Birding By Barge Along River Stour
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 4:12 pm
I was given a ticket on the Sailing Barge Victor, as a Christmas present, for last weekend (Saturday 6th) on the River Stour from Mistley, Essex. This was a RSPB organised trip, with sailings each winter, when the tides allow, so mostly elderly birders, with the odd family & a few experienced birders. The Victor departed at 0830 at a very leisurely pace using the propellors, not by sail, so it was very smooth & calm & my telescope hardly shook all trip.
Almost immediately, there were a lot of waders visible in good numbers too (Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover & mostly Knot). The plentiful Shelduck, Wigeon & Teal were joined by Mallard, Pintail, Gadwall, Tufted Duck & Pochard (the last 3 driven off reservoirs by the icy weather). As we headed east towards Harwich the Dark-bellied Brent Geese appeared (the Stour Estuary holds about 2% of the wintering population), along with Avocet, Turnstone, Lapwing, Golden Plover & all the commonest 5 species of gull. The deeper channels held plenty of Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganer with good views from the slow moving barge. This enabled me to pick up the first of 4 Great Northern Divers, they generally disappeared but re-appeared quickly, sometimes nearer for good views & photographable for those with good cameras.
The large flocks of Knot & other waders were often sent up by a passing peregrine, which I managed to see twice. Once distantly & once closely, over the barge. We turned just before Parkeston, around the Titan (a platform for positioning the wind turbines at sea). On the return leg we saw 2 Slavonian Grebes, distantly in front of Holbrook School, 5 Common Scoter & a Black-necked Grebe. On the Suffolk fields we saw 6 Brown Hares chasing each other with 4 Buzzards soaring above them. There were several Grey Seals in the estuary happy to watch us watching them.
As we approached Mistley Quay another 2 Great Northern Divers were fishing in the channel we had to use, so another good view was had to end the trip. Finally, a Sparrowhawk flew over the quay as we landed. I recorded 48 species including feral pigeon & 2 Black Swans. However no Grey Herons but 2 Little Egrets.
I would recommend this trip to you all for the good views of the mergansers & divers, however there numbers were probably boosted by the very cold weather here & in europe. For those on a weekend birdwatching in east anglia, there are plenty of reserves, reservoirs & other birdwatching sites in the vicinity for an afternoon visit. There was plenty of tea & coffee available along with a large bap filled with hot, freshly cooked sausage, bacon & scrambled egg.
Good birding
Tony
Almost immediately, there were a lot of waders visible in good numbers too (Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover & mostly Knot). The plentiful Shelduck, Wigeon & Teal were joined by Mallard, Pintail, Gadwall, Tufted Duck & Pochard (the last 3 driven off reservoirs by the icy weather). As we headed east towards Harwich the Dark-bellied Brent Geese appeared (the Stour Estuary holds about 2% of the wintering population), along with Avocet, Turnstone, Lapwing, Golden Plover & all the commonest 5 species of gull. The deeper channels held plenty of Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganer with good views from the slow moving barge. This enabled me to pick up the first of 4 Great Northern Divers, they generally disappeared but re-appeared quickly, sometimes nearer for good views & photographable for those with good cameras.
The large flocks of Knot & other waders were often sent up by a passing peregrine, which I managed to see twice. Once distantly & once closely, over the barge. We turned just before Parkeston, around the Titan (a platform for positioning the wind turbines at sea). On the return leg we saw 2 Slavonian Grebes, distantly in front of Holbrook School, 5 Common Scoter & a Black-necked Grebe. On the Suffolk fields we saw 6 Brown Hares chasing each other with 4 Buzzards soaring above them. There were several Grey Seals in the estuary happy to watch us watching them.
As we approached Mistley Quay another 2 Great Northern Divers were fishing in the channel we had to use, so another good view was had to end the trip. Finally, a Sparrowhawk flew over the quay as we landed. I recorded 48 species including feral pigeon & 2 Black Swans. However no Grey Herons but 2 Little Egrets.
I would recommend this trip to you all for the good views of the mergansers & divers, however there numbers were probably boosted by the very cold weather here & in europe. For those on a weekend birdwatching in east anglia, there are plenty of reserves, reservoirs & other birdwatching sites in the vicinity for an afternoon visit. There was plenty of tea & coffee available along with a large bap filled with hot, freshly cooked sausage, bacon & scrambled egg.
Good birding
Tony