I booked a rental car from 18th to 21st April 2026 for a trip away from home to include visits to various sites in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
The main purpose of my trip was continuing to add species to my 2026 UK year list.
The main highlight of my trip was seeing only my second Iberian Chiffchaff in the UK at Westleton Heath in Suffolk after my first in Kent in May 2010.
In addition, I added 12 species to my 2026 UK year list: Swallow, Common Tern, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Woodlark, Stone Curlew, Wheatear, Dartford Warbler, Spoonbill, Swift, House Martin, Reed Warbler
18th April 2026 – EWT Abberton Reservoir, Essex
The huge expanse of EWT Abberton Reservoir just south of Colchester in Essex is one of Europe's top wetland sites. It is of international importance as a safe haven for wild ducks, swans and other water birds, whether resident, passing through on migration or over-wintering.
As I arrived in the village of Birch, close to EWT Abberton Reservoir, I saw my first Swallows (3) of the year.
The highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Swallow (4), Cuckoo (2 calling males heard), Nightingale (1 singing male seen plus 2 singing males heard), Yellow Wagtail (5), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male seen plus another singing male heard), Common Whitethroat (3 singing males), Chiffchaff (3 singing males heard plus a pair seen), Blackcap (2 singing males heard), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male seen plus 3 singing males heard), Red Kite (1), Marsh Harrier (1), Common Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (4), Red-legged Partridge (1), Linnet (5), Skylark (3 singing males), Green Woodpecker (1 heard calling), Common Tern (6), Little Egret (at least 10), Grey Heron (at least 15 plus 2 juveniles), Oystercatcher (2), Tufted Duck (at least 30), Mallard (at least 20), Shoveler (6), Wigeon (2), Greylag Goose (at least 25), Egyptian Goose (at least 15), Canada Goose (2), Mute Swan (at least 15), Black Swan (1), Great Crested Grebe (6), Cormorant (at least 30)
Additions to 2026 UK year list: Common
Tern, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler
During my visit, I was also pleased to meet Mike Lane for the first time, a long-standing wildlife photographer and YouTube content creator .... Mike Lane FRPS - YouTube
18th April 2026 – EWT Hanningfield Reservoir, Essex
I returned home via EWT Hanningfield Reservoir where I heard another calling Cuckoo plus I had the opportunity to photograph a pair of Great Crested Grebes plus a Grey Heron.
Photo: Great Crested Grebes
Photo: Great Crested Grebe
19th April 2026 – NNR Westleton Heath, Suffolk
I had an extremely early start from home in order to arrive at NNR Westleton Heath at 7:30 a.m.
NNR Westleton Heath is part of the best remaining tract of heathland in Suffolk and located just outside the village of Westleton. In medieval times a large area of heath known as the Sandlings (on account of its dry sandy soils) stretched along the Suffolk coast. Today only about 20% of the heathland remains and the rest has been lost to modern farming and forestry. The site is particularly good for heathland and woodland species.
The highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Iberian Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Nightingale (1 singing male seen plus 5 other singing males heard), Woodlark (2 singing males seen plus another seen), Dartford Warbler (1 singing male), Wheatear (3), Stone Curlew (pair), Swallow (2), Willow Warbler (1 singing male), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Blackcap (2 singing males seen plus 3 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (pair plus another seen plus 5 other singing males heard), Common Buzzard (1 heard calling), Green Woodpecker (1 heard calling), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 heard “drumming”), Red-legged Partridge (2), Yellowhammer (1 singing male), Skylark (2 singing males), Coal Tit (1 singing male), Stonechat (1 male), Linnet (3)
Additions to 2026 UK year list: Iberian Chiffchaff, Woodlark, Wheatear, Dartford Warbler, Stone Curlew
Photo: male Iberian Chiffchaff
Photo: male Iberian Chiffchaff
Photo: male Nightingale
Photo: male Stonechat
20th April 2026 – Kelling Heath, Norfolk
Having surprisingly failed to see a Dartford Warbler at NNR Westleton Heath in Suffolk, I tried at Kelling Heath in Norfolk where I failed again!
The highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Woodlark (1 singing male), Linnet (5), Mistle Thrush (1), Blackcap (1 singing male), Chiffchaff (2 singing males plus another bird heard calling), Skylark (1 singing male), Brown Hare (2), Roe Deer (4), Reeves' Muntjac (1)
20th April 2026 – NNR Westleton Heath, Suffolk
I had a return visit to NNR Westleton Heath and finally saw a singing male Dartford Warbler in addition to Woodlark (pair), Nightingale (1 singing male heard only) and Linnet (1).
20th April 2026 – EWT Abberton Reservoir, Essex
On my way home, I had a brief return visit to EWT Abberton Reservoir where I added Spoonbill (1) to my 2026 UK year list. In addition, I saw Swallow (at least 20), Sand Martin (at least 20), Yellow Wagtail (2) and Mediterranean Gull (2).
21st April 2026 – RSPB Rainham Marshes, EssexRSPB 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.
The highlights of my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Swift (at least 40), Sand Martin (at least 100), House Martin (at least 10), Swallow (at least 10), Reed Warbler (1 singing male seen plus at least 7 other singing males heard), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male seen plus at least 5 other singing males heard), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male seen plus 2 other singing males heard), Lesser Whitethroat (2 singing males), Blackcap (1 singing male seen plus at least 10 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (1 singing male seen plus at least 10 other singing males heard), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male seen plus at least 10 other singing males heard), Marsh Harrier (1), Kestrel (1), Common Pochard (at least 15), Tufted Duck (at least 15), Mallard (at least 15 plus a female with 11 ducklings), Shoveler (at least 10), Gadwall (2), Shelduck (1), Lapwing (5), Avocet (2), Oystercatcher (2), Common Redshank (1), Grey Heron (2), Little Egret (3), Great Crested Grebe (pair), Little Grebe (2), Coot (at least 20 plus a pair with 3 juveniles), Moorhen (1), Mute Swan (2), Canada Goose (at least 50), Greylag Goose (at least 50 plus a pair with 4 goslings), Egyptian Goose (2), Orange Tip (2), Green-veined White (1), Small White (at least 3)
Additions to year list: Swift, House Martin, Reed Warbler
Photo: Reed Warbler
Photo: male Tufted Duck
Love nature .... act now
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