Bird News - Report of Recent Sightings | Essex Birdwatching Society

Please note that with most of Essex being put into Tier 4 from 20th Dec that sites still in Tier 2, including Abberton and Mersea, are not accessible to those outside the Tier 2 area.

The EBwS Bird News provides a summary of sightings for the past 14 days.

Headline News highlights interesting birds categorised as locally scarce or where the EBwS requires full notes/descriptions
Reports provides the full details of the sightings submitted to this website as well as other records e.g. from the East London Birders Forum
Table provides the same information as Reports but in a tabular format
Photos highlights the latest photos that have been uploaded to the website

Amber indicates a local or uncommon species, red indicates EBwS requires notes, bold red indicates EBwS requires a description.

Bird News - Report of Recent Sightings

Friday 26 Feb 2021
Great Totham, 16:00 to 17:00, Sunny, light N. wind. 1 Goosander (Female. Totham Pit.), 100 Fieldfare (+. Forrester Park golf course.), 1 Grey Wagtail (Spickets Brook, Spickets Wood.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Galleyhill Wood, near Waltham Abbey, 14:00 to 14:10, Sunny mild 2 Grey Wagtail (Breach barns mobile home site), 1 Red Kite (Breach barns mobile home site), 6 Goldfinch (Breach barns mobile home site), 4 Red-legged Partridge (Breach barns mobile home site) [Melvin Shepherd-Wells]
High Ongar, 14:00 to 14:00, Good 1 Chiffchaff (Clear sighting perched in shrub singing in back garden) [Neil Warner]
High Ongar, 14:00 to 14:00, Good 1 Chiffchaff (Clear sighting perched in shrub singing in back garden) [Neil Warner]
Roman River Valley, 10:30 to 11:30, hot, sunny, no clouds 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Siskin, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrest (1 singing, 1 with coal tits), 1 Buzzard (heard), 1 Nuthatch, 4 Long-tailed Tit [Oliver Cottis]
TQ7899, 10:00 to 11:00, Sunny 1 Little Owl, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 15 Canada Goose, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe [Andrew Ducat]
Chigborough Lakes, 09:30 to 11:15, Sunny, light N. wind. Lots of common birdsong. 4 Mute Swan, 3 Shoveler (2m.), 1 Gadwall, 100 Mallard (circa.), 19 Pochard, 70 Tufted Duck (circa.), 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 30 Cormorant (circa. Some nesting.), 8 Grey Heron (Some nesting.), 1 Buzzard (Harassed by crows.), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Male and female), 1 Kestrel (Male.), 2 Jay (Pair.), 10 Long-tailed Tit (Three groups.), 5 Greenfinch (One singing.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Brightlingsea, 09:15 to 09:25, Tide out 4 Black-tailed Godwit (Feeding on mud), 2 Oystercatcher (Feeding on mud), 6 Mallard (Feeding on mud), 2 Redshank (Feeding on mud), 1 Little Egret (On the stretch of water next to horse fiekd opposite), 2 Black-headed Gull (On mud) [Susie Jenkins]
Wivenhoe, 09:00 to 13:00, Sunny 1 Collared Dove [Michael Davies]
Wivenhoe, 09:00 to 13:00 1 Chiffchaff (singing in garden) [Richard Allen]
Colchester, 09:00 to 13:00, Salary Brook/Churn Wood area 7 Red Kite (drifting east), 12 Buzzard, 3 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Water Rail, 50 Redwing [Richard Allen]
Tilbury, 09:00 to 11:00, Find and sunny, rising tide, variable light wind 26 Teal (On STW outfall), 4 Avocet (To the east of the fort), 2 Shelduck (On foreshore in front of the fort), 1 Redshank (By the ferry terminal), 2 Gadwall (Gravesend Reach), 13 Wigeon (Gravesend Reach), 1 Red Kite (Over west), 8 Buzzard (Local pairs chasing off passing dispersing birds), 2 Oystercatcher (To the east of the fort), 2 Sparrowhawk (Over east) [Paul Larkin]
West Bergholt, 09:00 to 10:00, Walk along Essex Way from Eight Ash Green to West Bergholt and Fordham 3 Red Kite, 31 Buzzard (Kettles of 9 & 12 were probably migrants which all drifted northeast plus at least 5 other pairs (resident birds)), 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Kingfisher (Perched on roadbridge briefly near Fordham), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 200 Fieldfare (Large flock near Fordham), 1 Sparrowhawk (Female), 1 Kestrel, 14 Skylark [Steve Grimwade]
Langdon Hills NR EWT, 07:30 to 08:15, Sunny, chilly. Plotlands. 1 Sparrowhawk (Female. Attacked a group of magpies. Unsuccessful.), 1 Kestrel (Perched on an oak branch, feeding on unknown prey item.), 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Andrew Cox]

Thursday 25 Feb 2021
High Ongar, 15:00 to 15:00, Good 1 Red Kite (Gliding over Nine Ashes Road, Nine Ashes) [Neil Warner]
Doddinghurst, 14:30 to 16:00, Dull, cloudy, fairly warm. Fields between Doddinghurst Rd & Days Lane 1 Red Kite (2 sightings a mile apart (probably same bird)), 2 Green Woodpecker (At least 2 heard), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylark (Singing), 120 Fieldfare ( flock of 120-150c flying around trees & fields), 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Red-legged Partridge (Seen 2 previous days in same field) [Ian Swanson]
Stanford Warren, 13:00 to 14:00, Overcast 14 Coot (Fishing lakes), 7 Mallard (Fishing lakes), 6 Canada Goose (Fishing lakes), 2 Tufted Duck (Fishing lakes), 1 Great Crested Grebe (Fishing lakes), 2 Moorhen (1 on fishing lake, 1 on pond in reedbed), 2 Cormorant (On pylon by fishing lakes), 10 Wood Pigeon (Along border of reedbed north of footpath), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Trees on western border of lakes), 1 Greenfinch (Trees on western border of lakes), 1 Cetti's Warbler (Heard), 5 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker (On wooden pylon in reedbed south of the lakes), 4 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Blackbird, 1 Jay, 2 Magpie, 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Robin [Jamie Thornton]
Burnham-on-Crouch, 11:00 to 13:00 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler (First singing bird this year, Burnham Wick), 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (Photographed in a Burnham garden at lunchtime today) [Steven Swaby]
Copford, 10:00 to 11:00 1 Little Owl, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Male flew wesr), 1 Treecreeper, 6 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Buzzard, 150 Fieldfare, 40 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 600 Black-headed Gull [Steve Grimwade]
Maldon, 09:15 to 09:45, Overcast, mild. Elms Farm Park. 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff (Calling.), 2 Song Thrush (Singing.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Galleyhill Wood, near Waltham Abbey, 09:00 to 13:00, Mild overcast 4 Yellowhammer (All sightings at Breach barns (near greenhouses)), 3 Red Kite (All sightings at Breach barns (near greenhouses)), 5 Red-legged Partridge (All sightings at Breach barns (near greenhouses)) [Melvin Shepherd-Wells]
Copford SW, near Stanway, 09:00 to 09:45 100 Linnet, 1 Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest, 31 Chaffinch [Steve Grimwade]
Westley Heights, 08:30 to 11:30, Cloudy, mild. 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk (Looked to be a male, by size.), 4 Green Woodpecker, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker (At least.), 2 Mistle Thrush (Pair.), 24 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Nuthatch (Coombe Wood/ Hall Wood territories.), 1 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Goldfinch (At least.), 2 Tawny Owl (Calling to each other, Coombe Wood.) [Andrew Cox]
Langdon Hills NR EWT, 07:45 to 08:15, Coudy, mild. Plotlands ridge field. 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 18 Redwing [Andrew Cox]

Wednesday 24 Feb 2021
Brightlingsea, 16:55 to 16:55 1 White Wagtail, 1 Black Redstart [Darrell Stile]
Woodford Green, 15:30 to 15:35, Blustery, mild for time of year, clear sky, dry 1 Red Kite (A single bird being mobbed by gulls flying Northwards) [Nick Taylor]
Harlow, 15:15 to 15:45, Town Park adventure playground area 1 Red Kite (flew south), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch (calling), 1 Song Thrush (singing) [James Hudson]
Laindon, 12:30 to 13:30, Sun & clouds. Quite warm. Back garden. 1 Red Kite (South.), 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk (Mobbing Buzzard. Seen several times.), 7 Greenfinch (At least.), 6 Goldfinch (At least.) [Andrew Cox]
Great Totham, 10:40 to 11:10, Sun & cloud, light S. wind. Sadly also found eight dead red fox in various stages of decay, some very recent, dumped together 3 Buzzard (Over South Wood. Possibly Lofts Farm birds seen earlier.), 1 Song Thrush (Singing. Totham Pit.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Halstead, 10:00 to 10:10, Mild and bright with a moderate southerly breeze. 1 Blackcap (the singing male still present in my garden) [Jeremy Hurley]
Shrub End, 09:00 to 11:00 1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk [Oliver Cottis]
Lofts Farm GPs, Heybridge, 08:50 to 10:30, Sun & cloud, light S.wind. 3 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Canada Goose (Damaged wing.), 2 Greylag Goose, 20 Mute Swan, 1 Shoveler (Male.), 8 Mallard, 70 Pochard, 31 Tufted Duck, 4 Moorhen, 21 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe (Inc. pair displaying.), 120 Black-headed Gull (circa.), 6 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Buzzard (Two pair?), 8 Skylark (Six singing.), 2 Cetti's Warbler (Heard only.), 8 Long-tailed Tit (Together.), 1 Greenfinch (Calling.), 6 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch [Malcolm Corbett]
Wivenhoe, 08:00 to 16:00 3 White-fronted Goose (Over garden, due SW), 2 Whooper Swan (Over garden, due WNW toward University ) [Glyn Evans]
Bardfield, 08:00 to 08:30, sunny, fairly mild - huge flock in field 150 Fieldfare [Matt Trevillion]
Langdon Hills NR EWT, 08:00 to 08:30, Sun, some cloud. Breezy, mild. Plotlands ridge. 1 Buzzard (Seen over the open land to the west.), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redwing, 1 Blackcap (Singing male, close to the entrance to 'Duckingham Palace' pond), 4 Goldfinch [Andrew Cox]
Great Notley, 07:03 to 09:30, Sunny and dry 8 Long-tailed Tit (including a group of 4), 10 Blue Tit, 8 Great Tit, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 Dunnock (displaying), 1 Wren, 1 Green Woodpecker (in flight), 2 Song Thrush, 2 Chaffinch [Paul Everett] , ,

Tuesday 23 Feb 2021
Stapleford Tawney, 17:45 to 17:45, Dusk windy 1 Little Owl (Just coming out of roost) [Ann Darnell]
Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, 17:30 to 18:30, Dusk 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron [Philip Davie]
Epping, 15:00 to 16:30, Breezy, mild 2 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 20 Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff (Tantalisingly, not a good enough view, but looked a bit Tristis like.) [Roger Emmens]
Great Notley, 13:00 to 13:45, sunny, dry slight wind 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Siskin (Female in bushes near to Reed bed) [Paul Everett]
Doddinghurst, 12:00 to 12:00, Fair breezy 2 Buzzard (Flying together ) [Ann Darnell]
Fingringhoe, 09:00 to 13:00 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap [Richard Allen]
Great Totham, 09:00 to 10:00, Sunny, light but strengthening S. wind. 3 Goosander (3f flew up from Totham Pit.), 1 Buzzard (Harassed by jackdaws.), 3 Jay (Pair + one. South Wood.), 2 Song Thrush (One singing, South Wood. One, Totham Pit.) [Malcolm Corbett]

Monday 22 Feb 2021
Copford, 17:30 to 18:10 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Tawny Owl (Male calling at dusk), 2 Little Owl (Pair calling), 1 Little Egret, 3 Song Thrush (Singing males) [Steve Grimwade]
Doddinghurst, 14:00 to 16:00, Dull, warm 1 Siskin, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren (all above in garden this morning), 2 Starling (rare visitor to garden: first time more than 1!), 1 Tawny Owl (heard briefly first wood, Days Lane at 2pm!), 1 Green Woodpecker (heard), 3 Yellowhammer (all at top of adjacent trees, calling. Days Lane), 1 Red Kite (Fields nr Doddinghurst Rd), 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (flying, Swallows Cross a.m.) [Ian Swanson]
Halstead, 11:30 to 11:40, Mild, light cloud and a gentle breeze. 1 Blackcap (a male in sub-song, heard only, in my garden. ) [Jeremy Hurley]
TL6807, 09:30 to 10:00, Warm and bright. Sightings by David 3 Little Egret (1 on ground, 2 in trees), 1 Green Woodpecker [Winifred Simmonds] ,
Westley Heights, 08:30 to 12:00, Cloudy, mild. 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Green Woodpecker (At least.), 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker (At least.), 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Pair, Coombe Wood. Displaying plus calling & drumming.), 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Goldcrest (At least.), 9 Long-tailed Tit (At least. Now starting to pair up.), 2 Treecreeper (Both heard singing. Hall Wood & Coombe Wood.), 2 Nuthatch (Coombe Wood & horse paddock.), 30 Chaffinch (Approx. Hall Wood.), 2 Goldfinch (At least.) [Andrew Cox]
Rayne, 07:30 to 13:00, Full cloud; mild 1 Merlin (Female seen twice harassing Skylarks over arable), 9 Yellowhammer (Singing males), 10 Skylark (Singing males), 1 Little Grebe (On small farm reservoir ), 1 Reed Bunting (Small farm reservoir), 10 Greylag Goose, 8 Canada Goose, 8 Rook (Nests in small rookery), 5 Siskin (Shalford green) [Andrew Goodey]

Sunday 21 Feb 2021
Stanford Warren, 17:45 to 17:45 1 Barn Owl (Flying over reedbed south of the fishing lakes) [Jamie Thornton]
Halstead, 16:15 to 16:15, Mild with sunny periods and a gentle breeze. A pleasant, spring-like afternoon. 1 Stonechat (a female along a hedgerow, in fields south of town. A personal first sighting of this species for the area.) [Jeremy Hurley]
Great Totham, 15:50 to 15:50, Bright, mild. 1 Red Kite (Over B1022 nr. Gt. Mountains Farm. ) [Malcolm Corbett]
Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, 15:30 to 17:00, Dry, sunny. 1 Little Grebe, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Cormorant, 9 Rook, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 3 Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 6 Blue Tit, 3 Robin, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 30 Wood Pigeon (30+), 1 Skylark [Philip Davie]
Great Baddow, Chelmsford, 14:45 to 15:45, Warm and sunny 8 Skylark, 23 Linnet, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 3 Robin, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 2 Wren, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Tufted Duck, 60 Black-headed Gull (+), 5 Herring Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Common Gull (Rare for patch ), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Starling, 50 Wood Pigeon (+), 7 Cormorant, 30 Carrion Crow (+), 10 Magpie [David Pallash]
Russell Green GPs, near Chelmsford, 13:30 to 14:30, Sunny, dry and clear 6 Mallard (3 pairs), 19 Greylag Goose, 5 Wigeon, 17 Tufted Duck, 2 Canada Goose (On fishing lake), 4 Cormorant, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit [Paul Everett] ,
Brightlingsea, 12:00 to 17:00 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Woodcock [Darrell Stile]
Stapleford Tawney, 12:00 to 14:00, Very mild light winds bright 1 Skylark (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ), 3 Robin (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ), 7 Blue Tit (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ), 20 Fieldfare (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ), 1 Wren (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ), 4 Buzzard (Kettling above arable field ), 2 Red Kite (Kettling with Buzzards), 2 Blackbird (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ), 4 Goldfinch (All records from EWT Hawksmere Springs ) [Melvin Shepherd-Wells]
Good Easter, 11:00 to 11:00 1 Red Kite (first locally since Oct 29th and 26th locally since 2008 !) [Martin Henry]
Witham, 11:00 to 11:00, Cloudy/sunny, warm 1 Bullfinch (Male, over Blue Mills bridge) [Paul Shuttleworth]
Halstead, 10:30 to 10:45, Sunny Intervals , Light Southerly Wind, Temp 11 C 2 Siskin (On feeders, Sunflower Hearts), 5 Goldfinch (On feeders feeding on Sunflower Hearts ignoring Niger) [Peter Dwyer]
TM0224, 09:45 to 11:45, Sunny, calm, mild (all sightings in Salary Brook valley between Goldcrest Close and Clingoe Hill on exercise walk from home) 1 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail (Heard squealing, then saw it at edge of brook), 2 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff (In trees near where water rail observed), 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Heard only, near where water rail observed) [Paul Hargreaves]
Great Totham, 09:15 to 09:30, Mild. All Totham Pit. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Drumming), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush (Singing.), 1 Greenfinch (Male.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Wormingford, Colchester, 09:00 to 13:00, Thin, broken cloud 1 Corn Bunting (Singing persistently from the top of a bush next to an irrigation lagoon on the airfield) [Steve Hallam]
Writtle, 09:00 to 11:00, Warm 12C; Bright. Only highlights 1 Wren, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Redwing, 8 Linnet, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Jay, 10 Tufted Duck (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Little Grebe (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Cormorant (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 4 Goldfinch [Winifred Simmonds]
Langdon Hills NR EWT, 08:15 to 09:45, Cloudy, mild. Plotlands/Lincewood path. 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (At least.), 8 Song Thrush (All singing.), 2 Long-tailed Tit [Andrew Cox]
Walton-on-The-Naze, 08:00 to 10:00, low tide, grey skies, gentle breeze 8C 1 Barn Owl (Beautiful owl very busy hunting), 100 Lapwing (Lapwings taking flight (numbers too many to count)) [Claire Panting] , , , , , , , ,
Navestock, 07:45 to 11:00, Mild, little wind 6 Brambling (in tall trees along Old Road), 3 Yellowhammer (from footpaths around Alma pub), 4 Linnet (from footpaths around Alma pub) [James Hudson]

Saturday 20 Feb 2021
Great Leighs, 15:15 to 17:45, Patch Birding , Great Leighs racecourse area, weather fine, dry and warm 1 Green Woodpecker (Heard in Lyndeswood), 23 Rook (Flew over from Race course towards London Road), 1 Bullfinch ((Male) with blue tits), 1 Chaffinch ((Male) ), 1 Wren, 3 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Coot (On gravel pit lake nearest to footpath), 2 Mallard (Pair), 1 Buzzard, 1 Pheasant ((Cock)), 1 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock [Paul Everett]
Writtle, 15:00 to 16:30, Bright clear skies. Only certain species recorded. 1 Great Crested Grebe (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Wigeon (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 2 Gadwall (Pair on Titchmarsh Reservoir), 2 Cormorant (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Little Egret (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 5 Grey Heron (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 10 Tufted Duck (+, Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Mistle Thrush [Andrew Allen]
Doddinghurst, 15:00 to 15:15 1 Great White Egret (still in arable field just east of Arllaide Boarding Kennels, Wyatts Green), 1 Red Kite (by sewage treatment works, Wyatts Green ) [Andrew Stroud]
Shrub End, 14:00 to 15:00, All sightings Westlands country park exercise walk, 14 Degrees, cloud with sun, windy from South. 25 Robin (all singing males), 23 Blue Tit, 10 Blackbird, 5 Magpie, 35 Wood Pigeon, 2 Dunnock (singing males), 10 Great Tit, 2 Starling, 3 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 8 Long-tailed Tit (pair gathering nest material), 3 Collared Dove, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Jay, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll (flying between feeding areas), 1 Song Thrush (singing male) [Ashley Gooding]
Braintree, 12:30 to 12:30, Fine, clear and warm 4 Red Kite (In flight in area above A120), 1 Buzzard (In flight being mobbed by Corvids) [Paul Everett]
Doddinghurst, 11:00 to 11:30, Warm, spring-like, clear sky. 4 Buzzard (Circling and displaying.), 3 Ring-necked Parakeet (regular fly-overs), 1 Wren, 2 Coal Tit, 7 Redwing, 3 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush (Singing from perch high in tree), 3 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch (Pair), 1 Jay [Gary Boyes]
Naze, The, 06:50 to 10:30, mild; S wind; light cloud; ebbing tide; 11 species singing 4 Song Thrush (Singing ), 4 Barnacle Goose (North), 2 Barn Owl (At least 2, 1 quartering the common first thing and 2 John Weston Reserve/Walton Hall Marshes ), 14 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Cetti's Warbler (Singing, 1 north of escarpment and 3 John Weston Reserve ), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chinese Muntjac, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Woodcock (Flushed from John Weston Reserve ), 1 Grey Heron (Flew high and east, got over the sea then changed its mind, turned round and headed W), 5 Skylark (South) [Brian Combes]

Friday 19 Feb 2021
Doddinghurst, 17:00 to 17:15 1 Great White Egret (by ditch in arable field just east of Arlaide Boarding Kennels between Wyatts Green and Swallows Cross.) [Andrew Stroud]
Great Totham, 16:00 to 16:00 1 Red Kite (Checking out horse paddocks Prince of Wales Road.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Heybridge Basin, 14:00 to 15:00, Overcast, dry 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (30+), 1 Curlew, 6 Oystercatcher [David Webb]
Marsh Farm, South Woodham Ferrers, 12:00 to 13:00, Mild, breezy and overcast 2000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Estimate. These birds were grazing east marsh, which is the eastern most field on Marsh Farm. ), 20 Curlew (Feed on a wet meadow.), 100 Black-tailed Godwit (Estimate. Feeding on a wet meadow with curlew.), 2 Stonechat (A pair. I believe this pair have been here all winter.), 1 Cetti's Warbler (Calling from reed bed.) [Robert Pease]
Witham, 11:00 to 11:00, Town Centre 1 Red Kite (Drifting east) [David L Smith]
Wrabness, 10:00 to 13:00, Fairly mild, no precipitation, mostly overcast, tide well out but coming in 2 Gadwall (Pair. On floods alongside reserve. Year tick!), 1 Shoveler (Female on floods.), 1 Pintail (Male on floods.), 130 Wigeon (Estimate. On floods, plus some on estuary.), 150 Teal (Estimate - on floods.), 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Snipe (Flew from shore to floods. Year tick.), 400 Dunlin (Estimate. On estuary.), 200 Knot (Estimate. On estuary.), 11 Red-breasted Merganser (On estuary), 12 Goldeneye (On estuary), 30 Black-tailed Godwit (Estimate. On estuary.), 7 Skylark (Singing.), 35 Lapwing (Estimate. Some on estuary, some on floods.) [Simon Banks]
Great Totham, 09:10 to 09:45 5 Goosander (2m, 3f. Totham Pit.), 2 Little Grebe (Totham Pit.), 4 Skylark (Singing. Arable fields.), 8 Redwing (Horse paddock adj. St. Peter's Church.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Witham, 09:00 to 13:00, Cloudy. 1 Blackcap (Apart from sightings in November and December of male and female blackaps ive currently logged this female in my garden every day since 31st December, jealously guarding the sunflower seeds!) [Paul Shuttleworth]
Wivenhoe, 09:00 to 13:00, Cloudt, windy 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Blue Tit [Michael Davies] , , , ,
Thorndon CP (South), 08:15 to 09:15, Cloudy, some sun. Chilly breeze. 2 Goosander (Pair on the lake.), 1 Kestrel, 10 Black-headed Gull (Lake.), 17 Common Gull (Feeding on Old Park area.), 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Stock Dove (At least. Two pairs.), 4 Ring-necked Parakeet (At least.), 1 Skylark (Singing from arable field adjacent car park.), 1 Grey Wagtail (Small stream in woods north of lake.), 100 Redwing (At least.), 5 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush (At least.), 1 Goldcrest (Singing Male), 2 Treecreeper (At least. Two singing.), 1 Nuthatch, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Kingfisher (Lake.) [Andrew Cox]

Thursday 18 Feb 2021
Copford, 17:40 to 18:00 2 Little Owl (Pair calling in potential nesting habitat), 2 Tawny Owl (Pair heard in Copford Sewage Works), 2 Little Egret, 3 Song Thrush [Steve Grimwade]
Stapleford Tawney, 16:15 to 16:45, Fair but cold 6 Goldfinch, 1 Buzzard (Resident), 2 Kestrel, 1 Red Kite [Ann Darnell]
Little Waltham, 16:00 to 16:15, sunny, dusk 1 Red Kite [David Saville]
Naze, The, 14:40 to 17:00, sunny! high tide 3.50pm 300 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 2 Greenfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Woodcock, 30 Turnstone (+), 60 Sanderling (+), 10 Dunlin (+), 20 Ringed Plover (+), 1 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Kestrel (male), 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard only) [Liz Huxley]
Hanningfield Reservoir, 13:45 to 15:00, 10 degrees. Sunshine. Light wind 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (with Canada Geese in field next to causeway), 1 White-fronted Goose (1st winter feeding with Greylags on grazing marsh close to pond by track to RAWL hide), 2 Egyptian Goose [James Hudson] ,
Colchester, 13:00 to 13:05, Overcast, windy - Cymbeline Meadows 1 Great White Egret [Matt Trevillion]
Lofts Farm GPs, Heybridge, 09:10 to 10:45, Sunny then overcast. S. breeze. 1 Canada Goose (Damaged wing.), 12 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Goose (Trout lake.), 4 Gadwall, 1 Teal (Trout lake.), 5 Red-crested Pochard (4m, 1f. Trout lake.), 98 Pochard (90% males.), 19 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye (Female. Carp lake.), 64 Coot, 8 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Lapwing (Flew over.), 2 Common Gull, 3 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 2 Jay (Pair.), 100 Carrion Crow (circa.), 1 Skylark (Singing.), 2 Chaffinch (Pair.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Kelvedon Hatch, 09:00 to 13:00 2 Raven (One flew from mast, second calling and visible near top. Am going to suspend reports for a few weeks.) [David Jobbins]

Wednesday 17 Feb 2021
Doddinghurst, 14:30 to 16:30, Dull, drizzle. 1 Buzzard, 250 Common Gull (Approx. On fields along Warren Lane, with a few Lesser black backed, herring and black headed gulls), 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (Flying over fields), 1 Green Woodpecker (On Playing Field.), 20 Pied Wagtail (Approx,, with meadow pipits), 10 Meadow Pipit (Approx) [Ian Swanson]
Laindon, 13:30 to 15:00, Overcast, breezy. Back garden. 2 Robin, 1 Blackbird (Male.), 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Great Tit, 21 Greenfinch (At least.), 14 Goldfinch (At least.), 6 Chaffinch (At least.) [Andrew Cox]
Kelvedon Hatch, 12:45 to 12:45, Dull, light showers 1 Red Kite [Ian Swanson]
Billericay, 10:40 to 12:30, Lake Meadows 60 Redwing (60+ in one flock feeding in leaf litter. Many others flying around.), 2 Egyptian Goose (Pair on lake), 1 Nuthatch, 4 Tufted Duck (On lake) [James Hudson]
Great Totham, 09:50 to 10:00, Overcast. 7 Goosander (3m, 4f. Totham Pit (M.A.S.)), 1 Sparrowhawk (Male. Over St. Peter's Church.), 8 Redwing (Horse paddock adj. St. Peter's Church.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Black Notley, 09:00 to 13:00, Mainly dull, mild, SW wind. 4 Lesser Redpoll (at Niger feeders in garden) [George Brown]
Manuden, 09:00 to 13:00, Dull 1 Red Kite, 1 Sparrowhawk (Male attacking bird feeders) [Mark Pegrum]
Maldon, 09:00 to 09:30, Overcast, light rain. Elms Farm Park. 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrush (Singing.), 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch (Calling.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Langdon Hills NR EWT, 08:45 to 11:15, Cloudy, breezy, some light rain. Mild. Plotlands. 10 Tufted Duck (Seven males, three females.), 2 Mute Swan (Pair. No sign of last years cygnets.), 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker (At least.), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Redwing (At least.), 2 Fieldfare (Flying over.), 4 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Goldfinch (At least. Six near the lake. Three feeding on elm buds at the top of the ridge could have been some of these birds.), 10 Siskin (At least. Feeding on alder seeds by the lake. First this winter.) [Andrew Cox]

Tuesday 16 Feb 2021
Copford, 17:50 to 18:00, Clear skies 2 Little Owl (Heard calling and seen) [Nico Devereaux]
Stapleford Tawney, 16:15 to 16:45, Dusk. Very wet fields 2 Egyptian Goose (Pair in fields (large flock of Canada geese often in area)), 1 Kestrel (Over farmyard resident), 6 Pied Wagtail (Farmyard residents), 6 Yellowhammer (Often in farmyard), 10 Collared Dove (Roosting in their bush) [Ann Darnell]
Stanford Warren, 12:15 to 13:15, Overcast then light shower 25 Coot (Fishing lakes), 6 Canada Goose (Fishing lakes), 5 Tufted Duck (Fishing lakes), 2 Moorhen (1 fishing lakes, 1 Hassenbrooke River), 5 Cormorant (1 fishing lakes, 4 on adjacent pylon), 4 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler (Heard), 2 Mallard (Flying south towards TTNP), 9 Wood Pigeon, 50 Redwing (At least, flying east), 3 Blackbird, 4 Magpie, 3 Robin, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Wharf Road, in between fishing lakes), 1 Dunnock (Wharf Road, in between fishing lakes), 1 House Sparrow (Wharf Road, in between fishing lakes) [Jamie Thornton]
Wix, 09:15 to 09:15, Overcast 1 Great White Egret (Flew over NW, assumed to be same bird seen at Cattawade about 30mins later) [James Davidson]
Mersea Island, 09:00 to 13:00 3 Velvet Scoter (Between colney point & mersea seen by chris Balchin), 1 Little Owl (Youth camp MC), 1500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Strood channel DU), 13 Corn Bunting (Strood channel DU), 3 Bar-tailed Godwit (Strood channel DU) [Stephen Entwistle]
Cindery Island, Brightlingsea Creek, 08:45 to 09:15, Overcast. War. Tide out 1 Song Thrush (Singing from the hedge down Back Waterside Lane), 1 Redshank (Feeding on the mudflat next to the sea wall opposite Cindery Island), 3 Turnstone (Feeding on the mudflat next to the sea wall opposite Cindery Island) [Susie Jenkins]
Colchester, 08:30 to 08:30 1 Blackcap (Male in my garden) [John Thorogood]
Laindon, 07:15 to 08:45, Overcast. Back garden. 2 Green Woodpecker (Likely a pair.), 6 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit (Pair.) [Andrew Cox]

Monday 15 Feb 2021
Burstead, 14:30 to 15:30, Overcast 2 Lesser Redpoll (1m, 1f (laindon common, little burstead) ) [Jan Lewis]
TL9423, 12:00 to 12:00 1 Great White Egret (A second bird flew over me coming in from low east (Tollgate) and dropped into Roman River Valley), 1 Water Rail (1 calling from reed-fringed pond at Bellhouse Farm), 8 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, 33 Lapwing, 5 Mallard, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel [Steve Grimwade]
Tilbury, 11:00 to 13:00, Low tide 64 Teal (On STW outfall), 16 Gadwall (On STW outfall), 1 Avocet (On foreshore in front of the fort) [Paul Larkin]
Stanway GP, 11:00 to 11:00 21 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 17 Gadwall, 8 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk [Steve Grimwade]
Writtle, 11:00 to 11:00 1 Little Egret (asleep on the front lawn of Writtle Ag Coll Lordship Rd Writtle) [Martin Henry]
Great Totham, 10:55 to 11:30, Overcast, light SW wind. 4 Goosander (3m. 1f. Totham Pit.), 2 Little Grebe (Totham Pit.), 1 Buzzard (South Wood.), 1 Carrion Crow (Individual with some v. prominent white wing and tail feathers.), 21 Redwing (circa. One, horse paddock adj. St. Peter's Church. Others flying strongly NE.) [Malcolm Corbett]
Laindon, 10:30 to 12:00, Cloudy, milder. Back garden. 2 Redwing, 4 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit (Pair.), 5 Chaffinch, 12 Greenfinch, 7 Goldfinch, 1 Robin [Andrew Cox]
White Colne, 10:00 to 12:30 1 Great White Egret (Chalkney Mill), 2 Raven (Flew along line of pylons ), 1 Woodcock (Flushed in Chalkney Wood) [Glen Moore] ,
Copford, 09:50 to 09:50 1 Great White Egret (Flew south past Copford Church towards Abberton/Layer Breton until lost to view), 50 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Little Egret (In wet meadows) [Steve Grimwade]
Lofts Farm GPs, Heybridge, 09:10 to 10:40, Overcast, some early light drizzle, light SW wind. 1 Canada Goose (Usual individual with damaged wing.), 16 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 9 Gadwall, 30 Mallard (circa.), 4 Pintail (Males. Trout lake.), 5 Red-crested Pochard (4m, 1f. Trout lake.), 97 Pochard (90% males.), 14 Tufted Duck, 84 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Woodcock, 2 Snipe, 6 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk (Male), 1 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Skylark (Singing.), 12 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redpoll sp. [Malcolm Corbett]
Mersea Island, 09:00 to 13:00 1 Peregrine Falcon (Fm maydays farm MC ), 1 Woodcock (Cudmore grove DU), 1 Purple Sandpiper (Cudmore grove DU), 1000 Wigeon (Cudmore grove (DU)), 150 Black-tailed Godwit (Cudmore grove DU), 20 Snipe (Cudmore grove DU), 3 Pochard (Cudmore grove pond DU ) [Stephen Entwistle]
Wivenhoe, 09:00 to 13:00, Windy, cold 1 Blackbird (Feathers ruffled in high wind) [Michael Davies]
Copford SW, near Stanway, 09:00 to 09:00 1 Grey Wagtail, 300 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 25 Pied Wagtail, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 30 Redwing, 1 Siskin, 1 Bullfinch (Male) [Steve Grimwade]

Sunday 14 Feb 2021
Maldon, 16:00 to 16:30, Overcast, cold, mod S wind. Elms Farm Park. 1 Buzzard, 10 Magpie (+.), 10 Redwing, 15 Pied Wagtail (circa.), 4 Meadow Pipit [Malcolm Corbett]
Alresford, 14:30 to 14:30 6 Jack Snipe [Darrell Stile]
Great Notley, 14:05 to 15:40, Cold and dry. Patch birding - Great Notley and CP 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Jay, 1 Dunnock, 1 Fieldfare, 10 Black-headed Gull ((+) One starting to develop breeding plumage), 3 Great Tit, 2 Pied Wagtail (With flock of Meadow Pipit), 18 Meadow Pipit (drinking from thawing ice), 1 Kestrel, 2 Redwing (With Pipits and Wagtails), 1 Bullfinch (Male feeding on tree buds) [Paul Everett] , , , ,
Chigborough Lakes, 12:00 to 13:30, Cold, Dry 1 Jay (feeding on ground with 2 male Blackbirds), 8 Fieldfare, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Little Egret, 2 Cormorant (in flight), 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck (2 m 1f), 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Shoveler (1m 1f), 1 Kestrel (Hovering over Chigborough Rd), 10 Gadwall (7m 3f - mainly on Pochard lake), 1 Robin, 20 Coot, 20 Mallard [David Webb]
Alresford, 12:00 to 13:00, Bitterly cold, ice and snow cover. 3 Jack Snipe, 1 Snipe, 5 Rock Pipit, 200 Avocet [Sean Nixon] , ,
Whetmead NR, nr Witham, 11:30 to 12:00, Cold wind, 3 degrees 1 Red Kite (Sighted over the golf club, usual place) [Paul Shuttleworth]
Danbury, 11:00 to 13:30, Overcast and cold 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Robin, 4 Goldfinch, 8 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Magpie, 4 Chaffinch, 100 Jackdaw (+), 9 Red-legged Partridge, 50 Carrion Crow (+), 3 Stock Dove, 1 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 6 Moorhen, 13 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Wren, 12 Long-tailed Tit (+), 1 Buzzard, 55 Wood Pigeon (+), 50 Black-headed Gull (+), 1 Meadow Pipit [David Pallash]
Brightlingsea, 10:30 to 11:00, Frozen ground some lingering snow and ice 4 Marsh Tit (Small mature woodland remnant in town with pine trees) [Susie Jenkins]
Greensted Green, 10:15 to 11:45, Great Monks Wood 1 Red Kite, 1 Raven, 2 Buzzard, 20 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush [Neil Murphy]
Colchester, 10:00 to 13:00, Cold and breezy, still some lying snow 1 Blackcap (Male feeding on apples still adhering to tree. Also reported from nearby in the same O.S square by another observer in the last day or so.), 1 Fieldfare (1 or more feeding on apples in same tree as blackcap.) [John Thorogood]
Writtle, 10:00 to 12:00, Dry with a cold wind. Only some species recorded 2 Snipe (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 2 Grey Heron (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Little Egret (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 2 Little Grebe (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 2 Cormorant (Titchmarsh Reservoir), 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Yellowhammer (+), 6 Reed Bunting (+), 100 Linnet (+) [Andrew Allen]
Kelvedon Hatch, 10:00 to 10:30 2 Raven (On and around BT mast), 3 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 1 Coal Tit [David Jobbins]
Manuden, 09:00 to 13:00, Cold and dry 2 Redpoll sp. (Probably Lesser Redpoll), 1 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard, 20 Fieldfare [Mark Pegrum]
Wivenhoe, 09:00 to 13:00, Hazy, windy 1 Redwing (In tree rear garden) [Michael Davies]
TL9324, 09:00 to 13:00, Garden Sightings 1 Little Egret (Flew past garden), 14 Wood Pigeon (Feeding on seed in garden ), 4 Stock Dove (Feeding on seed), 9 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 20 Blue Tit, 9 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Carrion Crow (Family group), 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 1 Wren, 7 Pheasant (4 males and 3 females feeding on seed), 10 Great Tit [Steve Grimwade]
Mersea Island, 09:00 to 13:00 4 Woodcock (Cudmore grove AF below alders 100yds before hide in/out of ditch), 1 Water Rail (Cudmore grove AF same ditch), 20 Snipe (Cudmore grove AF same area), 28 Yellowhammer (Mayday farm SE feeding on grain), 1 Corn Bunting (Maydays SE ) [Stephen Entwistle]
Langdon Hills NR EWT, 08:45 to 11:15, Cloudy, some weak sun. Still snowy, cold. 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Redwing (At least.), 25 Fieldfare (At least. Mostly overhead. Some still feedingin scrub.), 2 Goldcrest, 10 Chaffinch (At least.), 4 Greenfinch (At least.), 2 Goldfinch, 3 Bullfinch (At least. Two males,one female. Feeding on blackthorn buds. Marks Hill.) [Andrew Cox]
Galleywood, near Chelmsford, 07:15 to 10:00, Cloud with very cold breeze. Sightings Beehive lane Deadmans lane and Firecrest Road. 1500 Fieldfare (Probably closer to 2000 across all of Lathcoats orchards.), 3 Redwing (2 with fieldfare 1 in holly tree Firecrest Road.), 1 Lapwing (In field with horse jumps.), 1 Sparrowhawk (In orchards ), 6 Greenfinch (Singing/calling from trees), 1 Chaffinch, 2 Mistle Thrush (Heard only), 2 Green Woodpecker [Kevin Cook] , , , , , , ,