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Heybridge Basin

Essex  >  United Kingdom

A great place where you can see both salt water estuary and a fesh water lake at the same time from the raised position of the sea wall footpath.

Added* by Nick E. Warner
Most recent update 2 марта 2025

Description

After you have walked from the car park and over the Lock Gates, you are now overlooking the estuary. It's always a good idea to time your arrival as the raised tide is on its way out (see a link to the tide table below. Scanning the water for Длинноносый крохаль, Чёрная казарка, Свиязь and gull species.

Even at high tide you will see waders moving up and down the estuary such as Кулик-сорока, Травник, Большой кроншнеп, Чибис, Чернозобик, Золотистая ржанка and Большой веретенник.

While watching the estuary, the other side of the sea wall offers a fresh water lake plus all the species that may be seen in that habitat. It is a large shallow expense, with the banks lined with reeds. Birds here can include, Кряква, Чирок-свистунок, Серая утка and Широконоска. The reed beds around the fresh water lake are good places to see Тростниковая камышевка, Камышевка-барсучок, Усатая синица, Соловьиная широкохвостка and Тростниковая овсянка. Regular sightings of Большая белая цапля, Серая цапля and the odd Большая выпь can over winter.

You can follow the raised walkway around the lake while still being able to view the estuary. Once the tide goes out, good numbers of waders can be seen all over the mudflats. Пеганка, Тулес, Шилоклювка, Малая белая цапля and Камнешарка. During spring migration waders such as Средний кроншнеп and Щёголь can be observed.

Details

Access

The main town in the area is Maldon, Essex, accessed from the A12. Head through Heybridge, then onto the village of Heybridge Basin on the B1026 Goldhanger Rd, now turn right, this is signposted. Follow the road until you see signs for the only car park , The Daisy Meadow car park. Press P on the map for directions. At the bottom of the car park a small set of steps leads up to the tow path of a canal. Turn left follow it to the Lock Gates, cross the Lock Gates on to the sea wall footpath. The circular walk indicated on the map is about 4 km.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Pond , River , Sea , Lake , Mud flats , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat , Slippery , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Wide path , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

There are two Pubs and a really nice Tea Room, Plus a little Coffee Kiosk on the Tow Path by the Car Park.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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