IN SEARCH OF OAKLEY OWLS (15th February 1998)
Last year the Field Club observed at least six Short-eared owls on the Saltmarsh and
neighbouring fields near Little Oakley. This year eight members of the Bird Group met
on an extraordinary spring morning in mid-February after a week of very warm weather.
We parked along a track bordering an orchard and were greeted by a Dunnock in full
song. Along the path to the sea-wall we saw a group of Reed buntings. The muddy
creeks in the Saltmarsh hosted Redshanks and some Curlews. Skylarks were conspicuous
singing over the marsh. Shrubs along the wall contained Greenfinches aand Chaffinches.
Lunch was taaken where a concrete sea wall began. A Cormorant was observed dryng its
wings in company with an Oystercatcher and a Turnstone on a concrete block. Two Great
crested grebes in the sea were beginning their display behaviour.
We continued after lunch to a gravelly beach and inlet where many Brent geese, Oyster
catchers and Grey plovers were roosting; Turnstone and Sanderling were feeding on the
beach in the company of Ringed plovers. Some Twite were eventually identified by one
member who stalked closer than the rest of us.
The return journey led us to a Kestrel perched in a bush a few feet away from four Reed
buntings. Finally the orchard revealed Fieldfares, a Redwing, Linnets, a Goldfinch and
many Chaffinches and Greenfinches. A Robin sang as we prepared to leave, content,
even though we had failed to locate the Oakley owls.
Birds identified at Little Oakley 15th February 1998
Great crested grebe
Little grebe
Cormorant
Mute swan
Brent goose
Mallard
Wigeon
Teal
Tufted duck
Shelduck
Kestrel
Red legged partridge
Moorhen
Coot
Oyster catcher
Lapwing
Ringed plover
Turnstone
Sanderling
Grey plover
Curlew
Redshank
Great black-backed gull
Lesser black-backed gull
Black-headed gull
Common gull
Wood pigeon
Collared dove
Skylark (in song)
Meadow pipit
Jay
Magpie
Carrion crow
Dunnock (in song)
Robin (in song)
Blackbird
Redwing
Fieldfare
Blue tit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Twite
Green Woodpecker was heard
Tony and Judith Boniface
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 25, May 1998