Between October 2024 and March 2025, dedicated volunteers joined Essex Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Team to conduct monthly wetland bird surveys, counting over 5,000 birds in total. 

These surveys help us understand which species use the reserve for feeding and roosting during winter. Some birds stay, while many continue their journey across the globe. The data also helps us track population trends and see if birds are using the reserve differently over time. 

Harry, our Conservation Ecologist, highly recommends Margaret’s Hide as one of the best spots to see wintering wetland birds in Essex. 

What we spotted during the final count of the year.

What did we spot at Margaret’s Hide during the season? 

• Avocet – 800 

• Bar-tailed Godwit – 40 

• Black-tailed Godwit – 830 

• Brent Goose – 1,000 

• Curlew – 7 

• Dunlin – 1,550 

• Golden Plover – 151 

• Grey Plover – 55 

• Knot – 352 

• Lapwing – 178 

• Oystercatcher – 10 

• Redshank – 95 

• Ringed Plover – 58 

• Shelduck – 140 

• Shoveler – 8 

• Teal – 117 

• Turnstone – 3 

• Wigeon – 83 

• Cormorant – 8 

• Great Crested Grebe – 1 

• Greenshank – 2 

• Grey Heron – 1 

• Little Egret – 2 

• Little Grebe – 2 

• Mute Swan – 5 

• Herring Gull – 5 

• Black-headed Gull – 22 

• Lesser Black-backed Gull – 1 

• Great Black-backed Gull – 2 

With the winter counts complete, our team is now shifting focus to breeding bird surveys. Thank you to all our volunteers for their time and dedication in helping us monitor and protect Essex’s incredible birdlife! 

Want to visit Margaret’s Hide for yourself? Head to the Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park’s page.