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birding...
England Essex
Essex is a large county with a great variety of habitats, from the mud flats & sea-watching of the north Thames, many scattered woodlands, an area of chalk-land in the extreme north west, large reservoirs, coastal salt-marsh & last, but not least, vast arable fields that, surprisingly in some areas, still support large numbers of Corn Buntings. Essex is heavily populated; this means that a lot of public areas are intensively used by the public, which means early mornings are quite commonplace on Essex birders days in the field. There are many excellent local nature reserves (see below); which cater for a good range of birds & general wildlife. Estuaries, Salt Marsh & Grazing Marshes - Essex is a county with many good examples of this sort of habitat, having as it does an indented & eroded coastline. Places worth a visit are the Blackwater estuary and Stour estuary including: Tollesbury Wick, Old Hall Marshes RSPB, Copperas Bay RSPB Reserve, Hamford Water, Rainham Marsh, Aveley Bay, Havengore Creek, Reeveshall Marsh, and Fingringhoe Wick. Farmland, Lakes & Woodland - Farmland in Essex is very intense but some areas still hold good numbers of Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer etc. Good areas are the Dengie peninsular, which runs north south from Bradwell in the north to Holliwell point in the south. It is short on both woodland and lakes but there are some good examples, such as: Amwell Lakes, Berwick Ponds, Connaught Water, Dagenham Chase, Danbury Lakes CP, Gunners Park, and Hainault Forest. Reservoirs - There are many good reservoirs to choose from each with their own character, including: Abberton and Hanningfield. The Lea Valley reservoirs are mostly permit access only & stretch from Walthamstow (G London) in the south to Hoddesdon (Hertfordshire) in the north. The best area is around Fishers Green. Migration points - The best-known migration area has to be the Naze, which is the point of land NE of Walton-on-the-Naze. Its huge area of bushes with a scattering of Sycamores provides ideal habitat for tired migrants, but can be frustrating to try & find birds or re-find them. It has had many rarities in its time the most well attended twitch was the Red-throated Thrush the first for Britain, which stayed for some time around the outskirts of the town. Sea-watching - The place to sea-watch in Essex is the Thames estuary, Specifically: Southend Pier and Wakering Stairs. |
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top sites |
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Abberton Reservoir
(TL963185)Excellent for wildfowl & occasional rarities, it also has the advantage of a visitor centre selling everything from food to optics.Amwell Lakes
(TL374125)Good for Smew.Aveley Bay
(TQ552790)River Thames & marshy fields.Berwick Ponds
(TQ540840)Reedy ponds.Bradwell Bird Observatory
(TM032083)Lies on the south shore of the Blackwater estuary by the river mouth, access from Bradwell-on-sea.Canvey Island
(TQ804824)Seafront shelters, this is just far enough up river to funnel the birds close in before they turn around & fly back to sea, Long-tailed Skua & Sabines are regular on Easterly winds in August/September.Connaught Water
(TQ404952)Good for Mandarin & woodland species.Copperas Bay RSPB Reserve
(TM195310)access east of Mannningtree.Copperas Wood
(TM199315)This is an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve.Dagenham Chase
(TQ512863)Lake & surrounding fields.Danbury Lakes CP
(TL770048)Hawfinch & woodland.Fingringhoe Wick NR
(TM048193)An Essex Wildlife trust reserve & is excellent for a wide range of species. In spring it is probably the best place in the country to see Nightingales sitting in the open in full song. Up to 40 pairs in this reserve. The Fatbirder has sat in his car in the car park here hearing 10 nightingales and seeing three or four without even breaking sweat! The reserve has salt marsh, estuary, scrub and young woodland and there is a gravel pit close to the entrance road which is excellent for swifts and hirundines.Fishers Green
(TL377032)Complex, which is accessed off the B194 just north of Waltham Abbey. This area is famous for it`s wintering Bitterns, which show extremely well from the Bittern hide . It is also very good for Smew in the winter.Gunners Park
(TQ927841)Good for migrants.Hainault Forest
(TQ478944)Typical woodland species.Hamford Water
(TM264235)Area is excellent, especially in winter, but access & parking are difficult. Best access is from Walton-on-the-naze.Hanningfield Reservoir
(TQ736976)Smaller than Abberton but has a totally different character, it often gets sea birds for example, which Abberton does not , there are hides & a visitor centre.Havengore Creek
(TQ977877)Holland-On-Sea
(TM216171)Holland Haven lies just south of Walton-on-the-Naze & is Excellent for migrants, gardens along the seafront held a Steppe Shrike for sometime in 1996.Old Hall Marshes RSPB
(TL959123)A permit is required from the RSPB.Rainham Marsh
(TQ512812)Thames foreshore & rough grassland recently purchased from the Army by RSPB - a grazing marsh hardly changed in centuries. The Rubbish tip is renown for attracting unusual gulls.Reeveshall Marsh
(TM055155)Southend Pier
(TQ889830)Sea Watching.Tollesbury Wick
(TL969103)Open access is from the village of Tollesbury.Wakering Stairs
(TQ970871)Sea watching & migrants.contributor |
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Roy Ledgerton
Chairman Essex Birdwatching Society
((EBS County Recorder))
r.ledgerton@virgin.net
Adrian Kettle
(Abberton, Colchester, England)
akettle@globalnet.co.uk
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~akettle
county recorder |
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Roy Ledgerton
25 Bunyan Road, Braintree, Essex CM7 2PL
01376 326103
r.ledgerton@virgin.net
Bob Flindall
60 Lady Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 0TH
Tel: 01245-344206 (after 7pm)
robert.flindall@btinternet.com
Howard Vaughan - Senior Recorder
103 Darnley Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2EY
01634 325864
howardebs@blueyonder.co.uk
numbers |
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County Bird - Brent Goose Branta bernicla
useful reading |
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Essex Avifauna
by Simon Wood 2007Essex Bird Reports
Essex Bird Reports and the excellent magazine Essex Birding are produced by the Essex Birdwatching Society (EBWS) and are obtainable from the Membership Secretary. Please check their website for further details.Tetrad Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Essex
M K Dennis Paperback (1996) Essex Birdwatching SocietyISBN: 0902131095
Buy this book from NHBS.com
The Birds of Essex
by Simon Wood - due to launch at BBF August 2007Where To Watch Birds In East Anglia
Peter & Margaret Clarke (2002 4th Edition) HelmSee Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713658649
Buy this book from NHBS.com
useful information |
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Abberton Reservoir
Essex Wildlife Trust, 01206 738172
Proact
Coordinator: James Cracknell (Essex, Cambs., Norfolk, Suffolk)
Members: 4
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team/
Contact your coordinator via mailto:info@proact-campaigns.net
clubs |
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Bishop`s Stortford & District Natural History Society
http://www.btinternet.com/~bsbirdgroup/Bird Group - Monthly MEETING - 20:00, Bricklayers Arms, Hadham Road. First Monday of every month, unless Bank holiday, then held on second Monday...
East London Birders Forum
http://www.elbf.co.ukELBF was set up in August 1997 as a forum for local birders to network more easily and to accumulate data on the local avifauna and most importantly to promote the importance of local patch birding. Meetings: On the 2nd Tuesday in every month at 8pm. Upstairs in the County Arms, Hale End Road, Highams Park, E4.
Essex Wildlife Trust
http://www.essexwt.org.ukWe manage 93 nature reserves covering 7,700 acres of land. We give advice on wildlife problems and campaign on wildlife issues. We run five visitor centres that welcome 200,000 visitors per year. We have a membership of over 16,000 that is growing fast. Our members are the backbone of the Trust, funding its activities, providing volunteers that are vital to its operation, and spreading the word to others. Without them the Trust would not be able to function and wildlife would be under even greater threat.
Essex Bird Watching Society
http://www.essexbirdwatchsoc.co.ukSecretary: Neil Harvey, 11 Head Street, Colchester, CO5 7HN; Tel: 01206 728816. Membership Secretary, Peter Dwyer - 48 Churchill Avenue, Halstead, CO9 2BE; Tel: 01787 476524. Members actively participate in many national surveys and projects, including the BTO Atlas projects, Wetland Bird Surveys, Common Birds Census, etc. All members and other observers are requested to send their Essex bird records to a Society Recorder.
Harlow Conservation Volunteers
http://www.harlowcvs.org.uk/Harlow Conservation Volunteers (HCV) is a group of volunteers who work for nature conservation in and around Harlow - Essex. Their aim is to improve the environment for wildlife, nature conservation, and recreation, and to improve public access. All over the country conservation volunteers do practical work which makes a major contribution to our natural heritage. They manage trees, woodlands, and hedgerows; build bridges, hides, steps, and stiles; and clean out streams and ponds. They work on footpaths, clearing them of vegetation and making them easy to walk along; they work mostly on nature reserves and public open spaces, but occasionally on privately owned land. The work done depends on the time of year, but has included coppicing, tree planting, hedge-laying, scrub control, wild flower planting, constructing boardwalks, and even charcoal making.
Holland Haven Birding Group
http://www.hollandhavenbirding.com/The Holland Haven Birding Group recording area generally lies in north east Essex between the furthest most north east residential area of Holland on Sea and the seaside town of Frinton-on-Sea. Historically known as ''Holland Gap'' this undeveloped area is bordered to the south east by the sea, to the west by the B1032 and to the north west by a low ridge running from the village of Great Holland to Great Holland Hall. Contained within the recording area is a diverse range of habitats including a council maintained country park complete with scrape, Frinton Golf Course, grazing marsh, arable fields, a small sewage farm, paddocks, modest reed beds and fringes as well as scattered bushes and a small woodland all of which are transected by Holland Brook and associated feeder ditches which release fresh water to the sea via a sluice...
RSPB Southend-on-Sea Members Group
http://www.southendrspb.co.ukI particularly like the pages introducing birdwatching to the novice… The keys to success in bird watching are stealth, patience and quietness - in short, the ability to make yourself as inconspicuous as possible. Some birds, of course, are more easily alarmed than others: birds in towns, for instance, are generally much easier to come close to than their counterparts in the country, simply because they are more used to the presence of human beings. But wherever you are, remember that any sudden noise or movement - the crack of a dry branch underfoot, the unexpected raising of a hand - can easily frighten birds away. By making the best use of hedges, shrubs, shadows and other forms of cover, and by moving at a steady pace, you can frequently come close to even the shyest birds. The clothes you wear may also help to conceal you, so always choose quiet colours and make certain that your clothes are warm, well-fitting and weatherproof.
Wakering & District Natural History Society
http://www.r.kirton.btinternet.co.uk/Early in 1980 John Threadgold was approached by Councillor Ernie Adcock to see if he would be willing to start up a Natural History group in the village. The answer being 'Yes', John then had to liaise with the Parish Clerk to fix up a meeting place and then get some helpers. The obvious choice for help was George Bailey who was a keen photographer and a fellow member of the South Essex Natural History Society...
Wildlife Gateway
http://www.wildlifegateway.org.uk/Wildlife Gateway has been created by the Wildlife Trusts in Thames Gateway as part of their commitment to high quality regeneration which delivers for people and wildlife...
observatories |
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Bradwell Bird Observatory
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/sites/Bradwell%20Cockle%20Spit.htmThe reserve is run jointly by Essex Wildlife Trust and the Essex Birdwatching Society. The latter also operates Bradwell Bird Observatory, situated in the grounds of Linnett's Cottage on the edge of the reserve...
reserves |
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Cranham Marsh Reserve
http://www.upminster.com/environment/marsh.htmThe reason is that Cranham Marsh is home to wildlife that is so rare or so threatened that it has been listed for national action: animals like the water vole - Ratty from Wind in the Willows - or the great crested newt, and birds like the song thrush, once common in suburban gardens but now worryingly scarce are cause for concern.
Essex Reserves
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Sites/Roding%20Valley%20Meadows.htmA number of pages about reserves in Essex from Essex Wildlife Trust...
Lee Valley Park
http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/Covering a thousand acres on either side of the River Lee between Waltham Abbey (Essex) and Broxbourne (Herts) River Lee Country Park is a unique patchwork of lakes, waterways, green open spaces and countryside areas all linked together by paths, walkways and cycle tracks. The River Lee Country Park abounds with wildlife throughout the year and is the perfect venue for informal, outdoor recreation.
Nature Net
http://www.naturenet.net/england/essex.htmlList of reserves etc...
Reservoirs
http://www.eswater.co.uk/content/haveFun.asp?channel=2&top=26&header=57Abberton reservoir has become an important site for migrating birds from north west Europe and Asia. The visitor centre offers excellent facilities including educational displays and a viewing room for bird watching. Bird hides built around the reservoir also provide good views...
RSPB Reserve - Stour Estuary
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/stourestuary/index.aspAt the Stour Estuary reserve you can enjoy both strolling through a coppiced wood and watching wading birds, ducks and geese on the estuary...
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
local guides |
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Birding Pal
http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htmLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
places to stay |
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Bay Trees B&B
http://www.bay-trees.com/Bay Trees is a large, comfortable chalet style bungalow, in a quiet Avenue in the Cinque Port of Brightlingsea in Essex. At Brightlingsea, which is near Fingringhoe and Abberton and within 1hr of Minsmere, we have a good selection of birds, including Little Egrets and we are a SSSI...
Bucks House - Great Bardfield
http://www.avaweb.co.uk/buckshouse.htmlBucks House has a Victorian brick exterior, concealing a timber framed lathe and plaster house, built in 1510. It has a wealth of character, beams and inglenooks. We are one hours drive from London, 20 minutes from London (Stansted) airport, and 35 minutes from Cambridge. The pretty walled garden is available for your enjoyment.
Old Bakery
http://www.tuckedup.com/stayat/602/Old_Bakery.phpA warm welcome awaits you at this converted bakery on the outskirts of a small village, overlooking open farmland and on the Essex Way. Well placed for Constable country and the historic towns of Colchester and Maldon.
Round Hill House
http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=121Boxted is some 5 miles North of Colchester on the edge of the Dedham Vale and Constable`s Country. Colchester is the oldest recorded town in Britain with a wealth of Roman remains and a fine Norman keep. The attractive, comfortable house and delightful garden are set on a low hill overlooking woods and green pastures where sheep and cattle graze.
other links |
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Adrian Kettle`s Homepages
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~akettleStill under construction...
Birdline East Anglia
http://www.birdline-eastanglia.co.ukBirdline East Anglia - We provide the latest bird news for East Anglia and also a UK rare bird summary...
Birds of East Tilbury
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Wetlands/6757/East Tilbury, on the Essex shore of the Thames, may not have the atmosphere of Cley or Titchwell but on a good day - and there are many, even in an average year - it can deliver just as good a buzz.
BLOG - Chris Jones
http://chrisbirding.blogspot.com/Wildlife photography concentrating on UK birds...
Essex Biodiversity Action Plan
http://www.ukbap.org.uk/lbap.aspx?id=373...download the contents of the Essex Biodiversity Action Plan, the county and UK`s most important current nature conservation initiative...
The Bird Table
http://www.thebirdtable.co.uk/The Bird Table is a site dedicated to the care of birds in the wild. Please feel free to browse our Online Shop, featuring our Bird Table range of quality wild bird food, plus lots of handy advice on feeding and caring for wild birds. We also stock a large range of carefully selected treats, feeders, nest boxes and bird tables. Our specially commissioned artist has created a collection of unique drawings, displayed throughout the site and in The Gallery.
artists |
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Artist - Chris Lodge
http://www.birdingart.com/birdingart_007.htmChris Lodge is a self taught artist, currently based in Essex, U.K. Chris has previously lived at various locations throughout Britain and for two years in Massachusetts U.S.A. He has travelled to all continents in recent years, to gain inspiration for his bird portraits (and to boost his meagre world list!), his latest trips have been to Papua New Guinea and Antarctica.
Artist - Richard Allen
http://www.richardallenillustrator.com/Starting as a freelance illustrator in advertising, publishing and newspapers, my work has gradually drifted towards my main interest of birds and wildlife especially after winning "British Birds - Bird Illustrator of the year" in 1993...
Photographer - Dave Farrow - & Sound Recordist
http://www.shortwing.co.uk/pages/imageGallery.aspx?galleryId=14Images from Essex
Photographer - Ian Rose
http://www.iananddot.orgPhotos of British Birds, mostly taken in Essex and Herts…
Photographer - Peter Mann - Manny's Wildlife
http://www.pbase.com/oldmanny/wildlifeMainly common birds of the UK including the odd deer…
Photographer - Richard Chew
http://www.richardchewphotography.com/index.htmlI am an amateur photographer and my principal interest is the wildlife and landscapes of the UK. My website includes a selection of photos that I have taken over the last 12 years or so in England, Wales and the Scottish Highlands and Islands. I have also included details of the equipment that I use and some of my own personal photography tips which I feel have contributed to my development as a photographer.
Webcam - Nature Watch
http://www.nature-watch.co.uk/We have cameras set up in 4 nest boxes, a bird bath, mealworm feeder and seed feeder, recording all of the action from a regular household garden in Essex. You can now watch some of these cameras online through our Live Streaming system! There are also diaries of events, news pages and the Get Involved section has information for you to get out with nature in your own garden. To find out what has been happening in the garden, check out the News page for all the up to date info!
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