Wat Tyler Country Park and RSPB Vange Marsh

Sightings - 19th October 2008

2008-10-19T11:00:00.002+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a Grey Wagtail flying over Vange Creek, my first record for the site and bringing my site total for bird species to 105.

During a short visit from 9 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Black-tailed Godwit (1)
Common Redshank (c.50)
Curlew (2)
Little Egret (2)
Cormorant (1)
Heron (1)
Moorhen (4)
Teal (21)
Greater Black-backed Gull (2)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.70)
Carrion Crow (2)
Grey Wagtail (1)
Robin (1)

Photos .... Robin, Carrion Crow

Sightings - 28th September 2008

2008-09-28T18:00:00.001+01:00

Vange Marsh

The highlight today was again the passage waders i.e. Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Ruff. In addition, there was an excellent view of a Water Rail as it flew up from one of the ditches.

During a 1 hour visit in warm and sunny weather from 11 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds:

Little Egret (5)
Heron (1)
Avocet (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.20)
Spotted Redshank (9)
Green Sandpiper (1)
Curlew Sandpiper (1)
Ruff (1)
Common Snipe (2)
Curlew (1)
Lapwing (c.100)
Moorhen (c.20)
Little Grebe (4)
Water Rail (1)
Cormorant (4)
Mallard (c.20)
Teal (c.50)
Wigeon (c.20)
Shoveler (2)
Black-headed Gull (c.100)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)
Greater Black-backed Gull (1)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Magpie (3)
Carrion Crow (4)
Pied Wagtail (c.10)

Sightings - 28th September 2008

2008-09-28T17:00:00.005+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was an excellent close up view of a singing Cettis Warbler outside the Holly Cottage Hide. After hearing many singing birds this year, this was actually my only first sighting.

During a visit of almost 3 hours in cool and sunny weather from 8 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Greenshank (1)
Common Redshank (c.40)
Curlew (3)
Lapwing (1)
Little Egret (1)
Heron (1)
Moorhen (1)
Teal (4)
Greater Black-backed Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Black-headed Gull (7)

Birds (reedbed and area behind the craft shops):

Moorhen (1 adult and 2 juveniles)
House Sparrow (4)
Blue Tit (1)
Collared Dove (2)
Woodpigeon (c.10)

Birds (Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Coot (c.50)
Shoveler (1 male and 2 females)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Hirundine species (6 flying over high and south)
Stock Dove (c.15)
Magpie (9 in one group)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Green Sandpiper (1 flying through)
Black-tailed Godwit (2 groups of 9 and 2 flying over towards the main scrape)
Lapwing (2 groups of c.10 and c.20 flying over towards the main scrape)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (3)
Water Rail (heard only)
Little Grebe (2)
Cormorant (2 flying through)
Mallard (1 male and 2 females)
Black-headed Gull (3)
Woodpigeon (c.20)
Collared Dove (11)
Green Woodpecker (heard only)
Jay (2)
Magpie (c.10)
Cettis Warbler (1 singing next to the hide and 1 singing in the reeds on the far side of Pitseahall Fleet)
Chiffchaff (2 in the bushes and reeds next to the hide and 1 singing on the far side of Pitseahall Fleet)
Blackcap (1 male and 2 females eating blackberries in the bushes next to the hide)
Robin (2)
Wren (1)
Blackbird (4)
Song Thrush (2)
Dunnock (6)
Greenfinch (3)
Blue Tit (2)
Long-tailed Tit (5)
Pied Wagtail (2)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (1 adult and 1 juvenile on the roof of the craft shops and 1 in the bushes adjacent to Holly Cottage hide)
Rabbit (c.5 in the area around the craft shops)

Photos .... Grey Squirrel, Rabbit, House Sparrow, Blackcap, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Moorhen, Heron

Sightings - 21st September 2008

2008-09-21T13:00:00.002+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today on a brief visit was a Greenshank in Vange Creek.

During a 1 hour visit in warm and sunny weather from 11:15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Greenshank (1)
Common Redshank (5)
Curlew (3)
Little Egret (1)
Moorhen (1)
Greater Black-backed Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (3)
Common Gull (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.20)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Little Egret (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (6)
Coot (c.50)
Little Grebe (1)
Cormorant (6)
Teal (2)
Mallard (2)
Cettis Warbler (1 singing loudly adjacent to the hide but not seen!)
Reed Warbler (1)
Collared Dove (1)
Woodpigeon (5)
Magpie (1)

Mammals

Grey Squirrel (1 eating on the barrier fence to the main hide)

Sightings - 31st August 2008

2008-08-31T16:11:00.002+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was my first record of Kingfisher for the year for the site. The bird perched for long periods on a post along Pitseahall Fleet, occasionally diving in to the water for fish.

In addition, I recorded my first sightings of Green Sandpiper and Little Egret for the year for the site. A group of 7 Common Snipe was also notable.

During a 1.5 hour visit in very hazy and warm weather from 10.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (2)
Little Egret (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.25)
Common Snipe (7)
Green Sandpiper (1)
Oystercatcher (2)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (c.5)
Water Rail (1 heard calling)
Little Grebe (1)
Cormorant (7)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.20)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (1 heard calling)
Swallow (5)
Turtle Dove (2)
Common Whitethroat (1)
Blackcap (1)
Chiffchaff (1)
Blue Tit (c.20)
Great Tit (1)
Long-tailed Tit (3)
Robin (1)
Blackbird (1)
Starling (c.100)
Goldfinch (3)
Magpie (2)
Woodpigeon (c.10)

Sightings - 2nd August 2008

2008-08-02T11:00:00.001+01:00

Vange Marsh

The highlight today was a further passage wader, namely a moulting Curlew Sandpiper (my first of the year). In addition, 4 eclipse Wigeon were notable for the time of year.

During a 1 hour visit in cool and cloudy weather from 7.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds:

Little Egret (1)
Avocet (5)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.100)
Common Sandpiper (c.20)
Green Sandpiper (4)
Curlew Sandpiper (1)
Ringed Plover (2)
Lapwing (c.20)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (c.20)
Greylag Goose (4)
Canada Goose (8)
Little Grebe (c.10)
Mallard (c.10)
Teal (c.10)
Wigeon (4)
Shelduck (2 plus 8 juveniles)
Common Pochard (4)
Shoveler (2)
Common Tern (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.100)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.10)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Magpie (1)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Swallow (c.10)
Swift (c.10)
Pied Wagtail (c.20)
Starling (c.100)
Reed Warbler (several heard singing)

Butterflies:

Gatekeeper (c.5)
Small White (1)

Sightings - 26th July 2008

2008-07-26T18:00:00.008+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The aim of my visit today was to photograph butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies in the grassland area and ponds surrounding the Basildon DC office.

However, the main highlights were a large Fox that came bounding along the path as I was photographing an unidentified spider and a fly over Green Woodpecker, both new records for the year for the site for me.

During a 1.5 hour visit in sunny weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Butterflies:

Gatekeeper (large numbers)
Small White (large numbers)
Green-veined White (c.10)
Meadow Brown (c.5)
Peacock (3)
Red Admiral (2)
Holly Blue (1)
Marbled White (1)
Small and/or Essex Skipper (c.20)

Dragonflies and damselflies:

Common Blue Damselfly (c.5)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (c.5)
Emerald Damselfly (c.5)
Common Darter (c.5)
Ruddy Darter (c.5)

Photos .... Gatekeeper, Essex Skipper, Holly Blue and Emerald Damselfly

Visit - 23rd July 2008

2008-07-23T20:00:00.011+01:00

Vange Marsh

The aim of my visit today was to photograph some of the numerous butterflies on my previous visit.

The weather was very hot and sunny so the butterflies were very active.

I was fortunate to photograph the Essex Skippers but less so with the Marbled Whites and Gatekeepers. A very obliging female Ruddy Darter dragonfly was an added bonus.

Photos .... Essex Skipper and Ruddy Darter.

Sightings - 20th July 2008

2008-07-20T18:00:00.001+01:00

Vange Marsh

Another visit to the new and developing RSPB reserve today.

The highlights were the passage waders, including my first Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover of the year, plus at least 12 Little Egrets.

During a 1.5 hour visit in sunny and windy weather from 9.00 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds:

Little Egret (12)
Cormorant (2)
Lapwing (c.30)
Wood Sandpiper (1)
Green Sandpiper (7)
Greenshank (6)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.80)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (3)
Greylag Goose (4)
Canada Goose (10)
Great Crested Grebe (2)
Little Grebe (10)
Mute Swan (1)
Shelduck (2 plus 9 ducklings)
Common Pochard (1 female)
Shoveler (3)
Black-headed Gull (c.100)
Common Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)
Magpie (2)
Swift (2)
Swallow (c.10)
Sand Martin (2)
House Martin (2)
Sedge Warbler (several heard singing)

Butterflies:

Marbled White (3)
Peacock (1)
Meadow Brown (1)
Gatekeeper (c.20)
Large Skipper (c.20)

Sightings - 15th June 2008

2008-06-15T13:00:00.010+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a fine adult Mediterranean Gull on the scrape with a mixed gull flock, my first sighting of the year.

In addition, I added Avocet, Oystercatcher and Swift to my site records for the year.

The ponds near the Basildon DC office were the main focus of my visit today and these produced a fine display of Water Lillies plus good numbers of Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

During a 2 hour visit in sunny and warm weather from 10.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (2)
Avocet (2)
Oystercatcher (2)
Lapwing (3)
Coot (c.10 including 2 adults with young)
Little Grebe (1 with 2 young)
Mute Swan (1 with 3 young)
Cormorant (1)
Gadwall (2 flew over)
Mallard (3 flew over)
Mediterranean Gull (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.10)
Herring Gull (c.50)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.5)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Reed Warbler (several heard singing)
Cuckoo (1 flew over plus 2 others flew low over the Basildon DC office)
Swift (c.50)

Reptiles:

Slow Worm (3)

Butterflies:

Common Blue (1)

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Water Lillies and Water Forget-Me-Not.

Sightings - 24th May 2008

2008-05-24T11:30:00.002+01:00

Vange Marsh

This was my first visit to the new and developing RSPB reserve since I went to see the Pectoral Sandpiper in September 2005.

During a 1 hour visit in sunny and windy weather from 7.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds:

Avocet (16)
Lapwing (4)
Common Redshank (2)
Curlew (1)
Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (2)
Greylag Goose (2)
Canada Goose (10 including a pair with goslings)
Great Crested Grebe (2)
Little Grebe (3)
Mute Swan (1)
Mallard (4)
Shelduck (2)
Common Pochard (1 female)
Black-headed Gull (c.20)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Magpie (1)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Collared Dove (1)
Swift (5)
Sedge Warbler (2)
Reed Warbler (several heard singing)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing distantly)
Reed Bunting (1 male)
Common Whitethroat (1)
Blackcap (1 heard singing)
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Long-tailed Tit (a family group of c.10 birds)
Blackbird

Butterflies:

Wall (1 by the entrance track)

Sightings - 5th May 2008

2008-05-05T14:00:00.003+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

A very brief visit today in the hope of photographing the Common Lizards and Slow Worms that I found on my last visit. Unfortunately there were no Common Lizards to be seen and the very warm morning meant that the Slow Worms slithered away too quickly and before I could get my macro lens on to them!

I also added 3 further butterfly records for the year: Orange Tip (at least 10), Speckled Wood (2) and Green-veined White (1).

Cuckoo and Turtle Dove were both heard but not seen.

Photo of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Sightings - 27th April 2008

2008-04-27T11:00:00.003+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

An excellent visit today with plenty of highlights.

Following my last visit, I added a further 5 new bird records for the year: Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. In addition, I saw my first butterfly records of the year: a Peacock and a Small White.

I also found 4 Common Lizards and 5 Slow Worms, both new reptile records for the site for me .... a return visit to the same area with my camera and macro lens is required!

During a 1 hour visit in cool and cloudy weather from 10 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (in the area between Holly Cottage and the end of Pitseahall Fleet):

Chiffchaff (2)
Blackcap (3)
Common Whitethroat (2)
Lesser Whitethroat (1)
Reed Warbler (1)
Cuckoo (1)
Turtle Dove (1)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Wren (heard only)
Blue Tit
Great Tit (heard only)
Chaffinch
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Stock Dove
Collared Dove

Birds (Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.15)
Little Grebe (1)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Greylag Goose (2 nesting pairs)
Mallard (1 pair)
Common Pochard (1 male and 3 females)

Mammals:

Rabbit (1)

Reptiles:

Common Lizard (4)
Slow Worm (5)

Butterflies:

Peacock (1)
Small White (1)

Sightings - 12th April 2008

2008-04-12T09:30:00.003+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

A sunny spring morning prompted me to visit Wat Tyler Country Park in a search for some early summer migrants.

I was not disappointed as I saw my first Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Swallows and House Martins of the year.

Many of the commoner birds were also singing and there was definitely a spring feel to the morning.

During a 1 hour visit in breezy, cold and sunny weather from 8 a.m. the following were recorded:

Chiffchaff (8 singing males, 4 seen)
Blackcap (3 singing males, 1 seen)
Swallow and House Martin (mixed flock of c.20 birds hawking for insects around the hedges along the approach road)
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Wren (heard only)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Starling
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Teal (1 male and 2 females on Timbermans Creek)
Collared Dove

Sightings - 3rd February 2008

2008-02-03T16:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Yes, water has returned to the scrape at long last!

The highlight today was a single Common Snipe on the scrape, a bird that I see only occasionally on my visits to the site.

During a 1 hour visit in windy, cold and sunny/cloudy weather from 9 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.70)
Mallard (1 male)
Jackdaw (4)
Magpie (1)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (c.60)
Common Snipe (1)
Curlew (1)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (7)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2)
Cormorant (1)
Teal (c.30)
Gadwall (c.20)
Wigeon (2)
Tufted Duck (1 male)
Magpie (1)
Woodpigeon (1)
Robin (1)

Visit - 27th January 2008

2008-01-27T14:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

This was my first visit since mid-November due to personal and work commitments.

It was very encouraging to see that water has once again returned to the scrape, presumably helped by a lot of rain recently!

My binoculars and telescope will be called in to action shortly to see what is about but today the main purpose on a bright, sunny morning was to capture some photos of birds around the visitor centre, workshops and RSPB feeding station.

It was good to see and hear the Robins in full voice again .... spring can not be far away.

Photos .... Robin, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Collared Dove.

2007 - a brief review of the year

2008-01-02T14:00:00.000Z

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all visitors to my blog during 2007. I hope you have found it interesting and informative.

My personal site records for 2007 were as follows:

Birds = 91
Mammals = 4
Butterflies = 14
Dragonflies and damselflies = 9

The total number of bird species seen increased by 3 compared with 2006, with the Spoonbill on 16th July 2007 being the highlight.

However, the number of butterfly and dragonfly/damselfly species seen decreased by 5 and 1 respectively compared with 2006, probably as a result of the very wet summer.

The number of mammal species seen was the same as 2006, with the Water Vole on 29th March 2007 being the highlight.

Sightings - 17th November 2007

2007-11-17T19:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Another fairly disappointing visit today. The scrape continues to have almost no water with only 5 Moorhens seen.

During a 1 hour visit in cold and cloudy weather from 9.45 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Common Redshank (c.10)
Lapwing (1)
Curlew (1)
Moorhen (c.10)
Little Grebe (1)
Teal (c.30)
Wigeon (c.30)
Black-headed Gull (c.200)
Common Gull (3)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Fieldfare/Redwing (mixed flock of c.50 birds flew over)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Snipe (1 flew over the scrape)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (c.10)
Mute Swan (2)
Greylag Goose (c.60 flew over the scrape)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Water Rail (1 heard)
Mallard (5 males and 3 females)
Shoveler (4 males and 1 female)
Gadwall (4 males and 1 female)
Teal (1 male)
Black-headed Gull (c.150)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Woodpigeon (c.20)
Magpie (c.5)
Carrion Crow (1)
Blackbird (1)
Dunnock (1)
Blue Tit (1)
Robin (1 heard singing)

Sightings - 28th October 2007

2007-10-28T15:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

A thoroughly disappointing visit today in cold, drizzly and windy weather. The scrape has almost no water and as a consequence no birds other than 3 Moorhens, a Woodpigeon and a Magpie!

During a very short visit the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (4)
Mute Swan (2)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Cormorant (2)
Mallard (5 males and 2 females)
Shoveler (3 males)
Gadwall (1 male)
Tufted Duck (2 females)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Woodpigeon (c.50)
Magpie (1)
Carrion Crow (2)
Blackbird (1)
Robin (1 heard singing)

Wat Tyler Country Park on TV - 25th October 2007

2007-10-25T21:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park appeared in the ITV series "Thames Superhighway" on 25th October 2007.

In 1957 the River Thames was declared biologically dead yet 50 years later it is one of the cleanest metropolitan waterways in the world. In the series Miranda Krestovnikoff travelled the full 215 miles of the Thames from source to sea to uncover the surprising species that live on this historic river.

In the final part of the series, Wat Tyler Country Park was visited and the main bird hide and scrape were featured. In addition, one of the evening moth watches was shown.

Please click here and here for further information.

Sightings - 23rd Septmebr 2007

2007-09-23T18:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a group of 8 Spotted Redshank and my first Ruff of the year for the site.

During a 1 hour visit in cool and sunny/misty weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Little Egret (4)
Heron (1)
Spotted Redshank (8)
Common Redshank (3)
Lapwing (2)
Ruff (1)
Curlew (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (3)
Moorhen (4)
Teal (2)
Mallard (2)
Black-headed Gull (c.150)
Swallow (c.10)

Sightings - 9th September 2007

2007-09-09T10:30:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

This was my first visit for some time due to work commitments and there was a noticeable drop in the water level on the main scrape. However, the number of birds was generally low too. During a 1.5 hour visit in warm but cloudy weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Greenshank (1)
Green Sandpiper (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (1)
Avocet (4)
Lapwing (c.20)
Coot (c.20)
Moorhen (c.10)
Cormorant (3)
Mallard (2)
Teal (2)
Shoveler (1)
Bearded Tit (1 heard calling)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Magpie (2)
Staring (c.200)
Blue Tit (1)
Great Tit (1)

Birds (Vange Creek):

Little Egret (2)
Common Redshank (6)
Lapwing (2)
Curlew (2)
Oystercatcher (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (1)
Cormorant (1)
Moorhen (5)
Teal (3)
Black-headed Gull (c.150)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)

Dragonflies: Migrant Hawker (1 in front of the main hide)

Sigthings - 19th August 2007

2007-08-19T11:30:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were my first record of Whimbrel for the site (heard calling only), my first Willow Warbler of the year for the site and a Water Rail.

During a 2.5 hour visit in warm but cloudy weather from 8.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.25)
Little Grebe (1)
Cormorant (1)
Mallard (1 female)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Stock Dove (4)
Woodpigeon (c.30)
Collared Dove (2)
Green Woddpecker (heard only)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only)
Jay (heard only)
Robin (1 singing)
Blackbird (1 juvenile eating blackberries)
Starling (c.30)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Little Egret (2)
Whimbrel (1 heard calling but not seen)
Green Sandpiper (1)
Common Sandpiper (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.20)
Avocet (5 including 1 juvenile)
Lapwing (c.30)
Water Rail (1)
Coot (c.20)
Moorhen (c.5)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Cormorant (8)
Mallard (2 females)
Teal (c.10)
Shoveler (1 female)
Gadwall (1 male)
Black-headed Gull (4)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Bearded Tit (1 male)
Reed Warbler (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing distantly)
Swallow (4)
Blackcap (1 female)
Willow Warbler (1)
Pied Wagtail (2)
Turtle Dove(1)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Rook (c.20)
Jay (1)
Starling (c.50)
Blue Tit (c.5)

In addition, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen on a telegraph pole opposite the Basildon DC offices.

Mammals:

Rabbit (1 near the Boat Museum)
Grey Squirrel (1 opposite the craft workshops)

Sightings - 12th August 2007

2007-08-12T19:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

During a 2 hour visit in warm and sunny weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Greenshank (1)
Green Sandpiper (2)
Common Sandpiper (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (c.35)
Common Snipe (1)
Avocet (c.10)
Lapwing (c.10)
Coot (c.30 plus several juveniles)
Moorhen (c.5)
Little Grebe (1)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Cormorant (3)
Mallard (c.5)
Teal (c.5)
Shoveler (1)
Black-headed Gull (at least c.20)
Greater Black-backed Gull (2)
Herring Gull (1)
Bearded Tit (several heard calling)
Swallow (c.10)
Pied Wagtail (2)
Collared Dove (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.5)

In addition, a Turtle Dove was heard at the southern end of Pitseahall Fleet and a Green Woodpecker was seen in the area behind the Basildon DC offices.

Butterflies: Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Small Heath

Damselflies: Blue-tailed Damselfly

Mammals: Rabbit (1 in the area behind the Basildon DC offices)

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Rabbit, Crab Spider

Sightings - 4th August 2007

2007-08-04T17:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was my first Brown Argus, bringing my total for butterfly species to 20 for the site.

In addition, I saw my first Small Heath, Speckled Wood and Black-tailed Skimmer of the year for the site.

During a 1 hour visit from 8.00 a.m. the following were recorded:

Butterflies: Brown Argus, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Common Blue

Moths: Six-spot Burnet

Dragonflies: Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Black-tailed Skimmer, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Speckled Wood

Sightings - 21st July 2007

2007-07-21T19:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

On a warm and sunny morning, I went looking for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and during a 1 hour visit from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Butterflies: Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Essex Skipper, Red Admiral, Common Blue

Dragonflies: Ruddy Darter

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Gatekeeper, Essex Skipper, Common Blue, Ruddy Darter

Sightings - 16th July 2007

2007-07-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was an excellent view of the Spoonbill which was first reported yesterday. This was my first UK record since 2000 and my first for the site.

In addition, other waders were showing very well, including my first Spotted Redshank record for the year and for the site, my first records for the year of Greenshank and Green Sandpiper plus a flock of summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit.

Common Tern and Turtle Dove were also notable.

During a 1 hour visit in warm and sunny weather from 1.30 p.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Spoonbill (1)
Little Egret (2)
Heron (4)
Spotted Redshank (1)
Greenshank (4)
Green Sandpiper (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (18)
Avocet (15)
Oystercatcher (2)
Lapwing (5)
Coot (c.30 plus several juveniles)
Moorhen (c.10)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (6)
Cormorant (1)
Mallard (c.15)
Teal (c.15)
Shelduck (1 pair and 5 juveniles)
Common Tern (1)
Black-headed Gull (at least c.200)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (9)
Reed Warbler (1)
Turtle Dove (1)
Collared Dove (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.5)

Sightings - 8th July 2007

2007-07-08T18:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The dawn of another warm and sunny morning prompted me to again go looking for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and during a 2 hour visit from 8 a.m. the following were recorded:

Butterflies: Marbled White, Peacock, Small White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper, Ringlet

Dragonflies: Common Darter, Ruddy Darter

Damselflies: Blue-tailed Damsefly, Emerald Damselfly

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Marbled White, Green-veined White, Small Skipper, Common Darter, Emerald Damselfly

Sightings - 7th July 2007

2007-07-07T15:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Today was my first visit in over a month due to work commitments and the fact that I have been rebuilding my main photography website .... and also the amount of rain that we have had!

With the dawn of a warm and sunny morning, I went looking for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and during a 2 hour visit from 8 a.m. the following were recorded:

Butterflies: Marbled White, Peacock, Small White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Ringlet

Dragonflies: Common Darter, Ruddy Darter

Damselflies: Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfy, Emerald Damselfly

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Marbled White, Peacock, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Azure Damselfly,

RSPB Vange Marsh update - 1st July 2007

2007-07-02T18:00:00.000+01:00

Vange Marsh

From the RSPB ....

Vange Marsh:

In the May newsletter it was a concern that the hot weather of April had lowered the water across the marshes considerably and there was worry that this could affect the breeding success of the wetland birds. This problem failed to materialise because of the high levels of wet weather during May and June. The main problem to occur on the marsh was the human disturbance created on the saline lagoon area by people with unauthorised access. It is unclear what affect this had on the birds. Nethertheless many species did manage to breed in this area.

Breeding waterbirds on Vange Marsh have included: Lapwing (2 pairs), Common Tern (1 pair), Redshank (1 pair) and Shelduck (2 pairs). The Avocets reared five broods of young. Breeding passerines have included Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat (2 pairs) and Reed Bunting (7 pairs). Other birding highlights on Vange Marsh included a Little Gull on 2nd June, Black-tailed Godwits (40 on the 7th May), Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Green and Common Sandpiper and birds of prey such as Sparrowhawk, Hobby and Peregrine. The arrival of a Temminck’s Stint on the 16th May to 18th May was a pleasant surprise. Another Temminck's Stint was also recorded on the 26th May and it is felt because of the week gap between the sightings that this could have been a second bird.

Butterflies on the marsh have included Small and Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Ringlet and the locally scarce Marbled White butterfly.

Work on Vange Marsh this autumn will see the return of the diggers. This will be to maximise the ecological potential of the saline lagoon and some re-structuring of the lagoon islands will need to take place. Once the work is complete, some of the islands will be covered in a mixture of shingle and cockleshell others will be left with bare earth. This will create a greater diversity in nesting habitat.

Vange Wick Marsh:

Initial breeding bird surveys have shown that the increased water levels have benefited a number of wetland bird species. Moorhen and Mallard have bred, but notably there were up to 5 breeding pairs of Lapwing and 2 pairs of Redshank.

Work will soon take place to install a pump near the reservoir. This will be used to allow greater control of the water levels on Vange Wick Marsh. Water will be pumped into and out of the reservoir when needed to create the ideal water levels for over wintering or nesting birds.

Marc Outten
South Essex Reserves – Warden
Contact details: 01268 559158 / 07703 749727
Email: Marc.Outten@rspb.org.uk

Avocets breeding at Vange Marsh

2007-06-16T22:00:00.000+01:00

Vange Marsh

Avocets are now breeding at Vange Marsh .... see also my post for 29th March 2007.

Press release from the RSPB:

Avocets decide that Vange Marsh is the place for them!

16th June 2007

Avocets are nesting on the new RSPB reserve at Vange Marsh - the year after work started to attract them.

Avocet numbers on Vange Marsh have reached a high of 37 individuals in recent weeks and it is thought there may be up to ten breeding pairs.

This elegant wading bird, the RSPB’s emblem, has been holding breeding territories on the 25-hectare reserve near Basildon for a few weeks. This is exciting news, as until 1947, these birds were absent as a breeding species in the whole of the UK. The efforts of conservation organisations, such as the RSPB, have aided the recovery of Avocet populations nationwide.

Marc Outten, reserves warden, said 'The south Essex marshes are a beautiful place that, with the right management, can be extremely inviting for wildlife and local people alike. The fact that the Avocets are nesting at Vange Marsh so soon is a great sign of things to come'.
This autumn, after the Avocets have finished breeding, the RSPB plans to carry out additional work to bring in shingle and cockleshells to lay on the ground. Avocets like this stony surface to create a shallow depression to lay their eggs in and it is hoped next year will be even better for Avocets at Vange Marsh.

Ends

Further information
Marc Outten, South Essex Reserves Warden, 07703749727
Dave Hedges, South Essex Sites Manager, 07834 257784

Photographs of Vange Marshes are available from Marc Outten at the RSPB’s South Essex Project office on 01268 559158 or Marc.Outten@rspb.org.uk

Notes for editors

1. About 80 per cent of the coastal grazing marsh in Essex has been lost since the 1930s, due to a combination of conversion to arable, building and landfill sites. However, a large and valuable area remains on the northern shore of the Thames. Vange Marsh is leased from Basildon District Council.

2. Thames Gateway: South Essex became part of the Thames Gateway in 2001, with a population of 650,000 people in the area covered by the Councils of Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point and Southend-on-Sea. The Thames Gateway is a government Growth Area – the largest economic regeneration zone in the UK. The RSPB is working with many partners within the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership to ensure that any development is sustainable – especially through collaboration in the Greengrid. The Greengrid sets out to make sure that there is green space – rich in wildlife and accessible to people – throughout the South Essex sub-region and that these areas are connected together. The RSPB plans to create new nature reserves here and to introduce many people – both local and new visitors – to the wealth of wildlife and landscape. The RSPB believes that its role as a green developer will protect and improve our natural resources, set the scene for sustainable economic growth and create a healthy and vibrant fabric for work, rest and play.

3. The Avocets scientific name is Recurvirostra avosetta. Avocets breed in Europe and central Asia and winter in South Africa and south Asia. The UK breeding population in 2006 was 654. It is protected as a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. The avocet’s habitat is mudflats, lagoons or sandy beaches where it feeds on crustaceans, insects and worms. This bird is very territorial, in many cases, warding of threats of predation from much larger bird species such as gulls.

4. Progress on the RSPB’s new nature reserves can be followed by visiting the Greengrid website www.greengrid.co.uk Information on local activities and the RSPB’s work in South Essex is on www.southeastrspb.org.uk.

Fiona Hazelton
South Essex Community Project Manager
RSPB

Sightings - 3rd June 2007

2007-06-03T17:30:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were regular sightings of at least 5 Bearded Tits in the reedbeds in front of the main hide, good views of at least 4 Turtle Doves, good views of both a male and female Cuckoo from the main hide and the first sightings of dragonflies and damselflies of the year.

During a 3.5 hour visit in warm and sunny weather from 8.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (between Holly Cottage and south end of Pitseahall Fleet):

Blackcap (1)
Common Whitethroat (at least 5)
Turtle Dove (1 seen and another heard)
Cuckoo (heard only)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only)
Green Woodpecker (heard only)
Robin (1)
Chaffinch (1)
Blackbird (2)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Magpie (c.5)
Reed Warbler (1 singing in the reedbed at Pitseahall Fleet)
Ruddy Duck (2 males and 1 female on Pitseahall Fleet)
Common Pochard (4 males on Pitseahall Fleet)
Coot (2 pairs plus juveniles on Pitseahall Fleet)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.10 and several juveniles)
Little Grebe (2 plus 2 juveniles)
Canada Goose (1)
Greylag Goose (2 plus 6 juveniles)
Common Pochard (5 males and 1 female)
Mallard (4 males and 2 females)
Black-headed Gull (c.10)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Reed Warbler (5)
Common Whitethroat (1)
Swift (2)
Turtle Dove (2)
Stock Dove (2)
Collared Dove (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Jay (3)
Magpie (c.5)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Little Egret (2)
Heron (5)
Avocet (10)
Oystercatcher (4)
Lapwing (2)
Coot (c.10 plus several juveniles)
Moorhen (5)
Little Grebe (4)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2)
Greylag Goose (1 pair with 3 juveniles and 8 flew over)
Common Pochard (9 males and 1 female)
Mallard (c.20)
Teal (1 male and 1 female)
Shoveler (2 males and 1 female)
Shelduck (4)
Black-headed Gull (at least c.100)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Reed Warbler (at least 5)
Bearded Tit (at least 5)
Cuckoo (1 male and 1 female)
Turtle Dove (1)
Sparrowhawk (1 female)
Collared Dove (1)
Magpie (c.5)
Carrion Crow (2)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Blackbird (1)
Greenfinch (1)
Blue Tit (1)
Pied Wagtail (1)

Mammals:

Rabbit (2 by the Boat Museum and 1 by the track to Holly Cottage)

Dragonflies and damselflies:

All seen around the ponds behind the Basildon DC offices.

Four-spotted Chaser (2)
Common Blue Damselfly (c.10)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (c.10)
Large Red Damselfly (c.10)

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Snail sp., Four-spotted Chaser, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly

Sightings - 27th May 2007

2007-05-27T15:30:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were sightings of 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Terns and 1 Ringed Plover, all first records for the site for the year.

In addition, 4 Little Egrets were present on the scrape for the duration of my visit, the highest number that I have seen together.

Also worthy of note is that despite it not even being the end of May, many of the male ducks are already showing signs of moulting in to their eclipse plumage.

During a 1.5 hour visit in cool and very rainy weather from 8.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Little Egret (4)
Avocet (10)
Little Ringed Plover (2)
Ringed Plover (1)
Oystercatcher (6)
Lapwing (6)
Coot (c.10 plus several juveniles)
Moorhen (c.10)
Little Grebe (4)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2 pairs)
Canada Goose (1 pair with 5 juveniles)
Greylag Goose (1 pair with 4 juveniles)
Cormorant (1)
Common Pochard (6 males and 2 females)
Mallard (2 males and 1 female)
Gadwall (5 males and 2 females)
Shoveler (2 males and 1 female)
Tufted Duck (1 male and 1 female)
Shelduck (6)
Ruddy Duck (1 male and 1 female)
Black-headed Gull (at least c.100)
Herring Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (5)
Common Tern (2 fishing along Pitseahall Fleet)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing briefly)
Reed Warbler (at least 3 seen)
Bearded Tit (1 male)
Reed Bunting (1 male)
Swallow (c.5)
Cuckoo (2)
Turtle Dove (2)
Collared Dove (1)
Magpie (1)
Carrion Crow (2)
Woodpigeon (2)
Pied Wagtail (1 plus 1 juvenile)

Sightings - 19th May 2007

2007-05-26T18:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were my first records of Hobby and Turtle Dove for the site for the year. The Hobby flew in to perch at the top of the pylon opposite the hide before eventually flying off towards Pitsea. At least 3 Turtle Doves were seen, including 1 bird that perched and "purred" for some time in the bushes to the left of the hide.

In addition, at least 3 Cuckoos were seen, including 1 bird that flew directly towards the hide before settling in a bush immediately outsdie the hide calling, plus an excellent view of a Little Egret flying along Pitseahall Fleet.

During a 1 hour visit in warm and sunny weather from 7.45 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Little Egret (1 flew past)
Coot (4 including 1 pair with 3 juveniles)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Little Grebe (1)
Canada Goose (1 nesting pair)
Greylag Goose (7 flew over)
Common Pochard (3 males and 2 females)
Mallard (4 males)
Black-headed Gull (c.20)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Sedge Warbler (heard only)
Blackcap (heard only)
Common Whitethroat (heard only)
Swallow (2)
Swift (2)
Cuckoo (at least 3)
Turtle Dove (at least 3)
Hobby (1)
Jay (2)
Magpie (5)
Collared Dove (1)
Stock Dove (1)
Woodpigeon (c.5)
Blue Tit (5)
Great Tit (1)
Long-tailed Tit (c.5)
Robin (heard only)
Dunnock (heard only)

Sightings - 4th May 2007

2007-05-04T14:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was my first record of Swift for the site for the year. A single bird was seen hawking for insects over the reedbed to the left of the main hide.

In addition, the first juvenile birds are now appearing with both a Greylag Goose and Coot family seen from the main hide and for some reason there was a large number of gulls on the scrape.

During a 1.5 hour visit in cool and cloudy weather from 8.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (12)
Oystercatcher (2)
Heron (2)
Lapwing (1)
Coot (c.10 including a pair with 5 juveniles in front of the hide)
Moorhen (c.10)
Little Grebe (3)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Canada Goose (1)
Greylag Goose (2 with at least 4 juveniles at the far side of the scrape)
Common Pochard (c.10)
Mallard (2 males and 1 female)
Shoveler (1 male)
Tufted Duck (1 male and 1 female)
Shelduck (5)
Black-headed Gull (at least c.200)
Herring Gull (at least c.100)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.20)
Cettis Warbler (at least 1 heard singing on several occasions)
Reed Warbler (at least 2 or 3 singing continuously from the reedbed)
Swift (1)
Swallow (1)
Cuckoo (1)
Magpie (1)
Carrion Crow (2)
Woodpigeon (2)
Collared Dove (3)
Blue Tit (2)
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Goldfinch (1)
Blackbird (3)
Wren (1 heard singing)
Robin (1 heard singing)
Chaffinch (1 heard singing)

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Coot family and gull flock.

RSPB Vange Marsh update - 3rd May 2007

2007-05-03T22:00:00.000+01:00

Vange Marsh

From the RSPB ....

Vange Marsh:

Heavy rains in the early part of the year helped fill the lake far faster than anyone expected and meant the marsh held good numbers of birds early on in the year. Flocks of 100 Curlew, 90 plus Shoveler, 300 Teal and 200 Wigeon were regularly seen. Gull numbers remained high and Black-headed Gulls numbers reached 2500 in one count. With water levels still being lower than was hoped for the start of the breeding season, this was a great start for the marshes first year of being re-wetted.

The hot weather through April has lowered water levels but not put the birds off breeding. A pair of Common Terns have been seen displaying and passing food between each other. Shelduck, Shoveler, Avocet and Reed Buntings have also been seen displaying or singing and up to 10 Greenshank have also been seen. Lapwing numbers are rising and the marshes have had several Lapwings calling and displaying which is a good sign that grazing and water level management is moving in the right direction. Migrants have also been seen with a Spoonbill on the 30th April as well as a few pairs of Common Sandpipers and several Little Gulls moving north along the coast to their Baltic breeding grounds. The highlight remains a single sighting of a Bluethroat passing through, possibly the first of many future sightings as there is talk that global warming may encourage these birds to breed at Vange Marsh.

New Warden:

The South Essex Project is pleased to welcome Marc Outten as the new Warden. Marc started on the 1st May and will working on a variety of tasks. Initially he will develop the project’s workshop and once this is done will develop a volunteer work party. If you are interested in getting out and helping with a variety of reserve tasks please contact Marc on the office telephone number and he will take you details.

Marc has joined us from Southend Borough Council where he has worked as a Country Park Ranger and is just finishing a degree at Writtle College. A keen birder Marc will be an asset to the project.

Sightings - 22nd April 2006

2007-04-22T16:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were my first site records for the year of Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Cuckoo plus my first sighting of the year of Reed Warbler.

In addition, I had a sudden and close face-to-face encounter with a Fox at the south end of Pitseahall Fleet .... I am still not sure who was the most surprised .... but the Fox moved off first!

It was also good to see my first butterflies of the year at the site.

During a 1 hour visit in very warm and sunny weather from 9.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (between Holly Cottage and Vange Creek):

Common Whitethroat (4)
Lesser Whitethroat (2)
Blackcap (2)
Chiffchaff (1 heard singing)
Cettis Warbler (4 heard singing)
Cuckoo (1 heard calling and 2 seen together flying over Pitseahall Fleet)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Blackbird
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove

Birds (south end of Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (5)
Little Grebe (2)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Greylag Goose (2)
Canada Goose (1)
Mallard (1 male)
Common Pochard (5 males and 5 females)
Ruddy Duck (2 males)
Reed Warbler (1 heard singing and eventually seen in the reedbed)

Mammals:

Fox (1 at the south end of Pitseahall Fleet)

Butterflies:

Small White (at least 10)
Orange Tip (1)
Peacock (1)

Reports 14th April 2007

2007-04-14T21:00:00.000+01:00

Vange Marsh

A singing male White-spotted Bluethroat was reported from the reedbed on the RSPB reserve.

Sightings - 14th April 2007

2007-04-14T15:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was an excellent and lengthy view of a Little Gull as it flew around the scrape and over Pitseahall Fleet, my first record for the site for the year. This bird was first reported on 12th April 2007.

In addition, I heard my first singing Reed Warbler of the year which very frustratingly refused to show itself!

During a 2 hour visit in cool and sunny weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (around the nature trail):

Blackcap (4)
Chiffchaff (2)
Cettis Warbler (1 by the first hide overlooking Timberman's Creek)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Wren
Chaffinch
Pied Wagtail
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Little Egret (1 on Timberman's Creek)
Curlew (2 on Timberman's Creek and 2 on Vange Creek)
Oystercatcher (1 on Vange Creek)

Birds (south end of Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (2)
Water Rail (1 briefly heard)
Little Grebe (1)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Greylag Goose (1)
Canada Goose (4)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female)
Tufted Duck (1 male and 1 female)
Common Pochard (2 males and 2 females)
Ruddy Duck (1 male and 1 female)
Cettis Warbler (1 singing regularly and showing very well)
Reed Warbler (1 heard singing)
Reed Bunting (1 male and 1 female)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 drumming on separate telegraph poles!)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (6)
Oystercatcher (2)
Heron (1)
Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (c.5)
Water Rail (1 briefly heard)
Little Grebe (5)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (2)
Greylag Goose (2)
Common Pochard (c.10)
Mallard (10 males and 1 female)
Gadwall (2 males and 2 females)
Little Gull (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.50)
Common Gull (2)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.10)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (1)
Reed Bunting (1 male)
Magpie (c.5)
Woodpigeon (2)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel
Rabbit

Sightings - 8th April 2007

2007-04-08T15:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Today I decided to take a circular walk around the park from the Basildon DC office in search of summer migrants. The highlights were my first sightings of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps of the year for the site.

During a 1.5 hour visit in cool and sunny weather from 8.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (around the nature trail):

Blackcap (7 singing males heard, 2 seen)
Chiffchaff (6 singing males heard, 1 seen)
Cettis Warbler (4 singing males heard)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush (heard only)
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Starling
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker
Moorhen
Oystercatcher (1 on Timbermans Creek and 2 on Vange Creek)
Curlew (1 on Timberman's Creek and 3 on Vange Creek)
Common Redshank (3 on Vange Creek)
Little Egret (1 on Vange Creek)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female on Timberman's Creek)
Teal (1 male and 1 female on Timberman's Creek)
Black-headed Gull (c.30 on Vange Creek)

Birds (south end of Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.10)
Little Grebe (1)
Greylag Goose (1)
Canada Goose (4)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female)
Ruddy Duck (2 males and 2 females)
Cettis Warbler (1 singing regularly and showing very well)

Sightings - 7th April 2007

2007-04-07T16:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a distant view through my telescope of a White Wagtail, my first site record of the year.

During a 2 hour visit in cool and cloudy weather from 10.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (5)
Black-tailed Godwit(3)
Oystercatcher (2)
Heron (2)
Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (c.5)
Little Grebe (5)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (4)
Greylag Goose (2)
Ruddy Duck (1 male)
Shoveler (c.20)
Common Pochard (c.10)
Mallard (2 males)
Teal (c.10)
Gadwall (3 males and 3 females)
Tufted Duck (1 male)
Shelduck (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.25)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.10)
Greater Black-backed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (at least 2 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (heard only)
Magpie (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.5)
Carrion Crow (c.5)
Pied Wagtail (3)
White Wagtail (1)
Blue Tit (1)
Great Tit (1)
Green finch (3)
Wren (1 heard singing)

Sightings - 1st April 2007

2007-04-01T14:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were a male and female Bullfinch and my first singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap of the year at the site.

During a 2 hour visit in cool, cloudy and hazy sunny weather from 8 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Avocet (6)
Little Egret (1)
Curlew (1)

Birds (opposite the craft workshops):

Bullfinch (male and female)
Chiffchaff (1 singing)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (30)
Black-tailed Godwit(1)
Oystercatcher (1)
Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (c.10)
Water Rail (1 briefly heard)
Little Grebe (3)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (c.15)
Greylag Goose (4 .... including 1 sitting on a nest)
Cormorant (2)
Ruddy Duck (3 males)
Shoveler (c.30)
Common Pochard (c.20)
Mallard (3 males)
Teal (c.10)
Gadwall (3 males and 3 females)
Tufted Duck (3 males and 2 females)
Shelduck (4)
Wigeon (3 males and 2 females)
Black-headed Gull (c.30)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (c.15)
Greater Black-backed Gull (c.10)
Cettis Warbler (at least 2 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (heard only)
Blackcap (1 heard singing briefly to the right of the hide)
Magpie (c.10)
Pied Wagtail (2)
Robin (1)
Wren (1 heard singing)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (1 opposite the craft workshops)
Rabbit (2 around the Boat Museum)

Sightings - 29th March 2007

2007-03-29T18:45:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

What an amazing trip to Wat Tyler Country Park today!

I decided on a very brief "drop in" visit with my binoculars due to the poor weather and because of that I did not have either my telescope or camera with me.

The highlights today were ....

Peregrine. At long last I have seen the often reported Peregrine at Wat Tyler Country Park. I was beginning to think that the records in the hide log book were made up or that this bird was just making a point of being absent on every occasion I visited! This was my first record for the site bringing the total to 101 bird species and my first record for the year in the UK bringing my current total to 120 species. The bird that I saw was I think a large female and it caused mayhem and panic amongst the ducks and waders as it flew around the scrape. The flock of Avocets (see below) all took flight at once and this was a memorable sight as they wheeled around calling in alarm. The ducks tended to sit tight until the last moment when the shadow of the Peregrine approaching caused them to dive beneath the water.

Avocet. The flock of these beautiful wading birds had built up to 42 today, the largest number that I have seen on my visits to Wat Tyler Country Park (see also my post below regarding the return of the Avocet).

Swallow. I saw my first bird for the site and for the year today and it was present for around 10 minutes flying around the scrape. Presumably there must have been some insect food available even during the poor weather.

Water Vole. I had my first sighting of this rare and elusive mammal at the site as it emerged from the right hand side of the reedbed in front of the main hide. It then paused on a piece of broken timber in open water before swimming off to the other side of the reedbed where it again paused to feed.

Spring! There was a noticeable increase in noisy territorial and breeding display behaviour today amongst the ducks, geese, Coots, Moorhens and Little Grebes despite the poor weather.

During a 2 hour visit in cold and cloudy and showery weather from 10.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (42)
Little Egret (1)
Oystercatcher (3)
Common Redshank (c.20 flew over)
Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (5)
Water Rail (1 briefly heard)
Little Grebe (5)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (9)
Greylag Goose (5 .... including 1 sitting on a nest)
Cormorant (2)
Ruddy Duck (2 males in stunning summer plumage)
Shoveler (c.10)
Common Pochard (c.20 mostly males harassing the few females)
Mallard (4 males)
Teal (1 male and 1 female)
Gadwall (2 males and 1 female)
Tufted Duck (2 males)
Shelduck (2)
Little Gull (1 possible but no definite ID)
Black-headed Gull (c.20)
Herring Gull (8)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (8)
Common Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (at least 2 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (3)
Swallow (1)
Peregrine (1)
Magpie (2)
Carrion Crow (2)
Collared Dove (2)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Robin (1)
Wren (several heard singing)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 at the bird feeders)
Blue Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)

Mammals:

Water Vole (1 in the reedbed and open water in front of the main hide)

The return of the Avocet

2007-03-29T18:30:00.000+01:00

On 10th March 2007, I saw my first 3 Avocets of the year at Wat Tyler Country Park. By 21st March 2007, the flock had increased to 22 birds and on 29th March 2007 42 birds were present.

This distinctively patterned black and white wader with a long up-curved beak has had a remarkable improvement in fortune in recent years in the UK and in Essex.

In 1842 the Avocet became extinct as a UK breeding bird due to extensive land drainage and the construction of sea walls which dried out their habitat. However, in 1947 they returned to breed at Minsmere and Havergate Island in Suffolk and in 1970 the RSPB adopted the Avocet as its logo, recognising one of the most successful conservation and protection projects.

There are now over 1000 pairs of Avocet breeding in the UK on shallow, brackish coastal lagoons and freshwater marshes, primarily along the east coast of England although they are spreading in to northern England and westwards in to south Wales.

Several thousand Avocets winter in the UK and large flocks can be seen on the Exe estuary in the south west of England and increasingly on the Thames estuary.

In Essex, the Avocet is an increasing summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor and approximately 130 to 150 breeding pairs are now recorded each year.

Sightings - 21st March 2007

2007-03-21T14:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a group of 22 Avocet on the scrape. Numbers of this beautiful wader are now building up. In addition, I also saw my first Little Egret at the site for several weeks and my first Reed Buntings of the year.

During a 1 hour visit in very cold and sunny weather from 8.45 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (22)
Common Snipe (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (1)
Little Egret (1)
Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (c.5)
Little Grebe (4)
Mute Swan (2)
Canada Goose (c.10)
Greylag Goose (5)
Cormorant (3)
Shoveler (c.30)
Common Pochard (c.15)
Mallard (4 males)
Tufted Duck (1 male and 2 females)
Black-headed Gull (4)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Reed Bunting (male and female)
Magpie (c.5)
Carrion Crow (2)
Starling (c.30)
Blue Tit (5 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (2 at the bird feeders)

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Robin and Collared Dove.

EEDA press release

2007-03-20T16:00:00.000Z

"£5 million announced for Thames Estuary Park"

Released 20th March 2007 by East of England Development Agency

A multi-million pound plan to transform a south Essex park into a regional tourist attraction has been unveiled.

More than £5 million will be used to turn Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea into a major centre for education, heritage and nature conservation.

At the heart of the scheme are plans to restore part of a former explosives factory into a £2.7m heritage interpretation centre powered by renewable energy.

There are also plans to create a regional headquarters for the RSPB and look at ways of returning hundreds of acres of surrounding brownfield land back to public use.

This will see new footways created across a former landfill site that lies between the country park and an RSPB reserve on Vange Marshes.

The 125-acre park, owned and run by Basildon Council, is linked to the River Thames by Vange Creek, in the heart of the government's Thames Gateway region.

Funding for the project has come from the East of England Development Agency (£2.98m), the Heritage Lottery Fund (£998,000) and Veolia Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust (£670,000).

Councillor Anthony Hedley, Basildon Council's cabinet member for Leisure and Open Spaces, said:

"We are delighted that our ambitions for Wat Tyler Country Park have been brought to life by the hard work of all partners involved.

"The park has been transformed over the years from an industrial wasteland into what is now officially recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

"We hope the new centre will give visitors a chance to learn more about the unique heritage of the park and the delicate relationship it fosters between local people, wildlife and the surrounding marshes," he added.

Tony Bray, head of implementation at EEDA, said:

"This project is an important addition to the region's green infrastructure network and could see a significant area of brownfield land brought back into use for the benefit of local residents, visitors and wildlife.

"Improving the site's accessibility and visitor facilities, including creating a new education space, will help to boost the local economy through increased tourism revenue and providing a more skilled workforce. The new green tourist attraction will also act as a great selling point in attracting new businesses and people to the south Essex area."

The work will see around 30 separate improvements made throughout the park and could get underway as early as April.

These include:

The conversion of a redundant 675 sq metre industrial building into the Wat Tyler Centre, incorporating exhibitions and displays, education facilities, café/restaurant, viewing platform over the marshes, conference facilities and office accommodation. The carbon neutral building will be a working model of sustainability by using renewable energy sources such as rainwater recycling, biomass heating and solar panels. It will stand as a beacon for imaginative environmental design, using gathered rainwater to flush lavatories and solar panels for electricity.
Conversion of two existing buildings into a regional centre for the RSPB, which will include their largest retail outlet in the UK
Creation of new reed beds as a resource for education and habitat for wildlife
Planting of an eco-garden demonstrating how visitors can use their gardens to help the environment
Transfer of the Basildon Trade School, a council-run vocational training initiative for young people, to one of the former explosives factory units
New historical trail, tracing the park's history as an explosives factory
Adaptation of World War Two pillboxes to provide habitat for bats
Existing barn converted into retail craft units - only if RSPB vacate
A wind turbine with associated interpretation about renewable energy sources
Refurbishment of existing bird hides
Improved pedestrian paths and better access to rustic cottages
Relocation of a heritage cottage into a central position near other cottages
Improved car parking for disabled visitors
Extension of the miniature railway
New signage and information (boards, leaflets and website) explaining the history of the park, its buildings and the marshes
Improvements to the marina, including new toilets
Relocation of an historic barn from an outside development site into Wat Tyler Country Park

The park already has one of the world's leading collections of historic sporting and leisure boats.

As well as being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its rare animals, Wat Tyler is also recognised as one of the best bird watching sites in the county. The new improvements will help the RSPB to ensure that people get even more from the facilities on offer at the park.

The project is expected to increase visitor numbers to the park from an average of 200,000 a year to 350,000 within three years of completion.

The improvements are expected to take around 18 months to complete.

Sightings - 16th March 2007

2007-03-16T20:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was my first sighting of Redwing this year. This will probably also be the last sighting until the autumn as these birds will be migrating north to breed. I saw 3 birds together for around 10 minutes in the bushes next to the Holly Cottage hide. Their thin "seep" contact call could clearly be heard, a sound I normally hear on still autumn nights as birds fly in for the winter.

I also saw a male and female Bullfinch in the hedgerow between the Motorboat Museum and the Basildon DC office.

During a 2 hour visit in warm and sunny spring weather from 8.45 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Oystercatcher (2 flew past)
Coot (c.10)
Moorhen (1)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Little Grebe (1)
Canada Goose (3)
Greylag Goose (4)
Mute Swan (3)
Common Pochard (1 male)
Mallard (1 male)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Green Woodpecker (heard only)
Rook (c.10 on the pylon)
Magpie (c.5)
Carrion Crow (2)
Woodpigeon (c.5)
Blue Tit (c.5)
Robin (1)
Chaffinch (male and female)

Photos of the day .... click on the photo for a larger image.

Spring daffodils and blackthorn blossom, Robins, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Redwing and Mute Swans.

Sightings - 11th March 2007

2007-03-11T18:30:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a group of 7 Avocets, 7 Common Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Common Redshank all crammed on to one small island in the largely flooded scrape.

The group of Avocets has increased to 7 from 3 yesterday. Whilst they mainly congregated together as you would expect from a winter flock (including the wonderful sight of the group in flight in the spring sunshine), there were also signs of some territorial behaviour and one pair also engaged in display and mating.

During a 3 hour visit in cool and sunny weather from 9 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (2 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Avocet (7)
Oystercatcher (2)
Common Snipe (7)
Common Redshank (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (2)
Coot (c.20)
Moorhen (c.5)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Little Grebe (c.5)
Greylag Goose (c.20 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Mute Swan (1)
Shoveler (c.30)
Common Pochard (6 males)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female)
Teal (1 male and 1 female)
Tufted Duck (4 males and 2 females)
Black-headed Gull (c.10)
Bearded Tit (heard calling)
Collared Dove (1)
Woodpigeon (1)
Magpie (1)
Jackdaw (4)
Rook (c.20)
Wren (1)
Blue Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (1 at the bird feeders)
Greenfinch (1 male and 1 female at the bird feeders)

Photos of the day .... please click for larger images.

Wren

Woodpigeon

Sightings - 10th March 2007

2007-03-10T17:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

This was my first visit in nearly a month and the high water levels in Pitseahall Fleet and on the scrape were very noticeable. The scrape was almost a lake and a complete contrast to the "desert" of mid-summer last year.

The highlights today were my first Avocet, Snipe and Great Crested Grebe of the year bringing the total to date to 60 species. This total should increase quickly in the coming weeks with the return of our summer migrants. Chiffchaff and Blackcap have already been reported.

3 Avocets were seen .... hopefully a few more will return and there will be another successful breeding season.

During a 2 hour visit in cool and sunny weather from 9 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Oystercatcher (2 flew past)
Curlew (c.35 in flight over the scrape)
Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (1)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Little Grebe (2)
Canada Goose (2)
Common Pochard (2 males and 2 females)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female)
Rook (c.10 on the pylon)
Magpie (c.5)
Carrion Crow (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.20)
Blue Tit (3)
Great Tit (1)
Wren (1)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Avocet (3)
Oystercatcher (4)
Common Snipe (1)
Coot (c.20)
Moorhen (2)
Water Rail (1 heard calling)
Little Grebe (2)
Cormorant (1)
Shoveler (c.30)
Common Pochard (6 males and 3 females)
Black-headed Gull (c.10)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (heard calling)
Collared Dove (1)
Woodpigeon (1)
Magpie (1)
Wren (1)
Blue Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)
Greenfinch (2 males and 2 females at the bird feeders)
Chaffinch (1 female at the bird feeders)

Mammals:

Rabbit (1 by Holly Cottage)

RSPB Vange Marsh update - 3rd March 2007

2007-03-03T20:00:00.000Z

Vange Marsh

From the RSPB ....

Vange Marsh North:

Since the last newsletter in November work has progressed well. The remaining ground works that needed finishing have been completed.

These included:

The reopening of the blocked sluice to create a 1ha, self contained, saline lagoon habitat with islands.

The connection of the stream running along east boundary of the site to the moat, this water will be essential for the moat to function effectively and to manage the water levels within the lake.

The saline lagoon now works well and salt water from Pitsea Creek flows into the lagoon at high tide. Two islands were lowered during the landscaping to act as additional feeding areas and these appear to work well as they are at water level at high tide. The abstraction point for fresh water from the stream has also been installed and this includes an oil and silt trap. Water has been flowing into the lake since Christmas and the recent rain we have had has been a great help in raising the water levels back up.

Some finishing off will be completed in the next few weeks that include installing a litter trap on the fresh water abstraction point and putting in elm boards into the saline lagoon sluice. This will keep half the water in the lagoon at low tide.

Late summer will see the start of more work to help manage the remainder of the reserve. New fencing will be put up along the boundary to the railway so we can safely graze the grassland. Plans to improve the public access to the site include a permissive route through the reedbed to the viewing screen and a bridge over the creek from the County Tip.

Vange Wick Marsh:

Phase two of the ground works at Vange Wick is now complete. The reservoir and water control structure are now in place and water is starting to build up in the marsh ditches. An abstraction licence has been acquired so additional water can be pumped out of the stream to wet the marshes up. Phase three of the works will run in two stages, starting in March when an abstraction sluice will be installed in the stream to separate salt and fresh water. Work will then start again in August when the abstraction pump will be installed and a bridge replaced. This will be completed in time for next winter when the reservoir can be filled and the marshes wetted up properly.

West Canvey Marsh:

Work on West Canvey has so far consisted of site surveys to inform us on decisions for the future of the marsh. These reports have looked at insects, reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife as well as archaeology and hydrology. This will help us this summer when the RSPB will carry out a public consultation to find out how local people would like to use the open space on the Marshes. If you want to comment on the future of West Canvey Marsh, please keep an eye out in local press and in the local community for details.<>

Sightings - 11th February 2007

2007-02-11T11:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were my first Kingfisher of the year, a close up view of a male Bullfinch, 2 Foxes together and a Weasel.

During a 2 hour visit in cool and cloudy weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (in and around the "Education Area"):

Kingfisher (1 flew through)
Long-tailed Tit (c.5)
Blue Tit (c.5)
Great Tit (1)
Robin (1 singing)
Chaffinch (1 singing)
Blackbird (1)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.20)
Shoveler (1 male and 1 female)
Common Pochard (1 male)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female)
Tufted Duck (3 males and 1 female)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard calling in the reedbed)
Rook (c.100)
Magpie (c.20)
Woodpigeon (c.30)
Collared Dove (3)
Bullfinch (1 male perched in the bushes right outside of the hide)
Blue Tit (2)
Great Tit (1)
Blackbird (3)
Song Thrush (2)
Wren, Robin, Dunnock and Chaffinch (all heard singing)

Mammals:

Weasel (1 seen running across the entrance road)
Fox (2 seen in the field on the other side of Pitseahall Fleet from the hide by Holly Cottage)
Rabbit (4 in the field next to the "Education Area")

Photos of the day .... please click for larger images.

Long-tailed Tit

Blue Tit

Rabbit

Fox

Photos - 7th February 2007

2007-02-07T20:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Today I set out to shoot Rabbits .... with my camera I hasten to add!

In addition to the photos of Rabbits below, I have also included photos of Holly Cottage and the adjacent hide.

Whilst photographing the Rabbits, I also saw a male and female Bullfinch and a Green Woodpecker.

Please click for larger images.

Sightings - 6th February 2007

2007-02-06T21:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was an excellent view of a Water Rail feeding at the edge of the reedbed in front of the main hide. I saw my first of the year in 2006 on the very last day so I was very pleased to see my first for 2007 so early. These birds are frequently heard "squealing" from the reedbeds but sightings can prove to be difficult.

In addition, a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the reedbed on the other side of the road to the landfill site and a Fox was seen in the adjacent fields. The male Ruddy Duck was still present as were 2 Tufted Ducks.

During a 3 hour visit in sunny and frosty weather from 8.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek and adjacent area):

Common Redshank (c.30)
Lapwing (c.50)
Curlew (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (4)
Heron (1)
Little Egret (2)
Cormorant (1)
Moorhen (5)
Little Grebe (1)
Teal (c.30)
Wigeon (c.50)
Mallard (2)
Shelduck (13)
Black-headed Gull (c.60)
Green Woodpecker (1)
Woodpigeon (c.30)
Carrion Crow (6)
Magpie (2)

Birds (at the feeding station outside the RSPB Barn):

Blue Tit (c.5)
Great Tit (c.5)
House Sparrow (c.20)
Dunnock (2)
Greenfinch (1)
Chaffinch (1)
Robin (1)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Oystercatcher (2 flew past)
Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (1)
Water Rail (1 heard calling in the reedbed)
Little Grebe (1)
Shoveler (2 males and 1 female)
Common Pochard (3 females)
Gadwall (1 male and 1 female)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard calling in the reedbed)
Rook (3)
Magpie (c.10)
Stock Dove (2)
Blue Tit (2)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Lapwing (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (4)
Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (3)
Little Grebe (1)
Water Rail (1 seen feeding at the edge of the reedbed)
Cormorant (5)
Greylag Goose (c.100 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Canada Goose (c.60)
Shoveler (c.20)
Teal (c.30)
Gadwall (5 males and 1 female)
Common Pochard (7 males and 2 females)
Tufted Duck (1 male and 1 female)
Wigeon (4 males and 2 females)
Shelduck (4)
Ruddy Duck (1 male)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Herring Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Marsh Harrier (female hunting over the reedbed on the other side of the road to the landfill site)
Collared Dove (1)
Robin (2)
Wren (1)
Blue Tit (c.10 at the bird feeders .... plus 1 very inquisitive entrant to the hide!)
Great Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (2 at the feeding station by the main hide)
Fox (1 in the fields between the reedbed and the railway)

Photos of the day .... please click for larger images.

Robin

House Sparrow

Collared Dove

Greylag Geese

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

Photos - 3rd February 2007

2007-02-03T19:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Today I managed to forget my binoculars and notebook so there is no record of bird sightings .... other than a female Sparrowhawk being pursued by a frantically calling Oystercatcher which I did mange to remember!

However, as the weather was very sunny (and very cold) and I had remembered my camera, I took the opportunity to take some photos of the Robins which seemed to be singing in full voice everywhere. I also managed to get some photos of some of the other common bird species and a Grey Squirrel.

Here are my best photos of Robins ....

Please click for larger images.

Here are my photos of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon and Grey Squirrel ....

Please click for larger images.

Sightings - 21st January 2007

2007-01-21T14:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was an excellent and lengthy view of a Cettis Warbler feeding in the reeds and scrub right outside the hide by Holly Cottage. The bird was mainly quiet but occasionally called as it moved around.

In addition, 4 male Tufted Ducks were seen, my first record at the site for a long time.

During a 3 hour visit in sunny and cool weather from 9 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.30)
Little Grebe (1)
Water Rail (1 heard calling)
Shoveler (2 males and 1 female)
Cettis Warbler (1 in the reeds and scrub to the right of the hide)

Birds (at the feeding station outside the RSPB Barn):

Blue Tit (c.10)
Great Tit (c.5)
House Sparrow (c.20)
Dunnock (2)
Greenfinch (1 male)
Chaffinch (1 female)
Robin (1)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (c.5)
Little Grebe (1)
Water Rail (1 heard calling in the reedbed)
Cormorant (13 including a white headed adult)
Greylag Goose (c.20 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Canada Goose (2)
Shoveler (c.25)
Teal (c.30)
Gadwall (5 males and 5 females)
Common Pochard (c.25)
Tufted Duck (4 males)
Mallard (1 male)
Wigeon (1 male and 1 female)
Shelduck (7)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Bearded Tit (1 heard calling)
Collared Dove (1)
Magpie (c.5)
Carrion Crow (c.50)
Jackdaw (c.20)
Blue Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (c.5 at the bird feeders)
Greenfinch (1 male at the bird feeders)
Blackbird (2)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (1 at the feeding station by the RSPB barn)
Fox (1 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)

Photos of the day .... please click for larger images.

Coot

Robin

House Sparrows

Dunnock

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Reports - 16th January 2007

2007-01-16T20:00:00.000Z

Vange Marsh

The last report of the Dartford Warbler at the RSPB reserve since its first sighting on 27th December 2006.

Sightings - 8th January 2006

2007-01-08T13:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

My first visit of the New Year!

The highlight today was an excellent view of a stunning male Sparrowhawk. The bird was seen from the hide by Holly Cottage perched in a bush on the other side of Pitseahall Fleet. It eventually took off and flew over the water directly towards the hide before skirting along the edge of the reeds and then out of sight.

In addition, a male Ruddy Duck was seen from the hide by Holly Cottage. The bird engaged in its bill slapping display .... confusingly directed towards 3 female Common Pochards!

During a 3 hour visit in sunny and cool weather from 9 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Common Redshank (c.40)
Lapwing (1)
Curlew (8)
Black-tailed Godwit (1)
Moorhen (5)
Little Grebe (1)
Teal (c.20)
Wigeon (9)
Mallard (2)

Birds (at the feeding station outside the RSPB Barn):

Blue Tit (c.10)
Great Tit (c.5)
House Sparrow (c.5)
Dunnock (1)
Greenfinch (2)
Chaffinch (2)
Blackbird (2)
Robin (3)
Fieldfare (2 flew over)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.40)
Shoveler (2 males)
Common Pochard (3 females)
Ruddy Duck (1 male)
Magpie (c.10)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Sparrowhawk (1 male)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Blackbird (3)
Blue Tit (2)
Great Tit (2)
Robin (1 heard singing)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Heron (1)
Curlew (12 flew over)
Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (c.5)
Little Grebe (1)
Cormorant (5)
Greylag Goose (c.100 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Shoveler (20 males and 4 females)
Teal (c.30)
Mallard (5)
Shelduck (1)
Wigeon (c.10 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Cettis Warbler (1 seen in the reedbed in front of the hide)
Kestrel (1 perched on top of one of the pylons)
Rook (c.50 in small groups flying over)
Collared Dove (2)
Magpie (c.5)
Starling (c.200 in small groups flying over)
Blue Tit (c.10 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (2 at the bird feeders)
Greenfinch (1 at the bird feeders)
Wren (1)
Blackbird (3)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (1 at the feeding station by the RSPB barn)
Fox (1 in the fields between the reedbed and the railway line)

RSPB Vange Marsh update - 3rd January 2007

2007-01-03T14:00:00.000Z

From the RSPB ....

At RSPB Vange Marsh the earth works are now complete and there are only small jobs to be completed on the sluices before the works are finished. The saline lagoon is operating with salt water from Pitsea Creek filling it via the old sluice in the flood bank. The lagoon fills by 1 metre on each tide and with islands in the lagoon it is expected to become a valuable high tide roost and breeding site in the coming year. The fresh water lake is steadily filling and good numbers of duck are using the area.

During 2007 fencing will be installed to allow grazing of the dry grassland areas and additional footpaths will be created to improve access to view the birdlife in the reed bed and on the lagoons. Over the Christmas period two Dartford Warblers have been seen as well as Stonechat, Bearded Tit, Green Sandpiper, Teal and Wigeon were spotted.

2006 - a brief review of the year

2007-01-02T21:00:00.000Z

2006 saw this blog being set up in April to record my bird and wildlife sightings plus reports from other observers.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all visitors to my blog. I hope you have found it interesting and informative.

My personal site records for 2006 were as follows:

Birds = 88
Mammals = 4
Butterflies = 19
Dragonflies and damselflies = 10

I am sure that 2007 will see an improvement in those species totals and I will continue to post site reports and photographs as frequently as visits allow.

Sightings - 31st December 2006

2006-12-31T18:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

This was my last visit for 2006.

The highlight today was finally seeing a Water Rail as it flew across from one side of the reedbed to the other in front of the main hide. These birds have been heard frequently on recent visits so a sighting, albeit brief, was well overdue! It was also my first sighting of this bird during 2006 .... on the last day!

During a 1 hour visit in dull and mild weather from 11.45 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Little Egret (1)
Heron (2 on the other side of the reedbed to the left of the hide)
Curlew (5 flew over the scrape)
Coot (c.40)
Moorhen (c.10)
Little Grebe (2)
Water Rail (1 in front of the main hide)
Mute Swan (1)
Cormorant (4)
Greylag Goose (c.20 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Shoveler (9 males and 2 females)
Teal (c.35)
Shelduck (2)
Common Pochard (1 female)
Gadwall (6 males and 3 females)
Wigeon (c.30 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Herring Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Carrion Crow (c.200)
Collared Dove (5)
Magpie (c.10)
Starling (c.100)
Blue Tit (c.10 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (2 at the bird feeders)

Sightings - 30th December 2006

2006-12-30T15:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

During a 1 hour visit in sunny and mild weather from 9.15 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (1)
Little Egret (1)
Green Sandpiper (2)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (2)
Water Rail (1 heard on several occasions in the reedbed in front of and to the right of the hide)
Cormorant (14)
Greylag Goose (c.40 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Canada Goose (6 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Shoveler (6 males and 3 females)
Teal (c.40)
Shelduck (2)
Common Pochard (1 female)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Herring Gull (2)
Greater Black-backed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing to the right of the hide)
Carrion Crow (c.100)
Rook (c.50 flew over in small groups)
Collared Dove (2)
Magpie (c.5)
Starling (c.100)
Blue Tit (c.10 at the bird feeders)
Great Tit (1 at the bird feeders)
Greenfinch (1 female at the bird feeders)
Blackbird (2 eating berries in the bushes around the bird feeders)
Dunnock (2)
Robin (2 engaging in territorial behaviour)
Wren (1 in the reedbed in front of the hide)
Pied Wagtail (1)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (1 at the bird feeders to the left of the hide)
Fox (1 in the fields between the reedbed and the railway line)

Sightings - 28th December 2006

2006-12-28T16:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

This was my first visit for over 3 weeks.

The highlight today was excellent and extended views of a female Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbed on the other side of the road to the landfill site.

In addition to the Marsh Harrier, the highlights today were sightings of a huge swirling flock of Starlings over the landfill site, a male and female Stonechat, an excellent view of a Cettis Warbler outside the main hide and 2 Foxes.

Even though it is not even January, spring can not be that far away as Shoveler were seen displaying on Pitseahall Fleet and a pair of Magpies were nest building near to the hide by Holly Cottage.

During a 3 hour visit in dull and mild weather from 9.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Common Redshank (c.30)
Lapwing (c.30)
Curlew (2)
Black-tailed Godwit (4)
Moorhen (8)
Teal (11)
Wigeon (22)
Shelduck (1)
Black-headed Gull (c.300)
Common Gull (1)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.50)
Moorhen(1)
Shoveler (7 males and 2 females)
Common Pochard (2 males)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing)
Magpie (4 including 2 nest building!)
Collared Dove (2)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Blackbird (2)

Birds (at the feeding station outside the RSPB Barn):

Blue Tit (c.10)
Great Tit (c.5)
House Sparrow (c.10)
Dunnock (2)
Greenfinch (c.5)
Chaffinch (2)
Blackbird (1)
Robin (1)
Redwing (6 flew over calling)
Collared Dove (1)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (15)
Little Egret (1)
Green Sandpiper (2)
Coot (c.30)
Moorhen (c.10)
Water Rail (1 heard on several occasions in the reedbed in front of and to the right of the hide)
Little Grebe (1)
Cormorant (9)
Greylag Goose (10 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Shoveler (14 males and 4 females)
Teal (c.30)
Mallard (1 male and 1 female)
Gadwall (4 males and 4 females)
Shelduck (1)
Wigeon (13 in the fields beyond the road to the landfill site)
Black-headed Gull (c.60)
Herring Gull (c.20)
Common Gull (3)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (3)
Greater Black-backed Gull (4)
Cettis Warbler (1 seen in the reedbed in front of the hide)
Bearded Tit (2)
Stonechat (1 male and 1 female)
Carrion Crow (c.50)
Woodpigeon (2)
Magpie (c.5)
Starling (a huge swirling flock over the landfill site)
Blue Tit (2)
Fieldfare (1)

Mammals:

Grey Squirrel (1 at the feeding station by the RSPB barn)
Fox (1 in the fields between the reedbed and the railway line and 1 between the road and the hedge by the main entrance)

Sightings - 2nd December 2006

2006-12-02T16:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were my first records of Redwing and Fieldfare for Wat Tyler Country Park bringing my personal list to 100 species for the site.

In addition I had an excellent close up view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker right at the side of the Holly Cottage hide and the scrape had 5 individual Little Egrets which is the largest group that I have seen.

Does anyone know what season it is? On the scrape amongst the flock of Black-headed Gulls, there was an adult bird with its summer plumaged "chocolate" head already starting to show.

The reedbed in front of the main hide has had a strip cut and cleared through it to Pitseahall Fleet which hopefully will produce views of Water Rail .... and maybe a wintering Bittern? Today a Water Rail was heard but was too shy to show itself!

During a 3 hour visit in cool and cloudy weather from 9.45 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.100)
Little Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (1)
Cormorant (1)
Shoveler (5 males)
Gadwall (3 males and 2 females)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing from the far side of Pitseahall Fleet)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 perching right outside the hide)
Collared Dove (4)
Woodpigeon (c.50)
Magpie (c.10)
Jay (c.2)
Redwing (1)
Blackbird (c.5)
Blue Tit (2)
Great Tit (4)
Robin (1)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (c.60)
Little Egret (5)
Heron (1)
Green Sandpiper (3)
Snipe (1)
Common Redshank (1)
Curlew (2)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (c.10)
Water Rail (1 heard on several occasions in the reedbed in front of and to the right of the hide)
Cormorant (7)
Canada Goose (12)
Shoveler (7 males and 5 females)
Teal (c.30)
Mallard (3 males)
Gadwall (4 males and 2 females)
Wigeon (2 males)
Shelduck (3)
Black-headed Gull (c.100)
Herring Gull (5)
Common Gull (2)
Great Black-backed Gull (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Carrion Crow (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.5)
Magpie (c.5)
Starling (c.100)
Blue Tit (3)
Dunnock (1)
Robin (1 heard singing)
Wren (1 heard singing)

Birds (along the entrance road):

Fieldfare (9)

Sightings - 19th November 2006

2006-11-19T16:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was a male Stonechat seen in the bushes and scrub between the scrape and the road to the landfill site. This is my first record for Wat Tyler Country Park bringing my personal list to 98 species for the site.

In addition to the Stonechat, the highlights today were excellent views of a Kingfisher and a Fox both in the usual areas.

During a 4 hour visit in very sunny but cold weather from 8.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (at the feeding station by the RSPB Barn):

Blue Tit (at least 15)
Great Tit (at least 5)
House Sparrow (c.20)
Dunnock (1)
Blackbird (1)
Greenfinch (4)
Chaffinch (1)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (c10 flying over)
Coot (c.100)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Little Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2)
Cormorant (2)
Shoveler (2 males and 1 female)
Teal (2 males and 1 female)
Mallard (7 males and 2 females)
Gadwall (3 males and 3 females)
Ruddy Duck (1 male)
Kingfisher (1 perched in bushes to the left of the hide)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Collared Dove (3)
Magpie (c.10)
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Song Thrush (1)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (10)
Little Egret (1)
Heron (1)
Green Sandpiper (1)
Black-tailed Godwit (3)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (c.15)
Mute Swan (2)
Cormorant (4)
Shoveler (4 males and 4 females)
Teal (c.10)
Mallard (3 males and 3 females)
Gadwall (1 male and 1 female)
Wigeon (3 males and 4 females)
Black-headed Gull (c.100)
Herring Gull (2)
Common Gull (2)
Cettis Warbler (heard only)
Bearded Tit (heard only)
Stonechat (1 male)
Pied Wagtail (1)
Carrion Crow (c.5)
Woodpigeon (c.5)

Mammals:

Fox (1 seen in the field on the other side of Pitseahall Fleet from the hide by Holly Cottage)
Rabbit (1 by the Boat Museum)

Photos of the day .... please click for larger images.

The scrape from the main hide

Magpie

House Sparrow

Dunnock

Blue Tit

Great Tits

Rainham Marshes - RSPB safeguards more open space in the Thames Gateway

2006-11-13T21:00:00.000Z

Just along the River Thames from Wat Tyler Country Park and the newly created RSPB Vange Marsh and Canvey Island reserves, a huge area of wildlife-rich marshland on the border between London and Essex has been opened to the public for the first time in 100 years as a RSPB nature reserve.

The site at Rainham Marshes, complete with a state-of-the-art Environment and Education Centre, was officially opened on Monday 13th November 2006.

Bill Oddie and Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, were there to herald the reserve as one of the first major green spaces in the Government’s Thames Gateway development.

This will see 160,000 new homes in East London, south Essex and north Kent. They will form the lion’s share of the 200,000 homes that the Government wants to see built by 2016 in its four “growth areas”.

The RSPB hopes its new 353-hectare reserve will provide a foundation for the sustainable development of the Thames Gateway making it a healthy and attractive place to live in and to visit.

Both the reserve and the visitor centre have been designed to allow genuine access for all. The centre's unique design combines uninterrupted views across the marshes with a range of cutting edge energy and water saving features.

In time, thousands of people should be able to enjoy the peace and tranquillity that the new reserve offers and see the wealth of wildlife that can be found there.

Graham Wynne, RSPB Chief Executive, said: "The Thames Gateway is a fantastic area for wildlife. It is vital that the people, who live and work in the area, and those who visit, have access to its magnificent open spaces. If they do not, there is a real risk that the regeneration will fail to realise its full potential.

"The RSPB is working across the whole Gateway to deliver publicly accessible green spaces that bring benefits both to the wildlife that depend on these sites and to the communities that surround them.

"RSPB Rainham Marshes is the furthest advanced of our projects and we look forward to working with our partners on both sides of the river to help deliver a sustainable Thames Gateway that we can all be proud of."

Ruth Kelly, said: "The Thames Gateway is about much more than new jobs and homes, we also want to see quality green spaces like this fantastic RSPB centre for people to enjoy, high design standards for new homes and strong visible leadership.

"Later this month I will set out our commitment to a new network of parklands and our aim for the Gateway to become an exemplar for low and zero carbon development."

Bill Oddie, a long time supporter of the project commented: "As a London based birdwatcher, Rainham Marshes was always something of a secret paradise and a place that I have enjoyed visiting over many years. I was pleased to be at the event to celebrate the RSPB's purchase of the Marshes and even more excited to be here on the day that sees RSPB Rainham Marshes fully opened up for all to enjoy. It's great to think that now everyone will be able to appreciate what a wonderful place it is."

The purchase and development of RSPB Rainham Marshes and the Purfleet Environment and Education Centre has only been made possible by the support of many organisation and individuals. We are particularly grateful to Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Veolia ES Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust.

Will McKee, Chairman of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation said, "We are thrilled that the Corporation has helped to deliver a facility that will be a key regenerator for Purfleet, one of our five key economic hubs in the borough. The RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve and Visitor and Education Centre has an excellent fit with the Corporation's aim to regenerate Thurrock not only through new homes and jobs but by focusing on other key elements/objectives such as tourism, education and making the borough's open space accessible to all."

Doug Benjafield, Chairman of the Veolia ES Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, said: "The Veolia ES Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust was one of the earliest supporting partners of the RSPB of the Rainham Marshes project. The Trust made a significant contribution to facilitate the original purchase of 870 acres of land on the Inner Thames marshes from the MoD, back in 2000. This expenditure secured the future of this environmental resource on the urban fringe, in perpetuity.

"Since then, the Trust has funded annual infrastructure work to facilitate public access and increase biodiversity, with a total contribution of over £1.1 million to date. I’m delighted to be here on the day this magnificent new Environment and Education Centre is opened to the public"

Robyn Llewellyn, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager in the East of England, said: "Rainham Marshes is such a wonderful breathing space for people across Thurrock and beyond; a haven for wildlife that is full of history and now open for everyone to enjoy.

"Celebrating our past will be so important as the Thames Gateway area undergoes further development. Exploring our roots helps to create a sense of place, identity and local pride that form the foundations for any growing community."

For more information please click here and here.

Reports - October and early November 2006

2006-11-10T20:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

The first winter visitors are arriving now.

All reports as per Basildon DC office noticeboard:

Redwing - 7th October 2006
Short-eared Owl - 25th October 2006
Long-eared Owl - 27th October 2006
Fieldfare - 1st November 2006

Reports - 6th November 2006

2006-11-06T20:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Greenshank (2) and Barn Owl (1) - as per Alan Shearman and Fiona Hazelton (South East Essex RSPB website)

Reports - 4th November 2006

2006-11-04T20:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Common Buzzard (1), Greenshank (2), Green Sandpiper (2) and Grey Wagtail (2) - as per Kevin Rees (South East Essex RSPB website)

Sightings - 4th November 2006

2006-11-04T13:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

Today I made a brief visit to the bird feeding station outside the RSPB Barn where the highlight was excellent close views of a very confiding Weasel.

Birds:

Blue Tit (c.10)
Great Tit (at least 2)
House Sparrow (c.20)
Starling (c.5)
Dunnock (1)
Greenfinch (2)

Mammals:

Weasel (my first record for the site)

Photos of the day .... please click for larger images.

Weasel

Weasel

Blue Tits

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit and Blue Tit

House Sparrow

Starling

Sightings - 29th October 2006

2006-10-29T20:00:00.000Z

Wat Tyler Country Park

It is the end of October and the clocks have gone back but today was distinctly summery .... warm, blue skies, very sunny and sightings of butterflies, dragonflies and a Hornet.

In addition to the butterflies, dragonflies and the Hornet, the highlights today were excellent views of the Kingfisher, a Fox again in its usual area, a Little Egret right in front of the Holly Cottage hide and c.70 Wigeon on Vange Creek (a winter sight!).

During a 3 hour visit from 11.30 a.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Little Egret (1)
Common Redshank (c.20)
Lapwing (2)
Curlew (4)
Moorhen (5)
Teal (1)
Wigeon (c.70)
Black-headed Gull (c.200)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Herring Gull (2)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Little Egret (2 flying over and 1 in front of the hide)
Coot (c.60)
Moorhen (1)
Great Crested Grebe (2)
Little Grebe (2)
Cormorant (1)
Greylag Goose (c.50 flying over towards Vange Creek)
Shoveler (1 male)
Mallard (3 males and 1 female flying over and 1 male on Pitseahall Fleet)
Black-headed Gull (2)
Cettis Warbler (2 heard singing)
Sparrowhawk (1 soaring and being mobbed by gulls)
Kestrel (1 perched on the pylon)
Kingfisher (1 perched in bushes to the left of the hide before flying off towards the scrape)
Magpie (2)
Carrion Crow (c.30)
Collared Dove (c.10)
Woodpigeon (c.50)
Blue Tit (2)
Great Tit (1)
Dunncok (2)
Greenfinch (2)
Robin (1 heard singing)
Wren (1 heard singing)

Mammals:

Fox (1 seen in the field on the other side of Pitseahall Fleet from the hide by Holly Cottage)

Butterflies:

Peacock (1 by the marina)
Red Admiral (1 near Holly Cottage)

Dragonflies:

Ruddy Darter (at least 2 over the reeds in front of the hide by Holly Cottage)
Migrant Hawker (at least 2 over the reeds in front of the hide by Holly Cottage)

Insects:

Hornet (1 outside the hide by Holly Cottage)

Photo: view from the hide by Holly Cottage (please click for larger image)

Photo: Kingfisher (please click for larger image)

Photo: Little Grebe (please click for larger image)

Photo: Coot (please click for larger image)

Sightings - 24th October 2006

2006-10-24T20:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlights today were a view of a Fox in the same area as seen on 19th September 2006, an excellent view of a female Sparrowhawk and the sunset over Vange Creek.

During a short visit from 5 p.m. the following were recorded:

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (1)
Great Crested Grebe (2)
Little Grebe (1)
Cormorant (1)
Shoveler (4 males and 1 female)
Cettis Warbler (2 heard singing from either side of the hide)
Sparrowhawk (1 female flying in front of the hide)
Magpie (4)
Jay (1)
Rook (3)
Collared Dove (c.20 roosting in bushes to the left of the hide until disturbed by the Sparrowhawk)
Stock Dove (c.50 roosting in bushes on the other side of Pitseahall Fleet)
Starling (c.30)
Blue Tit (1)

Mammals

Fox (1 seen in the field on the other side of Pitseahall Fleet from the hide by Holly Cottage)
Grey Squirrel (2 by the craft workshops)

Photo: Fox (please click for larger image)

Photo: Mute Swans (please click for larger image)

Photo: Grey Squirrel (please click for larger image)

Photo: sunset over Vange Creek (please click for larger image)

Reports - 22nd October 2006

2006-10-22T22:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Greenshank (4) and Green Sandpiper (2) - as per Richard Shepherd (South East Essex RSPB website)

My other website ....

2006-10-22T07:55:00.000+01:00

Richard Chew Photography - Wildlife and Landscapes

Reports - September and early October 2006

2006-10-19T20:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

All reports as per Basildon DC office noticeboard:

Greenshank - c.14 on 24th September 2006
Whimbrel - 1 on 23rd September 2006
Hobby - 1 late report on 24th September 2006
Little Owl - 1 on 28th September 2006
Common Whitethroat - 1 late report on 30th September 2006

Little Egret - c.45 on 3rd October 2006
Firecrest - 1 on 5th October 2006
Siskin - 1 on 7th October 2006
Common Buzzard - 1 on 7th October 2006
Swallow - late report on 7th October 2006

Sightings - 17th October 2006

2006-10-17T14:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

The highlight today was very good views of groups of Bearded Tits at 3 different locations (although they may have been the same 5 or 6 birds moving around!).

During a 4 hour visit from 8.30 a.m. on a cold and grey morning the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Little Egret (1)
Common Redshank (c.30)
Lapwing (1)
Heron (1)
Curlew (2)
Moorhen (3)
Teal (2)
Mallard (2)
Black-headed Gull (c.300)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Common Gull (4)

Birds (area behind the craft workshops towards the RSPB barn):

Moorhen (4 on the pond)
Bearded Tit (6 flying high over the craft workshops towards Vange Creek before turning to fly back towards Pitseahall Fleet)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing from the reeds by the pond)
Woodpigeon (6)
Collared Dove (2)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Jay (2)
Magpie (c.10)
Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit (c.10 of each in a mixed flock near Little Coopers Cottage)
Dunnock (1)
Robin (2)
Wren (1)
House Sparrow (3)
Pied Wagtail (1)
Starling (c.15)

Mammals (area behind the craft workshops towards the RSPB barn):

Grey Squirrel (1)
Rabbit (2)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (c.30 flying over towards the scrape)
Coot (c.80)
Moorhen (2)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Little Grebe (2)
Cormorant (1)
Shoveler (2 males)
Mallard (2 males and 1 female)
Black-headed Gull (c.30)
Bearded Tit (5 flying over the reeds on the far side of Pitseahall Fleet)
Cettis Warbler (2 heard singing from either side of the hide)
Magpie (2)
Collared Dove (c.25 - 2 separate groups roosting on the pylons)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Black-tailed Godwit (2)
Lapwing (c.30)
Heron (2)
Coot (c.80)
Moorhen (c.20)
Little Grebe (1)
Mute Swan (2)
Cormorant (7)
Wigeon (8)
Teal (10)
Shoveler (a very mobile group of 3 males and 2 females)
Mallard (9 males and 3 females)
Black-headed Gull (c.200)
Herring Gull (c.10)
Common Gull (2)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2)
Bearded Tit (3 seen flying over the reeds between Pitseahall Fleet and the scape)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard only)
Blue Tit (3)
Robin (1 heard singing)
Wren (1 heard singing)

Photo: Moorhen (please click for larger image)

Photo: Great Crested Grebe (please click for larger image)

Photo: Grey Heron (please click for larger image)

Photo: Magpie (please click for larger image)

Events - 2006

2006-10-16T22:35:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Here is a list of upcoming events at Wat Tyler Country Park. Please see the South East Essex RSPB website for further information.

Monday 23rd October to Sunday 29th October 2006 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) - "Marvellous Marshes" - an exhibition celebrating the history of the Essex Marshes in the RSPB barn.

Thursday 9th November 2006 (10 a.m.) - "Walk on the Wild Side" - RSPB guided walk.

Tuesday 21st and Thursday 30th November 2006 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) - "Guides in the hide" - RSPB staff available with telescopes and binoculars in the main hide.

Tuesday 26th December 2006 (9 a.m.) - "Boxing Day Wildlife Walk" - RSPB guided walk.

Reports - 16th October 2006

2006-10-16T21:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Spotted Redshank (5 on the scrape) - as per Alan Shearman (South East Essex RSPB website)

Reports - 12th October 2006

2006-10-12T15:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Bearded Tit (4), Greenshank (6), Ruff (1), Stonechat (6) - as per Adrian Mann (South East Essex RSPB website)

Reports - 7th October 2006

2006-10-07T13:00:00.000+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

Green Sandpiper (2), Black-tailed Godwit (1) - as per Richard Shepherd (South East Essex RSPB website)

Sightings - 7th October 2006

2006-10-07T11:00:00.000+01:00

The hightlight today was a Cettis Warbler singing out in the open immediately outside the hide by Holly Cottage, probably the best view I have ever had of this bird.

During a 1 hour visit from 9 a.m. on a cold and breezy but sunny morning the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Common Redshank (c.100 roosting together on the mudflats)
Curlew (3)
Moorhen (2)
Teal (6)
Mallard (8)
Black-headed Gull (c.40)
Greater Black-backed Gull (1)
Herring Gull (1)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Lapwing (c.30 flying over towards the scrape)
Coot (c.60)
Moorhen (2)
Great Crested Grebe (4)
Little Grebe (2)
Cormorant (4)
Mallard (3)
Black-headed Gull (14)
Cettis Warbler (1 seen singing just outside of the hide)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 heard only)
Jay (1)
Magpie (6)
Collared Dove (c.10)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Blue Tit (2)
Great Tit (1)
Dunnock (1)
Wren (1 heard singing)
Greenfinch (2)

Photo: juvenile Great Crested Grebe (please click for larger image)

Sightings - 30th September 2006

2006-09-30T13:00:00.001+01:00

Wat Tyler Country Park

During my 3 hour visit from 8.30 a.m., the following were recorded:

Birds (Vange Creek):

Common Redshank (c.25)
Curlew (2)
Snipe (4)
Lapwing (5)
Moorhen (3)
Teal (c.20)
Black-headed Gull (c.40)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (2 heard singing - 1 from the marina side and 1 on the far side of the creek)

Birds (from the hide by Holly Cottage overlooking Pitseahall Fleet):

Little Egret (1 in front of the hide)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (5)
Mute Swan (2)
Great Crested Grebe (2)
Little Grebe (2)
Shoveler (3)
Mallard (2)
Teal (2)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard singing to right of the hide)
Kingfisher (1 flying along Pitseahall Fleet)
Swallow (1)
Blackcap (at least 3 males and 1 female together eating elderberries to left of the hide)
Common Whitethroat (1 heard)
Sparrowhawk (female perched on pylon before flying off towards Pitsea tip)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 heard only)
Jay (3)
Magpie (c.5)
Collared Dove (c.10)
Woodpigeon (c.10)
Blue Tit (c.5)
Dunnock (2)
Robin (1)
Wren (1 heard singing)
Greenfinch (male and female eating blackberries to left of the hide)

Birds (from the main hide overlooking the scrape and Pitseahall Fleet):

Black-tailed Godwit (3)
Lapwing (c.70)
Coot (c.50)
Moorhen (c.5)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Cormorant (4)
Greylag Goose (c.100 flew over in 4 separate groups and landed in the fields behind the scrape)
Teal (8)
Bearded Tit (1 heard only)
Cettis Warbler (1 heard only)
Reed Warbler (1)
Swallow (c.20 passing through and heading south)
Kestrel (male perched in bush and mobbed by Carrion Crow and Magpie in flight)
Carrion Crow (1)
Magpie (1)
Woodpigeon (1)
Collared Dove (1)
Pied Wagtail (2)
Starling (c.20)
Blue Tit (c.5)

Butterflies:

Small White (1 from the main hide)

Photo: Mute Swan (please click for larger image)

Photo: Mute Swan (please click for larger image)