South East Essex RSPB Field Walk and Coach Trip Reports 2011


Field Walk

Wakering Stairs - Sunday 27th November

Showers then sun, fresh strong wind

Species observed: Brent Goose, Shelduck, Teal, Red-legged Partridge, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier (2 on Foulness), Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Short-eared Owl, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Species count: 37


COACH TRIP

RSPB Rainham Marshes - Sunday 20th November 2011

Very misty until around 2.30 then sunny, warm

Species observed: Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 55

RSPB Rainham Marshes
A misty start at RSPB Rainham Marshes.


COACH TRIP

Dungeness Beach and RSPB Dungeness - Sunday 23rd October 2011

Fine and sunny

Species observed: Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Gannet, Cormorant, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Little Stint, Dunlin, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Skua, Guillemot, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Penduline Tit, Swallow, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Common Whitethroat, Firecrest, Starling, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Robin, Black Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Siskin, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 75


Field Walk

RSPB Wallasea Island - Sunday 16th October 2011

Very misty at first then warm and sunny

Species observed: Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Common Teal, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Kestrel, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Common Redshank, Dunlin, Ruff, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Short-eared Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Skylark (50+), Mistle Thrush, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting. Also seen: Red Fox, 2 Hare, Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies.

Species count: 38


Field Walk

Wat Tyler Country Park and RSPB Vange Marsh - Sunday 25th September 2011

Warm, sunny

Species observed: Mute Swan, Avocet, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Ruff, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Bearded Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Species count: 52


COACH TRIP

NWT Weeting Heath

and RSPB Lakenheath Fen - Sunday 22nd May 2011

Warm, sunny

NWT Weeting Heath: Hobby, Stone Curlew, Swift, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Marsh Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Chaffinch

Species count: 13

RSPB Lakenheath Fen: Common Pheasant, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Garganey, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Bittern, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Kestrel, Hobby, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Black Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Golden Oriole, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Grasshopper Warbler (heard), Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 57


Field Walk

RSPB West Canvey Marshes - Sunday 08th May 2011

Hot, sunny

Species observed: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall (pair), Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Whimbrel, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Swallow, House Martin, c.20 Skylark, 2 Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Robin, Wheatear, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 38


Field Walk

Hadleigh Castle Country Park - Sunday 24th April 2011

Hot, sunny

Species observed: Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo (heard), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (pair), Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush (heard), Robin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch.

Species count: 30


COACH TRIP

Redgrave and Lopham Fen Suffolk Wildlife

Trust - Sunday 17th April 2011

Sunny and warm

Species observed: Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Hobby, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard (x2), Water Rail, Coot, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo (x2), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Bearded Tit (heard), Goldcrest, Wren, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 59

Also seen: Roe Deer, Common Lizard, Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Orange Tip.

Lopham Fen

Lopham Fen

Lopham Fen


Field Walk

Wallasea Island - Sunday 06th March 2011

Cold, dry

Species observed: Greylag Goose, Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Common Redshank, Knot, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Skylark, Starling, Meadow Pipit, Corn Bunting.

Species count: 31


COACH TRIP

WWT London Wetland Centre - Sunday 27th February 2011

Sunny at first then rain

Species observed: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Bittern, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, Water Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 53

Bittern

Bittern
Fantastic views of Bittern at the WWT Wetland Centre.


Field Walk

Abberton Reservoir and RSPB Old Hall Marshes

- Sunday 13th February 2011

very cold, slight rain

Abberton Reservoir: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Smew (drake), Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Lapwing, Skylark, Chaffinch, Corn Bunting (c.50).

Species count: 15

RSPB Old Hall: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Common Pochard, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon (adult female, very close views), Marsh Harrier x4, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Skylark, Starling.

Species count: 29

Peregrine Falcon. RSPB Old Hall Marshes
Peregrine Falcon. RSPB Old Hall Marshes

Brent Geese. RSPB Old Hall Marshes
Brent Geese Falcon. RSPB Old Hall Marshes


Field Walk

Southend Pier - Sunday 09th January 2011

Sunny cold

Species observed: Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Common Scoter, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Kittiwake, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Species count: 20

Mediterranean Gull
Mediterranean Gull. Photo by David Lee.