Benfleet

202403 - Gunners Park

WILDLIFE Thursday 14 March 2024: Visit to Gunners Park, Shoeburyness

Thank you to Dave for organising this activity and the write-up and Dave, Ian and Alan for the photos.

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Seven of us met in the main car park at Gunners Park on a bright and warm but windy day. We set of from the car park and headed for the dyke where a Kingfisher is often spotted. Not this time unfortunately. A passing birdwatcher informed us that he had seen a solitary Waxwing in that spot earlier. We wandered around the bushy area where it had been seen but no joy.

Next, we came to the lake and spotted a couple of Mute Swans and a few Mallards and Black Headed Gulls.

We then went to the sea wall and could see that the tide was coming in very quickly. There were numerous Redshanks and Turnstones as well as Sanderlings and an Oystercatcher which was finding lots of food amongst the Oyster shells. A good way out in the river was a Great Crested Grebe diving for small fish.

We were also skirting the lake and saw a solitary Little Grebe along with at least 14 resting Redshanks. The warm weather had brought out numerous types of Bees including a Queen Bumblebee, Spiders, Shield Bugs and Hover flies.

Eventually we ended up at the excellent Serendipity Cafe for something to eat and drink. A good walk on a pleasant early Spring day.

Birds (26) species:-

• Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Collared Dove.
• Common Gull, Coot, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe.
• Great Tit, Greenfinch (heard only), Hedge Sparrow, Herring Gull.
• House Sparrow, Kestrel, Linnet, Little Grebe.
• Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan.
• Oystercatcher, Redshank, Robin, Sanderling.
• Starling, Turnstone.

Other wildlife:-

• Yellow cap of unknown fungus, Common Orange Lichen, Alexanders.
• Dock Leather Bug, Green Shield Bug.