a singleton Green Sandpiper which was the only wader on view (courtesy of John’s scoping prowess). On the way back to the Centre I managed to get some reasonably close photos of one of the Willow Warblers, which was extremely pleasing given that I’d hadn’t recorded any local birds for the past few years and certainly hadn’t achieved any photos for getting on for fifteen years.

We enjoyed a Cappuccino each back at the Centre, choosing to sit outside in the fresh air, whilst enjoying watching a Little Grebe at very close quarters, together with the very surprising addition of a superb Barn Owl which was observed hawking the vegetation around Gwen’s Hide for a while. Nearby, Goldfinches and Chaffinches, along with a few Blue Tits and Great Tits were busy at the feeders, whilst on the ground below, a Brown Rat and a Mallard shared close company with each other with no apparent problems.

Following the coffees, we stopped for a moment or two to watch a Common Newt in one of the lily ponds, before returning to John’s cars for our lunches; after which we tried once more to see the Nightingales. There were at least three males singing vociferously, vying with a couple of Cetti’s Warblers but none revealed themselves - par for the course for the species, although some brown jobs were observed flitting over the roadway between Blackthorns, which could readily have been either species. There were Chiffchaffs; Blackcaps; Blue-Tits; Great Tits; Long-tailed Tits; a Robin and a Dunnock, whilst high overhead a trio of Common Buzzards soared in pristine blues skies. Butterflies were well represented at this location too, with good numbers of Speckled Woods and Small Whites, together with single Commas and Peacock butterflies. Spring was most definitely underway.

On the way to the Layer Breton Causeway, we called in at Billett’s Farm hoping to see a Yellow Wagtail or two and were flabbergasted when at least fifteen stunning males (but no females) all in pristine summer plumage were seen in a nearby grassy field, with some on the wire fencing, although only two remained within just a few minutes; clearly new arrivals here. From the hide nearby there was little of much note, although a close encounter with a beautiful adult Hare, which came to within fifty feet or so before moving off.

Our last port of call was at the Layer Breton Causeway, where I eventually caught up with the morning’s Common Tern (thanks largely to Mike’s exceptional directions) which was difficult to keep up with amongst the melee of gulls; Mute Swans; ducks and Great Crested Grebes. The colony of Great Cormorants contained many nesting pairs, whilst on the opposite side of the Causeway at least three pairs of Spoonbills, along with several pairs of Little Egrets and Grey Herons were nesting in the Willows. Two further Spoonbills (possibly non-breeding birds) were observed on a nearby islet.

We left Abberton shortly after 3 o’clock after what could only be described as a memorable days birding, with a few butterflies thrown in for good measure.