Essex – Abberton & Mistley – 15th March 2009

Reports of early Sand Martins and late Grebes lead us to decide on a trip out to these two sites. Arriving on the lower of the two causeways at Abberton there was a good collection of Wild Fowl but nothing too inspiring. Then up to the Layer de la Haye crossing, we found Sky Lark displaying, Goldeneye still present, two Slavonian Grebes still in winter plumage and a distant Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage.

From there we drove up to Mistley and off the Walls had good views of Little Egret, large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Black Swans in flight and a whole feast of common Ducks and Swans. Life bird count: 376 Year bird count: 124 Month bird count: 65