Birds of Essex
Another chance to watch the final BoE of the season where we discuss fieldcraft, rare breeding birds in Essex, we have the winner of our latest photo competition and we've got some exciting news about the EBwS website. Plus all the latest birding updates from around the county and we play a game of 'Spot Steve Swinney'!
Click the thumbnail below to begin, when the video starts playing click YouTube for a larger view.
EBwS Photo Competition
Congratulations to Jon Ward who won the final EBwS photo competition of the season with this lovely picture of a Reed Warbler.
Huge thanks to everyone who has taken part and helped make the competition fun and popular over the last few months. It will be back in the autumn with a new seasonal format, starting 1st September.
EBwS 2021 Rookery Survey - final update
Massive thanks to everyone who contributed to our EBwS Rookery Survey and a big thank you to Howard Vaughan for processing all of the data received. The results have far exceeded our expectations: 293 different rookeries surveyed totalling 5647 nests which is amazing. This gives an unprecedented foundation for future comparison, enabling us to monitor the future health of our Essex rookeries in great detail. Chris Cater has worked the data into mapping software that shows the scale of the combined contributions - click here to view.
There are plans to conduct a similar survey in 5 years to gauge any changes, meanwhile you can still continue to record your rookeries using our Rookery Survey form which can be found by clicking here. All data will be entered into the Essex Rookery database and every entry is valuable for the future of these truly charismatic birds in our county. Thank you.
How to... report ringed birds
Steve Grimwade shows us how to report a ringed bird and explains why it's so important.
Click the thumbnail below to begin, when the video starts playing click YouTube for a larger view.
Photos
Latest Highlights
| West Canvey Marshes RSPB: 1 Peregrine Falcon |
| Layer Breton: 3 Spoonbill |
| Beckton: 4 Arctic Tern |
| Vange Marsh RSPB: 1 Great White Egret, 2 Bearded Tit |
| Southend Pier: 1 Peregrine Falcon |
| Hanningfield Reservoir: 2 Red-crested Pochard |
| Holland Haven: 2 Wood Sandpiper |
| Old Hall Marshes NR RSPB: 2 Bearded Tit |
| Layer Breton: 4 Spoonbill, 7 Egyptian Goose |
| Naze, The: 1 Cetti's Warbler |
Latest News
Stay at Home Wildlife Recorders Club
The British Naturalists Association have set up this online club to record all the sightings in gardens during the Covid-19 crisis. This is a great opportunity for everyone to take part in a BNA Citizen Science Project watching and recording nature in your garden. Full details are below.
WHAT TO RECORD AND WHAT NOT TO RECORD
1. Record only those species of birds, butterflies, wild flowers etc. that you see in your garden or from your garden or house.
2. Birds that you see flying that do not land in your garden can be recorded as can animals, deer etc. that you might spot from your garden in a nearby field so long as you can see them without leaving your garden or house
3. Any wildlife you spot whilst taking exercise away from your house or garden should not be included in your records.
4. Only record on your chart a species once, the first time you see it. If you see for instance a robin on a number of occasions in your garden do not record it on your chart every time you see it.
5. A chart is provided for you to keep a record of your own individual sightings, but feel free to produce your own chart.
6. Encourage others in your area to record wildlife sightings and then set up an online community group. Nominate a co-ordinator and send your sightings to that person to combine sightings onto one chart.
7. We have a team of experienced naturalists who can help identify difficult species. Please take a photo and send it to chairman@bna-naturalists.org and we can help you
Websites to help with identification
Birds: www.rspb.org
Butterflies: www.butterfly-conservation.org also www.ukbutterflies.co.uk
Wildflowers: www.seasonalwildflowers.com also www.wildflowerfinder.org.uk
Dragonflies: www.dragonflysoc.org.uk
Bugs: www.britishbugs.org.uk
Also for a range of species: www.first-nature.com
RSPB Old Hall Marshes car park closure
The RSPB have decided to no longer open the gate to RSPB Old Hall Marshes at the weekend, as of the 1st of February 2020. It will remain open as normal during the weekdays. It will still also be able to arrange access for organised groups wishing to access the reserve at the weekend.
Attached is a note that explains why they are doing this - as a result of a review of into the amount of resource put into maintaining a 7 day week operation at the reserve. By removing this they will be able to put more resource and time into carrying out vital conservation tasks and still maintain site security and prevent anti-social behaviour occurring on the reserve.