SS15 wildlife watching

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Trip away from SS15 - Arlesford, Essex - 19th February 2025

Today, I visited Alresford which is located just over 5 miles from Colchester in north east Essex.

The main purpose of my visit was to see the large winter finch and bunting flock that had been reported for several weeks and to photograph some of the species.

After a short walk down the lane from Alresford train station, the large finch and bunting flock became very evident. The flock was wide-ranging in the stubble fields, hedges and trees centred around the now ruined 12th Century St. Peter’s Church. It has been a long time since I last saw a wintering flock as large as this.

During a slow circular walk around the area, I added 5 species to my 2025 UK and Essex year lists, taking them to 110 species and 95 species respectively: Brambling, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting and Linnet.

The highlights from my visit were: Brambling (at least 10), Yellowhammer (at least 20), Reed Bunting (at least 20), Corn Bunting (1), Linnet (at least 50), Chaffinch (at least 200), Goldfinch (at least 10), Skylark (at least 20), Sparrowhawk (male seen twice causing panic in the finch and bunting flock), Kestrel (1), Stock Dove (2), Lapwing (2 flew over), Golden Plover (c.25 flew over), Mallard (male and female flushed from a ditch)

In addition, I recorded Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Woodpigeon plus I saw a single Reeves' Muntjac feeding in one of the stubble fields.

Here are some photos from my visit ....

Photo: Brambling

Photo: male and female Yellowhammers

Photo: male Yellowhammer
Photo: female Yellowhammer

Photo: male and female Yellowhammers

Photo: male Yellowhammer
Photo: female Yellowhammer

Photo: female Yellowhammer

Photo: male Yellowhammer

Photo: female Reed Bunting

Photo: male Reed Bunting

Photo: Linnets

Photo: Linnet

Photo: Chaffinch

Photo: Goldfinch

Photo: Goldfinch

Photo: Reeves' Muntjac

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Monday, 17 February 2025

Trip away from SS15 - EWT Warley Place, Brentwood, Essex - 17th February 2025

Today I had a visit to EWT Warley Place which is a 10.1 hectare nature reserve managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust and located just south of Brentwood in Essex.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this site was the garden of the leading horticulturalist, Ellen Willmott, who planted many plants from all over the world, some of which still survive. In early spring, EWT Warley Place is well known for its flowers, particularly snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses.

EWT Warley Place attracts a wide variety of common woodland birds and there are 2 small hides both of which have bird feeders immediately outside.

During my visit, I recorded the following birds: Nuthatch (at least 3 seen and others heard calling), Coal Tit (at least 2), Blue Tit (10+), Great Tit (10+), Robin (2), Wren (1), Blackbird (2), Goldfinch (several birds heard flying over but not seen), Common Buzzard (1 possibly heard “mewing” but not seen), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 heard calling but not seen), Jackdaw (at least 5), Magpie (1)

In addition, I saw single Grey Squirrels from both the north and south bird hides foraging under the bird feeders.

Here are some photos from my visit to EWT Warley Place ....