Bowers Marsh amble December/January No. 3 and 4

January 06, 2021

Bowers walks 25th December and 1st January

25/12/2020 Christmas morning a crisp and close to freezing morning and as the gates and car park were closed we parked the car on the side of the road further down from St Margarets church and past the railway bridge, we prepared ourselves for our walk on the anti clockwise route toward Great Pound Point and beyond.

We set off the time 08-35 along the track avoiding the puddles and mud just as the sun is breaking the horizon behind us it was still quite dark and very quiet, we caught sight of the odd Gull, Pigeon and Crow flying across the sky overhead and we could hear birds beginning to sing, particularly the Robins.

As we reached the first sharp left of the track the sky is a lovely pale blue and pink as the sun was rising through the clouds to the east we continued along the path where to our right in the wet meadow there are a number of ponies feeding on the grass and the sound of honking Geese and quacking Ducks on the ponds in the wet fields.

To our left across the fields we can see the low clouds on the horizon highlighted by the early rising sun, reaching the signpost the path to our right leads to the Great Pound but it is fenced off due to antisocial behaviour but we do spot some ducks and geese around the pond and beyond we see the buildings of Wat Tyler Park across the wet meadow.

As we continue on birds are beginning to waken and flutter from bush to bush mainly Fieldfares and occasionally Redwings,

we continue down the path between the hedgerows we see Robbins and Stonechats flitting from branch to branch we reach the gate at the end of the hedgerows and continue round a bit further toward the lagoon but the path is now very wet and muddy so we decide to return the car.

On our way back again we see flocks of Fieldfares and Starlings occasionally Magpies and Crows as we pass the ice covered flooded fields.

Ahead of us on the last stretch of the path to the road we can see the wooden spire of Saint Margaret's Church above the bushes and trees

and a lone dog walker one of only two other people we saw today on our walk,

we go to the car and once inside warm our hands which are cold as we only wear fingerless gloves then head for home to prepare Christmas dinner.

01/01/2021 New Year's Day a misty murky morning we park the car at the gates and set off clockwise heading for the far side of the fresh water lagoon hoping to see Beaded Tits.

As we walk down the roadway towards the car park looking all around unexpectedly I spot far in the distance, and Marsh Harrier flying low over the field, a quick snapshot is all I managed as it disappears over the hedge, we continue on our way past the car park toward the cattle shed turning right onto the Wetland trail.

A couple of Dunnocks busily feeling on the ground fly off as we walk down the path and ahead of us in the bushes are flocks of Fieldfare feeding on the berries they start their chattering and take to the wing as we approach, I hear a voice from behind me and turning round a gentleman is standing watching the Fieldfares fly over the field and settle in shrubs further on.

The gentleman has a scope on a tripod in one hand and a bag in the other, he says there appears to be up to a hundred or so Fieldfares now gathering in the shrubs and explains the difference between them and Redwings, we chat awhile and we discover he is on his way to the feeder station to top up the feeders which he attends daily. At this moment out of the corner of my eye I spot a Stonechat sitting on the fence post and quickly fire off a couple of shots before it flits away, we say our goodbyes and go our separate ways.

Further along the footpath we spot both Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and a Robin on the path in the grass and scrub on either side searching for the breakfast, we manage to capture a few shots of a Stonechat with a big hairy caterpillar in its beak.

We reach the Kissing gate and sign post and turn right and then left following the track between the open field on our left and the fenced field on our right where at sometime sheep had been,

reaching the end of the track we take the right turn toward the fresh water lagoon here in the berry laden shrubs are more Fieldfares feeding and chattering as they disperse as we approach.

We walk along the muddy well trodden track with reed beds on either side listening for cha-ching of the Bearded Tit passing the pic-nic tables on our left where a guy is resting looking out over the lagoon, we hear the honking of Geese as eight fly overhead toward the saltings.

To our right the reeds at the edge of the water are gently swaying in the cold breeze as we look across the lagoon, ahead by the benches another gentleman is standing looking out over the lagoon through a scope, we approach slowly and low and behold in the reeds a pair of Bearded Tits which quickly disappear to the back of the reeds before we can get our cameras to our eyes at least I saw them even if only briefly. We stand scanning the reeds as the gentleman comes over and tells us that behind us in the saltings wet fields are Barnacle Geese among other waterfowl. I walk on further round the lagoon but cannot see any sign of Bearded Tits or any wildlife so walk back to the benches and we decided to sit and wait 15 minutes in the hope they reappear before heading back along the way we came and spot more Stonechats and Robins.

Taking the loop of the Hedgerow walk to where the feeders are, I spot fungi growing on the dead trees in the hedgerow and take a couple of photos before going on.