Bird & Wildlife Watching

We were 12 happy people that met at Tiptree Heath hoping to see a multitude of butterflies, plenty of wildflowers and some birdlife.  About an hour later, returning to the car park, we were 12 very wet and bedraggled people, but still happy,

Tiptree Heath is said to be the largest and finest heath in Essex, and the only place where you find all three of the native species of heather growing together.  We identified all of these, the Ling, the Bell and the Cross-leaved and we also came upon a sole white specimen of the latter.  In 1973 the heath was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  The area does not only have heathland plants but also a variety of trees including low-growing oaks with wide-spreading branches and huge silver birch trees.  We noticed a Hornets’ nest in one tree crevice and also that some of the trees bore carvings of insects carved into areas where the bark had split. Scattered throughout the heath are several freestanding wooden sculptures.

We came upon the herd of Exmoor ponies that have been brought in to graze and have helped in conservation in establishing a more open, balanced heath.

A long nesting box placed low down in an oak tree had us baffled but shortly after we came upon the warden, Joan Pinch who was leading a walking tour, and explained to us that it was for owls, Tawny Owls I think she said, but that it had been placed too low and had never been occupied.

Our bird sightings were few and the butterflies, due to the weather, were almost non-existent except for one Small Heath that tried to avoid us by hiding in the gorse bushes.  We found a few flowers that we don’t see elsewhere (Wood Sage, Tormentil and Imperforate St John’s Wort – we could not positively identify the latter as the rain was damaging our books.

I left the group at the car park and headed for home and they went elsewhere to find refreshments.

Birds: Robin, Wren, Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker,

 Flowers: Ling, Bell & Cross-leaved Heather, Greater & Rosebay Willowherb, Hedge Bindweed, Bramble, (Imperforate) St John’s Wort, Tormentil, Pink Campion, Gorse, Cat’s Ear, Marsh Thistle, Common Centaury, Wood Sage, Burdoch

Other: Bracket Fungus, Elderberries & Blackberries, Grasshopper, Hornet, Exmoor Ponies, Small Heath Butterfly.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 11^th September, Cudmore Grove, West Mersea.  Meet 10.00 in the car park.

Diane Caulkett

13 members met in the car park at Bradwell Marina on a very warm morning. This was a part of Bradwell the group hadn’t visited before. From the car park a Wren was heard and seen, also 3 Jackdaws and a number of Swallows and House Martins flying around the Marina. On the islands just offshore there were a number of Gulls which we identified as Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.

Walking past the Activity Centre towards the seawall we spotted three House Martin nests under the eaves of a house and a number of House Martins flying in and out. Although it was low tide there were very few birds on the mud, just a couple of Oystercatchers and a few Gulls. Several Reed Buntings and a Reed Warbler were seen in the reed beds.

A number of wild flowers were identified which are shown below.

Despite the lack of bird life we had a very enjoyable walk along the seawall. 2 members then went home and the rest of us made our way to the Green Man for lunch, or just a coffee, and spent a very pleasant hour sitting in the garden. It was very warm and humid and we did have a few spots of rain. Goldfinch, Sparrow and Blackbird were seen.

After lunch most members went home but two of us went on to Bradwell Power Station nature walk. It was very quiet and the only birds seen were Greenfinch and Jay.

Birds: Wren, Jackdaw, Swallow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Oyster Catcher, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Sparrow, Starling, Blackbird, Goldfinch, House Martin, Pheasant, Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Jay.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Painted Lady, Peacock, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown.

Wild Flowers: Cat’s Ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Hedge Bindweed (Bellbine), Bindweed, Stinging Nettle, Hawkweed, White Deadnettle, Blackberry, Black Medick, Ragwort, Black Horehound, Ribwort Plantain, Small-flowered & Dove’s-foot Cranesbill, Daisy, Mallow, Yarrow, Wild Carrot, Honeysuckle, Bristly Ox-tongue, Great Willowherb, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, White Clover

Other: Red-tailed Bumblebee, Grasshopper, Hover Fly, 7-spot Ladybird

Joy Deacon

Next month: 14 August 2019 – Tiptree Heath – Meet in Car Park at 10 a.m.

Nine members met in the Car Park at Abbotts Hall Farm on an overcast morning.

The main office of Essex Wildlife Trust is at Abbotts Hall Farm which Essex Wildlife purchased in 1999. It is a 700-acre working coastal farm south of Colchester and Abberton Reservoir.

To create additional coastal marsh the 3.5-kilometre sea wall has been breached in a number of places. Walking down to the hide overlooking this area we only had fleeting glances of a few small birds which we identified as Blue and Great Tit. From the hide it was very quiet and the few birds that we could see were quite far away but we identified Lapwing, Little Egret, Shelduck, Oystercatcher and Cormorant. We were delighted to see 3 Hares playing in the field adjacent to the hide which we watched for some minutes.

Leaving the Hide it started to rain and as this was forecast for the rest of the day we decided to go on to Abberton Reservoir where we had a very welcome hot drink before we ventured out in the rain to the nearest Hide. Some small birds were flying in and out of the grass and shrubs in front of the Hide which we identified as Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit. On the Reservoir there were a number of Mute Swans and Canada Geese, also Egyptian Geese, Greylags, Pochard, Common Terns, Great Crested Grebes, Mallards, Black-headed Gulls and a number of Swifts flying overhead. Skylarks were heard but not seen. After eating our packed lunch in the Hide we decided to call it a day as it was still raining quite heavily.

In spite of the weather it was an enjoyable day with good company.

Birds seen: Lapwing, Little Egret, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coot, Moorhen, Shelduck, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Swift, Teal, Pied Wagtail, Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Greylag, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Reed Bunting, Skylark (heard), Pochard, Gt. Crested Grebe, Meadow Pipit.

Wild Flowers: Oxeye Daisy, Buttercup, Elderberry, Dog Rose, Comfrey.

Other: 3 Hares

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 10 July 2019 – Bradwell – Meet at Bradwell Marina Car Park at 10 a.m.

Joy Deacon

Nightingales are a symbol of Spring.  They arrive back in this country in the second half of April and for a few short weeks their song can be heard long after dusk when other birds have fallen silent.

Yet, like too many of our songbirds, their numbers have fallen.  According to the RSPB nightingale numbers have declined by 90% in the last 50 years.  Keats’s “immortal bird” is in danger of disappearing.

That is why we are lucky in Essex to have a site where nightingales are thriving: the Essex Wildlife Trust centre at Fingringhoe on the Colne estuary.

When the Bird and Wildlife group went there earlier in April one of the group heard a nightingale that had literally just arrived from Africa.  Nearly two weeks later when I went there on one of the Trust’s guided walks we heard, according to our guide’s estimate, about eighteen birds singing.  At one point we listened to two birds trying to outdo one another in their effort to attract a mate.  Their stereophonic sparring was unforgettable. You can listen to the nightingale here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK2_bcQcoD4

It was a fascinating experience wandering around the reserve after dusk, watching the light fade over the water and listening to the nightingales.

It’s probably too late this year to go to Fingringhoe to hear this special symbol of Spring but next year – go if you can.

Frances Harris

Member of Bird and Wildlife Group

On a chilly but sunny morning 16 members met in the Visitors Centre and enjoyed a hot drink while watching the birds on the feeders which included a number of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Chaffinch and a few fortunate members spotted a Bullfinch.

We were hoping to see and hear Nightingales which usually arrive at Fingringhoe around mid-April but the staff in the centre told us that none had yet been seen but one was heard the day before near to the Nightingale Hide.  Walking down to the Hide very little bird song was heard and few birds were seen.  So we then proceeded to the Intertidal area and Hide and on the way 3 Yellowhammers were spotted, also Shelduck, Skylark and Brent Geese.  From the hide we could see a number of Shelducks, Curlews, Magpies and Oyster Catchers.  A flock of Brent Geese flew in and some members saw a Buzzard in the far trees and two smaller birds of prey which we thought were Sparrowhawks.

From the Kingfisher Hide we spotted Pochard, Linnet, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Little Egret and a Mute Swan on its nest,  and in the woods walking back to the Centre a few members heard a Nightingale, Cetti’s Warbler and Green Woodpecker; and Chiffchaff, Blue Tit and Robin were seen.

Back at the Centre a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen on the feeder.

Driving out of the Reserve three of us stopped at the gravel pits where Sand Martins breed every year and were told that they had been arriving over the past few days; we spotted a few flying above the pits.  Sand Martins are summer visitors to Britain and Ireland and they appear in Spring in order to breed.  They tunnel into the sand of vertical gravel pit faces to nest between March and September and are fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

A very enjoyable day.

Birds: Pheasant, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Coot, Bullfinch, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Greylag, Shelduck, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Curlew, Godwit, Mallard, Brent Geese, Cormorant, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Oyster Catcher, Magpie, Mute Swan, Pochard, Linnet, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Robin, Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Nightingale (heard), Swallow, Grey Partridge, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (heard), Jay, Sand Martin, Rook, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler (heard), Goldfinch, Wren, Teal.

Butterflies: Peacock, Brimstone

Wild Flowers: Alexanders, Blackthorn, Bluebell, Bugle, Cherry Plum, Daffodil, Daisy, Dandelion, Field Horsetail, Germander Speedwell, Goat Willow, Gorse, Greater Stitchwort, Green Alkanet, Lesser Celandine, Red Dead Nettle, Sticky Storksbill

Other:  Rabbit, Seven-spot Ladybird, Molehill

Joy Deacon

Next meeting:  Wat Tyler Country Park and Pitsea Marshes – Meet in Wat Tyler Car Park at 10 a.m.  

This was one of our lowest turnouts with just 6 members attending (although one did make the effort but got the location wrong) – the poor turnout was not due to the lack of interest but caused by Storm Gareth that brought strong westerly winds with gusts of up to 50 mph.  At times we feared being blown off the seawall (in fact occasionally we did have to hold onto each other to prevent this happening); the wind also meant our binoculars were buffeted and the use of telescopes would have been quite impossible

Meeting in the tearoom some enjoyed coffee and toasted teacakes and then we headed to the lakes so as to avoid a headwind on the seawall.   The water in the canal was rough with some of the waves having white crests; the lake likewise.  Sensibly the bird life was keeping protected from the blasts by sheltering in the lee of the islands and banks.  When we reached the point where we climbed onto the seawall we had become a split group.  Three had gone to look for a lone soul who had wandered off with his camera and two had hunkered down to try to identify the myriad of birds on the exposed mud that had, for the most part, also hunkered down.  In spite of these it was a surprisingly long list of sightings.

One bird we heard and briefly saw we later identified as a Cetti’s Warbler.  We are used to hearing sudden, explosive outburst but today it was slightly different.  Later, at home, a member went onto the BTO’s website and listened to many recordings of this warbler and she and I both agreed it was most likely a Cetti’s Warbler.  Some interesting facts on the website say of this little bird ‘that it is unique amongst British birds in having only 10 tail feathers’ (I can’t find out how many is normal but I am sure someone reading this will let me know) and unusual also in ‘laying bright red eggs’ – there is always something new to learn.

We had planned to go on to Chigborough Lakes but we had tired of the wind and dark clouds threatened, so we cut the outing short.  Despite the poor conditions we all enjoyed the day.

Birds: Robin, Cetti’s Warbler, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Golden Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Moorhen, Coot, Black-tailed Godwit, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Brent Geese, Little Egret, Cormorant, Black-headed & Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Flowers: Gorse, Wild Violet, Cherry Plum, Blackthorn.

Next Meeting: Wednesday April 10^th – Fingringhoe Wick Reserve meet 10.00 in the Visitor Centre

Diane Caulkett