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.

Thursday, 31 October 2024

Trip away from SS15 - Southend pier, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

After the recent 4 day Big County Birdwatch, this morning I visited Southend pier for a "pop up" birding event, again organised by Essex Birdwatching Society and with Bird Aware Essex also present.

The event was led by Steve Grimwade and Matt Turner from Essex Birdwatching Society and well attended by over 30 birders.

We all took the 1.33 miles walk out to the end of Southend pier and then spent several hours watching for birds around the pier itself but also in the outer River Thames. For the last day of October it was extremely warm with no wind and the River Thames was flat calm although visibility was slightly hazy.

Although I did not record a long species list, there were definitely some highlights: Shag (1), Cormorant (6), Gannet (1), Red-throated Diver (3), Brent Goose (15), Great Crested Grebe (c.35), Turnstone (c.150), Mediterranean Gull (c.20), Common Gull (2), Great Black-backed Gull (c.10), Black-headed Gull (c.50), Atlantic Grey Seal (at least 3), Speckled Wood (1)

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Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Trip away from SS15 - RSPB Bowers Marsh, Pitsea, Essex

RSPB Bowers Marsh is only a few miles away from where I live but difficult to get to using public transport and without a long walk.

However, this morning was the last day of a 5 day car rental so I took advantage of that and had my first visit to RSPB Bowers Marsh since 7th May 2024.

RSPB Bowers Marsh comprises dry and wet grassland, fresh and saline lagoons, intertidal habitat, saltmarsh and arable areas. It is an ancient landscape and the grazing marsh has played a vital role in the lives of people and wildlife for centuries.

RSPB Bowers Marsh is now managed as a reserve comprising of significant wetland and lowland wet and dry grassland habitats and it provides feeding and breeding grounds for important wintering, migratory and breeding waders and wildfowl. This is primarily achieved through hydrological management and appropriate grazing regimes. It also supports a range of important protected species such as Water Voles and reptiles by providing important managed habitats such as ditch networks, meadows and fields of varied structure and floral diversity.

There are 4 miles of nature trails and 3 viewing points at RSPB Bowers Marsh. The trails pass different areas of the reserve such as a saline lagoon, freshwater reservoir/scrapes, wet grassland, hedgerow and reedbed habitats. Scrapes are specifically created close to viewing areas.

The undoubted highlight from my trip to RSPB Bowers Marsh this morning was a Woodcock which I flushed from the scrub adjoining the path to the saltmarsh viewpoint. This was a further addition to my 2024 UK year list taking it to 197 species.

The main highlights from my visit were as follows:

Lapwing (c.200), Dunlin (c.50), Black-tailed Godwit (c.40), Common Redshank (c.20), Grey Plover (15), Avocet (6), Curlew (3), Greenshank (1), Woodcock (1), Common Snipe (1), Shoveler (c.100), Teal (c.60), Wigeon (c.30), Mallard (c.10), Pintail (3), Common Pochard (2), Great White Egret (2), Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (4), Great Crested Grebe (1), Little Grebe (1), Water Rail (1 heard calling), Coot (2), Mute Swan (1), Canada Goose (c.50), Greylag Goose (c.50), Common Buzzard (1), Marsh Harrier (1 male), Kestrel (3), Bearded Tit (9), Cetti’s Warbler (5 singing males all unseen), Stonechat (pair plus a single male), Skylark (4), Meadow Pipit (1), Linnet (2)

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

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Monday, 28 October 2024

Trips away from SS15 - Big County Birdwatch 2024

I rented a a car for the autumn 4-day Big County Birdwatch organised by Essex Birdwatching Society, of which I am a long-standing member.

Having access to a car enabled me to attend many of the walks in the programme which would otherwise have been impossible by public transport.

It was an extremely enjoyable and successful 4 days and I managed to record a total of 103 species including 6 additions to my UK year list taking it to 196 species: Red-throated Diver, Red-crested Pochard, Eider, Hen Harrier, Little Owl and Corn Bunting.

In addition to these species, a single Merlin at EWT Abberton Reservoir and a single Osprey at EWT Fingringhoe Wick were major highlights.

Here is a summary of all the highlights of my trips during the 4-day Big County Birdwatch:

25th October 2024

EWT Gunners Park and River Thames: Dunlin (c.80), Sanderling (c.25), Oystercatcher (c.20), Common Redshank (c.20), Turnstone (c.20), Bar-tailed Godwit (c.10), Knot (c.10), Curlew (1), Lapwing (1), Little Egret (c.10), Grey Heron (1), Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c.200), Red-breasted Merganser (2), Mallard (4), Little Grebe (c.30), Great Crested Grebe (c.15), Water Rail (2), Coot (c.30), Moorhen (2), Mute Swan (5), Cormorant (c.10), Mediterranean Gull (2), Common Gull (2), Marsh Harrier (1), Kestrel (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Kingfisher (1), Cetti’s Warbler (at least 5 unseen singing males), Stonechat (2 pairs), Meadow Pipit (4), Chaffinch (c.10), Goldfinch (c.10), Pied Wagtail (2)

RSPB Wallasea Island: Lapwing (at least 200), Golden Plover (at least 200), Black-tailed Godwit (5), Dunlin (4), Oystercatcher (3), Common Snipe (2), Greenshank (1), Shelduck (at least 200), Wigeon (at least 200), Mallard (c.20), Teal (c.20), Pintail (c.10), Shoveler (1), Great White Egret (2), Little Egret (6), Grey Heron (2), Canada Goose (at least 500), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Hen Harrier (male and female), Marsh Harrier (3), Peregrine (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (c.5), Reed Bunting (3), Corn Bunting (1), Stonechat (2 pairs), Meadow Pipit (c.5), Linnet (c.10), Goldfinch (c.20), Pied Wagtail (3), Starling (+++)

26th October 2024

Stour estuary - Mistley Walls and Quay: Avocet (at least 300), Dunlin (at least 200), Common Redshank (at least 200), Black-tailed Godwit (at least 100), Lapwing (at least 50), Curlew (c.20), Turnstone (c.10), Oystercatcher (c.10), Knot (5), Greenshank (3), Grey Plover (2), Spotted Redshank (1), Little Egret (c.40), Grey Heron (2), Canada Goose (c.50), Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c.20), Egyptian Goose (9), Shelduck (at least 300), Wigeon (c.20), Mallard (c.10), Teal (c.10), Pintail (4), Great Crested Grebe (c.20), Mute Swan (10), Cormorant (c.30), Lesser Black-backed Gull (3), Common Gull (2), Kingfisher (1), Siskin (10)

EWT Abberton Reservoir: Lapwing (+++), Black-tailed Godwit (c.100), Ruff (7), Golden Plover (2), Wigeon (+++), Mallard (+++), Teal (+++), Pintail (+++), Tufted Duck (c.200), Common Pochard (c.100), Shoveler (c.100), Gadwall (c.20), Goldeneye (4 females), Red-crested Pochard (3 males), Goosander (1 female), Great White Egret (2), Cattle Egret (1), Little Egret (8), Grey Heron (2), Egyptian Goose (2), Black-necked Grebe (2), Great Crested Grebe (c.15), Coot (+++), Mute Swan (c.20), Cormorant (c.20), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Little Owl (1), Merlin (1), Marsh Harrier (1), Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (1), Rock Pipit (1), Cetti’s Warbler (1 unseen singing male), Stonechat (2 males), Meadow Pipit (1), Goldfinch (c.20)

27th October 2024

EWT Fingringhoe Wick and Colne estuary: Golden Plover (at least 300), Avocet (at least 200), Lapwing (at least 100), Dunlin (at least 100), Common Redshank (at least 100), Knot (at least 50), Curlew (c.10), Oystercatcher (c.10), Ringed Plover (3), Grey Plover (2), Black-tailed Godwit (2), Teal (++), Shelduck (at least 100), Wigeon (c.100), Mallard (c.10), Great White Egret (1), Little Egret (2), Grey Heron (1), Coot (1), Moorhen (1), Cormorant (2), Osprey (1), Common Buzzard (4), Kestrel (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Redwing (2), Skylark (2), Cetti’s Warbler (5 unseen singing males)

28th October 2024

EWT The Naze: Sanderling (c.50), Ringed Plover (c.20), Turnstone (c.10), Curlew (4), Bar-tailed Godwit (3), Common Redshank (3), Oystercatcher (2), Grey Plover (1), Wigeon (8), Common Scoter (1), Eider (1), Teal (1), Little Egret (3), Red-throated Diver (2), Gannet (1), Cormorant (c.20), Dark-bellied Brent Goose (at least 150), Water Rail (1 unseen calling bird), Moorhen (1), Marsh Harrier (1), Kestrel (1), Green Woodpecker (1 unseen calling bird), Swallow (2), Chiffchaff (2), Goldcrest (1), Rock Pipit (2), Stonechat (1 male), Cetti’s Warbler (4 unseen singing males)

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

Sunday, 27 October 2024

Record from my flat - Red Foxes

Records of Red Foxes from my flat continue.

At 9:10 p.m., I first heard and then very quickly saw 2 Red Foxes walking past the front of the block of flats before disappearing from view in to the adjacent wooded area.

At 9:45 p.m., I saw what I assume was one of these 2 animals sat in the middle of the road and barking before it walked off.

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Thursday, 24 October 2024

Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 24th October 2024

Date: 24th October 2024

Time: from 8:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 10°C to 11°C

I had an exceptionally good visit on a lovely sunny autumn morning with 18 bird species (untypically high for autumn) recorded.

This included 2 further species added to my 2024 site list, taking the total to 45 species, namely Grey Heron (a single bird seen flying through the northern section of the site in an easterly direction) and Ring-necked Parakeet (a single bird flying over the northern section of the site followed later by 2 groups of 3 and 4 birds although there may have been some duplication).

On 4th October 2024, I both heard and saw fly-over Skylarks, my only records since my first back in 2022. However, I recorded this species again on 11th October 2024 and again this morning, firstly with a “heard only” record but later followed by a single bird seen flying south.

On 4th October 2024, I recorded my first site record of the year of Goldcrest but this was an unseen briefly singing male. This morning I saw a calling and actively foraging bird in the wooded area close to the boundary fence to the northern section of the site. Later I saw and photographed another in bushes by the entrance to the footpath heading down to the A127 and heard 3 more calling birds in the wooded area adjacent to this footpath. The Merlin app on my phone also claimed to pick up a calling Firecrest along this footpath. I neither heard nor saw this species but it is a location where I have had my only record to date in 2023.

Other highlights included 7 fly-over Redwings (plus several others heard calling), a single Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 fly-over Jackdaws, all seen in the northern section of the site.

Woodpigeon is a species that I record on almost every visit but this morning’s visit was notable for the sight of 2 large flocks of this species heading south and comprising at least 200 birds.

With regard to mammals, I saw 2 or possibly 3 Red Foxes. Initially, I saw a single animal in the wooded clearing at the end of the access track from Larkins Tyres. I then saw another single animal repeatedly running and pouncing in the centre of the first field in the northern section of the site (presumably hunting mice or voles) before it joined another by the hedge at the boundary of the field. These 2 Red Foxes interacted in a friendly manner and were clearly either a paired dog and vixen or more likely 2 sub-adult cubs from this year.

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

Skylark

Goldcrest

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Robin

Dunnock

Wren

Redwing

Blackbird

Ring-necked Parakeet

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Jackdaw

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Woodpigeon

Grey Heron

Red Fox

Here are some photos from my visit ….

Photo: Red Fox

Photo: Red Foxes

Photo: Goldcrest

Photo: Great Spotted Woodpecker

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

Birds = 45 (47)

Mammals = 3 (3)

Butterflies = 17 (23)

Dragonflies and damselflies = 11 (12)

Reptiles = 0 (0)

Amphibians = 0 (0)

Total species list for the site

Birds = 65

Mammals = 7

Butterflies = 25

Dragonflies and damselflies = 14

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

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

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

Wednesday, 23 October 2024

Trip away from SS15 – RSPB Rainham Marshes – 22nd October 2024

RSPB Rainham Marshes is not far from my home and easily visited by public transport which I do several times a year.

RSPB Rainham Marshes protects 411 hectares of ancient, low-lying grazing marsh in the Thames Estuary. Its complex of wet grassland, reedbeds, scrapes, pools and ditches, together with grassland, scrub and woodland, supports many breeding and wintering birds. Wildlife also includes scarce wetland plants and insects and a key population of the nationally declining Water Vole.

Photo: RSPB Rainham Marshes from the visitor centre

Today, I had a very enjoyable and successful 4 hour visit walking round the circular trail and spending extended time in both the Purfleet Hide and Shooting Butts Hide.

My visit provided 2 additions to my 2024 UK year list taking it to 190 species: Kingfisher and Jack Snipe.

I had hoped to see Kingfisher, especially as it was much later in the year than when I usually record my first sighting. It was a typically very fast fly-through sighting but they all count!

My sighting of a Jack Snipe was totally unexpected. This is not an uncommon species in autumn and winter but it can be notoriously difficult to locate and see well. It is a species that I normally manage to see at WWT London Wetland Centre in December or January. Having already seen several Common Snipe from the Purfleet Hide, I spotted a much smaller snipe species with a shorter bill and with a distinctive bobbing action which was closely associating with a "normal" Common Snipe. It was immediately obvious that this was a Jack Snipe.

The highlights of my visit to RSPB Rainham Marshes were as follows: Jack Snipe (1), Common Snipe (8), Lapwing (at least 100), Avocet (at least 20 on the River Thames foreshore), Great White Egret (2 or possibly 3), Little Egret (3), Grey Heron (2), Teal (at least 200), Shoveler (at least 100), Gadwall (at least 100), Mallard (at least 20), Common Pochard (15), Shelduck (8), Tufted Duck (7), Wigeon (6), Pintail (4), Little Grebe (8), Coot (c.20), Moorhen (4), Mute Swan (8), Canada Goose (c.50), Greylag Goose (c.20), Cormorant (6), Marsh Harrier (1 male and 3 females/sub-adults), Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (male and female), Sparrowhawk (female flew in and perched on the fencing to the ramp from the visitor centre as I was leaving), Kingfisher (1), Stonechat (male and female), Cetti’s Warbler (11 singing males all unseen), Skylark (2), Meadow Pipit (3), Pied Wagtail (2), Pheasant (male and female), Grey Squirrel (1), Red Admiral (1)