Those of you who read our article in the last members’ magazine will have some idea of the vast distances that waders have flown to take part in the feast that is offered by the Essex mudflats.  Numbers will peak in December and January leading up to a departure in February.  Whilst they are here they will spend their time feeding, just to survive the rigours of winter.  So, why do they come here to our flat windswept inhospitable muddy shoreline – believe it or not, it’s a lot warmer here than on their breeding grounds.  They feed throughout the night with the only rest period being when the tide drives them off the mudflats twice a day.
 

We have hundreds of thousands of waders in Essex, most of them feeding on worms, small molluscs and crustaceans.  Why does the food not run out?  Nature is cleverer than we think.  Waders like Dunlin, Grey Plover, and Curlew who share the same feeding area all have different length bills.  Grey Plover with a small bill pick items off the surface, Curlew with long bills can reach right down into the mud.
 

Other waders have adapted to more specialised feeding practices.  Sanderling, for example look like little white windup toys as they race along the tideline picking off food items brought in by the sea.  Turnstones do what it says on the ‘label’ turning over pebbles in their search for juicy sand hoppers, whilst Snipe prefer boggy ground and fen where their specially adapted, touch sensitive, bills allow them to literally suck up worms.
 

Where and when to see the wader extravaganza?
 

The sea can go out a very long way exposing vast mudflats so the best time to view is on a rising tide at least two hours before high tide.  All of the estuaries along the Essex coast offer a fantastic chance to see these species.  For really close views we suggest the bird hide at Abbotts Hall Farm overlooking the managed realignment and waders can be seen in abundance.

There is also the opportunity to see waders at Abberton Reservoir, along the edge of the Reservior where the water is shallow.  The expansion work that is taking place means that the concrete edge has now been removed as planned and Abberton will offer an even better habitat for waders.
 

Blue House Farm on the north bank of the River Crouch is another 
Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve where waders can be enjoyed in abundance.
 

Wrabness nature reserve is set on the Stour Estuary and the hide on this nature reserve affords fantastic views that can be enjoyed by many.  From this nature reserve waders can enjoyed on the shoreline, depending on the tides.
 

Two Tree Island near Leigh on Sea also offers the chance to see large numbers of waders on the shoreline.
 

For a real wildlife experience you can’t beat Bradwell Cockle Spit nature reserve at high tide when thousands of Knot roost on the shingle banks only to rise en masse due to the approach of a hungry raptor.
 

Who eats what
 

Knot – small crabs, insects and small molluscs

Sanderling - feed on marine worms and small molluscs and crustaceans

Dunlin – small crustaceans, shrimps and molluscs

Ringed Plover - marine worms, crustaceans, molluscs

Grey Plover - shellfish and worms

Golden Plover - worms and beetles

Lapwing - worms and insects

Redshank - insects, earthworms, molluscs and crustaceans by probing their bills into soil and mud

Curlew - worms, shellfish and shrimps

Blacktailed Godwit - iInsects, worms and snails, 

Turnstone - Insects, crustaceans and molluscs

Snipe - small invertebrates, including worms and insect larvae.

Raptors
 

We are always lead to believe that humans are the top predator in this
world, but in the bird world raptors are the top predators.

Apart from starvation what waders fear the most are the birds of prey that hunt the shoreline and saltmarshes.  They face a conundrum, do I stay or do I flee?  Every disturbance will mean less time to feed, if they don’t feed they die.  So, they are faced with deciding what is the best option, usually it’s a mass evacuation if  a large bird of prey like a Marsh Harrier is approaching.  Unfortunately, they seem to react to anything big and will flee from a Grey Heron.  However, the real dangers are the smaller, faster birds of prey that they cannot out-run.  This is when you see vast flocks of waders wheeling in the sky.  This has the effect of confusing birds of prey that are now spoilt for choice.  Naturally, the best place to be is in the centre, if you are on the outside, you risk being picked off.
 

Waders and wildfowl are better birdwatchers than us, only the smaller waders will react to a Merlin, whilst a Peregrine will cause panic even in a Brent Goose flock.  They know instinctively which of the two they are at risk from.  Birds of prey deserve their top ranking due to their skill in hunting.  Peregrines often hunt in pairs, one to scare the waders and the other to pick one off.  We mentioned about the reaction that large birds of prey get, often smaller more agile hunters like the Merlin will work with them, picking off the small birds disturbed by the larger birds progress.
 

Essex has the longest coastline in Essex so take the opportunity to wrap up warm and get outside this winter and enjoy the abundance of waders the county has to offer.