Charlie J

If it's anything like today he'll be riding for MVDP

If I hear him pronounce Ganna as Ghana one more time I might explode.

Peacock butterfly on Daffodils

Ladybirds in the sun on a signpost

View across a field of Daffodils

View of the Daffodil bank within the woods

EWT Warley Place again today, highlights: my first singing Chiffchaff of the year, 2 Firecrest, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Stock Dove, Grn & GSW and Coal Tit.

#essexbirding

Looking along the entryway at Bentley church

A walk to Bentley and around The Mores today, 41 bird sp. total, highlights: a flock of 50+ Chaffinch in The Mores, Bullfinch (heard with Chaffinch flock), Greenfinch, Siskin, Grey Wag, 30+ Redwing, Stock Dove, M. Thrush, Coal Tit, Red Kite, Grn & GSW and Treecreeper.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Daffodils in the sun with trees and a blue sky

EWT Warley Place today with the Daffodils looking good in the sun. At least 2 Firecrest, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies and lots of bees including mining bees emerging from some of the paths.

#essexbirding

Looking up at St Peter's church in South Weald with Snowdrops and Daffodils in the foreground.

T-shirt weather at Weald CP today. Added a leg across some farmland to the SW, not the most idyllic with the M25 so close and the hedges all a bit sad, but still produced Meadow Pipit, Fieldfare and Skylark.

Other highlights: Raven and my first Brimstone of the year.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Ladybirds on a stone cross

Ladybirds spending the winter on a gravestone, seen on a walk today.

#ukwildlife

2 Drake and 1 Hen Mandarin Duck

3 Mandarin at Weald CP today, other highlights: 2 f Goosander, Sparrowhawk, 2 GC Grebe and Coal Tit.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Bonus points if you spot the rat in the landscape photo

View along at the Lake at Weald Country Park.

A Greylag Goose surrounded by Black-headed Gulls

1 female Goosander back at Weald CP today and a Raven circling before landing in a tree to the North. Other highlights: Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Grn & GSW, Stock Dove and Greenfinch just outside of the park.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

A gloomy view along the lake at Weald Country Park. Swans and Coots in the foreground with some Black-headed Gull just visible in the distance.

No Goosander at Weald CP today, maybe they think winter's ending, it didnt feel like it was to me. Highlights: 4 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Redwing, Buzzard 3 GSW, Grn Woodpecker, 2 Shoveler, GC Grebe, Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush, Grey Wag and Siskin.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Starlings in the back garden

Kittiwake

Med Gull

A Dunlin stopped by briefly

View East from the end of the pier, high tide, looking over the boat ramp and gull posts

A predictably quiet visit to Southend Pier today with no divers, but a Kittiwake was on the posts with the Med Gulls and 5 BN Grebes were off to the east.

#essexbirding #birds

Blue tit visiting a feeder

Fieldfare perched in a bush

Fieldfare mid-meal

Robin

A few photos from RHS Hyde Hall today. Other highlights: c10 Redpoll passing over a few times, Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Tawny Owl & Cetti's Warbler heard and 2 Pochard on the reservoir.

#essexbirding

Buzzard perched on greenhouse

Drake Goosander

9 of the 20+ Goosander on the main lake

View of the London skyline at dusk as the clouds came in

50 species at Weald CP today, highlights: At least 20 Goosander, 50+ Siskin, Redpoll, 2 Little Egret, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Grn & GSW, Tawny Owl (Heard), Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

I had the same with a Blackcap on Merlin yesterday.

Tawny owl

4 Goosander (3 Drake) on a small unfrozen part of a mostly frozen lake. Also pictured Mallard and Black-headed Gull.

A horse with a Lapwing to the left and a Canada Goose peaking over on the right.

A sometimes snowy local walk around Crow Grn today. At least 19 Lapwing hanging around, other highlights: Redwing, Fieldfare, Buzzard, Red kite, Tawny Owl, Rook, Grn & GSW and 5 Goosander still holding out on the tiny part of unfrozen lake.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

View along the frozen main lake at Weald Country Park

Robin

Robin produced this berry from its crop before re-eating it

3 of 7 Lapwing near Crow Green

Both lakes frozen at Weald CP and the birds that don't like thrown food have moved on, highlights: Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Siskin, Goldcrest, Grn & GSW and Coal Tit.

At least 7 Goosander near Crow Green where the lake was only half frozen with 7 Lapwing also dropping in.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Crossbill

Marsh Tit

Robin

A freezing cold day at Lynford Arboretum. M+F Hawfinch early on then Siskins, Marsh Tits, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and great views of Crossbill.

#ukbirds #birds #birding

Thanks, these are the best I have unfortunately. I may have seen the same bird in flight today so I'll have another look tomorrow in better light and see if it's not still around.

Sorry about the poor photos but does anyone have an opinion on this gull from yesterday? I assumed Herring Gull but the beady eye is throwing me. Size was comparable to LBBG also present.

#essexbirding

Tawny Owl

Just a short local walk around Crow Green to start the year, highlights: Tawny Owl, 3 Goosander, Red Kite, Redwing and a flock of Siskin.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Kingfisher

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Grey Heron

Spent a nice day in St Albans with some good birds about. Showy Kingfisher in Verulamium Park, 2 Peregrine on the Cathedral and plenty of Siskin at Watercress NR. Other highlights: GSW, 2 Red Kite, Little Egret, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Greenfinch and Grey Wagtail.

#ukbirding #birds

A proper record shot of a Lapwing

A Fox enjoying the apricity

Not brave enough to go birding over Weald CP on Christmas day but a late walk on local lanes delivered a patch tick Lapwing near Crow Green. Always worth heading out.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

A Robin perched on a hedge

A Great Tit visiting a bird feeder made of natural materials

A Robin perched on a garden obelisk, looking at camera

A Robin perched on a hedge, singing loudly

Afternoon at RHS Hyde Hall today, 2 Snipe and a Pochard on the reservoir were the most notable birds, with plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing about. Lots of noisy Robin posing in the sun got the most attention.

#essexbirding #birds

Immature Mute Swan, not the one with fishing tackle

View of the London skyline at sunset

Siskin

Drake Goosander

Highlights from Weald CP today: 14 Goosander, GC Grebe, L. Egret, Kingfisher, Siskin, Redpoll, Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel. 47 species total.

Unfortunately also had to report to the rangers that one of the juvenile Swans had fishing tackle caught up in its wing.

#essexbirding #patchbirding

Shenfield High Street. 2 Trees and flat roofed buildings containing hundreds of Pied Wagtails.

Hundreds of Pied Wagtails coming in to roost in two trees on Shenfield High St. A good show if you sit at the Costa coffee.

#essexbirding

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting today at the Naze, just at the entrance to Stone Point.

#essexbirding

I read the whole of Sirens of Titan pronouncing the name Malachi as Ma-la-chee.

Couple more fossil fuel sponsorships and they won't need members at all