Essex - RSPB Wallasea Island

Summary

This walk is around RSPB Wallasea Island, exploring the variety of trails which lead to several hides offering great views of the island and its winter wildlife. Here there are various habitats such as freshwater and brackish lagoons, grazing marshes, grasslands, mudflats, open estuary and even some scrub. The walk is timed to take advantage of the incoming tide which will push the birds towards us as the River Crouch and River Roach fill and the birds seek out their high-tide roosts. We will take a picnic lunch with us which can even be eaten in a hide if required as this site can be a little exposed.

This relatively new RSPB reserve created from spoil from the London Crossrail project has transformed an area of farmland into a winter bird wonderland. The stars of the show are undoubtedly the birds of prey with multiple Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls wintering, but backed up with Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier and Barn Owl. It is also a fantastic place to see wintering flocks of wildfowl and waders, particularly Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal, plus Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Red Knot, Pied Avocet, Grey, Ringed and Golden Plovers, Northern Lapwing, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Redshank. Little and Great egrets will be present, with even the chance of wintering Cattle Egret, together with increasingly regular winter sightings of Spoonbill. Passerines are also well represented with Stonechat, Linnet, Corn Bunting and even the chance of Twite on the saltmarshes.

The day will conclude back in the car park at 5pm or dusk if earlier, with a total length of around 5 miles on level, easy-going paths and seawall with some muddy patches. Walking boots or shoes are advised. 

• Birding in diverse habitats such as grazing marshes, mudflats, open estuary, scrub, freshwater and brackish lagoons
• Possible birds of prey include Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Short-eared Owl and Hen Harrier
• Stonechat, Corn Bunting, Twite and other passerines
• Waders such as Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Pied Avocet
• Three types of egret species – Little, Great and Cattle