Essex - Tollesbury Wick & Abberton Reservoir

Summary

The day will start with a gentle-paced walk along Tollesbury Creek, which runs into the Blackwater Estuary. We will explore the rich birdlife that makes the mudflats and saltmarshes their winter home, as well as the accompanying grazing marsh and reedbeds which are particularly good areas for Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owls. The walk is timed to take advantage of the incoming tide which will push the birds towards us as the creeks fill and the birds ultimately seek out their high-tide roosts. Tollesbury Fleet creek is a superb place to see wintering flocks of wildfowl and waders, particularly Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal, plus Dunlin, Red Knot, Pied Avocet, Grey, Ringed and Golden plovers, Curlew, Redshank and Ruddy Turnstone. The grazing marshes of the Essex Wildlife Trust reserve of Tollesbury Wick are not only good for wildfowl but also attract birds of prey. The rising tide should provide us with views of Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and possibly Slavonian Grebe. 

In the afternoon, we move on to Abberton Reservoir for lunch before exploring the nature reserve with its three hides that offer excellent views across the reservoir. We will hope to see large numbers of Northern Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Goosander, whilst looking for rarer wildfowl such as Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck and Smew. Great Egrets should also be present along with the chance of Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Great Northern Diver together with Stonechat and Barn Owl towards dusk.

The walk will conclude back at the visitor centre at 5pm, or dusk if earlier, with a total length of around 3 miles on level, easy-going seawall and tracks with some muddy patches. Sturdy walking boots or shoes are advised. 

• Explore Essex’s mudflats, saltmarshes and reedbeds for winter visitors
• Rarer species such as Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Smew, Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes possible
• Three types of plover species – Golden, Ringed and Grey
• Ducks such as Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Wigeon
• Short-eared Owl and Marsh Harrier hunting in grazing marsh