Along the river into town... great stretch for wildlife! (1 Viewer)

[Fozzybear]

Thanks Val. It's a particularly good area for Green Woodpeckers I think, I see LOTS here!

Didn't get much in the way of pictures but took these at the fishing lake:

1. Great Crested Grebe
2. Great Crested Grebes courtship, plus Tufted Ducks and Black-headed Gull
3. female Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Coot and Black-headed Gull

in the background of the last two shots is a stretch of reed-filled ditch where I saw Stonechats and Reed Warblers last year. Beyond the field behind is a brook where I saw a Mink and a Water Rail.

 

[Fozzybear]

I've unleashed my latent lister and updated the list of bird species I've seen here to cover the area along the river Chelmer from Chelmsford town centre out to the east where the A12 road bypass bridge crosses the river, that's about two miles of river I'd say. That includes Manor Farm on the south bank of the river near Sandford Mill and the meadows and paddocks on the north. At the eastern edge is a local sewage works that might be good, in the summer the bushes at the edge are usually alive with activity and it's there that I saw the Lesser Whitethroat.

These are birds I've seen (that I remember!) in this area over the last two years, whether there are some I've forgotten I don't know but I nearly forgot to add Greenfinch and Chaffinch! (edit: forgot Wren, feral pigeon, Dunnock...):

1. Blue Tit
2. Black-headed Gull
3. Blackbird
4. Blackcap
5. Bullfinch
6. Canada Goose
7. Carrion Crow
8. Chaffinch
9. Chiffchaff
10. Collared Dove
11. Common Gull
12. Common Tern
13. Coot
14. Cormorant
15. Cuckoo
16. Dunnock
17. Feral Pigeon / Rock Dove
18. Fieldfare
19. Gadwall
20. Goldcrest
21. Goldfinch
22. Goosander
23. Great Crested Grebe
24. Great Spotted Woodpecker
25. Great Tit
26. Green Woodpecker
27. Greenfinch
28. Grey Heron
29. Grey Wagtail
30. Herring Gull
31. House Martin
32. House Sparrow
33. Jack Snipe
34. Jackdaw
35. Jay
36. Kestrel
37. Kingfisher
38. Lapwing
39. Lesser Black-backed Gull
40. Lesser Whitethroat
41. Little Egret
42. Little Grebe
43. Long-tailed Tit
44. Magpie
45. Mallard
46. Meadow Pipit
47. Mistle Thrush
48. Moorhen
49. Mute Swan
50. Pheasant
51. Pied Wagtail
52. Pochard
53. Red-crested Pochard
54. Red-legged Partridge
55. Redwing
56. Reed Bunting
57. Reed Warbler
58. Robin
59. Sedge Warbler
60. Skylark
61. Snipe
62. Song Thrush
63. Sparrowhawk
64. Starling
65. Stonechat
66. Swallow
67. Swift
68. Tufted Duck
69. Water Rail
70. Whitethroat
71. Wigeon
72. Willow Warbler
73. Woodpigeon
74. Wren
75. Yellowhammer

 

[Pam_m]

I am catching up here with your posts, Paul! Great reads and photo's. Sewerage works are usually good areas for Wagtail, Goldcrest, Meadow Pit, Whitethroat and I wouldn't be surprised at Spotted Flycatcher. A great species list you already have!:t:

 

[palval147]

That is a very good selection of birds on your list, Fozzy. :t:All those I have seen, but never in the same area. I think I need to go to my patch regularly, like you do & study it. Problem is time & transport for me.

 

[JCLynn]

I met a couple of chaps from Chelmsford yesterday who had travelled up to Cambs to see the winter Whooper Swans. Amongst other things, during our brief birdy chat, they said that they have to travel a long way for birding, because Essex is a birdwatching desert. They would do worse than see your local lists Fozzy! And save themselves a ton of petrol!

 

[Fozzybear]

Thanks Val and Pam and cheersm8 - interesting that people think it's a bad place still really but you do need to put in some effort to find birds as it's not like at some reserves where you sit in a hide and thousands of birds are presented to you on a scrape. Given the superb coastal sites we have I'm a little shocked they describe it as a birding desert! I wouldn't be surprised if they still thought so if they saw my list though, there aren't really any 'rarities' on it for the twitchers.

Time and transport are not a problem for me Val - no work to go to and to get to the 'patch' involves a whopping 4-5 minute walk!

I saw the Lesser Whitethroat at the sewage works and lots of other birds seem to hang out in the small trees and bushes around it in the spring through to autumn. Quiet this time of year when the hedge has been flailed and the rough grassland cut down to the ground though. I have seen a Spotted Flycatcher in the local area but to the south at Galleywood Common, so they are about! :t:

Looking at some of the other reserves, the website for the similar Abbotts Hall Farm reserve near Mersea Island states that they have about forty breeding species of bird and 'at least' twenty more visiting bird species - given that is a coastal site managed as a nature reserve and my patch is near a town inland and is not a reserve plus isn't monitored by an expert ornithologist (well, not me at least... I know there are others 'working' this patch though!) I think it compares pretty well! Warley Place nature reserve to the south of Brentwood claim 'at least' 65 species seen, but that's since 1977 - they're more restricted in the species they'll attract though as it's mostly woods but has ponds and open ground too.

 

[Fozzybear]

Took some short walks around the patch yesterday morning and again today, fairly quiet with the flocks mostly dispersed that were here before the floods but with the place drying out again (even the winter-long swampy areas are for the most part now just a bit muddy and wet) I've seen the return of some of the Little Grebes (now in breeding plumage!), the Redwings, Reed Buntings, singing Skylarks and also spotted yesterday the Snipe pair flying up from a section of riverside reeds where I'd seen the Jack Snipes before the floods. I didn't get the best view of them but they took flight when I was a long way off, flew off quite low and zig-zaggy before climbing and circling around to the rough ground on the far side of the bridge which I think is Snipe rather than Jack Snipe behaviour (the Jack Snipe had exploded from cover close to me and flew up like little rockets!).

A number of Cormorants still around, even saw a pair right in town near the Essex Record Office this morning, and have heard lots of Green Woodpeckers about, spotting one flying across the river to perch in the trees near Springfield Lock at lunchtime today. There are Greenfinches all over the place, particularly around Springfield Lock, and good numbers of Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Carrion Crows and Magpies too. The gulls have been mostly absent recently, I think the winter gatherings have moved on perhaps, although numbers on the town park lake are still healthy. I've not been to the favoured spots for the Grey Herons and Little Egrets so not sure how they are - maybe will walk that way at the weekend.

 

[palval147]

Lovely photo's Fozzy, but I do love the Siskin.

 

[Fozzybear]

Lovely photo's Fozzy, but I do love the Siskin.

Last one Val? That's a Greenfinch actually, although it's a funny angle and I did have to crop in a lot! Haven't seen any Siskins this winter unfortunately. |=(|

 

[Kits]

How lovely to have such a variety of birds close to home, Paul. Good photos!

 

[palval147]

Last one Val? That's a Greenfinch actually, although it's a funny angle and I did have to crop in a lot! Haven't seen any Siskins this winter unfortunately. |=(|

I thought at first, Yellowhammer, Fozzy, then thought no Siskin.:-O It's such a long time since I've seen a Greenfinch I had forgotten what they look like.:-O

 

[Pam_m]

An interesting report on how your species are changing on your patch, Paul! It sounds such a productive area! Love the Reed Bunting and Dunnock photo's!

 

[Fozzybear]

I'll get some Greenfinches packed up and posted off to you Val. :t:

Thanks Kits and Pam. As with the Greenfinches the Dunnocks had been pretty hidden away over the winter but now they're really getting very showy, lots of singing all over the place and I keep finding groups of wing-waving birds here there and everywhere.

I want to get out there at dusk really to see if the bats have woken up yet, would love to see those again.

 

[Pam_m]

I'll get some Greenfinches packed up and posted off to you Val. :t:

Thanks Kits and Pam. As with the Greenfinches the Dunnocks had been pretty hidden away over the winter but now they're really getting very showy, lots of singing all over the place and I keep finding groups of wing-waving birds here there and everywhere.

I want to get out there at dusk really to see if the bats have woken up yet, would love to see those again.

Oooh..yes the bats..won't be long to wait now, Paul!

 

[Fozzybear]

Indeed! Shame I can't afford to buy a bat detector really, would rather like one. I thought about building one but when I looked for a mic/transducer it seemed a bit of a minefield so I gave up that idea.

I walked along the river to Asda this morning, needed to get out of the house as I was developing a bit of a bad mood (mainly due to my injured thumb) but the walk did take my mind off that and other than the crowds in Asda it really cheered me up.

A few crows as usual on the Baddow Meads and some Magpies here and there, but pretty empty today. Up at Barnes Mill there was a male Goosander in the millpond and further downstream a single Redwing in one of the willows. Great Tits and Blue Tits calling in the trees and here and there the odd Chaffinch singing, Greenfinches calling as they flew overhead.

One or two Coots and Moorhens skulked about at the riverbanks and out on the fields two lumps in the sprouting crops moved and showed themselves to be Red-legged Partridges, a Skylark singing high overhead as they fed amongst the green shoots. As I reached Sandford Mill I stood at the side road hoping to spot the Bullfinches but instead saw more Magpies, a Blue Tit working through the bushes, a Robin singing from a high perch and deep in the cover a tsee-tsee-tseeing of Long-tailed Tits. Rounding the corner near the lock I paused to watch a flock of Goldfinches singing and squabbling in a row of trees, little scolding sounds as they scuffled sounding like electric arcs! Chaffinches, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins and Tits shared the trees here, a riot of activity that kept me rooted for some time. As I moved on I scanned a tiny paddock nearby and watched some Woodpigeons and Song Thrushes feeding near the trees on the far side, a Pheasant calling somewhere nearby and two Red-legged Partridges lurking in the shadows but giving the best view I've yet had of these bright birds.

On past the lock and up alongside the sewage works I watched the gulls noisily feeding in the settlement tanks, all flying up when the arms got close and then landing again behind. From there it was pretty birdless to Asda but I saw the first dandelion of the year and some delicate little flowers nearby along the main road. Then as I headed back across the Baddow Meads with my shopping bags I saw a flock of Reed Buntings and, I think, Meadow Pipits feeding in the distance - too far to see with my rain-spattered glasses even with the binoculars but I made out at least one male and femal Reed Bunting and other pipit/skylark like birds - I would assume it's the remnants of the Pipit flock I saw over the winter.

 

[Fozzybear]

Walking into town along the river this morning a Kingfisher flashed past me heading downstream, although it was way too early for me to react very quickly. Managed a shot of it off in the distance just before it rounded the bend though. Quite a few Skylarks on the meadow there and one flew up and hung in the air over my head singing like mad, leaving me with rather a silly grin. |:d|

Coming back I saw a number of male Reed Buntings chasing one another about, then some more, and more, and more... in the end I lost count somewhere in the mid-thirties - there were at least 20 in one willow. Really good to see lots of them around, I'm told it's only recently that they've returned after being absent for many years. Hopefully 2010 will be a good breeding season for them. :t:

 

[palval147]

He may have been a long way off & rapidly flying away from you, Fozzy, but you even got a good reflection of him in the water.
I always have a silly grin when I hear a Skylark, usually at one of the car boot sales we frequent. People think I am totally barmy, I'm sure.:-O

 

[Fozzybear]

Thanks Val - I was pleased to get the reflection, shows how low they fly!

 

[Pam_m]

Just caught up with your recent walks in to town, Paul! Interesting reads!:t: I heard my first of the year Skylark a couple of weeks ago and I agree it does bring a smile to hear them, I just need to see them now.lol!!
Well done with your quick reactions getting a shot of the Kingfisher!:t:

 

[JCLynn]

That was a teriffic read Paul, catching up on events down your way. A hive of activity. Great to see that most of the 'small stuff' seems to have survived our cold snap, as well as your local Kingfisher.