SS15 wildlife watching: Trip away from SS15 – Essex and Norfolk

I booked a rental car from 9th to 11th October 2026 to include visits to a small number of sites in Essex and Norfolk plus an event at the NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes visitor centre.

The main purpose of my trip was continuing to add species to my 2026 UK year list.

This included Yellow-browed Warbler (my first record since 2019 and only my 6th UK record) and Glossy Ibis (my 10th UK record including records in 2025 and 2024) taking my 2026 UK year list to 198 species (1 more than my 2025 species total but still less than the 205 species recorded in the 2 years prior to that).

9th October 2026

Today, I visited RSPB Bowers Marsh, a site close to home but very difficult to visit by public trnasport.

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 highlights during my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Curlew Sandpiper (1), Lapwing (at least 200), Black-tailed Godwit (6), Ruff (5), Dunlin (5), Golden Plover (4), Common Snipe (3), Avocet (2), Greenshank (2), Mallard (at least 20), Shoveler (10), Teal (2), Shelduck (2), Spoonbill (3), Little Egret (1), Cormorant (1), Greylag Goose (at least 50), Canada Goose (at least 20), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (male and female plus 2 other distant birds), Bearded Tit (2 heard calling), Stonechat (1 male), Skylark (3), Meadow Pipit (3), Reed Bunting (1 female), House Sparrow (at least 50), Ruddy Darter (2), Migrant Hawker (1)

After driving up to north Norfolk, I went to an evening event at the NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes visitor centre: a hugely interesting talk by Nick Acheson about the history of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust in its centenary year.

10th October 2026

As on previous visit to north Norfolk (see here), I spent most of the day at at NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes.

NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes is one of the best-known nature reserves in the UK. Purchased by Norfolk Wildlife Trust in 1926 to be held “in perpetuity as a breeding bird sanctuary”, it is a haven for a wide range of species throughout the year and well known for rare vagrant birds.

In 2012, an appeal helped Norfolk Wildlife Trust to purchase a further 57 hectares, linking their 2 reserves at Cley and Salthouse together to create a single coastal reserve of more than 300 hectares.

NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes has 6 hides which provide views across reedbeds, pools and scrapes that are specially managed to attract breeding and passage birds. There is also an opportunity for seawatching from "Cley Coastguards" and seeking migrants at Walsey Hills.

The highlights during my visit to NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes included the following (heard only records in italics):

"Cley Coastguards" (sea): Red-throated Diver (5), Gannet (at least 100 including a group of c.30 in a feeding frenzy), Razorbill (at least 30), unidentified auk sp. (at least 30), Common Scoter (4), Great Crested Grebe (1), Cormorant (3), Teal (at least 20), Curlew (at least 30), Ringed Plover (at least 20), Grey Plover (1), Turnstone (1), Atlantic Grey Seal (1)

"Cley Coastguards" (marsh): Golden Plover (at least 50), Egyptian Goose (10), Stonechat (2), Linnet (2), Meadow Pipit (at least 5)

Walsey Hills: Yellow-Browed Warbler (heard calling several times but very frustratingly not seen), Chiffchaff (1 or possibly 2), Blackcap (male and female), Goldcrest (1), Goldfinch (at least 100), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Common Buzzard (1 heard calling), Pink-footed Goose (at least 30 flew over)

Addition to 2026 UK year list: Yellow-browed Warbler (heard calling only)

11th October 2026

I spent my last day at RSPB Rainham Marshes in Essex

RSPB Rainham Marshes is not far from my home and easily visited by public transport which I do several times a year although for this visit I took advantage of having a rental car.

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 main target species for my visit was a Glossy Ibis which had been reported for several days. I eventually located the bird on the Purfleet Scrape and managed to get some photos.

The highlights of my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Glossy Ibis (1), Black-tailed Godwit (2), Grey Heron (3), Teal (at least 100), Shoveler (at least 50), Wigeon (at least 10), Mallard (at least 20), Gadwall (at least 20), Greylag Goose (at least 25), Egyptian Goose (1), Cormorant (1), Little Grebe (1), Moorhen (5), Coot (3), Chiffchaff (2 singing males and 4 other calling birds but none seen), Cetti’s Warbler 1 singing male seen, at least 10 other singing males not seen), Grey Wagtail (1), Marsh Frog (several heard)