Bowers Marsh walk, January 2021 No. 7

March 25, 2021

Bowers Marsh walk, January 2021 No. 7

31st January after a few days of rain we were up early Sunday and prepared to go even though it was a little frosty and a breeze, stopping off at St Margarets Church as the sun had just broken the horizon, lighting up the wispy clouds behind the church

and bathing the church in that beautiful warm glow from the early low sun when standing the back of the church, we head on down the road and park the car.

Walking down the track toward the car park we hear the honking of geese from field to our right and some distance on the far side of the flooded field a flock of Canada Geese.

Heading for the picnic area the ditch is covered in ice hanging on the vegetation from the levels the water had reached but now has started to drain away leaving the ice suspended in the vegetation and bank.

Heading off along the path at a steady pace, eye scouring the sky, reeds and open fields for any movement we see a pair of Stonechats fly from the grasses of the path onto the bear shrubs along the reed covered ditch, stopping briefly waiting for them to settle as they are quite flighty little birds, taking a few shots before they fly over the reeds and out of site we carry on.

As we approach the kissing gate to our left the small pond with a bare willows standing on the edge I walk over to have a closer look the pond is frozen over and the bull rushes are very tatty all split and frayed.

Through the kissing gate I spot a painted stone resting on the fence by the side of the gate, we turn right and then left along the track along the side of Dons marsh and the open field to our left.

Where the ditches have flooded over onto the meadow they are now covered in ice and the puddles on the track are frozen also.

I spot a Fieldfare feeding in the grass on Dons marsh further on a pair of Meadow Pipits on the posts along the track.

As they flit from post to post we manage to get a couple of shots before they decide to fly off across the field.

Reaching the end of the track we turn right toward the picnic area, taking a photo across the flooded Dons marsh and the great big open sky.

We walk further on beyond the picnic area near the Saline lagoon and stop at the benches overlooking the the fresh water lagoon where there are large numbers of wading birds and geese, no signs of any Bearded Tits so we decide to head back taking a photo across the wet grassland toward Canvey Island.

Heading back along the track between the meadow and Dons marsh with the sun trying to break through the clouds on our backs, reaching the cross paths at the end we turn left to the lookout at the old saltings point lookout.

There is a variety of ducks, geese and other waterfowl in the water and on the islands.

After a short time we set off again and head up the Hedgerow trail passing by a couple of joggers and a dog walker, we stop at the top and watch the birds around the bird feeders.