Flocks and feet

First post for a little while, thought I should make this before we enter September (is it really that already!) - August's entry is looking a little lonely!

Yesterday (Sunday) I got up early and went out just after dawn for a walk eastwards along the river Chelmer, thinking perhaps I might get as far as Stonham's Lock. As it turned out I walked almost to Rushes Lock, a round trip of thirteen miles that left me with very sore feet and legs as I wore shoes that are not really very suitable for long walks - the uneven stony ground on the return played havoc with my aching soles. It was all worth it though...

passing Barnes Mill I had an extremely close view of a female Reed Bunting as she sat in a small tree, the best view I've had to date. Then a little further downstream I saw a large flock of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits moving through the trees, accompanied by some Goldcrests and a Willow Warbler! I scanned the fields nearby and could just make out some pheasants and what I think were partridges, but too far away to be sure. A female Tufted Duck flew upstream past me, followed by a Lapwing at a greater height.

Past Sandford lock near the A12 bypass I paused to watch a small flock of Tits in some hawthorns, some Whitethroats also moving through the trees and brambles along with a slightly different bird. I looked closely as it skulked in the brambles and momentarily came out into clear view to show itself - yes, a Lesser Whitethroat! Only the second I've seen, the first was last summer at Morston in north Norfolk. Too shy to let me get a photograph, it slunk off behind the hawthorn and then flew off to the distant trees.

Walking on to Cuton lock was very quiet, little seen bar a couple of people on bikes. At Cuton lock however I came upon a Cormorant fishing in the river, a sight I'd seen on a boat trip at the coast but never here! I evidently startled the bird as much as it did me as it took off and flew downstream, took another dive then flew off away to the south, giving me just time to take a quick snap of it as it splashed its way out of the water. I continued to Stonham's Lock, very quiet apart from the drone of distant traffic where work was continuing on renovating the lock and some fishermen were setting up for the morning. Just past the lock I saw lots of small birds flocking together, but against the overcast sky I found it difficult to identify them, or even follow them as they flew from tree to tree. After a few minutes I realised that they were Chaffinches and Greenfinches, large numbers moving from tree to tree and in and out of the fields where I presume they were finding some spilt grain from the recent harvest. I saw more of these birds near Little Baddow lock and as I passed the lock and approached the road bridge I could see Swallows zipping along in the field on the northern bank of the river, making loops around and around, always returning to the road bridge where I think there may still have been some nests. Under the structrure I could just see a hint of the bottom of some muddy nests and one or two birds resting on the struts.

Over the bridge and eastwards I saw another small flock of birds but it took me some time to place them even though the sun had appeared and was at my back. I then realised I was watching Linnets, a bird I'd seen from time to time elsewhere but never in the Chelmsford area (though they surely must be around here, I just hadn't come upon them until now). Dragonflies zipped about, more than I'd seen on my local walks for a while now, one of the patterned hawkers (Migrant or Southern perhaps) that I find difficult to identify unless I have a good photograph and plenty of time with the guide book. Here and there Moorhens called, followed by a flotilla of young, occasionally taking a short panicked run along the surface of the water either in fright or to see off a rival.

I arrived at Papermill Lock and sat for a while on a bench, intending to wander to the road bridge and then turn back but as I watched more swallows from the bridge I looked downstream and decided I'd explore just a little further so after a few minutes enjoying the sight of the swallows I set off. The river here is beautiful, although not isolated as it is so close to the tourist honeypot of Papermill Lock, so lots of walkers, joggers and cyclists were heading back and forth, some with prams and kids in tow. In between though it was very peaceful and I felt that I was entering a more rural part of the river, very tranquil and flanked by tilled fields and grassy meadows. I reached an arching footbridge, inscribed with 1951 and freshly painted in white, where I saw a pair of Common Darter dragonflies mating on the footpath, but they flew off to a nearby hawthorn as I moved to extract my camera from my backpack. As I attempted to photograph them I chatted to a passing couple who also took some photos of them (what a bunch of voyeurs we are!) and then after climbing the bridge to look down on the river I headed back upstream, my feet beginning to ache and the thought of all those miles to come quickening my step.

At the Papermill lock road bridge I paused to watch the swallows and noticed them flying to an Alder tree where a number of young swallows were perched, my first view of juveniles and very welcome indeed! I watched the adults come to feed the youngsters and then went to an empty bench by the water and sat for a while as the lunchtime crowd chatted away at the nearby tea room. Having gathered my strength I walked on to Little Baddow lock where I spotted a Common Tern flying upstream and fishing right in front of me, and watched a group move a boat through the lock (very interesting). Then on past Stonham's Lock, the flocks of finches still flying to and fro, and plodding ever onwards to Cuton lock, where I spotted a Cormorant fishing again, possibly the same bird had returned. As I passed Cuton I was beginning to flag, going past the 11 mile mark now and my feet really getting sore. I trudged along, oblivious to the sound of the A12, past Sandford lock and on to the homeward stretch. I finally reached Barnes lock and turned away from the river homewards, where I ran a bath to soak my tired body.