Essex Birding (1 Viewer)

[Steve_Halstead]

I wish I had gone now, but I just wanted to sleep this morning

 

[Fozzybear]

I wish I had gone now, but I just wanted to sleep this morning

Always a conundrum on a Sunday. 'Fortunately' I tend to be an early morning person so am usually awake and up by 5-6am (I woke around 4 this morning I think).

Not much on the river after lunch when the weather cleared up, mainly because it was packed with canoeists doing a race! I did find a Grey Wagtail at the Records Office sluice though and on the way back after the race was over I found a single Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker and on the wires over the meads one Meadow Pipit (unless it was an Olive-backed :-O). There were also a pair of Mute Swans, a few Mallard and some Moorhens, plus assorted Woodpigeons, Gulls and a few dragonflies (hawkers but they were zipping about against the bright sky so couldn't hazard a guess as to species).

 

[BirdPics]

Obliging Kestrel yesterday at Blue House Farm, shame the light wasn't better. She failed to get anything after diving into the reeds (see pic).

Also had 5 Buzzards and a Peregrine over the fields from my dads garden yesterday in South Woodham Ferrers.

 

[wildlifelove]

Always a conundrum on a Sunday. 'Fortunately' I tend to be an early morning person so am usually awake and up by 5-6am (I woke around 4 this morning I think).

Not much on the river after lunch when the weather cleared up, mainly because it was packed with canoeists doing a race! I did find a Grey Wagtail at the Records Office sluice though and on the way back after the race was over I found a single Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker and on the wires over the meads one Meadow Pipit (unless it was an Olive-backed :-O). There were also a pair of Mute Swans, a few Mallard and some Moorhens, plus assorted Woodpigeons, Gulls and a few dragonflies (hawkers but they were zipping about against the bright sky so couldn't hazard a guess as to species).

Iv been looking out for that Grey Wagtail all week by the Sluice, Seems a resident in that area seen him or her there a few times before plus another by Wilkinson's but that could of been that bird.

 

[Fozzybear]

They do tend to hang out at that sluice, a pair bred there a few years ago and last year a male staked out the sluice and sung from a high perch through the summer but I never saw him with a mate. He kept displaying to the car wing mirrors in the carparks and on the environment agency vans.

 

[Steve_Halstead]

We had a lovely grey on our koi pond back at my parents house. Lovely bird

 

[wildlifelove]

We had a lovely grey on our koi pond back at my parents house. Lovely bird

Considering how much Koi's are im not sure I would be to pleased if it was on my pond, there lovely birds but can't have them eating hundred's of ponds of fish.

 

[wildlifelove]

They do tend to hang out at that sluice, a pair bred there a few years ago and last year a male staked out the sluice and sung from a high perch through the summer but I never saw him with a mate. He kept displaying to the car wing mirrors in the carparks and on the environment agency vans.

I will keep my eyes peeled.

 

[andygolfer]

Considering how much Koi's are im not sure I would be to pleased if it was on my pond, there lovely birds but can't have them eating hundred's of ponds of fish.

Are we talking Grey wagtails here, I would have thought even the hungriest grey wagtail would struggle to eat hundreds of pounds of fish!

 

[Steve_Halstead]

They koi had more chance of eating the wagtail

 

[Steve Arlow]

Parrot Crissbills still at Gunners Park today

 

[wildlifelove]

Are we talking Grey wagtails here, I would have thought even the hungriest grey wagtail would struggle to eat hundreds of pounds of fish!

LOL I thought Bitter meant Grey Heron..3

 

[wildlifelove]

Maldon prom and Limbounrne Creek this morning. Lots of wintering birds starting to arrive..A nice variety.

High Lights being - 60-70 Avocet, 100+ Golden Plover, 7 Little Egret, few nice Pochard, 1 marsh harrier and a single snipe. Other birds include; Corn bunting, 30-40 Goldfinch, Lesser black backed Gull, Teal, Wigeon, 40+ Lapwing, 10 meadow Pipit, 6 Brent Geese, few Redshank and 3 Kestral.

 

[Steve_Halstead]

Today in this county it has been simply raining rares

 

[paulrowe]

A few pics of the Parrot Crossbills at Gunners Park, from late yesterday here:

http://www.essexbirds.com/parrotcrossbill

cheers

Paul

@paul_rowe1

 

[Phil Carter]

A Yellow-browed Warbler in Colchester Cemetery this morning was a nice surprise although couldn't find it again this afternoon. It's a fine place, if only it was on the coast.
I notice Ring Ouzel reported in Colchester too this morning, I must be the only person who hasn't seen one this last few days.

Phil

 

[GWB77]

I watched the Parrot Crossbills fly off (north-west wards) from Mess Road towards the building site around 11.40ish (calling frequently). I thought they may have come down in the pines there, but I couldn't be sure that they even stopped.

 

[paulrowe]

A few pics of the Olive-backed pipit at Holland Haven Country Park late Saturday afternoon:

http://www.essexbirds.com/olive-backedpipit2013

cheers

Paul

@paul_rowe1

 

[andygolfer]

LOL I thought Bitter meant Grey Heron..3

I realised that but couldn't rresist a bit of humour:t:

 

[wildlifelove]

Wish I could see the Parrot Crossbill's.! They look great from the Photo's..Sadly to far really on Public transport.