Essex Birding (5 Viewers)

[Frinton BO]

HorseyMere - your birds could well be Golden Plover as large numbers roost on the salt marsh. Other wader possibilities to watch out for, all of which are present in large numbers in the Backwaters are Dunlin, Grey Plover, Knot, or (if slightly larger) then Bar- and Black-Tailed Godwits, or even flocks of Wigeon and Teal. Avocets tend to be frequent The Wade between Titchmarsh Marina and Skipper's Island/Kirby Creek.

Still plenty of diver movement off Frinton - mainly Red-throats but there were some Black-throat and Great Northern last week - whilst Kittiwake and Common Gull movement continues..

 

[Viv Connett]

Another great day on the birding front, standing in the dark at Great Braxted waiting for sunup, hoping for my first sight of Hawfinch in Essex. As light broke, three other birders showed up and we scanned all the treetops until two Hawfinches were seen. I only got on one of them for about five mins until they disappeared. After about thirty mins, I gave up, walking back to the car, punching the air, noting Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush and Green Woodpecker on the way. Whilst reversing the motor at the parking place, I spotted Viv and Tim driving past.

Did you tick us lol? We saw you leaving Abberton just as we got there as well

 

[Viv Connett]

A good weekend's birding.
Saturday nipped up to Alton Water to see the very obliging Great Northern Diver loafing about 10 yards off the shore between the sailing club and the dam. Went back to Abberton in the hope of the White fronts Scaup and Firecrest. Mr Grimwade told us where the Whitefronts had been seen and after a while found them. Then heard Scaup had been found on the causeway so shot round there and Steve's party had one in th e scope so we were able to see that as well. Just as well they were there as it was a ***** to find! Went back for a nice veggie panini then heard... Little Auk off the church! Raced up there but didn't realise where Adrian was, by the time we found him it was dead :-(. Went back to Heybridge to try and find the Beardies but no joy despite directions from BirdPics - they weren't showing.
Went home.
Yesterday it was p'ing down with rain so went and got the car cleaned (yes it needed it badly). It had brightened up so went over to Braxted where we spotted Terry leaving and then met Peter Triston and Laurence Drummond looking for the elusive Hawfinch. Just as we were all about to give up it called behind us then flew into the plane trees where it was spotted by Peter. We had good views perched and in flight until it disappeared behind the house.

Set off for West Mersea. Had been given directions by Graham Ekins as to where he had seen everything on Saturday so got ourselves ensconced. We were soon joined by Yvonne Watling and we saw 2 x Red throats, probably 2 x Black throats, 4 Common Scoter (all female) 1 Shag on a post over towards Bradwell, several waders including Ringed Plover and a Guillemot which was a real surprise and threw me completely as I wasn't expecting to see it.
Then left to go to Wallasea where we were leading a walk. Not as muddy as I had expected so we were able to get up to the conveyor belt - several people on the walk hadn't been there before so it was interesting for them to see what was going on.
mainly wildfowl and waders were seen including some Shoveler which according to local expert Jeff Delve are rare for that area!
Highlights were a very obliging ringtail Hen Harrier which flew along the sea wall very close to us (those of us with cameras filled our boots!) and two Short eared Owls over the reptile area. Unfortunately we had gone to the white gate due to the angle of the sun so they weren't close but gave great views nevertheless.
Then went home and celebrated a great win for the Super Mighty Blues with curry and beer!

 

[JamesA]

Failed to connect with the Great White Egret this evening but there other evenings

Hi Steve - where's this GWE?

Ta

 

[neil78]

Hi James (and any others interested),

I had the GWE yesterday late afternoon viewing from the pillbox marked on this map:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...tend&st=3&tl=Map+of+Paglesham+Eastend,+Essex+[City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf

Park by the pub at Paglesham Eastend then follow the footpath signed to the boatyard, then north east along the seawall (total walk no more than a mile).

As the tide dropped yesterday it appeared on the NE tip of Potton Island, and was still there when I left at 16:10.

It's presumably the same bird which has been around the Crouch / Roach complex for the last 3 winters, and last year was seen regularly coming in to roost at Paglesham Lagoon, although it was always the last bird to arrive in sometimes near darkness!

If I was trying to see it, I'd wait on the seawall SW of the boatyard, maybe 30 mins before sunset, and hope it flies past (Pagelsham Lagoon is c1.5 miles SW of the boatyard). This is what Steve was trying to do yesterday, but he probably didn't get there in time as I saw him at around 16:35 when he would've still been 10 mins away, but as he says plenty of evenings left.

 

[vangerover]

It had brightened up so went over to Braxted where we spotted Terry leaving and then met Peter Triston and Laurence Drummond looking for the elusive Hawfinch!

I had only seen Peter once before at Old Hall and thought I recognised him when he arrived after the chap I now know to be Laurence had called him when the birds had first been spotted. It was Laurence who had the first sighting so thanks to him for my first Essex sighting:clap:

 

[Sharp Shin]

I returned to West Mersea this morning. The Blackwater was like a mill pond, but it was rather misty. I had a great view of two Black-throated Divers and one Great Northern Diver in one scope frame as they consorted together for a while. Subsequently, this group broke up and I had several subsequent sightings of Black-throated Diver. I suspect that there may have been more than two birds present. Also on the Blackwater were: a Guillemot; one Common Scoter; one or two Shag; two Red-breasted Merganser; but sadly no sight of the recently present Slavonian Grebes.

Stewart

 

[Debbie1905]

Hello there, I'm new to posting in this thread. I went over to Two Tree Island at lunchtime, just sat in the furthest car park. The weather was amazing, felt much warmer than the 7 C it showed on the car. So still and calm, a misty haze caused a pink swathe in the sky over the Kent coast, and there was an amazing massive halo or 'sunbow' around the sun. The seeping incoming tide was pushing what must have been thousands of Knot, Dunlin, geese and other waders up the river in flocks of hundreds. On the way back, there were Cormorant perched on the jetty behind Adventure Island. It was beautiful - who needs Norfolk when we have this on our doorstep!

Debbie

 

[Linfordbirder]

Paul E,there are large groups of avocets in those areas

I was at East Tilbury between 12 and 4pm. c600 avocet that flew over to Cliffe at approx 1.30pm. Another c800 avocet were rafting just downstream of the radar tower at Coalhouse Fort on the incoming tide. They frequently flew to reposition downstream before giving a short murmeration at 3pm.

My day: helping host a local photography group at Coalhouse fort hoping for shots of the murmeration of c6000 dunlin, c1500 avocet witnessed regularly as recently as Thursday. AND keep 1/2 an eye out for a 1w and/or 2w Iceland Gull.

12 noon big lenses and tripods appear. Instructions and safety briefing inc recent account of emergency services taking 2 hours to rescue chap with susp broken ankle complete.
1pm Weather brill, light excellent. Group splits 3 ways to cover radar tower waders and seals (3 close as tidal surges gouged deeper area); Church (finches, tits n jays); and my group nicely located to capture murmeration.:smoke:
2pm waders gathering on remaining mud, looking good for action now in range of big lenses and :C:C:C PANIC waders fly all directions as 2 herberts race jet ski's down river through the shallows, right through the avocet raft.
2.05pm not a wader in sight other than the raft of avocet which resettle nd raft diwnstream.:-C:-C:-C
2.30pm less than happy snappers trudge up river to capture what they can of the avocet minor murmeration.

All enjoyed the afternoon out, but yesterday was poor by usual Hightide murmeration.
No sign of Iceland gull, few kittiwakes buf limited ships again.

4pm Drove to Thameside NP to check for SEO's but was closed all day for unforeseen circumstances. :h?:
Picked up a common buzzard in a small tree just past Walton Hall Farm. Appeared to be worming.

 

[Steve Arlow]

Hi James (and any others interested),

I had the GWE yesterday late afternoon viewing from the pillbox marked on this map:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?...tend&st=3&tl=Map+of+Paglesham+Eastend,+Essex+[City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf

Park by the pub at Paglesham Eastend then follow the footpath signed to the boatyard, then north east along the seawall (total walk no more than a mile).

As the tide dropped yesterday it appeared on the NE tip of Potton Island, and was still there when I left at 16:10.

It's presumably the same bird which has been around the Crouch / Roach complex for the last 3 winters, and last year was seen regularly coming in to roost at Paglesham Lagoon, although it was always the last bird to arrive in sometimes near darkness!

If I was trying to see it, I'd wait on the seawall SW of the boatyard, maybe 30 mins before sunset, and hope it flies past (Pagelsham Lagoon is c1.5 miles SW of the boatyard). This is what Steve was trying to do yesterday, but he probably didn't get there in time as I saw him at around 16:35 when he would've still been 10 mins away, but as he says plenty of evenings left.

Saw the bird yesterday evening from the pillbox. The bird was along the lower Roach and would only have been visible from the pillbox and not the Boatyard as it was just round the bend in the river. It was distant in the failing evening light. It was however seen along that stretch of river by other local birders during the course of the day so seems to favour it.

 

[Sharp Shin]

A friend of mine wants to see a starling murmuration and has asked me the best place to go to see one. I suggested Brighton Pier, but she asked if there was a place more local. How about Southend Pier, anything happening there? Any other Essex/Suffolk locations?

Thanks - Stewart

 

[The sniper]

Dagenham around Ford motors used to have one,not massive but birds totalling a few thousand .
I know when I have been rainham on a late winters afternoon I have seen many travelling over that way

 

[neil78]

A friend of mine wants to see a starling murmuration and has asked me the best place to go to see one. I suggested Brighton Pier, but she asked if there was a place more local. How about Southend Pier, anything happening there? Any other Essex/Suffolk locations?

Thanks - Stewart

Nothing at Southend Pier, or anywhere else in SE Essex. Not sure about other Essex sites, suspect she might have to go to somewhere in Suffolk so probably best to post something on there. Think North Warren used to hold a fairly sizeable roost?

 

[Linfordbirder]

Nothing at Southend Pier, or anywhere else in SE Essex. Not sure about other Essex sites, suspect she might have to go to somewhere in Suffolk so probably best to post something on there. Think North Warren used to hold a fairly sizeable roost?

Was looking for a starling murmuration 3-4 weeks ago. Checked a number of East Anglia locations inc Fen Drayton, Snape, Strumphaw but they all had very few starlings. Nearest I could locate was Somerset levels and that was less than the usual numbers.

Read of a couple of thousand roosting down on one of the London bridges. May have been Wandsworth, but don't quote me on that!

Starling numbers are well down in my watching. Guess, like a lot of species the European birds have not arrived as they did last year.

 

[Linfordbirder]

Ring-necked parakeets

Just had a garden first. 2 ringed-necked parakeets on my feeders. B

Nice splash of colour but ........ Hmmmmm!

 

[tigglestiger]

A friend of mine wants to see a starling murmuration and has asked me the best place to go to see one. I suggested Brighton Pier, but she asked if there was a place more local. How about Southend Pier, anything happening there? Any other Essex/Suffolk locations?

Thanks - Stewart

I had to take a trip to Snape Maltings (Suffolk) to see a murmuration, not sure if they are still around. That was back in November if I remember correctly.

It was a fantastic view watching them over the reed beds at dusk!

 

[vangerover]

Hiya Peeps,

I spent the day paddling at Blue House Farm with Swallow Birding and after a dismal start the day brightened up and we had a great day. We saw a couple of kosher Barnacle Goose, Stonechat, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk but no Kestrel. We saw the Barn Owl on the CCTV, Little Egret, Skylark, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover and Greenfinch, adding six species to the year list. Also seen on the day were Common Seal and a pair of frisky Hare.

Terry

 

[Steve Arlow]

Will be hitting the tip again on Saturday in my constant pursuit of gulls and will then do a bit of a round Robin locally on Sunday, weather dependant, starting with Hockley Woods looking for Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Firecrest and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Then probably give South Fambridge a go in the hope of the Water Pipit and Snow Bunting still being around and then onto Paglesham Lagoon for Goldeneye and other wildfowl and grebes and probably finishing up at Wallasea in the evening for Short-eared Owls and Harriers.

Of course this could all change depending on whats around on the Saturday and if its not hammering it down. Fingers crossed should get a dozen or so year ticks.

 

[The sniper]

Left Norfolk this morning,a bit earlier than expected due to the persistent heavy Rain.
Decided on a bit of Essex birding this afternoon so headed to Cudmore Grove,pretty quiet in all fairness,Had a Slav grebe in the channel and a snow bunting over head and a single red throated diver way out towards jaywick
Usual waders,around 25 ringed plover,turnstone,Curlew,Redshank ,Dunlin and sanderling.
2 female Marsh Harriers and a Common Buzzard.
Rock pipit was nice by the sea wall on way back.

Headed over to Abberton where 2 Red crested Pochards,3 White fronts and 6 Goosander were about the only birds of note.

 

[Linfordbirder]

Left Norfolk this morning,a bit earlier than expected due to the persistent heavy Rain.
Decided on a bit of Essex birding this afternoon so headed to Cudmore Grove, ...

Hi Sniper,
I was out that way today. Started at Great Braxted at 9am, looking for Hawfinch - Dipped! Thanks making the map link public domain Viv. Couldn't pick up there calls but may have arrived a little late. First time here so did it a bit of a reccy. 3 Buzzards circled over, fieldfares (15) and redwing (4) working west along the Poplars across the road beyond the pheasant cover and a number over too. 3 Mistle thrush (at least). GSW, Tits, chaffs and goldfinches around the walled trees; and a bullfinch was a nice surprise in a hedgerow as I set off for Abberton.

Viv/Terry/Anyone - Is/are the hawfinch usually within the walled area towards the golfcourse, on the shorter tree'd area towards the large house, or at distance along the poplar treeline? Or elsewhere?

10am Heavy rain ended the quest and I moved on to ducks at Abberton Res. Forum msgs of bacon baps had my mouth watering .... but nothing less healthy than a Mars bar at the visitor centre to my nose! Quick scan for smew and BNGrebe, Scaup?, Bewicks, .... - double dip! Buzzard took off out of reeds west of LBC. Off to West Mersea to find a chippy!

... pretty quiet in all fairness,Had a Slav grebe in the channel and a snow bunting over head and a single red throated diver way out towards jaywick ...
QUOTE]

Seemed to be better on the west side of Mersea island Sniper.

12.30pm Parked at the west side by the beach (Couldn't find a chippy!) and had flock of 60+ grebe and divers in the channel on rising tide and a Guillimot. GNDiver (2 possibly same bird), BT Diver (3 seen), RT Diver (6 at least), Slav Grebe (1), Shag (1), Eider (2 females), Common Scoter (1), Sanderling.
30+ Thush sp (inc 12 fieldfare) and 1 spawk flew in off the sea.

3pm Back to Abberton LBC. Picked up Smew and WFGoose,

3.30pm Back to Gt Braxted - Grey Partridge on the journey.

12 Essex year ticks today.