Birding at Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea - 4th October 2024

I arrived in Leigh-on-Sea by bus as the train did not go further than Pitsea due to an incident there.  I had to walk down lots of steps from the top of the town down to the station and Thames estuary.

There was a Cricket resting on one of the steps

Two Little Egrets flew away when I approached them on Two Tree Island

A few Ringed Plovers were resting on a tiny island in the lagoon

There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits and some Avocets in the lagoon

The ruins of Hadleigh castle viewed from the bird hide on Two Tree Island

I came across a Firebug on the path along the edge of the island

A Little Egret was wading in the low water in Benfleet Creek

The tide was out in Old Leigh in the late afternoon

A Pied Wagtail was hopping around at the edge of the harbour

Sunset viewed from Old Leigh

 

Black-tailed Godwit wading in the lagoon on Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea

On Monday my camera and I went on a birding visit to Two Tree Island, near Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.  We had a great time and saw many wading birds as it was low tide, but most of them were a long way off in the distance.

After spending some time watching the birds in the lagoon, this obliging Black-tailed Godwit came quite close to where I was perched behind some shrubbery.

As it waded towards me, it's feathers were blowing in the wind on one side.

It spent some time with it's beak down in the water.  Here it has managed to catch a tasty morsel, which is balanced in it's beak.

Searching for snacks in the lagoon

Wading through the water

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Godwit as it searched for lunch!

Two small creatures at Two Tree Island nature reserve, near Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

On Tuesday this week my camera and I decided to go on a trip to Two Tree Island nature reserve, near Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.  

It was a hot and sunny day and, as I walked through the woodland, I came across this beautiful Peacock butterfly sunning it's wings on the path.

Further round the island, on a footpath overlooking the estuary, I came across this not-so-beautiful creature - a large green caterpillar - that was making its way to the other side of the path.  It was very large - I would say over 3" long!  Later I discovered that it was a Privet Hawk-Moth Caterpillar.