Essex Birding (1 Viewer)

[Fozzybear]

Sounds like you both had some good trips out! Nice to hear there are Goldeneye and Merlins around.

Lots of male Reed Buntings setting up their territories on the Baddow Meads here in Chelmsford, really good to see them back on the riverbanks again. Loads of Skylark activity on the meadow too, I didn't know which way to look there was so much going on! Also still have Goosanders about, saw one female on the river.

Has been absolutely brilliant for Mistle Thrushes and Song Thrushes recently. I didn't used to see that many Song Thrushes and as I hadn't worked out identifying Mistles until last year (I know, I know...) I didn't really see many of those at all but this spring I've been seeing and hearing quite a lot of Song Thrushes and an amazing number of Mistle Thrushes in the local area. Couldn't say if there's a change in population or it's just that I now know what to look/listen for but has really brightened up my walks to work no end. :t:

Had a quick wander through Oaklands Park on Friday but didn't see much or linger very long since there were a lot of women with young kids around and as a bloke on my own I felt VERY self-conscious - in situations like that I always feel someone's going to assume I'm some sicko! |8.|

 

[Rufio]

I had the most amazing owl experience in Stoke by nayland. Just before dusk I had stopped at a t junction looked left for traffic but saw a barn owl flying towards me. He flew about a meter infront of me and turned his head as he passed. Made my day!

 

[Fozzybear]

I'll bet!

Still a few Redwings at the Chelmer Valley nature reserve in Chelmsford, although it was pretty quiet there yesterday afternoon. Did get some cracking views of the Treecreepers there though, which was great.

 

[Essex Tern]

Have had the week off work and finally starting to make my yearlist reasonably respectable, adding 13 species over the week.

Monday I spent the morning at Bradwell, the highlight was my first Purple Sandpiper for Essex, but other birds seen were Grey Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Knot, Redshank etc.

Tuesday I gave Abberton a go in the hope of seeing the Bittern - I failed, but did add Green Sandpiper to my year list. I went to Braxted Park after and added Buzzard, Siskin and Great-spotted Woodpecker to my yearlist. Also saw another Hawfinch which was quite jammy - 2 visits and seen them both times.

Wednesday I spent at Walton-on-the-Naze. Ringed Plover and Feral Dove were the only yearlist additions, but I did see Sanderlings which is always nice and also another Purple Sandpiper which I was well pleased with - it seemed determined to stay til the last second, waves washing to it's chest, but eventually it did give in and fly! Also got Jay on the way home.

Today I spent the morning at Fingringhoe Wick - I added Red-breasted Merganser to my yearlist, and Stock Dove, and had a very nice view of a Buzzard. The highlight was my first Adder. I swung by Braxted Park in the afternoon and although I heard Green Woodpecker and Tawny Owl, failed to see both, but I did have a good time watching 4 Buzzards, and I made it a hat-trick re Hawfinches - saw another for a fleeting view, I may have used my birding luck up for one year now though!

 

[Fozzybear]

Sounds like you had a good week! Good to hear the purple sandpipers are still at the Naze, have been meaning to get over there all winter but not got around to it, too tired from work to be bothered much with travelling about. Saw Purples there last winter though and was a really great area for getting very close to the birds - having the sanderlings and turnstones practically around your feet was brilliant. :t:


Eleven Redwings feeding in Central Park yesterday lunchtime and singing in the trees, which I'd not heard before! They had a lot of Chaffinches mixed in with them too.

 

[vangerover]

Out and about this afternoon-

Green-winged Teal and Mandarin Duck at Connaught Water, Chingford

Raven, 4 Buzzards, 11 Goldfinch and 12 Fieldfare at Copped Hall, Epping

 

[birdermoose]

Not much at hanningfield today. Highlights were
2 stock dove
1 oystercatcher
12 displaying Great crested grebe
Goldeneye
And in galleywood common a brimstone butterfly First butterfly of spring.

 

[Fozzybear]

17 Waxwings at the Chelmer Valley reserve in Chelmsford, along with around the same number of Redwings. Also Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpeckers, Mallards, Moorhens, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Carrion Crows, loads of Magpies, House Sparrows, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Wrens, Blackbirds, Greenfinches and Chaffinches.

Saw a butterfly at the reserve but not sure which type as it was at a distance - either a Red Admiral or a Peacock I think.

 

[wildlifelove]

17 Waxwings at the Chelmer Valley reserve in Chelmsford, along with around the same number of Redwings. Also Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpeckers, Mallards, Moorhens, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Carrion Crows, loads of Magpies, House Sparrows, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Wrens, Blackbirds, Greenfinches and Chaffinches.

Saw a butterfly at the reserve but not sure which type as it was at a distance - either a Red Admiral or a Peacock I think.

Hi

Can you Private message me Details of where Chelmer Valley reserve is? And how to find it?

 

[Fozzybear]

The reserve follows the river north from Victoria Road, where staples and macdonalds are. Just follow the riverside footpath north from there under the rail viaduct and the footpath will take you through the reserve. Or you can get to it from the end of Hoffmanns Way, over a footbridge at one of the weirs.

http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=15303

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=51.741523,0.478055&spn=0.001754,0.004823&t=h&z=18

 

[Fozzybear]

More Waxwings in Chelmsford (possibly the same birds from the Chelmer Valley reserve seen at the weekend) - a small flock were in Central Park around 3:30pm today, in a tall tree between the stone footbridge and the rail viaduct.

Four female Goosanders on the Baddow Meads east of Chelmsford too and a great number of what I think were Redwings, but without binoculars I couldn't quite see well enough to be sure. The way they looked and moved very strongly suggested Redwings though.

 

[Sharp Shin]

A drake Scaup was present on 'Chilvers Pool' at Ardleigh Reservoir this morning (and it was there yesterday, I understand). 'Chilvers Pool' is the short arm of the reservoir on the north side of Lodge Lane (and named after the cottage there). Potentially, the bird should give fairly close views on still water, but it was very misty there this morning. This part of Ardleigh Reservoir is the best place to be to see early arrivals of hirundines. Last year, a Cetti's Warbler (or a pair) was present in vegetation near to the cottage. The Lodge Lane causeway often has wintering Grey Wagtails, but I haven't seen any this year.

 

[Fozzybear]

Waxwings back at Central Park in Chelmsford again this afternoon, feeding on the flowering buds in the same tree by the viaduct. They flew in just as I was crossing the bridge - perfect timing! Saw a Sparrowhawk flying over nearby and three Tufted Ducks on the lake along with the usual mallards, moorhens, coots, canada geese and swans (the male getting very territorial now and as usual really not wanting the geese on the water).

 

[Fozzybear]

I went out to Walton-on-the-Naze with my brother on Saturday as it was so warm and sunny, although everyone else seemed to decide to do so as well and it was pretty busy there! Lots and lots of people with binoculars walking around the Naze too! I'd been wanting to get out there all winter but left it rather late I think, I didn't really see the numbers of small waders I saw in January last year (and didn't see any Purple Sandpipers) but the Naze had even more birds than when I went before! There were a lot of Sanderlings and Turnstones around, some Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, at least five hundred Golden Plovers (some changing to summer plumage), Grey Plovers, Lapwings, a few hundred Brent Geese, Greylag Geese, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Mute Swans, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, thousands of Starlings flocking on the naze marshes, Cormorants, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Reed Buntings, a Kestrel, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blackbirds, Wrens, Dunnocks, loads of the usual Gulls, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies and probably others I've forgotten. There were quite a range of small waders in amongst the Golden Plovers but were at a good distance and beyond my ID ability in the really strong heat haze and back lighting!

Sat on the cliff and watched the sea for a while and saw a lot of birds on the move but again I wasn't able to identify them. Would have been good to know what they were but was good just to sit there and to see a lot of birds around. Didn't get as close to the Sanderlings and Turnstones as I did last winter but 'fairly' close and did get to watch them feeding in the surf, which was very cheering to see in the sunshine!

 

[vangerover]

Someone reported a Black Redstart and a Firecrest at the Naze yesterday.

 

[Fozzybear]

Haven't seen either of those... I guess they would have been in the woody area. I did tell my brother that area was a good migration spot but we didn't spend much time there, were more interested in getting out on the beach and sea wall.

A lot of people with bins in the area!

 

[BirdPics]

went in the search for the Shot-eared Owl down at Limbourne Creek, Maldon.

No luck

But did see a Kestrel, a Little Grebe, Heron, plenty of Skylark and a few Reed Bunting, about 20 Avocets and 20 Black-tailed Godwits all in a group, a huge flock of Golden Plover and endless Brent Geese.

 

[Jeapesy]

A quick walk around Blue House Farm yesterday evening revealed the following

Meadow Pipit, Shoveler, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, 2 Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Heron, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, Barnacle Geese, Canada Geese and Greylag Geese, Avocet.

Spring is definately in the air as the Avocets were starting to pair up, the lapwings were performing their aerial dances and some of the golden plovers had started to show their summer plummage.

 

[Fozzybear]

It does seem very spring-like, the Golden Plovers at the Naze were starting to turn into summer plumage too. Seems like there are a lot of Golden Plovers around at the moment. :t:

 

[BirdPics]

Another failed attempt to track down the Short-eared Owl at Limbourne Creek.

As we arrived there was a single Yellowhammer with a flock of Reed Bunting, a big flock of Black-tailed Godwit and another large flock of Brent Geese. The sun went down amazingly fast as we stood there waiting for the Owl to appear, but it didn't, as we headed back there was just a Fox running along one of the fields.

I'll find that Owl one day