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Salcott Cum Virley

Essex  >  United Kingdom

Salcott Creek is yet another great tidal inlet estuary, part of the Blackwater. Internationally important site for thousands of visiting birds.

Geplaatst* door Nick E. Warner
Meest recente update 31 maart 2025

Beschrijving

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 Kievit, Veldleeuwerik 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. Tureluur are nearly always the first bird you will be alerted to. Smient, Wintertaling and Bergeend are a safe bet to be seen soon on. Wulp 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 Rotgans which winter along the Blackwater Estuary. Kievit, Wulp and Goudplevier, 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, Rotgans on the water are often accompanied by Middelste Zaagbek and over the winter by grebes and divers. Roodhalsfuut and IJsduiker are recorded here. The barrow dykes often with sedge reed will have warblers in Summer and Rietgors, Baardman and Cetti's Zanger in winter.

The whole site is hunted over by Bruine Kiekendief, Velduil and wintering Blauwe Kiekendief. Slechtvalk are much a bird which should be looked for sitting on low posts across the site. Smelleken 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 Grutto, Bonte Strandloper, Kluut, Zilverplevier and Scholekster.

The grass banks of the seawall will often have a selection of finches such as Kneu, Putter and possible Frater. All in all making this coastal site a worthwhile visit.

Details

Toegang

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.

Terrein en leefgebied

Wetland , Rivier , Zee , Rietvelden , Grasland/weide , Verspreide bomen en struiken , Vijver , Slikken , Landbouw

Omstandigheden

Vlak , Nat , Glad , Open landschap

Rondlopende wandeling mogelijk?

Nee

Telescoop meenemen?

Kan handig zijn

Wanneer hier vogels kijken?

Het hele jaar

Toptijd voor dit gebied

Winter , Najaarstrek

Route

Onverharde weg , Breed pad

Zwaarte wandeling

Gemakkelijk

Toegankelijk via

Te voet

Vogelkijkhut aanwezig?

Nee

Links

Bekijk vogelgebieden in de buurt op Birdingplaces

Kaart

Top 5 vogels

Andere vogels die je hier kunt zien

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