3rd February 2020 - Coalhouse Fort, Essex

A sunny but blustery visit to Coalhouse Fort today on a dropping tide proved to be rather quiet with a few nice bits in the mix. Wader numbers on the mudflats were not at their best but this is to be expected during low tide as the birds spread out across Mucking Flats as well as some birds using Mucking Bay up at the Thurrock Thameside Nature Park.

On my way to my first counting point I found a pair of Stonechat in the SSSI as well as 20 Linnet and three Meadow Pipit in the horse paddocks. There was also a single Redwing in the hedgerow bordering the paddock, a species which has been scarce here this winter. A bit further up the sea wall I came across my first Skylark of the day, both birds flying over head calling. The next field held 13 Moorhen as well as three more Skylark and nine Meadow Pipit. The ditch near my counting point held a singing Cetti's Warbler and three Reed Bunting. Out on the mudflats were c900 Dunlin, 99 Grey Plover, 32 Shelduck, 21 Curlew, three Common Gull and two Oystercatcher. The saltings held 50 Linnet but there was no sign of the Twite amongst them although they were probably hiding away somewhere. Also of note from here were two Canada Geese which flew down river and a flock of eight Cormorant. 

A walk through the SSSI back towards the fort produced a Green Woodpecker and a further three Skylark. The moat around the fort held three Coot, five Little Grebe and three Black-headed Gull. Next check of the mudflats was from the radar tower, where I found a roosting flock of 1650 Avocet, by far the highlight of the morning and not a species which is always present during low tide. Also noted from here were 118 Teal, 118 Black-headed Gull, 25 Shelduck, 13 Ringed Plover, six Curlew, four Redshank, four Mallard and two Common Gull. A walk back towards the car park produced another pair of Stonechat and five flyover Canada Geese presumably different birds to the ones earlier? The only birds of note around the car park were two Greenfinch. 

Paul H text me to say he had the two long-staying female-type Common Scoter on the river as well as 13 Bar-tailed Godwit just a bit further east from my area.