Essex Birding (1 Viewer)

[Fozzybear]

No problem - hope you feel better soon! You should certainly post your opinions, regardless of experience - everyone here is learning at some level.

I think this pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/4028436473/ suggests that the underwing is oiled, it certainly looks a lot less clean than the other side: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/4028436675/.

I think the problem with oiled birds is that they try to clean themselves up by preening (and can therefore gradually appear less badly affected over time), but take in all the toxic pollutants in doing so. These then take a while to cause internal damage. The published advice on handling an oiled bird (e.g. one found on a beach) is to actively try to prevent it from preening, for this reason.

PS - if you want to see more divers nearby (particularly Great Northerns), then the Blackwater Estuary is excellent around high tide in the winter. Perhaps best viewed from Rolls Farm west of Tollesbury - see this map: http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=to...ury|Tollesbury, Maldon, Essex, England, CM9 8

Thanks David, yes now you point that out it doesn't look right and I have a feeling I noticed it looked odd when I processed that photo but didn't think anything more of it at the time - not having seen one before I didn't realise it might be significant. Very sad and I wonder where it picked up the oil - the question is whether it could have got here from Scotland in that condition...

Interesting about the Blackwater and Tollesbury, I would like to go out to that area at 'some' point so will try to remember to keep an eye out for them when I finally make that trip. :t:


I finally got down to Southend and Two Tree Island on Tuesday, a photographer/birdwatcher I've been talking to on flickr (Dave) suggested meeting up there since lots of stuff he'd been photographing there was really interesting to me (turnstones, lots of golden and ringed plovers, teal...). Was a bit of a damp squib of a day, foggy then very dull and then drizzly/showery and the tide was against us for the big flocks at Two Tree lagoon but we still saw loads and I certainly had a great day. Rather a long post ahead and I've highlighted the birds for those that want to cut out the waffle.

Picked up my first Curlews (I'd really, really wanted to see those after talking to a guy in Chelmsford the other week who'd seen a pair flying along the river near town!), some on the mud next to the pier, another at Leigh and some more at Two Tree, saw my first Dunlins too, lovely to see those little waders amongst the Turnstones (only the second time I've seen those and the first time I'd seen them actually turning stones). We spotted a Grey Heron halfway out along the pier standing in the shallow water on the east side of the pier (that gave us pause, we'd not realised how shallow the water was there!). Lots of Redshanks, one Ringed Plover and some Little Egrets near the pier too (Dave said he thought there were some Knot amongst the Dunlin too, but all I could see were lots of distant little birds and I don't know waders so couldn't say). When out at the end of the pier we saw a young Great Black Backed Gull (unless it was a Herring... but it looked right for GBB) and a first winter Mediterranean Gull posing on some posts out on the east side of the pier. Lots of Cormorants fishing and flying around here too and I saw three Brent Geese flying eastwards over the sea (both firsts for me!). we also found a solitary Pied Wagtail on the sea wall, the first one I've seen since I was in Norfolk earlier in the summer!

Moving on to Leigh-on-sea and at the very east end of the High Street we stood out on the quay and there were loads of Brent Geese (sorry no numbers, the ones I could see probably amounted to at least a hundred in this area and I could see more further out on the estuary) and amongst them were some Curlews, one or two Little Egrets, more Great Black Backed Gulls and many Black-tailed Godwits, which I'd seen at Cley before but not anything like so close! After watching those for a while and taking lots of pics here and out on the beach we went back to the car for lunch and then drove on to Two Tree Island.

Lots of Wrens and Robins and other small birds flying around at the carpark and in the scrubby bushes as we walked west towards the lagoon, quite a sizeable flock of Chaffinches in some trees there and a few Linnets too. We saw some Teal, Redshanks and another Curlew in the creek off to the right, the sound of it's calls really great to hear. At the lagoon we saw a nice group of Wigeon in the corner and ensconced in the hide we could look out to also see lots of Teal, a fair number of Avocets (my first sighting of them in Essex :t a few Redshank and Shovelers and a Little Egret off at the far end. We could hear more Curlews out on the estuary and all the time the Avocets calling to each other (possibly the Teal too).

After a while I went to check out the south-facing hide nearby and walking there saw a darkish animal come out from the undergrowth onto the path in the distance, pause and then scurry into the thicket on the other side. I couldn't see what it was but it was blunt faced, not a rat, a little bigger perhaps but not really big. Too bulky and large for Stoat/Weasel, I guess it could have been a Water Vole or a Mink or... I don't know. I don't know mammals 'that' well and certainly don't know what you're likely to find crossing a path on the island. I checked out the place it crossed and there was a definite run there but I couldn't say more than that. I went into the hide and opened the shutter, immediately seeing a flickr of movement in the marshy plants as something disappeared along an overgrown channel. I settled down and could see a Redshank feeding nearby, a few Shelduck out on the estuary and off in the far distance groups of more birds, way too distant to make out. I watched a Robin hopping around the weeds and then saw the movement in that channel again. I got my binoculars on it and slowly into view crept a Water Rail! I quickly grabbed my camera and took some photos, struggling at such a distance in the dingy light but managed somehow to get some photos. I rang Dave in the other hide (we were the only ones there and he asked me to if I saw anything good) and he was really pleased but had only just seen one well at another reserve (I'd seen the pics, it was a great view he got!) so stayed where he was to carry on counting. After a minute the Rail moved back into the channel and disappeared, and after a few more minutes I left too, heading back to the lagoon hide. I spotted a Blackbird and a Dunnock on the path ahead and suddenly a Sparrowhawk swooped down over my shoulder and flew really low along the path, scattering the birds and then banking around the lagoon hide and out of sight. Dashing to the hide Dave said he'd seen it come in fast and low and buzz across the water before disappearing over the bank. Pretty cool!

We chatted with another birdwatcher that came to the hide as we packed up and then headed back to the carpark before Dave kindly gave me a lift back to Chelmsford. Dave was rather miffed that we'd not seen the Turnstones on the pier itself and the big flocks of plovers but coming away having seen lots of new birds and a photo of a Water Rail I was really pleased! Even without those it was a great trip to scout out the area and see what was around, I'll be back another day when the weather is better, hopefully catching the high tide and those flocks! :t:

 

[TomW]

Sounds like a good day out Paul. Envious of the water rail, yet to see one of them.
I've not been to Two Tree island for some years, maybe its time for another visit!
Cheers
Tom

 

[E.T.]

Does sound like an enjoyable time. I think we're very lucky in this part of the world.

I've seen Gt Northern Divers on Abberton Res in years past too - and Smew too - but that would be more round Jan time. So worth a look there too.

 

[Fozzybear]

Thanks Tom and E.T. - yes we're pretty lucky really. It's easy to be jealous of some of the wildlife found elsewhere in the country but when you look around it's amazing how much can be found in the county.

Two Tree was really great even in the lull at low tide, but then everywhere we stopped was good!

 

[dcweather]

Hi Paul, make you laugh - I've been reading this thread all the way through from post1 and after a while thought this Fozzybear bloke sounds a bit like Paul, then later he comes from Chelmsford. What really clinched it for me was when I figured in the post on our trip!! Thanks for the kind words about our good day out. Since then I've had some light but not the birds! BTW - got my Kenko 1.5x
Dave

 

[Fozzybear]

Hi Dave! :hi: ||

No need to thank me for kind words about the trip, it was excellent - it's a long time since I saw so many new birds in one day, or such a bird-packed day in general! :t:

Looking at the Southend RSPB sightings page it does look like it's been hit and miss, although Sunday looks like it was pretty good - as it was a reasonable day after such rough weather on Saturday I guess the birds all came out to enjoy it. I 'nearly' went down again today, but thought I'd better stay here and do some work around the house instead.

Walking along the river to Chelmsford over the last few days I've not seen 'that' much but there have been good large flocks of Black-headed Gulls on the river, I saw a Goldfinch feeding on teasels for the first time (have been looking out for that behaviour since I started watching birds), a Meadow Pipit on a fencepost, lots of Little Grebes as usual and on the Baddow Meads some fair-sized flocks of Reed Buntings and Goldfinches moving amongst the rank grass. Haven't seen the Kingfishers for a little bit though.

 

[Essex Tern]

Finally broke my duck with rare birds, and I did it in Essex! - managed to find the Spotted Sandpiper at Abberton this morning. Was cold, wet, windy, but worth it.

 

[TomW]

Well done, Essex Tern. You have more determination than me!
I got as far as filling the bird feeders in the garden.
Cheers
Tom

 

[Essex Tern]

Cheers Tom. Think it has got to that time of year where I have to push myself a bit to go out in the miserable weather - I usually regret it if I don't go out though! But it is good to get the added bonus of a lifer, and first rare bird after making myself go out, as that won't happen too often, might get the odd lifer, but it may be a while til I get myself an Essex mega!

Guess I shall just have to keep going out, and it may happen one day, I shall be happy with lifers though, there are plenty of common birds I have yet to see, and it is special to see them first in Essex.

Re the weather, I am a bit odd actually! - I enjoy walking in the rain - it's the wind that spoils it for me, wind assisted rain isn't much fun!

Feeding the birds is an important job, well done on that.

 

[Fozzybear]

That's a lot of Goldfinches! Hi-rise al-fresco dining. ||

 

[E.T.]

Finally broke my duck with rare birds, and I did it in Essex! - managed to find the Spotted Sandpiper at Abberton this morning. Was cold, wet, windy, but worth it.

Excellent - that certainly is a wader (my expert eyes can tell that at first glance :t: ) ...boy I find them difficult to distinquish at times! I tend to stand gorping through the scope, bird guide open - I look back to the scope, and the bird has moved a bit (damned inconsiderate I say!)

well done (I'll have a beer on your behalf B )

 

[E.T.]

Essex Tern - That's a great photo - almost worthy of a caption competition!
Goldfinches are attractive little birds

 

[Essex Tern]

That's a lot of Goldfinches! Hi-rise al-fresco dining. ||

Essex Tern - That's a great photo - almost worthy of a caption competition!
Goldfinches are attractive little birds

I bought that feeder because we used to have a lot of bickering with birds unable to find a perch - within a week however we were visited by the birds you see on the feeder and in addition 15 to 20 more - we never had that many before (best to that point was a dozen or so), and some were even feeding on the ground which I have not had before either - so we still don't have enough perches! That was only for a few weeks though and numbers seem to have stabilised at around a dozen at a time.

Excellent - that certainly is a wader (my expert eyes can tell that at first glance :t: ) ...boy I find them difficult to distinquish at times! I tend to stand gorping through the scope, bird guide open - I look back to the scope, and the bird has moved a bit (damned inconsiderate I say!)

well done (I'll have a beer on your behalf B )

Cheers - I wouldn't normally have bothered with the picture in the conditions, but being my first rare bird I thought I would try for a record shot - you can just about make out the yellow legs from the dodgy picture, so it'll do for my purposes - was lucky to get anything come out really as had to wipe the rain from the lens a couple of times - not really conducive to quality photography! But I did spend more time watching the bird through my scope than trying for the photo, so my memories are more vivid than my photos.

 

[Original PaulE]

went to wrabness today looking over the stour i had great northern diver,red throated diver, red necked grebe,red breasted merganser plus loads of brent geese,pintail,goldeneye and various waders
cheers

 

[Fozzybear]

Sounds great Paul!

I walked into Chelmsford along the River Chelmer this morning, starting near Barnes Mill. I saw a Snipe flying east and landing in the scrubby cover on the north side of the river, the first one I've ever seen so that was pretty cool. A couple walking their dog told me a few have been seen here recently. There were also quite a lot of Stonechats feeding down along the riverbank and near the road bridge over the river there were lots of birds feeding in the snowy meadow on the south side, Blackbirds and Starlings and some Magpies and lots of smaller birds, mostly Meadow Pipits. I wasn't sure because of the distance but I thought I saw some Siskins too, although I've no idea if this is the right habitat for them.

Further on near the Springfield Lock there were lots of the usual Black-headed Gulls with a few Common Gulls amongst them, some Little Grebes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and four Goosanders! I'd wondered if they would come back as they were in town last Christmas so really good to see them. There were three females and one male and they flew off upstream towards the town. I'll have to take a look in Central Park next time I go into town as there 'may' be more there.

A very dodgy photo of the goosanders here (I only had my teeny compact with me unfortunately):

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=233387&d=1261229111

 

[E.T.]

I've just come back from a fantastic walk. From Lah de dah (layer de la haye) where I live, across to Birch, down to Abberton Reservoir Birch causeway, round to Layer causeway, dropping into the EWT visitor centre for a cup o coffee, then back up the hill to home.

So what did I see? Well the scenery was fantastic, everywhere you look was piccy post card stuff. Birdwise nothing to spectacularly unusual (but that doesn't really matter to me in the slightest). Robins by the truck load, in groups in the hedges around...I must of seen at least 100 in my (about 10 mile) walk. Got a fantastic view of a Kestrel (one of my favourite local birds - he was just siting up the top of a dead tree, not 20 yds from me. I think the bright sun and the refletion of light from the snow, seemed to make the bird's colours all the more vivid.

On the resi it was much the usuals (I was wondering whether this cold snap had brought the Smew in yet - but I didn't see one). I just enjoyed watching a pied wagtail..um...wagging. Most of the birds were pretty docile,(boy I bet they get cold feet!). there was one redshank that I watched for a time - amusing to watch. And a Grey Heron - which looked bigger than usual, he was standing very erect and tall.

So, in all a very enjoyable 5 hour excusion. Essex can be truly beautiful.

 

[Fozzybear]

Sounds great E.T., my kind of walk.

The Goosanders are still here in Chelmsford and more are gathering - on Saturday I saw four, on Sunday down to a pair but this morning I looked out and saw one... then looking downstream there were at least 14 more! I'm surprised they've chosen that area as it does get a fair bit of activity from people, many with dogs, and they're rather twitchy birds - this lot all took off and flew towards town when a dog walker came along the path, but was still quite a way off.

 

[Steve Arlow]

There has been a report of a male Pied Harrier in the Maldon / Southey Creek area during the harsh weather. This is a totally unconfirmed report from a wildfowler so it may not be anything to really get excited over, yet.

If the bird is genuine, of which there are doubts that it is, and is seen again then this will be a first for Britain and I would urge people to go and see it as Pied Harriers are just superb, quite possible the best looking harrier in the world.

 

[foxydave]

Hi Guys nice to see a Essex site Canvey island good place for all sorts waders and at the moment we have a ivasion of redwings and feildfares never seen so many though theres a great crop of hawthorn berries

 

[Fozzybear]

Loads of Redwings and Fieldfares at the moment here in Chelmsford too, wonderful to see so many so close to home. Saw them hanging out on the Baddow Meads next to the Essex Regiment Way off the Army and Navy roundabout, plus a Grey Heron and a Little Egret too.

Still a lot of Meadow Pipits around and a pair of Goosanders on the river too. Not sure if more are around, didn't get around to checking out the lake in the park.