Essex Birding (1 Viewer)

[TomW]

Late evening walk round Tollesbury Wick yesterday. Not a soul in sight and a magic sunset.
Birds everywhere, small flock of Linnet, Pied Wagtails, sedge/reed warblers, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Skylark. Out on the ponds large flocks of ducks, mainly Mallard, but a few Tufties, Gadwall, Shoveller, Shelduck, a few Mute Swans and Canada Geese.

Out in the creeks large flocks of gulls roosting on the islands, LBB, BH and Herring as far as I could see although they were a long way off. A few Terns as well too far away to ID.
Lots of waders, mostly Redshank and Oystercatchers, BT Godwit and Lapwing but a few Ringed plover and Turnstone, and a very nice black bellied Golden Plover.
Was hoping for an owl or two, but raptors a bit thin on the ground, only saw a single Kestrel, can't have everything.
Tom

 

[TomW]

Another walk round Tollesbury Wick this evening after work, just to get some air and clear the brain. Walked round past the sewage works, lots of Pied Wags and Starlings here.
Also noticed large House Sparrow flocks, 50+ by the road near the marina. Not seen that many Sparrows for a long time.

On the reserve, very quiet, not many small birds about, one or two Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings. Two Yellow waggers were a nice find.
Still good numbers of BT Godwits and assorted ducks on the ponds, with a few Avocet.

Swallows seem to be thinning out a bit this week, and I noticed some House Martins in with them. On their way already.

I walked quickly round to the main Blackwater channel hoping to get views of the mudflats but was beaten by the tide, a few BH and LBB gulls greeted me with about 20 cormorant strung out on a shingle spit.
There were a few Lapwing and Oystercatchers dotted about and several Curlew in the distance. One close Curlew looked a little different, with a shorter more decurved bill and an obvious stripe over the eye. Its harsh alarm call as it flew off confirmed it as a Whimbrel, a first for me.
There is a large pond along this stretch which always seems to hold good numbers of birds, Canada Goose, Mallard, Shovellers, Tufties, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Avocet, BT Godwit, Redshank, Snipe, Coot.
For the rest of the reserve, I noted four Green Sandpipers flying over, at least 6 Little Egret and 3 Grey Heron, One Kestrel and one large raptor in the distance, flying towards Old Hall Marsh, probably a Marsh Harrier, but I can't be sure.
Tom

 

[purple highflyer]

and one large raptor in the distance, flying towards Old Hall Marsh, probably a Marsh Harrier, but I can't be sure.
Tom[/QUOTE]

Hi Tom

There has been an osprey reported in the general area over the last few days,and today at abberton .
I will be in the abberton/old hall area tomorrow,will post if I see it.

PH

 

[Fozzybear]

Sounds like some good sightings there!

Quite a lot of Swallows along the river Chelmer around Little Baddow - both road bridges at Little Baddow lock and Papermill Lock had a lot of activity and there were young sitting in a nearby tree being fed (a first for me, very pleased to see that). Quite a lot of Cormorant fishing activity along the river and the Common Terns seem to be changing to winter plumage. Some big flocks of greenfinches/chaffinches, tits and linnets around here too. Highlight of the day was probably a Lesser Whitethroat in the brambles near the river between Sandford lock and the A12 bypass, only the second one of those I've seen. Lots of Whitethroat around to compare it to but didn't manage to get a photo unfortunately as it was a bit far away and kept hiding.

Funny that you mention House Sparrows, I get loads in my garden now (has been a good breeding year for this colony) and the other day there were in excess of forty in my garden, plus approx the same again in Starlings. Good thing I don't do official bird counts! I couldn't really make an accurate count though as there's a lot of cover, I can't see all of the garden from my window and they move around a lot... all I can say is that I could definitely see more than forty Sparrows and I get through a fair bit of seed!

 

[TomW]

"There has been an osprey reported in the general area over the last few days,and today at abberton"

Hi PH, I don't think the bird I saw was an Osprey, I think I would have noticed the white underbelly, even at distance. Looking in the books, it was most likely a female Marsh Harrier, given the very dark colouring and wing angle when gliding. I will keep an eye open for the Osprey though.

Fozzybear, yes I think you are right about a good breeding season for House Sparrows, I'm sure the numbers on my feeders have at least doubled this year. I have difficulty counting them as well!
Tom

 

[Fozzybear]

"Fozzybear, yes I think you are right about a good breeding season for House Sparrows, I'm sure the numbers on my feeders have at least doubled this year. I have difficulty counting them as well!
Tom

I certainly thought so as a large proportion of the visitors to my feeder were juveniles and there seemed to be a constant stream of new youngsters appearing. It's been very gratifying to think I've helped them a little by putting out food and providing plenty of shelter in the garden.


On another subject - how (un)likely is it to see a Buzzard during the summer here? My bird of prey identification is laughably bad but both this summer and last summer I've seen large birds of prey in the skies around Great Baddow and Little Baddow and was pretty sure they were Buzzards (I have seen some elsewhere in the country but as I say my BOP ID is awful!) but looking around I've found some things suggesting that they might not be found around here. They certainly look 'right' when I look in the field guides although I have doubts but can't think of another bird they could be. They are definitely BIG birds, tended to be gliding high up, sometimes being mobbed by other birds like Jackdaws (which looked rather small in comparison), and rarely flapping. I saw two circling each other over Little Baddow recently but by the time I got my camera out they had disappeared - very frustrating!

 

[Essex Tern]

Fozzybear,

Buzzards are perfectly possible in Essex, in fact Thomas Harris connects with them regularly and posts some good pictures to birdguides, taken in the Maldon area.

Unfortunately I am what you might say unlucky with birds of prey - I have seen a few very distant Buzzards, but most times I see a large bird soaring it turns out to be a Marsh Harrier or a very distant Gull!!

One of these days I will have a close encounter with a Buzzard or something different, but until then I suppose I should enjoy my Marsh Harriers - actually got excited yesterday at Fingringhoe and had a very close encounter with a large bird of prey - you guessed it - Marsh Harrier! - was beautiful though!

Malvin.

 

[Fozzybear]

Thanks Malvin, I feel more confident that they were buzzards now. I thought they were (especially the one I saw last year at work) as they looked big, far too large to be the usual sparrowhawk or kestrel, and I couldn't work out what else they could be.

I wouldn't mind being unlucky enough to see lots of Marsh Harriers! In fact, send some over to me if you like! Strangely I get much more excited thinking about seeing a Marsh Harrier than an Osprey. I 'would' like to see an Osprey but it doesn't get me going the way Marsh Harriers do - I think I picked that up from my brother who really has a thing for them. Ospreys are sexy and mega rare and have a lot going for them but somehow for me the Harrier pips it. Then again I get a big thrill watching Kestrels hunting too, maybe I'll think differently if I'm still birdwatching in five years but there's a strong element of robin stroker to my nature so perhaps I'll still be the same! A Birder I be not. :-O

 

[Essex Tern]

@Fozzybear - I think I feel the same way you do about Marsh Harriers with Hen Harriers - I have never seen an Osprey, but would take another close encounter with a Hen Harrier over an Osprey any day! I actually can sit for ages watching Marsh Harriers - never get bored of them!

Today I took a lap of Old Hall - carrying more gear than is sensible! For a change I thought I would make a list, and here's what I saw today....

Swallow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Black Headed Gull, Starling, Green Woodpecker (heard), Curlew Sandpiper, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Bearded Tit (heard), Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Teal, Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Kestrel, Hobby, Cormarant, Wheatear, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Curlew, Reed Bunting, Marsh Harrier, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Brent Goose, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Bar Tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Sand Martin, Grey Heron, Linnet, Willow Warbler and Goldfinch.

Was particularly pleased with the birds highlighted in red as they are Essex firsts for me.

Malvin.

 

[Fozzybear]

That's a good haul! :t: A lot there I've never seen... plenty of time for that though! ||

Hen Harrier... yes I think I'd rather see one of those than an Osprey too. I'd need a guide book to look it up in to know what it was so I could enjoy it properly though! Otherwise I'd be spending the whole time thinking "what IS it!!?"

 

[TomW]

Hi Malvin, that's not a bad days birding. Been meaning to get over to Old Hall myself soon.
Out of interest, what gear were you touting round?

I prefer to travel light with a Nikon ED50, 13-40 zoom and lightweight tripod, plus my normal birding bins, but now the evenings are drawing in, I find myself hankering after the light gathering power and range of a big scope, but hate the thought of lugging all that weight on a six mile hike.
Tom

 

[Essex Tern]

Hi Tom

I usually prefer to travel light too, but was glad of my big scope when I got to the far end of the reserve with the Bar Tailed Godwits. One of the main weights I was carrying was lunch and about 2 litres of drinks, but also my large scope, full size aluminium tripod, and a superzoom camera with a few other bits in my bag - and my binoculars of course.

Not quite sure how far Old Hall is to walk round, the way I did it, but the short trail is 3 miles, and the long trail 6.5 miles, suppose if you do the whole reserve like I usually do, you must be doing 9 miles or so. Incidentally I have a new lightweight tripod now which I intend to use with my small scope, I do prefer the view of the big scope, but it is good to have a choice for when I am not feeling up to lugging my full kit! I just didn't get on with a monopod with my small scope.

Malvin.

 

[Scoobs]

Hi all

Just joined the forum yesterday to help out with a bird id.

Thought i'd add a bit to this thread about where i go for my birds

I mainly go to Hanningfield Reservoir, Abbotts Hall farm and Blue House farm all are Essex wildlife trust sites.

I really like all 3 and you get a great variety of birds between them.

Highlights for me are:

Abbotts Hall farm - Lt Egret, Marsh Harrier, Swans, various ducks, Reed & Sedge warbler, Linnet, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting, Green woodpecker, Gold finch, Green Sandpiper. The lake hide is where i usually go and it's always quiet.

Blue House farm - Lt Egret, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Wheatear, Winchat, Lapwing, Avocet, various ducks including a Garganey, Meadow pipit and Hares. This place has more in the winter when the water hasn't dried up plus they've just build a third hide.

Abberton and Fingringhoe are also great visits.

 

[purple highflyer]

Hi all

Just joined the forum yesterday to help out with a bird id.

Thought i'd add a bit to this thread about where i go for my birds

I mainly go to Hanningfield Reservoir, Abbotts Hall farm and Blue House farm all are Essex wildlife trust sites.

I really like all 3 and you get a great variety of birds between them.

Highlights for me are:

Abbotts Hall farm - Lt Egret, Marsh Harrier, Swans, various ducks, Reed & Sedge warbler, Linnet, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting, Green woodpecker, Gold finch, Green Sandpiper. The lake hide is where i usually go and it's always quiet.

Blue House farm - Lt Egret, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Wheatear, Winchat, Lapwing, Avocet, various ducks including a Garganey, Meadow pipit and Hares. This place has more in the winter when the water hasn't dried up plus they've just build a third hide.

Abberton and Fingringhoe are also great visits.

Hi Stu

Welcome to the forum !, I regularly go to abberton and old hall , sometimes haningfield.
Never tried abbots hall or blue house,I thought you had to make an advanced booking to visit abbots hall , their getting most of old halls waders at the moment because the managment at old hall have let the water levels drop to kill off some kind of invasive weed ,Im EWT member , can I turn up at abbots hall any time (when open) ?

PH

 

[Essex Tern]

Yes indeed, welcome to the forum Stu, good to have another contributor to the Essex thread.

PH, re your query on Abbots Hall - never been there myself, but "Explore Wild Essex" says it is open Monday to Friday only, 9am to 5pm. Weekends are organised walks only, for which you must book. Also see http://www.essexwt.org.uk/visitor_centres__nature_reserves/abbotts_hall_farm/

Essex Tern.

 

[purple highflyer]

Hi essex tern

Thanks for the info ,as I would only visist in the week that sounds ideal for me !

PH

 

[Scoobs]

Hi Stu

Welcome to the forum !, I regularly go to abberton and old hall , sometimes haningfield.
Never tried abbots hall or blue house,I thought you had to make an advanced booking to visit abbots hall , their getting most of old halls waders at the moment because the managment at old hall have let the water levels drop to kill off some kind of invasive weed ,Im EWT member , can I turn up at abbots hall any time (when open) ?

PH

PH,
Abbotts Hall is a working farm open 9-5 mon to fri for anyone to visit with weekend visits needing to be booked. I believe they are, somewhen, going to put in a visitors centre which would likely increase the visitor numbers but at the moment it is usually quiet. They've got 3 hides with 2 more planned. The lake hide is my favourite.

Blue house is another working farm with 2 open hides and a 3rd just being finished. I only started going in the early this year but have been very pleased with what i've seen. During the summer the water has dried up but should be back for winter but on my last visit a couple of days ago i still saw couple swans fly over, couple lt Egrets fly over, Herons, Wheatear, Winchat, Hares, Kestrel, Lapwing and a couple other small birds i couldn't id. Winter though had much more waders and similar.

Joining the Ewt was one of the best things i have done

 

[Scoobs]

Yes indeed, welcome to the forum Stu, good to have another contributor to the Essex thread.

PH, re your query on Abbots Hall - never been there myself, but "Explore Wild Essex" says it is open Monday to Friday only, 9am to 5pm. Weekends are organised walks only, for which you must book. Also see http://www.essexwt.org.uk/visitor_centres__nature_reserves/abbotts_hall_farm/

Essex Tern.

Thank you Essex Tern, looks like a great place to learn.

 

[Essex Tern]

Have been to Old Hall Marshes 2 weekends in a row.

Last week saw my first Peregrine and Whinchats. Also had Wheatear, Black Tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, a lone Eider, Golden Plovers and lots of normal stuff - Reshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher.....

Today my highlights were Marsh Harriers, plenty of Kestrels, Bar Tailed and Black Tailed Godwits, the usual other waders including a Snipe and Ringed Plovers, and the best birds of the day for me were a Spotted Redshank, a probable Green Sandpiper in flight (I am rubbish at birds in flight), and what I think was probably a Little Stint (I am rubbish at birds that sit behind rocks and then fly away before I get a good look!).

Also had a very close encounter with a Wheatear - it flew straight at me and I actually thought it might land on me, but instead it landed 4 paces away on a fence post - why don't they do that when I have a camera?!?

Heard plenty of Bearded Tits, but was a bit windy for them to show I think.

On the way back to the car there were loads of tits - Blue, Great and Long-Tailed together with Goldfinches and Linnet, and in amongst them was a Willow Chaff - I favour Chiff Chaff.

 

[Original PaulE]

abberton

nice morning at abberton this morning not much water but loads of birds had distant views of the grey phalarope but didn't manage to connect with either of the white rumped sandpipers had a lively debate in one hide about a small wader but in the end we reckoned it was probably a small juv ruff good fun though trying to get the id.
did see a green sandpiper, a grey wagtail, a pair of red crested pochard, loads of godwits, ruffs and a few avocets loads of ducks, mainly shovellers,pochard,widgeon,teal and tufties,a good number in breeding plumage, a couple of pintails, a pair of black swans with cygnets, a red breasted goose, a couple of eygption geese and several great crested grebes

so all in all a very enjoyable morning

cheers