West Thurrock

Map: 

Location

Situated along the River Thames between Purfleet and Grays. The site used to have an operational power station with an outflow that attracted various Terns and Gulls. The power station was closed and the outflow no longer turned on. There was also an ash lagoon which is now over grown and has dried up since the closure of the power station.

Access

By public trainsport from Grays or Purfleet Stations and walk west or east from either. By car park by the church in St Clements Road and walk through the scrub towards the Thames and then head west along the sea wall.

Description

Winter - Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Dunlin, Snipe, Jack Snipe and Rock Pipits. Spring - Cuckoo, Whinchat, Whimbrel Autumn - Whinchat, Waders, Terns and Little Egret

West Thurrock Marshes is situated on the Essex side between Rainham Marshes and Grays on the River Thames.You can see Swanscombe Marshes on the Kent side and just beyond that is Northfleet which is the extent of the L.N.H.S boundary. The Marshes are made up of Saltmarsh and Mudflats on the Thames side and looking inland is a mixture of Hawthorne and Birch,a large area of Scrub with some reedbeds fringing some dykes. I have been birding this site for 4 years. There are 2 ways to access the site,by train or by car. By train you will be on the Fenchurch Street line and will be looking to disembark at Greys Town centre,on arrival make your way to the Thames where the public footpath starts and walk West.It is a bit of a walk,perhaps 1 and a half to 2 miles but it is pleasant as you are walking by the Thames and have the chance of good birds.You will hit West Thurrock Marshes when you can see a red and white light house on the point as well as the QE2 Bridge in the background. By car head for Lakeside and follow the signs to West Thurrock.You will pass IKEA on your right and shortly after you will come to a Roundabout,go straight across,not left or right and after about 200 yards take the 1st turning left into the industrial estate.Go down this road for about 200 yards again and then turn 1st right at the big factory,proceed down this road and you will come to a church,(it is where they filmed Four Weddings and a Funeral).Park in the bays provided and cross the road to the public footpath,walk South through the Scrub and Hawthorne and it will take you to the Thames,turn right and West Thurrock is in the distance.Have a good day.

Species List

1.Blue Tit 2.Meadow Pipit 3.Lapwing 4.Wood Pigeon 5.Wren 6.Grey Heron 7.Teal 8.Skylark 9.Pheasant 10.Greenfinch 11.Cormorant 12.Avocet 13.Dunnock 14.Feral Pigeon 15.Oystercatcher 16.Pied Wagtail 17.Wigeon 18.Kestrel 19.Jay 20.Black Tailed Godwit 21.Herring Gull 22.Jack Snipe 23.Blackbird 24.Common Gull 25.Great Tit 26.Goldfinch 27.Peregrine Falcon 28.Reed Bunting 29.Stonechat 30.Lesser Blacked Backed Gull 31.Jackdaw 32.Dunlin 33.Black Headed Gull 34.Green Woodpecker 35.Ringed Plover 36.Shelduck 37.Great Black Backed Gull 38.Song Thrush 39.Starling 40.Linnet 41.Magpie 42.Robin 43.Long Tailed Tit 44.Grey Plover 45.Carrion Crow 46.Snipe 47.Redshank 48.Curlew 49.Rock Pipit 50.Moorhen 51.Fieldfare 52.Grey Wagtail 53.Kingfisher 54.Chaffinch 55.Meditterranean Gull 56.Mallard 57.Lesser Redpoll 58.Grey Partridge 59.Mute Swan 60.Stock Dove 61.Sparrowhawk 62.Willow Warbler 63.Brambling 64.Great Crested Grebe 65.Wheatear 66.Green Sandpiper 67.Tufted Duck 68.Chiffchaff 69.Blackcap 70.Swallow 71.Mistle Thrush 72.Common Whitethroat 73.Common Sandpiper 74.Redstart 75.Common Tern 76.Gadwall 77.Little Egret 78.Little Ringed Plover 79.Reed Warbler 80.Lesser Whitethroat 81.Little Gull 82.Cuckoo 83.Yellowhammer 84.Sedge Warbler 85.Greylag Goose 86.Canada Goose 87.Swift 88.Sand Martin 89.Little Grebe 90.Sandwich Tern