Where to spend a day Birdwatching in Essex?

[Epsomsalt]

Hi, I am attending a three day course at the end of March,with a colleague, near Stansted Airport and I do not have to attend the last day (colleague does so I have to hang around!).

Any ideas where I might spend a pleasant day (it will be a Monday) 'birding' within an hour or so's drive from Stansted?

Thanks,
Chris

[Richard Scott]

Chris,

Abberton Res just south of Colchester is about an hour from Stansted. Its a brilliant place for birding. You'll need a scope though cos its massive!

[dawny]

Yes I agree with Rich Abberton reservoir is a brilliant place and often has rareities - make sure you go to the Layer Breton causeway - the visitors centre will give you directions.
There is also Abbotts Hall farm near by which has waders and marsh harriers.
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/sites/Abbotts%20Hall%20Farm.htm
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/centres/Abberton.htm

Not sure why the top link isn't showing correctly but I think it works OK if you click it

Dawny

[john woosh]

rainham marshes is good its about 1hr 9mins from stansted check rspb web site for recent sightings

[andyliv]

Hi Chris,

I've recently moved to Cambridge so apologies if my geography is a little off. However in this months edition of Bird Watching there is a review of Paxton Pits (pg61) in Cambridgeshire. It looks great and the website shows quite a few nice sightings recently (www.paxton-pits.org.uk).

Enjoy your day out - let us know where you end up and what you manage to spy!!

Cheers

Andy

[Roy Ledgerton]

Yes I agree with Rich Abberton reservoir is a brilliant place and often has rareities - make sure you go to the Layer Breton causeway - the visitors centre will give you directions.
There is also Abbotts Hall farm near by which has waders and marsh harriers.
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/sites/Abbotts%20Hall%20Farm.htm
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/centres/Abberton.htm

Not sure why the top link isn't showing correctly but I think it works OK if you click it

Dawny

The visitor centre is not open on Mondays

[dbradnum]

If you were to visit Abberton (where you can enjoy a worthwhile proportion of the site from the two causeways without needing to go into the reserve), then there are a number of other good sites nearby, for instance:

Old Hall Marshes RSPB near Tollesbury
the Blackwater Estuary and Mersea area is good for seaduck, divers and grebes over (view from Rolls Farm, SW of Tollesbury around high tide)
Fingringhoe Wick EWT reserve
Friday Wood, south of Colchester
Heybridge Basin and adjacent estuary near Maldon
Chigborough Lakes EWT reserve

... and I'm sure plenty more that I've forgotten!

[Epsomsalt]

Thanks all, plenty of good ideas there. I will decide where to go from the options in a couple of weeks. I 'lost' this thread for a while as someone has moved good old Essex from the South East up to East Anglia!

Thanks again,

Chris

[TomW]

Although not in Essex, Lakenheath Fen should be about an hour from Stansted.
Good chance of Crane, Marsh Harrier, Bittern if you're lucky.
Don't know if the Golden Oriole will have arrived by then.
Visitor centre should be open.