SS15 wildlife watching

This blog was set up in mid-March 2020 during the emerging COVID-19 health crisis in the UK. It initially aimed to provide records of wildlife sightings and photographs from sites within walking distance of my home in the SS15 postcode area of Basildon in Essex during lockdown travel restrictions. Even though the pandemic has largely subsided, this blog continues to include my local wildlife sightings, my trips away from home plus some personal thoughts and reflections on other issues.

Tuesday 31 August 2021

Record from my flat - Canada Geese (again)

Yet again, I saw 2 calling fly-over Canada Geese at 6:40 a.m. this morning, both birds heading together in a north westerly direction.

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Monday 30 August 2021

Record from my flat - Grey Heron

At 5:35 p.m., I saw 2 very large birds flying together to the rear of my flat and over the Pipps Hill industrial estate.

They were very distant and a definite identification was only possible through my binoculars.

I was able to confirm both birds to be adult Grey Herons, a species that I see fairly regularly from my flat but most often much closer as they fly over the houses opposite.

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you

Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you. #HappyMonday #Fox 🦊 pic.twitter.com/cgNxVuRied
— League Against Cruel Sports (@LeagueACS) August 23, 2021

Photo: Red Fox near St. Nicholas Church, Laindon

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

A buzzing noise

That buzzing-noise means something. You don’t get a buzzing-noise without its meaning something. If there’s a buzzing-noise, somebody’s making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you’re a bee. ~A.A.Milne#WorldBeeDay #bees pic.twitter.com/6JKyocrBAz
— A.A.Milne (@A_AMilne) May 20, 2021

Photo: bumblebee species at St. Nicholas Church, Laindon

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Sunday 29 August 2021

Record from my flat – Canada Geese (again)

After the recent spate of Canada Geese records from my flat, I saw a further 5 this morning at 6:20 a.m. heading in a north westerly direction.

Where these birds are heading to and from, I am not entirely sure but, as I have previously commented, there are always large numbers of up to 100+ present at nearby Gloucester Park when I visit there.

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Friday 27 August 2021

Massive!

Absolutely nothing to do with wildlife but massive news at the start of the new football season.

I watched him for 6 seasons from 2003/04 to 2008/09 as a Stretford End season ticket holder.

I was there for his debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win against Bolton Wanderers in August 2003.

CR7 is back!

Arguably the best player in the history of football.

Keep the red flag flying high!

Welcome 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, @Cristiano 🔴#MUFC | #Ronaldo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2021

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 27th August 2021

Date: 27th August 2021

Time: from 7:30 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light/moderate wind, 12°C to 15°C

My visit this morning was successful in respect of Red Fox sightings although photo opportunities were very limited.

As I arrived in the eastern section of the cemetery, I immediately saw a Red Fox and then realised that there were 2 individuals passing through although it was impossible to photograph them as they moved between the gravestones. After a few minutes, they disappeared from view as they walked in to the boundary hedges and trees. Given that these 2 Red Foxes were closely associating with one another, I suspect that they were well-grown cubs (sub-adults).

As I approached the church car park, I had another brief view of a Red Fox as it entered the grassy strip running down to St. Nicholas Lane. By the time that I reached the edge of the car park, there was no sign of this individual.

I walked about half way down the grassy strip and then sat and waited. After about 10 minutes, 2 Red Foxes emerged from the hedge to the left and quickly ran across to the other side and disappeared from view. Again, I think these were well-grown cubs (sub-adults).

Shortly afterwards, a Red Fox walked in to view from the right, presumably one of the individuals that I had already seen. I was able to get a photo of this Red Fox.

Photo: Red Fox

In the same area, I also had a brief sighting of a Reeves’ Muntjac, my first record since 18th May 2021.

Photo: Reeve's Muntjac

My visit was reasonably productive for butterflies and dragonflies.

By the time that I had returned to the church car park, the temperature was beginning to warm up and a small white buddleia bush at the far side bathed in sunshine was attracting at least 10 nectaring Red Admirals. Another purple buddleia bush in the central section of the cemetery produced at least another 5 Red Admirals and a crab apple bush at the edge of “Hilly Road” from the church down to St. Nicholas Lane produced at least another 5 plus a single Comma and a single Speckled Wood.

Photo: car park buddleia bush attracting Red Admirals

Photo: cemetery buddleia bush attracting Red Admirals

In addition, I saw Gatekeeper (c.10), Meadow Brown (2), Large White (5) and 3 presumed but unidentified hawker species.

It continues to be very quiet with regard to birds and I only recorded 11 species.

Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are still present for their summer residence but probably for not much longer and I certainly won’t be hearing their song again until next March. I heard 2 alarm calling Blackcaps and a single calling Chiffchaff but failed to see either species.

The only other notable records were a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying away from the church down Church Hill and a fly-over group of 9 Canada Geese heading in an easterly direction.

In another sign that autumn is here, Robins have begun singing again although only in short quiet phrases in contrast to their more robust and repeated song in spring.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Robin

Wren

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Woodpigeon

Collared Dove

Red Fox
Reeves’ Muntjac

Red Admiral

Comma

Speckled Wood

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Large White

Hawker sp.

Here are some more photos from my visit:

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: Red Admiral

Photo: bumblebee species

Photo: Collared Dove

Site totals to date (2021 totals in brackets):

Birds = 53 (42)

Mammals = 6 (5)

Butterflies = 21 (14)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 7 (2)

Reptiles = 1 (0)

Amphibians = 0 (0)

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Spoonbills nest in Essex for first time

A pair of Spoonbills has successfully nested and raised a brood at EWT Abberton Reservoir this summer, marking a first for my home county of Essex.

Spoonbills nest in Essex for the first time

Unfortunately, I have been unable to visit EWT Abberton Reservoir since this news began to circulate on social media a few weeks ago.

However, I have seen Spoonbills every year in the UK since 2012 and also in several years prior to that. Most of my records have been from the nature reserves along the north Norfolk coast although I have seen them in Essex, including at EWT Abberton Reservoir, as well as in Suffolk and Kent.

I have never been able to photograph Spoonbills in the UK but here are a few of my photos from sites in Europe, including them in "fast asleep and not doing a lot mode", something that they are noted for!