South East Essex RSPB Field Walk and Coach Trip Reports 2019

Best species count so far - 104 at RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk on the 14/05/06

Radde's Warbler, Dungeness 15/10/17
Glossy Ibis, Wat Tyler Country Park, 11/09/15
Red-footed Falcon, RSPB Lakenheath Fen, 19/05/13
Best birds - Black-winged Pratincole, Stodmarsh NNR, Kent 17/05/09

Field Walk

Barton Hall Creek and Beyond - Wednesday 18th December 2019

Sunny, mild

Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Magpie, Jay, Dunnock, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard (2), Starling, Coot, Teal, c.125 Fieldfare, Common Gull, Little Egret, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Grey Plover, Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Kingfisher, c.175 Avocet, Curlew, Marsh Harrier (f), Oystercatcher, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunlin, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye (4m, 2f), Pintail (1m), Skylark, Gadwall, Shoveler, c.175 Pochard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, House Sparrow, 10 Corn Bunting, Ringed Plover, Stonechat (f), Black-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Mediterranean Gull (1st winter), Linnet, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker.

Species count: 67



Field Walk

Edwards Hall Country Park - Sunday 08th December 2019

Windy, partly cloudy, mild

Mallard, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock.

Species count: 20



Field Walk

EWT Ingrebourne Valley - Monday 18th November 2019

Partly sunny, cold

Teal, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Moorhen, Starling, Rook, Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Jackdaw, Common Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Pheasant, Mallard, Herring Gull, Canada Goose, Coot, Dunnock, Pochard, Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Goldcrest (heard).

Species count: 39


Ring-necked Parakeet on feeders



Field Walk

RSPB West Canvey Marsh - Sunday 10th November 2019

Sunny, cold

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Great Black-backed Gull, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Common Buzzard, Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Cormorant.

Species count: 54


Teal over RSPB West Canvey Marsh.




Field Walk

Wat Tyler Country Park - Monday 21st October 2019

Rain

Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Ruff, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Reed Bunting.

Species count: 30


Lapwing mobbing Marsh Harrier



Field Walk

RSPB Rainham Marshes - Sunday 29th September 2019

Warm, rain showers

Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Lapwing, Ruff, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher (x2), Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Starling, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Also seen: Marsh Frogs. Peacock butterfly.

Species count: 41




Field Walk

Two Tree Island - Wednesday 18th September 2019

Sunny, warm

Teal, Mallard, Little Egret, Buzzard (x2), Moorhen, Avocet, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Greenshank, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Kingfisher (x2), Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Goldfinch.

Species count: 30




Field Walk

Hole Haven Creek/Canvey Wick - Sunday 19th May 2019

Cloudy, warm

Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Cuckoo (x3), Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Mediterranean Gull, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Swift, Greenfinch, Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat.

Also seen: Wall, Green Hairstreak, Orange Tip, Large White Butterflies

Species count: 33


Wall Butterfly. Photo by Marie Tarrant.




Coach Trip

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk - Sunday 12th May 2019

Sunny, warm

Mute Swan. Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Cormorant, Bittern, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Bearded Tit, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Dartford Warbler, Reed Warbler, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Water Rail, Coal Tit, Great Black-backed Gull, Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler.

Also seen: Peacock, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Green Hairstreak butterflies. Red Fox (cub), Otter, Muntjac, Red Deer.
 

Species count: 83


Bittern at RSPB Minsmere.




Field Walk

Hadleigh Castle Country Park - Tuesday 30th April 2019

Mild, partly cloudy

Cormorant, Little Egret (x7), Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

Also seen: Peacock, Orange-tip, Small White butterflies.
 

Species count: 35




Field Walk

Wakering Stairs - Sunday 14th April 2019

Cold, partly cloudy

Brent Goose, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Great Tit, Common Whitethroat, Magpie, Grey Plover, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler (heard only), Chiffchaff (heard only), Kestrel, Corn Bunting (circa 30), Chaffinch, Shelduck, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Linnet, Curlew, Mallard, Redshank, Common Buzzard (3), Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, Teal, Grey Heron, Skylark, Mediterranean Gull (two adults), Swallow (1), Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Pheasant, Grey Partridge.

Species count: 33




Field Walk

EWT Hanningfield Reservoir - Sunday 24th March 2019

Sunny, warm

Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Coot, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Great Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Gadwall, Canada Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Herring Gull, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Goldcrest (x2), Stock Dove, Carrion Crow, Rook, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (heard only), Dunnock, Robin, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Marsh Harrier (two females), Long-tailed Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker heard), Chaffinch, Redshank, Common Buzzard, Little Grebe, Common Gull, Redwing (15+), Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper (x2), Goosander (female).

Also seen: Grey Squirrel, Red Fox, Muntjac (fawn). Brimstone.

Species count: 44


Cormorants at Hanningfield.




Field Walk

South Fambridge - Tuesday 5th March 2019

Sunny, cold

Magpie, Rook, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Starling, Pheasant, Great Tit, Common Buzzard (x3), Goldfinch, Robin, Brent Goose, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Herring Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Mallard, Avocet, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Teal, Meadow Pipit, Shelduck, Stock Dove, Curlew, Long-tailed Tit, Little Egret, Moorhen, Coot.

Species count: 38




Field Walk

RSPB West Canvey Marsh - Wednesday 20th February 2019

Warm, sunny

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Marsh Harrier (on Bowers), Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Rook, Carrion Crow, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Water Pipit, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Cetti's Warbler (heard only), Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Pochard, Kestrel, Redwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gadwall, Robin, Lapwing. Redshank, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Curlew, Mute Swan.

Species count: 44




Field Walk

EWT Chigborough Lakes and Heybridge Basin - Sunday 10th February 2019

Cloudy, damp

Chigborough Lakes: Song Thrush, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Mallard, Redwing, Lapwing, Coot, Great Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Jay, Shoveler, Green Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Robin, Blue Tit, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Carrion Crow, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Magpie, Starling, Little Egret, Pochard, Gadwall, Jackdaw, Little Grebe (32 species), Muntjac.
Heybridge Basin, River Blackwater: Common Gull, Lapwing, Pintail (c.35), Teal, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck, Avocet (c.100), Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit (35+), Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Curlew, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Brent Goose (750+), Collared Dove, Magpie, Mallard, Golden Plover, Blackbird, Dunnock, Greenfinch, Fieldfare, Grey Plover, Coot, Egyptian Goose (2), Goldeneye (female), Starling, Shoveler, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail (35 species).

Species count: 54




Field Walk

Southend Pier - Sunday 20th January 2019

Sunny, cold

Brent Goose, Eider (x9), Cormorant, Shag, Great Crested Grebe, Sanderling, Turnstone, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull (included yellow ring 2H71), Herring Gull, Carrion Crow.

Species count: 12


Kittiwake, Southend Pier.




Field Walk

RSPB Wallasea Island - Monday 7th January 2019

cloudy, cold

Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Pintail, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Curlew, Golden Plover (1,000+), Grey Plover, Lapwing, Starling, Skylark, Common, Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Brent Goose, Teal, Wigeon, Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Dunlin, Linnet, Grey Heron, Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon, Moorhen, Stock Dove.

Species count: 42