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.

Wednesday 24 April 2024

Trip away from SS15 – RSPB Vange Marsh, Pitsea, Essex

This morning I visited RSPB Vange Marsh which is only 4 miles from home and easily reached by local buses and trains.

RSPB Vange Marsh is a mosaic of wetland habitats with fresh and saltwater lagoons attracting many breeding birds in spring and summer, passage migrant waders especially in late summer and autumn and large numbers of ducks in winter. There are no specific facilities in the way of a visitor centre or hides but nature trails and public footpaths allow viewing over the wetland areas.

The principal issue at RSPB Vange Marsh is that the views are towards the south so bright sunny days are problematic. In addition, birds are always very distant requiring a telescope (which on warm and sunny days creates even worse problems with heat haze) and photography opportunities are extremely limited.

The main highlight from my visit this morning was adding Swallow to my 2024 UK year list taking it to 134 species. Unfortunately, I failed to see any House Martins, Sand Martins or Swifts.

The notable sightings from my visit with regard to birds were as follows (heard only records in italics): Swallow (at least 15), Common Whitethroat (2 singing males), Lesser Whitethroat (singing male), Chiffchaff (3 singing males), Blackcap (2 singing males), Reed Warbler (singing male), Cetti’s Warbler (4 singing males), Bearded Tit (single bird heard calling), Reed Bunting (singing male), Marsh Harrier (2), Common Buzzard (1), Teal (at least 40), Common Pochard (at least 20), Shoveler (at least 10), Mallard (at least 10), Tufted Duck (6), Shelduck (4), Avocet (13), Black-tailed Godwit (flyover flock of 12 birds all in summer plumage), Oystercatcher (4), Lapwing (2), Grey Heron (1), Great Crested Grebe (2), Little Grebe (2), Coot (at least 20), Mute Swan (15), Canada Goose (at least 10), Greylag Goose (at least 10), Cormorant (8), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull

In addition, I saw a single Small White.

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Monday 22 April 2024

Visit to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve – 22nd April 2024

Date: 22nd April 2024

Time: from 8:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 5°C to 8°C

I had another successful visit to the reserve this morning with 5 more first records of the year: Red Fox, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Starling and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

I had a very brief and largely obscured view of a Red Fox at the back of Meadow Pond and its presence undoubtedly explained the alarm calling Moorhens. Red Fox is a mammal that I have very rarely seen at the reserve, unlike my other local patch site around St. Nicholas Church where I see at least one on the majority of my visits. This morning’s sighting of a Red Fox was my first since 2021.

With regard to birds, I heard a calling Collared Dove in the wooded area at the bottom of the Spanish Steps but failed to locate it. As I retraced my steps to return home, I saw a Collared Dove on the track between Prewer’s Pond and the Spanish Steps.

I saw a male House Sparrow in the bushes adjacent to the track opposite Thorny Wood and a single Starling flew over here too. A single Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over Meadow Pond heading south towards Pipps Hill where several of these birds can usually be seen with Herring Gulls on or around the shops and warehouses.

After my first Lesser Whitethroat record of the year on my last visit on 17th April 2024, this morning’s visit produced 2 singing males. The first singing male, as on my last visit, was frequenting the bushes around Meadow Pond. It was presumably the same bird although on this occasion I failed to see it. The second singing male which I did eventually see was in the bushes adjacent to the track between Prewer’s Pond and the storage shed.

Again, I recorded both Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps during my visit: I saw 4 singing male Chiffchaffs and heard 3 other singing males plus I heard 6 singing male Blackcaps and heard another alarm calling bird.

As I arrived at Willow Pond, I had the surprising sighting of a female Mallard with 4 very young ducklings although the male was nowhere to be seen! I also saw a male and female Mallard again on Meadow Pond.

The presumed pair of Moorhens were again present on Meadow Pond and I heard another calling bird on Willow Pond which I failed to see.

The cold temperature meant that I again failed to record any butterfly species.

Finally, I saw a single Grey Squirrel in the bushes around Meadow Pond.

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

Lesser Whitethroat

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Robin

Wren

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Starling

Jay

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Collared Dove

Woodpigeon

Mallard

Moorhen

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Herring Gull

Black-headed Gull

Red Fox

Grey Squirrel

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: female Mallard and ducklings

Photo: Mallard and duckling

Photo: Mallard ducklings

Photo: Mallard duckling

Photo: female Mallard

Photo: male Chiffchaff

Photo: Collared Dove

Photo: male House Sparrow

Site totals for 2024 to date (2023 totals in brackets):

Birds = 31 (36)

Mammals = 3 (2)

Butterflies = 3 (15)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 0 (11)

Reptiles = 0 (1)

Amphibians = 0 (2)

Total species list for the site:

Birds = 49

Mammals = 4

Butterflies = 22

Dragonflies and damselflies = 14

Reptiles = 2

Amphibians = 3

Love nature .... act now

Restore and rewild our natural world

Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Sunday 21 April 2024

A radical British politics rooted in nature is spreading – and the Establishment doesn’t like it

The Guardian - A radical British politics rooted in nature is spreading – and the Establishment doesn’t like it

Love nature .... act now

Restore and rewild our natural world

Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

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

Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 21st April 2024

Date: 21st April 2024

Time: from 8 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, moderate wind, 6°C to 9°C

Following my last visit on 18th April 2024, I had another visit to the northern section of the site, again primarily with the intention of watching and photographing Red Foxes.

As I on my last visit, I walked to the location where I have previously seen Red Foxes and scattered some dog food and dog biscuits. I retreated but before I had even covered myself with my bag hide, a Red Fox appeared although I only managed to get an obscured head shot. It failed to emerge entirely and walk the short distance to where the food was. Eventually, it turned and moved back in to the hedge.

Photo: Red Fox

After covering myself with my bag hide, I waited in hope that the Red Fox might return. After around 30 minutes, I spotted 2 Red Foxes racing towards me from the direction of the main pond and they then proceeded to chase each other around in very close proximity to me. Eventually, one of them ran off whilst the other just sat down and watched it disappear. At this point, I managed to get one of my best photos of a Red Fox for a long time. After a few minutes, this Red Fox walked off and also disappeared from view.

Photo: Red Fox

After only my second site record of a singing male Willow Warbler on my last visit on 18th April 2024, I was hoping that it would still be present. What I presume was the same bird was still present but had relocated to the area of bushes surrounding the main pond. It sang sporadically but I failed to see it.

Again, I recorded both Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps during my visit: I heard 3 singing male Chiffchaffs and heard 2 calling birds plus I saw 1 singing male Blackcap and a non-singing male and heard 5 other singing males.

I saw a single male Mallard fly over and later 2 males and a female which flew a circuit and then landed on the main pond.

Photo: male Mallard

Photo: male and female Mallard

There was again a single Moorhen on the small pond.

The cold temperature meant that I again failed to record any butterfly species.

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

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Blackcap

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Robin

Wren

Dunnock

Blackbird

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Woodpigeon

Mallard

Moorhen

Herring Gull

Red Fox

Site totals for 2024 to date (2023 totals in brackets):

Birds = 36 (47)

Mammals = 3 (3)

Butterflies = 3 (23)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 0 (12)

Reptiles = 0 (0)

Amphibians = 0 (0)

Total species list for the site

Birds = 65

Mammals = 7

Butterflies = 25

Dragonflies and damselflies = 11

Reptiles = 1

Amphibians = 0

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Thursday 18 April 2024

Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 18th April 2024

Date: 18th April 2024

Time: from 7 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 4°C to 8°C

Whilst it was a lovely sunny morning, it was even colder than my visit to my other local patch site at Noak Bridge Nature Reserve yesterday.

I had another very productive spring visit although I only visited the northern section of the site, primarily with the intention of watching and photographing Red Foxes. During my visit, I recorded 25 bird species, my highest total of the year to date and including 3 further species added to my 2024 bird site list, namely Willow Warbler, Collared Dove and Black-headed Gull.

As I arrived in the northern section of the site, I walked to a location where I have previously seen Red Foxes. I scattered the remains of a chicken and some dog biscuits (I forgot the tinned dog food!) and then covered myself with my bag hide to wait for a Red Fox. I waited …. and waited …. and waited …. and finally gave up after 1.5 hours!

After walking to the far end of the site, I eventually returned past the location where I had been patiently waiting for a Red Fox to appear and there was one peering through the grass at me! I saw another Red Fox distantly on the track in the woodland when I had almost returned home.

Photo: Red Fox

After my first site record of Willow Warbler at my other local patch site at Noak Bridge Nature Reserve yesterday, I had yet another encounter with a singing male this morning in the bushes surrounding the small pond at the extreme northern end of the site. This species was once relatively common in Essex but it is now relatively difficult to record so seeing 2 singing male Willow Warblers in consecutive days was totally unexpected.

Photo: male Willow Warbler

I recorded both Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps during my visit: I saw 1 singing male Chiffchaff, heard 2 other singing males and heard 2 calling birds plus I heard 3 singing male Blackcaps.

Whilst waiting for the Red Foxes, I saw a soaring Common Buzzard (for the third successive visit), a briefly displaying Stock Dove, singles of both Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 fly-over Mallards. Whilst watching the Willow Warbler, I also saw 2 male Mallards and a single Moorhen on the small pond.

The cold temperature meant that I failed to record any butterfly species.

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

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Blackcap

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Robin

Wren

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Blackbird

Song Thrush

Common Buzzard

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Stock Dove

Collared Dove

Woodpigeon

Mallard

Moorhen

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Red Fox

Site totals for 2024 to date (2023 totals in brackets):

Birds = 36 (47)

Mammals = 3 (3)

Butterflies = 3 (23)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 0 (12)

Reptiles = 0 (0)

Amphibians = 0 (0)

Total species list for the site

Birds = 65

Mammals = 7

Butterflies = 25

Dragonflies and damselflies = 11

Reptiles = 1

Amphibians = 0

Love nature .... act now

Restore and rewild our natural world

Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife

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

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Record from my flat - Cormorant

At lunchtime today, I had a very distant view of a Cormorant flying north and presumably away from the main lake at nearby Gloucester Park where anything up to 15 birds can be seen roosting in the trees on the island or fishing in the lake itself.

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

Visit to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve – 17th April 2024

Date: 17th April 2024

Time: from 8 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 6°C to 8°C

It was a surprisingly cold morning for my first April visit to the reserve this year but nonetheless it proved to a very successful one with 20 bird species recorded, including a first site record plus 3 further first records of the year.

Firstly, and perhaps slightly unexpectedly, I had my first site record of Willow Warbler, a singing male which I first located in one of the bushes at the edge of Meadow Pond and, later on, presumably the same bird in bushes adjacent to the track to Fox Pond. Last year, I had a singing male Willow Warbler at my St. Nicholas Church local patch sites for 2 days but despite much searching I failed to see it before it moved on. This species was once relatively common in Essex but it is now relatively difficult to record.

The 3 first records for the year were Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch and Pied Wagtail.

As in April 2023, I first heard a singing male Lesser Whitethroat in the bushes at the end of the southern section of the boardwalk in the eastern section of the reserve. However, it relocated to the bushes adjacent to the boardwalk leading to Meadow Pond and I eventually had good views of it in the bushes around Meadow Pond itself.

Greenfinch and Pied Wagtail were both fly-over records of calling birds, the former over Willow Pond although I failed to see it and the latter over Meadow Pond.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were easy to hear and see across the reserve but particularly in the eastern section of the reserve from the boardwalk and around Meadow Pond. I saw 2 singing male Chiffchaffs and heard 3 other singing males plus I saw 3 Blackcaps, including 2 singing males plus a female, and heard 5 other singing males.

Chiffchaffs proved to be very easy to photograph unlike the Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat where, despite having good views of both birds, I disappointingly failed to get any photos.

With regard to other birds, the presumed pair of Moorhens were again present on Meadow Pond and I heard another calling bird on Willow Pond which I failed to see.

There were no Mallards on Meadow Pond or Willow Pond during this visit but I did see 3 birds flying over as I arrived at the reserve and I saw a male flying over Meadow Pond.

As I made my way back from the storage shed to the Spanish Steps, I heard a calling Green Woodpecker in the wooded area stretching to the north towards Willow Pond.

Unlike my last visit on 30th March 2024 when I saw 3 butterfly species, the much colder temperature this morning inevitably meant that I saw none.

Finally, I saw 4 Grey Squirrels during my visit, 1 near the Spanish Steps, 1 at Meadow Pond and 2 at Fox Pond.

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

Willow Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Robin

Wren