Essex Birding (15 Viewers)

[andygolfer]

first Abberton visit of 2025, Slavonian Grebe, Rock pipit, G.C grebes and goosanders.............











Andy

 

[andygolfer]

winter owls in the Braintree area - taken in the last three weeks, sorry can't be more precise with the location...

 

[andygolfer]

Marsh harriers at Tollesbury Wick NR on Monday (03-03-2025), at least 3 present, one hunted quite close to the hide.
Andy

 

[andygolfer]

and some others from Tollesbury Wick on 3rd March, sorry been too busy to edit and upload them earlier
Andy ...

 

[andygolfer]

I dropped in to Phyllis Currie reserve this morning to see what was about but it was a bit quiet, from the lake hide I noted Canada geese, numerous blue and great tits, coal tit, mallards, little grebe, moorhens, nuthatch, wren, robin blackbird, dunnock, jay & carrion crow. Then on a wander round the reserve added goldcrest, chiffchaff, and in flight only - a buzzard & red kite. No sign of the kingfishers although another birder said he saw one a week or so back whilst in the hide. - hope they are more active soon.

a few pics from the hide, nothing exciting but at least it's a post and a bit of a report.
Andy

 

[andygolfer]

I made a short visit to Phyllis Currie NR on Sunday (30th), nothing very exciting but nice weather for getting out and about. The following were noted...
pair of little grebes on the top lake - they were quite vocal as well and seem to have taken up residence (see photo)
also a pair of canada geese which seem to be in residence
reed buntings (2m & 1f) in bushes and on feeder in front of hide (see photos)
4 mallard (3m, 1f)
grey heron
at least 4 nuthatches on feeder in front of hide plus several, great & blue tits, coal tit, wren, robin & dunnock
chiff chaffs calling all over reserve
2 buzzards and a red kite overhead
several green woodpeckers calling
at least 3 goldcrests in conifers near the volunteers' container (see photos)
Andy

 

[andygolfer]

Planning perseverance and patience pays off - barn owl at last.
I spotted a barn owl on some rough ground (private land away from public footpaths) nearly two months ago while passing by on my way home and went back and saw it again about a week later. I found the landowner and asked for permission to go onto the land to photograph it and (a bit cheekily) to put in a hunting post for it as a focal point for my photography - that was also approved! The post has been there just over 4 weeks and finally the other evening after about a dozen visits the owl landed on it, not the best barn owl pics I've ever taken but by far the most rewarding. My birding accomplice went last night and it also landed for him so it's looking promising.
Andy
Here's a selection of mine.....