Hello (1 Viewer)

[Tinpan]

Hi Birdforum & nice to meet you. All wildlife has always been a passion for me throughout my life, though I by no means consider myself an expert! I'm lucyk enough to spend my free time sailing around the Hamford backwaters of North Essex (Arthur Ransome's Swallows & Amazon territory) where there is an abundance of bird species & seals. On my last 2 trips I spotted a bird flying rather cumbersomely towards us & then land in the water next to us. Needless to say it didn't look like a species we are used to seeing in these waters so snapped some shots. I could only say that it looked like a flying penguin, so my assumption was it could be a winter plumage guillemot or juvenile razorbill. The flat muddy waters & banks of the Essex Coast are not the usual habitat though so surely I cannot be right?..... Pictures included so that someone can advise if I'm right.... please.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum

We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello. Please join in wherever you like

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm going to move your thread to the Bird I D section of the Forum and you will be notified when someone posts their suggestions

 

[birdmeister]

Your excellent photos show a Razorbill, with the exception of a Great Northern Diver in photo 3.

 

[aeshna5]

Agree with Razorbill (a good record I think for Essex) & GN Diver.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum! I am sure that you will find lots to interest you here and I hope that you enjoy your visits. I see you've got your IDs!

 

[Tinpan]

Hi Birdforum & nice to meet you. All wildlife has always been a passion for me throughout my life, though I by no means consider myself an expert! I'm lucyk enough to spend my free time sailing around the Hamford backwaters of North Essex (Arthur Ransome's Swallows & Amazon territory) where there is an abundance of bird species & seals. On my last 2 trips I spotted a bird flying rather cumbersomely towards us & then land in the water next to us. Needless to say it didn't look like a species we are used to seeing in these waters so snapped some shots. I could only say that it looked like a flying penguin, so my assumption was it could be a winter plumage guillemot or juvenile razorbill. The flat muddy waters & banks of the Essex Coast are not the usual habitat though so surely I cannot be right?..... Pictures included so that someone can advise if I'm right.... please.

Thanks all for you replies. Not sure what a Razorbill & Great Northern Diver were doing hanging around the Essex Coast on New Years Eve but it was wonderful to see something different.

 

[Frinton BO]

Thanks all for you replies. Not sure what a Razorbill & Great Northern Diver were doing hanging around the Essex Coast on New Years Eve but it was wonderful to see something different.

Hi Whilst razorbills and great northern diver are both typically quite scarce in Essex they can be found at certain key sites throughout the winter. Great northern diver is fairly regular on the area - birds winter off mersea island and in the other river estuaries, occasionally seen offshore frinton and in hamford water (probably more regular at the latter given the lack of coverage of the deeper channels in winter), although red throated is commoner with many 100s offshore. Auks are surprisingly scarce off NE essex, previous aerial surveys suggesting they stay further offshore, whilst the wind farms may keep them out of sight from land. That said small numbers can be seen - guillemot is the commoner auk but both occur and can end up eg on horsey Wade at high tide. A razor was seen on the December webs count (boat based) which may have been the same bird you saw.
so both good birds worthy of reporting to the Essex birdwatching society (ebws.org.Uk) - or I can relay if you want to send a DM with dates. Good luck with your sailing and birding -

 

[Tinpan]

Hi Whilst razorbills and great northern diver are both typically quite scarce in Essex they can be found at certain key sites throughout the winter. Great northern diver is fairly regular on the area - birds winter off mersea island and in the other river estuaries, occasionally seen offshore frinton and in hamford water (probably more regular at the latter given the lack of coverage of the deeper channels in winter), although red throated is commoner with many 100s offshore. Auks are surprisingly scarce off NE essex, previous aerial surveys suggesting they stay further offshore, whilst the wind farms may keep them out of sight from land. That said small numbers can be seen - guillemot is the commoner auk but both occur and can end up eg on horsey Wade at high tide. A razor was seen on the December webs count (boat based) which may have been the same bird you saw.
so both good birds worthy of reporting to the Essex birdwatching society (ebws.org.Uk) - or I can relay if you want to send a DM with dates. Good luck with your sailing and birding -

Many thanks for this. I have reported to ebws which I shall probably now join! I feel very honoured to have seen & photographed both these birds in home turf.

 

[Frinton BO]

Fantastic. There is an active birding community in the area so please reach out directly if of interest. Cheers