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Description
Salcott Creek is a simple ,level walk along side the tidal estuary creek. The site is best accessed from the Village of Salcott-cum-virley. A footpath from the village to the sea wall takes you across farmland where you may see Vibe, Sanglærke and a selection of gulls feeding on the fields. Try and get to Salcott creek on a rising tide (see the link to the tide table below). This can give the best results from a bird moment aspect. When you step up on to the seawall the site and sounds of the Essex Marshland is very evocative. Listen as well as look. Rødben are nearly always the first bird you will be alerted to. Pibeand, Krikand and Gravand are a safe bet to be seen soon on. Storspove are both sides of the wall, the Creek is to your left and the farmland to your right. Many birds can be seen feeding on the sensitively grazed grasslands. Species such as the thousands of Knortegås which winter along the Blackwater Estuary. Vibe, Storspove and Hjejle, some of the grassland is flooded in the Autum and winter months. This will lead to many birds feeding on the water log soils.
Looking back over the estuary with high tide, Knortegås on the water are often accompanied by Toppet Skallesluger and over the winter by grebes and divers. Gråstrubet Lappedykker and Islom are recorded here. The barrow dykes often with sedge reed will have warblers in Summer and Rørspurv, Skægmejse and Cettisanger in winter.
The whole site is hunted over by Rørhøg, Mosehornugle and wintering Blå Kærhøg. Vandrefalk are much a bird which should be looked for sitting on low posts across the site. Dværgfalk is always a delight to see resting on a fence post or low flight hunting. Large flocks of mix waders moving around the marsh waiting for the tide to uncover the rich feedings of the mut flats. These will include Stor Kobbersneppe, Almindelig Ryle, Klyde, Strandhjejle and Strandskade.
The grass banks of the seawall will often have a selection of finches such as Tornirisk, Stillits and possible Bjergirisk. All in all making this coastal site a worthwhile visit.
Details
Access
Salcott-cum-Virley is just of the B1026 which goes from Colchester to Tollshunt D'Arcy. This is the bus route 92 or 50 50A Colchester to Tollesbury. Parking is limited in the village, but there is a small parking spot opposite the Church, where you can now walk down to the Creek. Press P on the map for directions to the parking spot.I think one should allow at least 3 hours for a birdwatching visit to this site.