RSPB Wallasea Island, 20th March 2026

A return trip to Wallasea this time on a car outing with RSPB SE Herts. Thankfully, the weather was much better this time with lots of sunshine after the mist lifted. A couple of scene setting pictures to begin with. This one looking out towards Burnham on Crouch.

And one looking out over the estuary.

There were a few Mediterranean Gulls calling overhead and on my last visit I had seen two or three birds. This time, on the nearest lagoons there were scores of them, obviously moving in to breed.

They seemed to nearly outnumber the Black-headed Gulls, who were also now in full breeding plumage and despite the name, note the chocolate coloured head!

While I am on the subject of Gulls, this Great Black-backed Gull pulled this large fish to shore, but then immediately left it and returned to its mate. Presumably too big or it fancied something different!

The Hen Harriers may have moved on now and we were too early for the Barn Owls, however you can always guarantee a Marsh Harrier, in this case a male.

There were also a few distant Great Egrets and this Little Egret which allowed a couple of close ups.

A really great aspect of Wallasea is how Skylarks are performing. The air was full of their lovely song and I managed to get a couple of shots of one just before it dropped down into the grass.

The main hide gave good but distant views of a number of birds including Pintail and a female Red Breasted Merganser. We had a good variety of waders including Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Redshank, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Golden Plover and Oystercatcher. Here are a couple of Avocets.

And some Black-tailed Godwits coming into breeding plumage.

The final highlight was this male Sparrowhawk doing a low pass near to one of the lagoons.

A really great day out, with good company.