South East Essex RSPB Field Walk and Coach Trip Reports 2018

Best species count so far - 104 at RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk on the 14/05/06
Best birds - Black-winged Pratincole, Stodmarsh NNR, Kent 17/05/09
Red-footed Falcon, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 19/05/13
Glossy Ibis, Wat Tyler Country Park, 11/09/15
Radde's Warbler, Dungeness 15/10/17

Field Walk

Stambridge Mill to Trout Fisheries - Monday 17th December 2018

Sunny, mild

Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Mistle Thrush, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Blackbird, Starling, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Redshank, Cormorant, Shelduck, Curlew, Herring Gull, Dunlin, Lapwing, Teal, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Magpie, Wigeon, Pintail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Knot, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Common Gull, Grey Plover, Avocet, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Shoveler, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Robin, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Grey Heron, Jay, Goldcrest, Buzzard, Fieldfare.

Species count: 54




Field Walk

EWT Tollesbury Wick - Sunday 9th December 2018

Partly cloudy, cold

Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Brent Goose, Common Buzzard, Common Gull, Magpie, Blue Tit, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Collared Dove, Redshank, Mallard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wigeon, Skylark, Lapwing, Little Egret, Greylag Goose, Coot, Herring Gull, Avocet(c.100), Cormorant, Shoveler, Teal, Grey Plover, Canada Goose, Marsh Harrier (pair), Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Knot (750+), Curlew, Linnet, Red-breasted Merganser (eight females, seven drakes in two groups on the water), Shelduck, Reed Bunting, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, Mute Swan, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit. Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.

Species count: 52




Field Walk

EWT Two Tree Island - Sunday 25th November 2018

Cloudy, cold, drizzle

Water Rail, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Linnet, Mallard, Reed Bunting, Coot, Wren, Cormorant, Cetti's Warbler (heard).

Species count: 51




Field Walk

EWT Thameside Nature Park, Thurrock - Monday 12th November 2018

Cloudy, mild

Magpie, Blackbird, Starling, Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Shelduck, Avocet, Redshank, Robin, Chaffinch, Teal, Curlew, Little Egret, Great Black-backed Gull, Dunlin, Carrion Crow, Black-tailed Godwit, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Greenfinch, Ringed Plover, Blue Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Cormorant, Rook, Linnet, Goldfinch, Fieldfare, Golden Plover, Green Woodpecker, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Gadwall, Coot, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Kingfisher (Warren Fisheries), Common Gull, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, Wigeon, Dunnock, Common Buzzard, Snipe, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Wren, Skylark, Stonechat (pair), House Sparrow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Ring-necked Parakeet.

Species count: 54


photo by Jeff Kinnerman.




Field Walk

RSPB Dungeness, Kent - Sunday 14th October 2018

Overcast, warm

Great-Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Gannet, Cormorant, Grey Heron, 3 Cattle Egret, 5 Little Egret, Great White Egret (c.19), Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Kestrel, Coot, Moorhen, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Cetti’s Warbler (heard), Stonechat, Wheatear, Black Redstart, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Wren, Tree Sparrow, Starling, `Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, 12 Snipe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, linnet.

Species count: 62




Field Walk

Wat Tyler Country Park/RSPB Vange Marsh - Tuesday 02nd October 2018

cloudy, cool

Great White Egret, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Collared Dove, Starling, Mallard, Goldfinch, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Kestrel, Moorhen, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Teal, Blackbird, Jay, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Redshank, Stock Dove, Whimbrel, Jackdaw, Great Tit, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit, RSPB Vange Marsh: Great White Egret, Little Egret, Snipe, Grey Heron, Curlew, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Mute Swan.

Also: Weasel. Speckled Wood, Clouded Yellow.

Species count: 38




Field Walk

Bradwell and the Dengie - Sunday 30th September 2018

fine, mostly clearl

Brent Goose, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Black Tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Swallow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Starling, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting.

Also: Small Copper, Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral and Common Blue butterflies.

Species count: 37




Field Walk

RSPB Bowers Marsh - Wednesday 12th September 2018

cloudy, cool

Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Starling, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Greylag Goose, Great Tit, Great Black-backed Gull, Kestrel, Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Dunnock, Lapwing, Coot, Teal, Wigeon, Little Grebe, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Little Egret, Ruff, Shoveler, Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Magpie, Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Avocet, Pied Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Tufted Duck, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Water Rail, Hobby, Swift, Jackdaw, Canada Goose, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackcap, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Lesser Whitethroat, Pheasant, Green Woodpecker, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, Skylark. Northern Water Vole.

Species count: 59


Goldfinch, RSPB Bowers Marsh.


"Where's that Water Rail?" RSPB Bowers Marsh.




ILB Coach Trip

Walberswick, SWT Hen Reedbeds Nature Reserve and Southwold, Suffolk - Friday 7th August 2018

Sunny, windy

Osprey, Hobby, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Swallow, House Martin, Linnet, Jay, Magpie, Mute Swan, Curlew, Redshank, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Teal, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Shag, Cormorant, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Peregrine, Green Woodpecker, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Water Rail and Bearded Tit heard.

Species count: 34


River Blyth, Suffolk. Photo by Kathy Hunter.




ILB Field Walk and Picnic

RSPB Bowers Marsh - Friday 24th August 2018

Sunny, windy

Cormorant, Redshank, Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Coot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Red Crested Pochard, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Sparrow, Swallow, House Martin, Wheatear, Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel.

Species count: 37

ILBs on RSPB Bowers Marsh
ILbs on RSPB Bowers Marsh




ILB Field Walk/Coffee Morning

EWT Two Tree Island - Tuesday 21st August 2018

Rain then sunny, warm

Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Grey Heron, Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Moorhen, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Goldfinch, Magpie, Sparrow, Crow, Starling, Canada Geese.

Species count: 18




Field Walk (with ILBs)

Barnsdale Gardens and Rutland Water - Sunday 29th July 2018

Cloudy, rain at first

Barnsdale Gardens
Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Hobby through.

Species count: 7

Rutland Water Reservoir
House Martin, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Great White Egret (single on Lagoon), Shoveler, Little Egret, Coot, Cormorant, Common Tern, Little Grebe, Swallow, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Starling, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Egyptian Goose (6), Herring Gull, Osprey (4, single at Lagoon, two adults with juvenile at Manton Bay), Carrion Crow, Sand Martin, Tufted Duck, Common Sandpiper (2), Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Great Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Kestrel, Swift, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Glossy Ibis (single at Manton Bay), Bullfinch (female), Great Spotted Woodpecker (female on feeders), Robin, Sparrowhawk. Grey Squirrel. Brown Rat.

Species count: 52

Also; Red Kite over A1.


Yellowhammer, Rutland Water.




ILB Coach Trip

EWT Fingringhoe Wick - Saturday 2nd June 2018

sunny, warm

Little Grebe, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Nightingale, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.

Species count: 27


Nightingale. Photo by David Lee.




Coach Trip

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk - Sunday 20th May 2018

sunny, cool

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pheasant, Cormorant, Bittern, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Barnacle Goose (feral flock), Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Common Gull, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Whimbrel, Great Black-backed Gull, Coal Tit, Pied Wagtail (12), Sedge Warbler, Green Woodpecker, Stonechat, Wheatear. Also seen: Speckled Wood, Peacock, Green Hairstreak and Red Deer and Muntjac Deer. Dartford Warbler at Dunwich Heath.

Species count: 84


Marsh Harrier, RSPB Minsmere.




Field Walk

EWT Fingringhoe Wick - Sunday 13th May 2018

sunny, warm

Woodpigeon, Shelduck, Swallow, Black-headed Gull, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Great Tit, Mallard, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Coot, Nightingale (6), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cuckoo (1), Bullfinch (male), Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap, Great Crested Grebe, Sedge Warbler (heard only), Magpie, Whimbrel (1), Canada Goose, Cormorant, Common Buzzard, House Martin, Mistle Thrush, Common Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Reed Warbler, Greylag Goose, Swift, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Dunlin (c.50), Grey Plover (c.15), Stock Dove, Marsh Harrier (male), Mute Swan, Skylark, Greenshank (2), Jay, Willow Warbler, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Pheasant, Lapwing, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Turtle Dove. Sand Quarry Visit: Sand Martin (colony of 75+), Rook, Common Sandpiper (1), Pied Wagtail.

Species count: 63




Field Walk

Wakering Common - Wednesday 9th May 2018

sunny, hot

Starling, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Common Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail, Collared Dove, Swift, Jay, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Magpie, Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch, Mallard, Blackcap, House Martin, Robin, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Stock Dove, Chaffinch, Swallow, Blue Tit, Reed Warbler, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Little Egret, Whimbrel, Pheasant, Yellow Wagtail, Kestrel, Skylark, Cormorant, Sedge Warbler, Oystercatcher, Pochard, Little Grebe, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Common Buzzard. Butterfly species: Peacock, Orange Tip, Green-veined White.

Species count: 46


Bluebells, Wakering Common.




Field Walk

EWT Chafford Gorges - Sunday 29th April 2018

cloudy, cold

Jackdaw, Swallow, Great Crested Grebe (including pair with three juveniles), Stock Dove, Carrion Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Magpie, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Collared Dove, Mallard, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat (heard), Blackbird, Chaffinch, Reed Warbler (heard), Blackcap, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Coot, Common Whitethroat, Ring-necked Parakeet, Blue Tit, Kingfisher, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon.

Species count: 34




Field Walk

EWT Abberton Reservoir - Monday 16th April 2018

sunny, warm

Mute Swan, Black Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Shelduck, Dunnock.

Species count: 59


Rook on feeder at Abberton. Photo by Graham Mee.




Field Walk

EWT Warley Place - Monday 19th March 2018

cloudy, very cold

Mallard, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Wren, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Goldfinch.

Species count: 25


Nuthatch, EWT Warley Place




Field Walk

South Fambridge - Sunday 4th March 2018

sun then cloud and rain

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, 30+House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 33




Field Walk

Hockley Woods - Monday 19th February 2018

cloud, rain

Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Jay, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wren, Robin, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Mallard, Pheasant, Black-headed Gull, Bullfinch (male), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit (heard only). Muntjac.

Species count: 21




Field Walk

EWT Blue House Farm - Sunday 04th February 2018

Partly cloudy, cold - very cold!

Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Mallard, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Pheasant, Lapwing, Ruff, Skylark.

Species count: 55


Sheep at Blue House Farm



Field Walk

Southend Pier - Sunday 14th January 2018

Sunny, warm

Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver (x6), Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Sanderling, Turnstone, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Guillemot, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Species count: 17


Kittiwake, Southend Pier.