N.B. Please send all outstanding 2000 bird records and descriptions to the Essex Recorder by the end of March at the very latest. If sending in Excel format please use the following headings: Species, Location Number/Sex, Date, Comments/Observer. Recorder details are below the previous records list.

Records are the backbone of the Essex Birdwatching Society's Essex Bird Report. The more that are submitted, the more accurate a picture the report will give of the birding year. Clearly, however, the Society does not wish to receive every record of every bird for obvious reasons! To answer the often asked question "What records are the Society looking to receive?" a list of guidelines has been drawn up below, detailing the exact data required for each species on the official Essex List. These guidelines are reviewed annually to ensure that declines/increases in numbers of particular species can be monitored. Records are submitted to either the British Birds' Rarities Committee (BBRC) if the species is sufficiently rare to be on their recognised list (see British Ornithologists' Union's The British List 1997, which highlights each species) or to the Society for all other species.

It should, however, be pointed out that these are only guidelines and any record that the observer feels is important should be submitted whether or not it is covered by the listed comments.

Traditionally accepted and commonly used English names have been used instead of the new BOU names, as the Editors feel that until regularly accepted, the existing names should be maintained.

Details of recorders and their postal and email addresses appear at the bottom of this page.

For all sightings of our less common birds please use our species recording form

For a complete listing of all species that require descriptive reports please see below.

RED-THROATED DIVER All records. Plumage e.g. summer / winter.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER All records. Plumage e.g. summer / winter.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER All records. Plumage e.g. summer / winter.
LITTLE GREBE All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
RED-NECKED GREBE All records. Plumage e.g. summer / winter.
SLAVONIAN GREBE All records. Plumage e.g. summer / winter.
BLACK-NECKED GREBE All records. Plumage e.g. summer / winter.
FULMAR All records.
CORY'S SHEARWATER Description.
GREAT SHEARWATER Description.
SOOTY SHEARWATER Description.
MANX SHEARWATER All records.
BALEARIC SHEARWATER Description.
STORM PETREL Description.
LEACH'S PETREL Description.
GANNET All records. Age.
CORMORANT All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
SHAG All records. Age.
BITTERN Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
LITTLE EGRET All records.
GREY HERON All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
PURPLE HERON Description.
WHITE STORK Description.
SPOONBILL All records.
MUTE SWAN All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
BEWICK'S SWAN All records.
WHOOPER SWAN All records.
BEAN GOOSE Description of both races, Tundra and Taiga.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE All records.
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE All records.
GREYLAG GOOSE Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
CANADA GOOSE Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
BARNACLE GOOSE All records.
BRENT GOOSE Counts of 250 plus. Assessment of numbers of juveniles as a percentage of flocks. Early and late dates. Comments on large numbers arriving early/departing late. All inland and Inner Thames records.
Pale-bellied Brant All records
Black Brant is a BBRC rarity and a full description is required
EGYPTIAN GOOSE All records. Sex.
RUDDY SHELDUCK All records. Sex.
SHELDUCK All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All inland records. Coastal counts of 100 plus.
MANDARIN All records. Sex.
WIGEON All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
GADWALL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
TEAL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 100 plus.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL Description.
MALLARD Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
PINTAIL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus and all Inner Thames records.
GARGANEY All records. Sex.
SHOVELER All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
RED-CRESTED POCHARD All records. Sex.
POCHARD All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
RING-NECKED DUCK Description.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK Description.
TUFTED DUCK All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
SCAUP All records. Age/sex.
EIDER All records. Age/sex.
LONG-TAILED DUCK All records. Age/sex.
COMMON SCOTER All records. Age/sex. (RED LIST SPECIES)
SURF SCOTER Description.
VELVET SCOTER All records. Age/sex.
GOLDENEYE All records. Age/sex.
SMEW All records. Age/sex.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER All records. Age/sex.
GOOSANDER All records. Age/sex.
RUDDY DUCK All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
HONEY BUZZARD Description.
RED KITE Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
MARSH HARRIER All records. Age/sex. (RED LIST SPECIES)
HEN HARRIER All records. Age/sex. (RED LIST SPECIES)
MONTAGU'S HARRIER Description.
GOSHAWK Description.
SPARROWHAWK All records. Age/sex.
COMMON BUZZARD All records. Age.
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Description.
OSPREY All records. Age. (RED LIST SPECIES)
KESTREL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
MERLIN All records. Age/sex. (RED LIST SPECIES)
HOBBY All records. Age.
PEREGRINE All records. Age.
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
GREY PARTRIDGE All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
QUAIL All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
PHEASANT Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 30 plus.
WATER RAIL All records.
SPOTTED CRAKE Description.
CORNCRAKE Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
MOORHEN All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
COOT All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
CRANE Description.
OYSTERCATCHER All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All inland and Inner Thames records. Counts of 50 plus elsewhere.
AVOCET All records.
STONE CURLEW Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER All records.
RINGED PLOVER All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All inland ecords. Counts of 50 plus elsewhere.
KENTISH PLOVER Description.
DOTTEREL Description.
GOLDEN PLOVER All records May to July. Counts of 50 plus rest of year.
GREY PLOVER All records May to July. Counts of 100 plus rest of year. All inland and Inner Thames records.
LAPWING All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All other records May to July. Counts of 100 plus rest of year.
KNOT All records May to July. Counts of 100 plus rest of year. All inland and Inner Thames records.
SANDERLING All records May to July. Counts of 20 plus rest of year. All inland and Inner Thames records.
LITTLE STINT All records.
TEMMINCK'S STINT Description.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER Description.
CURLEW SANDPIPER All records.
PURPLE SANDPIPER All records.
DUNLIN All records May to July. Counts of 300 plus for rest of year. All inland records.
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Description.
RUFF All records.
JACK SNIPE All records.
SNIPE All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus.
WOODCOCK All records.
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All records in June and July. Counts of 30 plus for rest of year. All inland and Inner Thames records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT All records from May to July. Counts of 50 plus for rest of year. All inland and Inner Thames records.
WHIMBREL All records.
CURLEW All inland and Inner Thames records. Counts of 50 plus elsewhere.
SPOTTED REDSHANK All records.
REDSHANK All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All inland records. Counts of 50 plus elsewhere.
GREENSHANK All records.
GREEN SANDPIPER All records.
WOOD SANDPIPER All records.
COMMON SANDPIPER All records.
TURNSTONE All records May to July. Counts of 30 plus for rest of year. All inland and Inner Thames records.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
GREY PHALAROPE Description.
POMARINE SKUA Description.
ARCTIC SKUA All records. Age.
LONG-TAILED SKUA Description.
GREAT SKUA All records. Age.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL All records. Age.
LITTLE GULL All records. Age.
SABINE'S GULL Description.
BLACK-HEADED GULL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 500 plus.
RING-BILLED GULL Description.
COMMON GULL All records May to August. Otherwise counts of 500 plus.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts 50 plus May to August. Otherwise counts of 200 plus. Assign to race, L.f. graellsii, L f. intermedius or L. f. fuscus N.b. The latter subspecies has not yet been recorded in Britain, but is very likely to occur and a full description for BBRC would be required.
HERRING GULL All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts 50 plus May to August. Otherwise counts of 200 plus.
Yellow-legged Gull All records. Age, Race. N.b. Caspian Gull L.a. cachinnans is a BB rarity and a full description is required (see Brit. Birds Vol. 93 page 303).
ICELAND GULL Description.
GLAUCOUS GULL Description.
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL All records May to August. Otherwise counts of 100 plus.
KITTIWAKE All records. Age.
SANDWICH TERN All records. Age.
ROSEATE TERN Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
COMMON TERN All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. All inland records. Early and late dates. Counts of 20 plus.
ARCTIC TERN All records. Age.
LITTLE TERN All records. Age.
BLACK TERN All records. Age.
GUILLEMOT All records.
RAZORBILL All records.
BLACK GUILLEMOT Description.
LITTLE AUK All records.
PUFFIN All records.
ROCK DOVE/FERAL PIGEON Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
STOCK DOVE All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
WOODPIGEON Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 250 plus.
COLLARED DOVE Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus.
TURTLE DOVE All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates. (RED LIST SPECIES)
RING-NECKED PARAKEET All records.
CUCKOO All possible, probable and confirmed breeding records. Identity of parasitised species. Early and late dates. Records of hepatic phase.
BARN OWL All records.
LITTLE OWL All records.
TAWNY OWL All records.
LONG-EARED OWL All records.
SHORT-EARED OWL All records.
NIGHTJAR Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
SWIFT Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Early and late dates. Counts of 100 plus.
KINGFISHER All records.
BEE-EATER Description.
HOOPOE Description.
WRYNECK All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
GREEN WOODPECKER All records. Age/sex.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER All records. Age/sex.
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER All records. Age/sex.
SHORT-TOED LARK Description.
WOODLARK Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
SKYLARK Breeding survey data and trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 20 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. (RED LIST SPECIES)
SHORE LARK All records.
SAND MARTIN Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Early and late dates. Counts of 100 plus.
SWALLOW Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Early and late dates. Counts of 100 plus.
HOUSE MARTIN Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Early and late dates. Counts of 50 plus.
RICHARD'S PIPIT Description.
TAWNY PIPIT Description.
TREE PIPIT All records.
MEADOW PIPIT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 30 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
ROCK PIPIT All inland and Inner Thames records. Counts of over ten. Early and late dates.
WATER PIPIT Description.
YELLOW WAGTAIL Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Early and late dates. Counts of 20 plus indicative of migration or passage.
Blue-headed Wagtail All records. Age/sex.
Other sub-species Description.
GREY WAGTAIL All records. Age/sex.
PIED WAGTAIL Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
White Wagtail All records.
WAXWING All records.
DIPPER Description.
WREN Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records.
DUNNOCK Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records.Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
ROBIN Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
NIGHTINGALE All records.
BLUETHROAT Description.
BLACK REDSTART All records. Age/sex.
REDSTART All records. Age/sex.
WHINCHAT All records. Age/sex.
STONECHAT All records. Age/sex.
Siberian Stonechat is a BBRC rarity and a full description is required.
WHEATEAR All records. Age/sex.
RING OUZEL All records. Age/sex.
BLACKBIRD Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
FIELDFARE Counts of 30 plus. Early and late dates including unusual numbers at atypical times of year. Summering records.
SONG THRUSH Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. Counts of ten plus. (RED LIST SPECIES)
REDWING Counts of 30 plus. Early and late dates including unusual numbers at atypical times of year. Summering records.
MISTLE THRUSH Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 20 plus.
CETTI'S WARBLER Description.
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER All records.
SAVI'S WARBLER Description.
AQUATIC WARBLER Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
SEDGE WARBLER Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
MARSH WARBLER Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
REED WARBLER Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
ICTERINE WARBLER Description.
MELODIOUS WARBLER Description.
DARTFORD WARBLER Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
BARRED WARBLER Description.
LESSER WHITETHROAT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
WHITETHROAT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
GARDEN WARBLER Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of five plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
BLACKCAP Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates. All wintering records.
PALLAS'S WARBLER Description.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Description.
WOOD WARBLER All records.
CHIFFCHAFF Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates. All wintering records.
WILLOW WARBLER Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
GOLDCREST Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of ten plus indicative of migration or passage. Early and late dates.
FIRECREST All records. Sex.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Description.
PIED FLYCATCHER All records. Age/sex.
BEARDED TIT All records. Age/sex.
LONG-TAILED TIT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
MARSH TIT All records.
WILLOW TIT All records. (RED DATA SPECIES)
COAL TIT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
BLUE TIT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
GREAT TIT Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
NUTHATCH All records.
TREECREEPER Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
GOLDEN ORIOLE Description.
RED-BACKED SHRIKE All records. Age/sex. (RED LIST SPECIES)
GREAT GREY SHRIKE Description.
WOODCHAT SHRIKE Description.
JAY Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
MAGPIE Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. Counts of 20 plus.
JACKDAW Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. Flocks of 50 plus.
ROOK Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. Flocks of 100 plus.
CARRION CROW Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. Flocks of 50 plus.
Hooded Crow All records.
RAVEN Description.
STARLING Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 200 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
HOUSE SPARROW Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 100 plus.
TREE SPARROW All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
CHAFFINCH Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 30 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
BRAMBLING All records. Age/sex.
SERIN Description.
GREENFINCH Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
GOLDFINCH Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 50 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
SISKIN All records. Age/sex.
LINNET Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Counts of 25 plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. (RED LIST SPECIES)
TWITE All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)
LESSER REDPOLL All records. Age/sex.
COMMON REDPOLL All records (includes Mealy Redpoll). Age/sex.
CROSSBILL All records. Age/sex.
COMMON ROSEFINCH Description..
BULLFINCH All records. Age/sex. (RED LIST SPECIES)
HAWFINCH All records. Age/sex.
LAPLAND BUNTING All records. Age/sex.
SNOW BUNTING All records. Age/sex.
YELLOWHAMMER Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Flocks of ten plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage.
CIRL BUNTING Description. (RED LIST SPECIES)
ORTOLAN BUNTING Description.
LITTLE BUNTING Description.
REED BUNTING Breeding survey data, breeding trends and unusual breeding records. Flocks of ten plus. Records/counts indicative of migration or passage. (RED LIST SPECIES)
CORN BUNTING All records. (RED LIST SPECIES)

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