I started the day with a hello from my resident blackbirds, always quick to come down when I put out some suet pellets (for them the equivalent of Niger seed to Goldfinches!). I then had a 'not so good' morning at work (pretty awful actually!) but I do at least get out at noon on Fridays so decided to lift myself with a good walk along the river, where I usually can find some peace and wildlife.
Walking through Great Baddow and out to the Maldon Road (the A414) I took the footpath that leads across the fields of Manor Farm. The footpath starts at the roundabout here (see the little track on the north side of the roundabout):
Walking through Great Baddow and out to the Maldon Road (the A414) I took the footpath that leads across the fields of Manor Farm. The footpath starts at the roundabout here (see the little track on the north side of the roundabout):
and followed it around the edge of the fields to where it splits. To the north-east is a field where I've seen Mute Swans and Grey Herons roosting, and indeed a number of swans were here, but as I walked to the edge of the field I scared up a Grey Partridge, which flew off out of sight. I also spotted some female Pheasant on the far side of the field, disappearing into the hedgerow.
Turning back and looking out across the main field to the new large reservoir I could see Coots, Mute Swans and a number of Tufted Ducks on the water, a Grey Heron on a peninsula of land jutting out into the water and a large flock of gulls on the field nearby, mostly Black-headed but I think not all. I haven't a clue with gulls though so cannot be sure. I think Herring Gulls and possibly Common Gulls were amongst them though. Walking east along the track past the old oak that marks the track south to the farm shop heard and then spotted a solitary Lapwing heading west and below, to the south-east, a row of trees covered in Woodpigeons. In the field nearby were some interesting-looking birds, partly concealed by the crops, so I moved along the path to the closest point, still around 300 metres off, and studied them carefully. They looked like partridges but their heads had definite dark and white striping so I'm pretty sure they were Red-legged partridge, a first sighting for me if they were - I can't think of another bird they could be.
I headed on along the edge of another reservoir, more Coots and Moorhens on the water, a very pumped-up Great Tit calling aggressively in the tree above me (a strong male too, very wide black chest stripe!). Lots of calling from Blue Tits, Great Tits, Dunnocks and Robins here, a nice little wooded patch. Then, with a quick look in the stream channels for possible goodies (hoping for another view of a Water Rail!) I came out onto Sandford Mill Road at the lovely cottages there. A careful scout of the streams turned up nothing so I crossed the river and on the north bank spent a few minutes following a Goldcrest in the bushes, always a lovely sight! Along the road to the left to Bundock's Bridge and the river again I followed the tow-path westward towards the town, keeping an eye out for Little Grebes but unfortunately seeing none today. The walk to Barnes Mill was uneventful, but very relaxing, just the distant swish of traffic on the main roads to disturb the peace.
I sat for a few minutes by the lock then continued along the water's edge over the footbridge that crosses the inlet to Barnes Mill (now a private house) and over a rickety stile onto the Baddow Meads, the large floodplain downstream of Chelmsford. I followed the footpath across the flat open ground, not paying much attention until a few birds flew up from the ground in front of me, one heading for a bush to the right. I just had a glimpse of it's black head... Reed Bunting! My first seen in Essex, I'd only before seen them in Norfolk. They're common enough, although seriously declining so was very pleased to see them here! Across the river I could see more gulls and another Grey Heron, the gulls taking flight from a dog's exuberant chase.
On under the main road and across to Springfield Lock, the first on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation that flows from here east to Heybridge Basin at Maldon. I stopped to scan the river and chat to a man walking his dog. It turned out that he is writing a book on the wildlife of the Navigation and we talked about the wildlife for a while as he pointed out a Sparrowhawk flying over the Essex Record Office. We were joined by the lady I'd met a few weeks ago at Sandford Mill watching a Mink. She mentioned the Water Rail that had been there, a great relief to me as I'd started wondering if I'd just seen a moorhen (I try to follow the mantra of always assume the common if you aren't sure, but in the heat of the moment you can't always think logically!) so hearing her confirm it was really good! We then went our separate ways, and I headed into town for some shopping and the bus home.
Turning back and looking out across the main field to the new large reservoir I could see Coots, Mute Swans and a number of Tufted Ducks on the water, a Grey Heron on a peninsula of land jutting out into the water and a large flock of gulls on the field nearby, mostly Black-headed but I think not all. I haven't a clue with gulls though so cannot be sure. I think Herring Gulls and possibly Common Gulls were amongst them though. Walking east along the track past the old oak that marks the track south to the farm shop heard and then spotted a solitary Lapwing heading west and below, to the south-east, a row of trees covered in Woodpigeons. In the field nearby were some interesting-looking birds, partly concealed by the crops, so I moved along the path to the closest point, still around 300 metres off, and studied them carefully. They looked like partridges but their heads had definite dark and white striping so I'm pretty sure they were Red-legged partridge, a first sighting for me if they were - I can't think of another bird they could be.
I headed on along the edge of another reservoir, more Coots and Moorhens on the water, a very pumped-up Great Tit calling aggressively in the tree above me (a strong male too, very wide black chest stripe!). Lots of calling from Blue Tits, Great Tits, Dunnocks and Robins here, a nice little wooded patch. Then, with a quick look in the stream channels for possible goodies (hoping for another view of a Water Rail!) I came out onto Sandford Mill Road at the lovely cottages there. A careful scout of the streams turned up nothing so I crossed the river and on the north bank spent a few minutes following a Goldcrest in the bushes, always a lovely sight! Along the road to the left to Bundock's Bridge and the river again I followed the tow-path westward towards the town, keeping an eye out for Little Grebes but unfortunately seeing none today. The walk to Barnes Mill was uneventful, but very relaxing, just the distant swish of traffic on the main roads to disturb the peace.
I sat for a few minutes by the lock then continued along the water's edge over the footbridge that crosses the inlet to Barnes Mill (now a private house) and over a rickety stile onto the Baddow Meads, the large floodplain downstream of Chelmsford. I followed the footpath across the flat open ground, not paying much attention until a few birds flew up from the ground in front of me, one heading for a bush to the right. I just had a glimpse of it's black head... Reed Bunting! My first seen in Essex, I'd only before seen them in Norfolk. They're common enough, although seriously declining so was very pleased to see them here! Across the river I could see more gulls and another Grey Heron, the gulls taking flight from a dog's exuberant chase.
On under the main road and across to Springfield Lock, the first on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation that flows from here east to Heybridge Basin at Maldon. I stopped to scan the river and chat to a man walking his dog. It turned out that he is writing a book on the wildlife of the Navigation and we talked about the wildlife for a while as he pointed out a Sparrowhawk flying over the Essex Record Office. We were joined by the lady I'd met a few weeks ago at Sandford Mill watching a Mink. She mentioned the Water Rail that had been there, a great relief to me as I'd started wondering if I'd just seen a moorhen (I try to follow the mantra of always assume the common if you aren't sure, but in the heat of the moment you can't always think logically!) so hearing her confirm it was really good! We then went our separate ways, and I headed into town for some shopping and the bus home.
The approach to Barnes Mill, taken last February
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