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.

Sunday, 30 April 2023

Visit to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve – 30th April 2023

Date: 30th April 2023

Time: from 7:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 7°C to 12°C

This morning, I had one of my best ever visits to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve.

The main highlight was a male Nightingale singing distantly from somewhere to the east of the path between the storage shed and the Eastfield Road entrance. However, frustratingly, this was outside the boundary of Noak Bridge Nature Reserve and therefore can not count as a site record!

During my visit, I was able to record 28 bird species, including 2 new records for the site, taking the total to 47 species, plus 6 new records for 2023 for the site, taking the total to 33 species and already more than my total for 2022 (30 species).

The 2 new records for the site were ….

Grey Wagtail: 2 seen flying over Meadow Pond

Stock Dove: a male heard but unseen calling from dense vegetation between Meadow Pond and Fox Pond

The 6 new records for 2023 for the site were ….

Common Tern: a single bird seen flying high and in a northerly direction over Meadow Pond

Common Whitethroat: singing male seen in bushes at the end of the southern boardwalk in the eastern section of the site

Lesser Whitethroat: singing male seen in bushes at the end of the southern boardwalk in the eastern section of the site plus a singing male heard but unseen between the storage shed and the Eastfield Road entrance and another singing male heard but unseen between the storage shed and the High Ridge footpath.

House Sparrow: single male seen in bushes bordering Thorny Wood

Starling: 2 seen flying over East Meadow

Greylag Goose: 1 heard but unseen flying over the Willow Pond/Oak Wood area

I was also able to upgrade Great Spotted Woodpecker from a “heard only” record, having seen a calling bird in the area of woodland between the Spanish Steps and the storage shed and another “drumming” male in trees at the back of Thorny Wood.

During my visit, I also had my first butterfly and amphibian records of the year ….

Orange Tip: male seen flying along the southern boardwalk in the eastern section of the site and another male seen flying between the storage shed and Eastfield Road entrance

Smooth Newt: 2 seen in Meadow Pond

Edible Frog: at least 3 seen in the centre-rear of Meadow Pond engaging in half-hearted calling and chasing

Other highlights during my visit included Blackcap (1 singing male seen plus at least 5 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (2 singing males seen and at least 3 other singing males heard), Moorhen (1 seen on Meadow Pond and another heard calling on Willow Pond) and Canada Goose (1 seen flying south over Meadow Pond possibly heading towards Gloucester Park lake)

I also saw a Grey Squirrel in the wooded near the Spanish Steps.

Finally, it was nice to see some spring flowers now emerging plus Hawthorn blossom.

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

Grey Wagtail

Common Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Wren

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

Song Thrush

House Sparrow

Starling

Goldfinch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Stock Dove

Woodpigeon

Canada Goose

Greylag Goose

Moorhen

Common Tern

Herring Gull

Orange Tip

Smooth Newt

Edible Frog

Grey Squirrel

Here are some photos from my visit:

Photo: male Chiffchaff

Photo: Blue Tit

Photo: Canada Goose

Photo: Canada Goose

Photo: Herring Gull

Photo: Edible Frog

Site totals for 2023 to date (2022 totals in brackets):

Birds = 33 (30)

Mammals = 1 (2)

Butterflies = 1 (15)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 0 (5)

Reptiles = 0 (2)

Amphibians = 0 (2)

Total species list for the site:

Birds = 47

Mammals = 3

Butterflies = 21

Dragonflies and damselflies = 13

Reptiles = 2

Amphibians = 3

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Saturday, 29 April 2023

Record from my flat - Sparrowhawk

I have seen a Sparrowhawk on each of the last 3 visits to my nearby St. Nicholas Church local patch site on 12th April 2023, 13th April 2023 and 25th April 2023.

This morning at 11:15 a.m., I saw a Sparrowhawk soaring and gliding over the woodland behind the houses opposite my flat.

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Thursday, 27 April 2023

Trip away from SS15 - Thorndon Country Park, Brentwood, Essex

This morning, I visited Thorndon Country Park near Brentwood and specifically Old Hall Pond in the southern section of the park where an adult Black-crowned Night Heron had been first reported yesterday.

The bird was very easy to locate given the directions provided by other birders already present at the location but it was not easy to see since it was relatively obscured by the willow trees at the edge of the pond and didn't move!

Nonetheless, this record took my 2023 UK year list to 133 species plus it was only my 5th UK record of this species.

I saw my first Black-crowned Night Heron in May 2002 at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk followed by one at Hythe in Kent in December 2008 and presumably the same bird at the same location in January 2009. My last record was of one at EWT Two Tree Island in April 2011 so it has been a long wait for another.

The Black-crowned Night Heron is a relatively rare but regular visitor to the UK and in August 2017 a photo confirmed that, for the first time in recorded history, a pair bred in the UK. The photo of 2 adults and 2 recently fledged juveniles were roosting at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve, having either bred there or nearby on another section of the Avalon Marshes.

I have seen plenty of Black-crowned Night Herons at various locations across southern and south eastern Europe.

I was unable to get any photos of the Black-crowned Night Heron at Thorndon Country Park but some photos have been posted on social media such as ....

Today’s Night heron at Thorndon Country Pk, Brentwood. I was met by departing birders, who had seen it fly off from its initial roost but luckily it was soon found high up and about 200 yds away @EssexBirdNews @ExploreEssex @BBCSpringwatch #BirdsSeenIn2023 #birdphotography #birds pic.twitter.com/URmSefcv69
— Mike O'Hanlon (@YellowShriker) April 26, 2023

However, here are 3 of my photos of Black-crowned Night Heron, the first of the bird at Hythe in Kent on 28th December 2008 and 2 others of a bird at the BSPB Poda Protected Area in Burgas Province, Bulgaria on 22nd May 2018.

Photo: Black-crowned Night Heron at Hythe, Kent

Photo: Black-crowned Night Heron at BSPB Poda Protected Area, Burgas Province, Bulgaria

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Essex Bird Report 2021 .... male Pied Flycatcher

My photo of a male Pied Flycatcher at my St. Nicholas Church local patch site on 13th April 2021 has been included in the Essex Bird Report 2021 published by the Essex Birdwatching Society.

My record was one of only two of this passage migrant species for Essex during the spring of 2021.

SS15 wildlife watching: "Patch gold" …. male Pied Flycatcher!

SS15 wildlife watching: More on the Pied Flycatcher near St. Nicholas Church on 13th April 2021

Photo: male Pied Flycatcher at Laindon, Essex

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Wednesday, 26 April 2023

Record from my flat - Red Fox

I watch and photograph Red Foxes on a regular basis around my nearby St. Nicholas Church local patch site, most recently yesterday, but occasionally I see them in the immediate area around my flat although these are always chance sightings.

However, I had not seen a Red Fox from my flat for many months until very early this morning at 5:25 a.m. when I saw one trotting around in the street outside before disappearing into the adjacent wooded area.

#DefendNature .... Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
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Tuesday, 25 April 2023

Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 25th April 2023

Date: 25th April 2023

Time: from 6:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, moderate wind, 2°C to 6°C

I had another excellent visit this morning with numerous opportunities to photograph 2 Red Foxes and another addition to my 2023 site list: Common Whitethroat. This took my site list for 2023 to 38 species.

The main purpose of my visit was to photograph Red Foxes which I hoped would be attracted by the remains of a chicken carcass.

I accessed the site as usual via the track from Larkins Tyres. From the wooded clearing at the end of the track, I took the short walk through the trees to the fence, my regular watchpoint overlooking the field, scrub, hedges and trees in the north of the site.

After climbing over the fence, I scattered the chicken carcass remains in an area where I have previously seen Red Foxes on a regular basis. I then found a suitable location to set up my Walkstool and then secreted myself under my throw-over bag hide to watch and wait.

Eventually, after the best part of an hour, I had my first sighting of a Red Fox which approached the chicken carcass very nervously to begin with. However, over the next 30 minutes or so, I had repeated sightings of 2 Red Foxes, the first a clearly lactating vixen and the second a presumed dog and mate given the lack of any confrontation between the 2 animals. I was able to get numerous photos of both as they fed and moved around the wider area.

Photo: Red Fox

With regard to birds, the main highlight was my first singing male Common Whitethroat of the year which I located in a bush in the central section of the cemetery. In fact, this was the same bush as I recorded my first last year!

In the north of the site, I again saw a very high and distant soaring Sparrowhawk, presumably the same Green Woodpecker on several occasions, a male and female Mallard again on the pond, a Grey Heron which flew up and away from the pond and a singing male Greenfinch.

In the north of the site, I also heard 2 singing male Blackcaps and 2 singing male Chiffchaffs plus I saw a female Blackcap in the central section of the cemetery.

I saw another, or possibly the same, Grey Heron flying over the central section of the cemetery whilst I was trying to locate the singing Common Whitethroat.

Unfortunately, I failed to hear the singing male Willow Warbler that I had recorded on my previous 2 visits.

In addition to the Red Foxes, I saw a single Reeves’ Muntjac and a single Grey Squirrel, both from my seated location in the north of the site.