156 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
constructed. Between Benfleet and Leigh are situated Hadleigh
and Leigh Marshes, both worthy of the attention of the bird
observer, although a sewage farm has been constructed on the
latter, and on a shed on the former is the legend, "Freehold
Factory Site for Sale". From Leigh to Shoeburyness is one
long public sea-front. The War Department occupies the coast
from the latter point to Wakering Stairs, the beginning of the
Broom-Way. Such remote portions as Havengore, New England
and Fowlness Islands have not been immune, for they are no
longer islands, a causeway from Wakering now linking up the
three islands with the mainland, the Broom-Way, however,
being still used for heavy waggons. This completes the des-
cription of the present condition of the north bank of the Thames.
It will be seen that the day is not far distant when all its natural
features will have disappeared.
I have referred to the interest of Corringham Marsh but I
must also mention one other, which is very good, namely Bowers
Marsh. I have not merely confined my attention to the river
bank, but have also tramped the sea-wall enclosing many miles
of creeks, where also one finds changes. A few years ago Vange
Creek was completely free from obstructions, but to-day progress
is barred by a timber yard. Viewing from the marsh the hill
slopes between Vange and Pitsea, one is impressed by the many
bungalows, which are rapidly changing the aspect of the country
and must in time affect its wild life. Nature, however, occasion-
ally re-asserts herself, for during the high tides of January 1928, the
sea-wall between Fobbing and Pitsea was seriously damaged.
Repairs have been effected nearer Fobbing, but at Vange, where
the wall suffered heavily, the land is under water.
The probability is that the Thames was at one time a great
haunt of birds, but to-day it is so mutilated, as the result of its
importance as a water approach to London, that a great part of
its interest has disappeared. It does not bear comparison with
the Blackwater, Colne and Stour, although its bird-life is not
dissimilar from that of the Crouch. In one respect, however
among the Essex Estuaries, the Thames takes front rank,
inasmuch as it is more used by migrating birds. Dr. Eagle Clarke
("Studies in Bird Migration",Vol. 1, p. 95) states that the Thames
is a much-used route to and from the interior of Southern Eng-
land. He describes how, on October 18, 1903, he traced great