Essex: Wild goose chase

I've been watching the movement of the Essex Red-breasted Geese since they arrived in the autumn and I visited Wallasea the day after they crossed the river but it was a one day affair and they weren't seen again on the reserve. News then broke that one had moved to a field in South Woodham Ferrers and this didn't involve the 10k walk required to connect when they first arrived. The bird was reported this morning so I decided to give it a go and called the Jims to arrange the visit.

We parked at the Marsh Farm CP car park and walked about 400yards to view the flock of Dark-bellied Brents feeding in the field which numbered a few hundred and we began the work of searching through for the unusual. The Red-breasted was easy and showed very well at the front of the group. Next a very smart Black Brant and then lastly the Pale-bellied Brent. Before we left we spotted another Black-Brant. The birds were very settled and were not disturbed by walkers and cyclists but would become very alert when Crows flew over or from loud bangs from the farm sheds close by which at one point put the whole flock up and onto the river but thankfully they returned to feed within a few minutes.

A Black Swan was feeding on the river with the Mutes and the wader count gave up Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Lapwings, Dunlin, Redshanks and Oystercatchers. A friendly Robin took seed from my hand too which was nice and made for a very enjoyable few hours watching birds.

Year list now 141

Geese

A Black Brant in the Dark-bellied Brents

Spot the Brant

Brant

Black-Brant

Check out that collar

There's a Pale-bellied and a Brant in there

Three forms one species

Brents

Brent Geese

Brents coming in

Brent Geese

One with a pale belly

Red-breasted Goose

Red-breasted Goose (and a Black Brant)

Red-breasted Goose and Black Brant

RBG and BB in the DBB's

Geese

A goose with a Red Breast

Red-breasted Goose

Not a life tick, not even an Essex tick but a year tick and well worth the eventual effort to see it.