The Wild Side of Essex: Exploring The Naze and Walton Backwaters (Day Trip)

Winter (Nov-Feb):
Waterbirds feature heavily over winter, with Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderlings and Brent Geese prominent among a whole host of other wildfowl and waders, and hopefully also Kingfishers and raptors, including Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and Barn and Short-eared Owls. Mammals could include Harbour and Grey Seals, with an outside chance of an Otter. Smaller birds on the beach and in the bushes might include Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Cetti’s Warbler, Snow Bunting, Twite and very likely some impressive flocks of Starlings, while seawatching could produce Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, Eiders and Common Scoter. While plants in flower will be few and far between, the salt marshes and sand dune habitats retain much of botanical interest through the winter, each hosting a suite of species specially adapted to the environmentally stressful conditions. If not too frosty, the maritime grassland will continue to produce fungi and flowers, and even attract a few butterflies and other insects in winter sunshine. Whatever, an abundance of fresh air is guaranteed!

Spring (Mar-May):
As spring progresses, the estuarine waterbirds decline in number, although those that remain begin to assume breeding plumage; Brent Geese in particular stay in good numbers through the spring months. Summer migrants are returning, starting with Sand Martins (which breed on the cliffs) and Wheatears in March, going right through to Swifts and (maybe) Spotted Flycatchers in May. Seawatching is likely to produce migrating terns of several species, and Mediterranean Gulls, with a good chance of Harbour Porpoise if the sea state is sufficiently calm. As with seals, Porpoises can be seen all year round, but may be disturbed at busier times of the year. The Red Crag cliff slopes have good displays of Colt’s-foot and in warm weather, Green Tiger-beetles; sand dunes equally come into bloom early, with spring annuals such as Small Forget-me Not and Sea Mouse-ear. The sand dunes also support one of the strongest Black Oil-beetle colonies in Essex and as spring advances, Green Hairstreaks will be on the wing. Patches of flowering Alexanders are likely to be a focus for insect action.

Summer (Jun-Aug):
The saltmarshes reveal their botanical riches, with swathes of Sea Pink and Sea Lavender; indeed, interesting plants are everywhere, from Sea Spurge on the dunes, to Bird’s-foot Fenugreek in the maritime turf, as the sea walls light up with Grass Vetchling and Sea Clover. Sea walls in particular abound with butterflies, especially browns and skippers, while dragonflies are at their peak, starting with Hairy Dragonfly in June to the hawkers and darters of high summer. Harbour Seals will be breeding in the Backwaters, as too the birds – Oystercatchers and Redshanks on the beaches and marshes, Common and Little Terns, warblers in the scrub and reedbeds, and Sand Martins on the cliffs. By July, the first returning waders, usually in smart summer plumage, start to drift through, while tern movements offshore can be very impressive, sometimes accompanied by skuas.

Autumn (Sep-Oct):
Salt marshes are in the full flush of autumn colour, with several species of Glasswort, and the last flowerings of Sea Aster and Golden Samphire, hopefully attracting butterflies and the rare Sea Aster Mining-bee, while reedbeds and grazing marshes will provide opportunities for birds such as Cetti’s Warblers. Willow Emerald damselflies, Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers are likely to be flying, and wherever there is flowering Ivy, it will be attracting late season butterflies, hoverflies and bees. If the preceding weather has been conducive, we may encounter an array of fungi, especially waxcaps in the clifftop turf and dunes. Being autumn, migrant birds may turn up anywhere – although not guaranteed – and could include chats, warblers and the first winter thrushes. The clifftop can provide a great vantage point for visible migration, from finches overhead to Gannets offshore. Waders and wildfowl numbers are building in Walton Backwaters, with Brent Geese moving in as autumn progresses, and Sanderling and Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach.