Taking your dog(s) to the Essex coast is a fantastic way to enjoy a walk. They get to burn off some energy and you get to take in the sights of our wild and wonderful coastline.
Our coast is also home to some incredible wildlife and boasts a diverse spread of coastal birds.
Trying to see the birds while walking a dog can be tricky as dogs can scare birds away before we’ve even had a chance to spot them.
To help you have the best chance to marvel at the birds while on a dog walk, we’re sharing tried and tested tips our Rangers utilise when out on the coast with their dogs.
Sharing the Space
Giving the birds space is by far and away the best technique to ensure you’ll have a chance to do some birdwatching while walking your dog.
Some of the top ways to make sure you’re giving the birds space is to either stick to footpaths. If walking on the beach, there’s a bit more to consider!
During Spring and Summer it’s best to walk near the tideline to avoid trampling on nests. During Winter, it’s best to stick near the top of the beach away from mudflats so that our winter guests have ample opportunity to feed and keep their energy up in the bluster and cold.
Lastly, during transitional periods where some winter birds are returning while some nesting birds may still be trying to protect nests or young – You may need to employ both tactics. Just keep your eyes peeled for what’s around you and act accordingly.
To break it down – if what you’re walking on is dry – stick to the tideline! If it’s wet, avoid mudflats and any birds feeding. Simple!
This simple change to your walking habits can give the birds the space they so desperately need. This means that they’ll be more relaxed and able to continue their normal daily routine and therefore, much easier to spot as you and your pooch are enjoying your walk.
Signage and Fencing
There’s a lot of signage on the coast telling us where to go and what to watch out for. While it can feel a bit overbearing at times, we can assure you that every sign you see has been thoughtfully placed to keep wildlife and nature safe.
One of the key signs to watch out for if you’re on a dog walk is anything asking you to keep dogs on leads. If you ever see this sign, it means you’re approaching an area with particularly vulnerable wildlife, which during the spring and summer months will be our beach nesting birds.
Keeping your dogs on leads in these areas will provide you with a wonderful and rare opportunity to observe our beach nesting birds and their chicks!
Beach nesting birds are exceptionally skittish, so if a dog is off the lead in these areas, they and their chicks will hunker down and hide away before you’ve even had a chance to spot them.
Also, keep your eyes peeled for fenced off areas. This fencing is normally set up to provide direct protection for nests. So, if you see any fencing, make sure to observe from a distance rather than walking up to it. That way you may see some birds sitting on nests or their chicks! Whereas if you wander up, they’ll flee the area before you have a chance to see anything.
Just Keep Swimming (Carefully!)
If your dog enjoys having a paddle in the sea this can disturb birds, particularly waders or birds who feed in the water. But there’s a little trick we learned to make sure your dog gets a chance to swim without giving the birds too much reason to fly away, meaning they can have a paddle, and you can watch the birds!
Here’s how we do it: When on the footpath or the top of the beach – Face the sea/where you plan to let your dog swim. Walk in a direct line to the water, have a splash, then walk directly back the way you came.
This is the best way to let your dog have a splash and still get to enjoy a bit of birdwatching. Otherwise, if you’re walking along the tideline with your dog charging in and out of the water, the birds won’t feel safe and they’ll flee the area, so you’ll not have much to see!
Take Your Time
Take your time. Always.
Life is hectic. Even the rangers can speed through a dog walk when there’s a lot to do in a day. But taking your time when on a walk provides you with greater opportunities to spot the birds and will also give your dog with a much better walking experience.
Taking the time to do some mental training with your dog is also a fantastic way to enrich their walk and tire them out. Brain games can wear dogs out much more effectively than just walking and running. And a content dog is a calm dog, giving you a more relaxed walk with more opportunities to do some bird watching.