Our walk this month took us round Hanningfield Reservoir. The site is owned by Essex & Suffolk Water and managed by Essex Wildlife Trust. The area of the reserve was originally a wood owned by the Forestry Commission to provide pit props for the mining industry, which explains the high number of Scots pines present. Essex Wildlife Trust are now thinning out these trees and replanting with native broad-leaved trees.
There are four hides on the reserve and provide good views over the reservoir. This month there were only 6 of us who met up and we started out at the visitor centre where there were a number of birds attracted to the feeders situated just outside the windows.
On our journey round the hides we met up with groups from other u3a’s, showing that Hanningfield is a popular birdwatching destination for the local groups.
In one of the hides we were joined by a special visitor who demanded to be fed
I keep a record of the birds seen on all the group visits and this visit gave us two year firsts for the group. We saw 3 male Goldeneye, and also a male and female Goosander. Both of these species are winter visitors to the UK, both coming down from the Artic regions of Scandinavia and mainland Europe.
The day of the walk was sunny with clear blue skies, but it was cold, hovering around 2 degrees C all morning, so a warming cup of tea in the visitor centre to finish the walk was very welcome.
Anyone who wishes to join the group please contact me on uu3a.terrysmith@gmail.com.
Terry Smith