As part of the Essex Birdwatching Society Big County Birdwatch, I had an early morning visit to Danbury Common today.
On the way to Chelmsford on the bus, I saw 3 pairs of Swallows on the wires outside Barleylands.
Danbury Common is a 70.2 hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) located near the village of Danbury in mid-Essex. Most of it is common land owned by the National Trust whilst 2 areas areas, the Backwarden and Hitchcock's Meadows, are part of the Essex Wildlife Trust's Danbury Ridge Nature Reserves. The site is one of the largest areas of heathland left in Essex and it also includes bracken and gorse scrub and oak and birch woodland. It is criss-crossed by many tracks and paths providing easy access.
The main target species during my visit was Nightingale. I was not disappointed. I heard my first singing male as I approached the main car park. In total, I heard 7 singing males, of which I had a very brief view of one bird but an extended view of another bird which I was able to photograph and sound record ….
Photo: male Nightingale
Photo: male Nightingale
In addition to the usual common woodland and countryside birds, other notable records during my visit included the following: Common Whitethroat (5 singing males seen, 1 other singing male heard and 2 other birds seen), Lesser Whitethroat (1 singing male heard), Blackcap (2 singing males seen and at least 3 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (1 singing male seen and at least 4 other singing males heard), Linnet (4), Greenfinch (1 female), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Green Woodpecker (1 heard calling), Jay (1), Stock Dove (1 heard calling)
I also saw a Reeves’ Muntjac (being chased by a dog due to its ignorant owner!) plus I heard another “barking”.
Photo: male Common Whitethroat
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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