I booked a rental car from 12th to 14th September 2025 for a trip away from home to include visits to EWT Abberton Reservoir in Essex and RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk plus attendance at a South Essex Ringing Group event at EWT Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges in Essex.
My aim, other than the ringing event, was to primarily add species to my 2025 UK year list, including specifically Black Tern, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Red-necked Phalarope.
I was successful in seeing all 4 species taking my 2025 UK year list to 182 species to date.
Particularly notable were my first Black Tern since 2019 and my first Red-necked Phalarope since 2018.
12th September 2025 - EWT Abberton Reservoir
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.
Additions to 2025 year list: Black Tern (1), Curlew Sandpiper (17), Little Stint (3)
Other highlights from my visit included the following: Common Sandpiper (1), Spoonbill (2), Great White Egret (11), Common Tern (at least 50), Swallow/House Martin/Sand Martin (at least 100)
13th September 2025 - RSPB Titchwell
RSPB Titchwell is one of my most visited locations on the north Norfolk coast and it is a very productive site at any time of the year due to the mosaic of habitats including reedbeds, freshwater and saline lagoons, saltmarsh, sandy and shingle foreshore, sand dunes, woodland and grassland. It is an excellent site for breeding birds, passage migrants and winter visitors.
Addition to 2025 year list: Red-necked Phalarope (1)
Apparently, two Red-necked Phalaropes had been reported but one had been predated by a Hobby.
I failed to see either of the two Pectoral Sandpipers that had been reported.
Other highlights from my visit included the following: Osprey (1 distantly on post in Thornham Channel), Red Kite (2), Marsh Harrier (1), Spoonbill (c.50), Great White Egret (1), Little Egret (2), Grey Heron (2), Black-tailed Godwit (c.100), Avocet (c.40), Lapwing (c.30), Ruff (c.25), Dunlin (c.25), Golden Plover (c.15), Curlew (10), Common Redshank (8), Greenshank (5), Common Snipe (2), Curlew Sandpiper (1), Mallard (at least 50), Teal (at least 50), Shelduck (7), Wigeon (2), Egyptian Goose (2), Greylag Goose (c.200), Canada Goose (c.100), Common Tern (2), Moorhen (4), Cormorant (1), Swallow/House Martin/Sand Martin (at least 50), Chiffchaff (1 unseen singing male plus 2 unseen calling birds), Cetti's Warbler (1 unseen singing male), Linnet (c.15)
I also recorded the following: Wall (2), Common Darter (2), Chinese Water Deer (1)
14th September 2025 - EWT Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges - South Essex Ringing Group event
This morning, I visited EWT Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges for a ringing event facilitated by Essex Birdwatching Society and hosted by the South Essex Ringing Group. Many thanks to Matt Turner from the former and David Wilkinson from the latter for an amazing morning.
This was my third bird ringing session with the South Essex Ringing Group (after those at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea on 12th April 2025 and 4th August 2025) and again it was very enjoyable watching and listening to the team of qualified and trainee ringers as well as seeing so many familiar birds so close.
Our time observing the ringing session started at around 7:30 a.m. and concluded just before 11 a.m. but the ringers had been recovering birds from their mist nests and processing their biometrics for several hours prior to this.
My personal highlight was undoubtedly a stunning Sparrowhawk, closely followed by a side-by-side comparison of a Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and a Swallow.
Photo: Sparrowhawk
Photo: Sparrowhawk
Photo: Sparrowhawk
Photo: Sparrowhawk
Photo: Sparrowhawk
Photo: Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff
Photo: Swallow
Photo: Swallow
During the ringing session, we were able to observe the following birds in the hand: Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, House Sparrow
The small number of people privileged to attend the session were able to take photos of some of the birds after they had been processed and prior to release.
In addition, I recorded the following around or over the ringing location during the event: Hobby (1), Swift (3), Swallow/House Martin/Sand Martin (at least 50), Mediterranean Gull (2), Little Egret (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Jay (1), Greenfinch (1)
Here are some other photos from the ringing event ....
Love nature .... act now
