Yes, well done to Neil and everyone else involved. I wrote a section of the systematic list too plus I grabbed the front cover of the mega-rarity that was the Northern Waterthrush 😊 Just saying for transparency 😂
#essexbirding
No problem Mel. Not everyone “does” social media and there are lots of reasons not to, especially given some of the dubious content (to put it mildly). However, thank you for your support.
I hope that you are keeping the hordes well-behaved at the Kingfisher hub at RSPB Rye Meads!
I have set up a “Save our Essex Swifts!” Facebook group.
www.facebook.com/groups/80184...
I want to raise awareness of this declining species and any initiatives and projects in Essex. If you are interested in following progress, follow the link above and click on “join group” 😊
#essexbirding
Supporting cast at RSPB Canvey Wick yesterday ….
Cetti’s Warbler x 5 singing males
Common Buzzard 2
Green Woodpecker 2
Mediterranean Gull 4
Shelduck 2
Grey Heron 1
Red Fox 1
Peacock 4
Orange Tip 3
Brimstone 2
Excellent visit to RSPB Canvey Wick yesterday.
Nightingale - 12 singing males, 2 seen including a very showy bird that didn’t get the “must skulk” memo
Common Whitethroat - 7 singing males
Willow Warbler - 1 calling bird
Chiffchaff - 15+ singing males
Blackcap - 15+ singing males
#essexbirds
Visit to St. Nicholas Church local patch site yesterday. New for 2026 site list: Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron. Also Common Buzzard, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, pair of Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker and a very watchful Red Fox!
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/04/visi...
#essexbirding
Swifts 💚
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#essexbirding
Short item on sound tracking Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on BBC Breakfast this morning.
Go to 2:27: 25 >>>
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Follows this talk on LSWs provided to the Essex Birdwatching Society on 9th January 2026 >>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=erl5...
#essexbirding
I remember seeing that bird 😊 My only UK record.
I have had a "reticent" Blackcap too 🤣 but, as you say, Chiffchaffs are singing loudly everywhere now.
Visit to St. Nicholas Church Laindon local patch yesterday. Blackcap pair, 2 singing Chiffchaffs, calling male Stock Dove, 2 Green and 2 G/S Woodpeckers
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi...
#essexbirding
Visit to St. Nicholas Church patch yesterday. New for 2026 site list: Common Buzzard pair, Stock Dove pair, 2 Canada Goose, Pied Wagtail. Also 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green and 1 G/S Woodpecker, Red Fox and Reeves’ Muntjac
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi...
#essexbirding
Visit to my Noak Bridge Nature Reserve local patch yesterday. First site record for the year of a singing male Chiffchaff. I guess they hunkered down today in yet more wonderful spring weather (not).
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi...
#essexbirding
After my first (early!) Blackcap of the spring on 25th February, my St. Nicholas Church local patch has now produced my first singing Chiffchaffs (3), year site record of Cormorant (3), very active GSWs (pair) and still c.5 Redwings.
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi...
#essexbirding
Visit to St. Nicholas Church local patch site in Laindon yesterday. Stonechat (50th species for 2025 and 70th all time), Common Buzzard, Grey Heron, Goldcrest, Redwing, Green and G/S Woodpeckers, Reeves’ Muntjac
#essexbirding
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/10/visi...
"Rooks having own Conference Season" 🤣🤣 .... and I bet their Leader's speech made sense 🤣
St. Nicholas Church local patch site. Very quiet for birds this summer but exceptional for butterflies. But today, my first site record of Red Kite! Plus Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Muntjac
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/08/visi...
#essexbirding
RPSB Canvey Wick >>>
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
markavery.info/2025/08/09/c...
#essexbirding
Hi Joe. I have received your new book which I have just started reading. After reading the excellent "Bird Therapy" and meeting you at Birdfair a few years ago, I am very much looking forward this latest book from you.
RSPB Vange Marshes, RSPB Bowers Marsh and RSPB Wallasea Island featured in this video >>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6KG...
#essexbirding
Well, that's an amazing "first"! A very difficult bird to hear let alone see!
Today is International Dawn Chorus Day.
I set my alarm for stupid o’clock and left home at 4 a.m. for a walk around my St. Nicholas Church local patch site.
13 species recorded, most notably the usual male Lesser Whitethroat plus at least 8 singing males of both Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
My first 5 Swifts of the year "screaming" past Basildon railway station at 12:00 whilst waiting for my delayed train. I wouldn't have seen them if the train had been on time. Thank you c2c!
#essexbirding
Visit to my St. Nicholas Church local patch yesterday. Lesser Whitethroat, 5 each of Chiffchaff/Blackcap, Green and G/S Woodpecker plus first Wall, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Peacock, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood of the year at the site.
ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/04/visi...
#essexbirding
www.edp24.co.uk/news/2511306... …. 40+ year old Oystercatchers!
This further demonstrates the value of ringing (such as that undertaken regularly by x.com/SouthEssexRG) and projects such as Nightingale tracking supported and sponsored by @essexbirdnews.bsky.social
#essexbirding
Lovely! I knew one of them would step forward to the microphone 🤣 About the time you were recording this, I was listening to a constantly singing male at Westleton Heath and managed to get a brief view. Plenty of other birds singing too including Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Yellowhammer 😊
It is always exciting when you get a "lifer" 😊 I have seen Dotterel several times in the UK but not since 2019 so if I get to see these birds it will almost be a "lifer" re-visited!
Red-necked Phalaropes too 😊
Link to my report in my previous post. Good luck!
