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

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚

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