Rare visit to Hanningfield Res. Very windy so not at its best but single juvenile Black Tern and Hobby plus a few Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit present. Time spent viewing Ruddy Darters share a log pile with Common Lizard. Earlier, Hobby hunting martins over Leez Res. @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

Great Holland Pits reserve, Essex: with brother Brian and Marion. Great visit to this excellent site with highlights, pair of Wall Brown by sand bank where several Sphecodes bees observed in and out of holes. Hobby seen throughout visit hunting over reserve, Willow Emeralds by pond…. 1/2 ⬇️

I’ve seen this group of Foxes twice recently at Pincey Brook, Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex. On both early morning occasions, they spread out singly across the grasslands, presumably to hunt in much the same way as wild dogs in Africa

The Naze, Essex: a fair few each of both Whitethroats and Blackcaps moving through. Otherwise, Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Wheatear seen with Bar-tailed Godwit and Sandwich Terns on beach @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #ukbirding #birds

Slightly surreal watching this Black Tern at Abberton Reservoir whilst a few feet away a posse of noisy motorbikes were zooming back and forth along the causeway. To say they were speeding would be an understatement. A cracking bird though @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #ukbirding #birds

Congrats to the finders of the Gt Wigborough church’ Arctic Warbler. Apologies for poor quality video @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #ukbirding #birds

Local gravel pits near Coggeshall this evening, 2 Spotted Flycatchers the highlight plus this Ruddy Shelduck having a preen having no doubt just flown in from south east Europe (well, a bit of doubt maybe)! Otherwise, LRP family group noted @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #birds #Essexbirding #ukbirding

I rather liked seeing this on a wall in Thaxted, Essex this morning

A brace of Whinchats at one of my local patches at Pincey Brook, in central Essex today

Phone video of Painted Lady in my Rayne garden a few days ago

The Oxford Natural History Museum included this Great Northern Diver at West Mersea in 1924, part of our Oxford weekend trip

A feast of architecture and history awaited us on our weekend visit to Oxford. Difficult to take it all in but the hop-on, hop-off bus tour is a good way to cover most sites and includes an hour-long walking tour. Highly recommended 1/2

Group of Grey Partridges near Sawbridgeworth yesterday #birds

Another quick visit to Pincey Brook, Hatfield Broad Oak: Gadwall, Whinchat, 15 Common Snipe, Common and Green Sandpiper, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and this rather smart bus parked in the car park! A little gem of a place @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #birds

Pincey Brook, Hatfield Broad Oak: some movement noted this morning with 9 Common Snipe and a group of 5 Yellow Wagtails. Increase in Lapwing and Teal though just 1 Green Sandpiper @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #birds

Nice reward for an early morning walk to Rayne Airfield where this Wheatear was trotting along the airstrip or perched on various aircraft. Probably less than annual here though one was here last August. Also 3 hunting Hobby and a Yellow Wagtail over. @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding

1 Pleased to be presenting the latest results gathered by Woodpecker-Network volunteers on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and what we can do to conserve them better #BOUatEOU www.woodpecker-netwo...#BOUatEOU

Yesterday, I passed this small patch that had somehow escaped the ubiquitous ryegrass and sheep/cattle treatment. It stood out like a flashing neon light, thronged with wildflowers,native trees, flying insects, and birds. Nature's only way of crying out to just be given a chance.

Probably the worst video ever of 2 calling Crossbill going over my Essex village earlier. 1 landed in a small pine tree opposite my house for a few seconds then flew off. Can just about hear them calling at beginning but you can’t see them. Nice Post Office though.

Pincey Brook, Hatfield Broad Oak: nothing exceptional but a rise in Green Sandpipers in recent days (6+) so worth keeping an eye on. Single Common Sand, Yellow Wagtail overhead, Marsh Tit and a couple of Willow Warblers and a Fox also @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #Essexbirding #birds

Terrific dusk encounter with the local Sparrowhawks in Rayne. At least 4 birds heard and seemingly centred around this bare tree top throughout visit (do Sparrowhawks have ‘master trees’?). Young still calling as it got dark @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #Essexbirding #birds

Message from the RSPCA ☀️

Therfield Heath, Herts: Adonis Blues now out, joining the throngs of Chalkhill and Common Blues and Brown Argus on site. Direct Sun saw most make a hasty retreat, presumably a result of the heat, but activity resumed in brief cloudy periods @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Dunwich Heath: elusive Dartford Warblers were the main avian interest but on the ground were Bear-clawed Nomad Bees, possible Red-banded Sand Wasp, Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp and Brown Argus #insects

Minsmere at weekend with Alf Mullins. Quiet birdwise with low water levels on scrape (a few Spotshanks present). Plenty of other stuff though including along Digger Alley. Overall highlights, my first Wasp Spiders and a Ruby-tailed wasp (Chysis ignata ag)…⬇️ 1/2

Enjoyed seeing these Stock Doves drinking from a woodland pool in mid Essex. Always wary and quick to take flight @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #birds

Just a Beaver doing what Beavers do

A real privilege to spend some time with the Beavers the other day

Another welcome addition to my Rayne wild garden came in the form of this Grass Snake over the weekend, albeit in the jaws of nextdoors cat! It was bleeding slightly but hopefully will recover okay. Released seemingly okay and safe unless cat has other ideas

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” ― George Orwell, 1984

Spotted a few bits and pieces in between jobs: rise in numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin at Stansted Airport Lagoons and Hummingbird Hawkmoth on ground and still lots of Chalkhill Blues at Therfield Heath @essexbirdnews.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

Lucerne crop, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts: not an exciting video but hopefully gives an idea of the numerous white butterflies currently being attracted. Also Brimstone and c.8 Clouded Yellows which attracted a loose flock of 50+ Swallows @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #butterflies

Distant Ruff this afternoon at Bradwell Gravel Pits, nr Braintree. Also Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Raven and 3 Common Sandpipers. @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding

Lucerne crop fields west of Bishop’s Stortford, Herts: several Clouded Yellow amongst good numbers of whites. Also Brown Argus and many Common Blue. Thanks @birdinghertsessex.bsky.social for heads up @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #butterflies

Local gravel pits near Braintree: Common Terns feeding young, 2 Common and 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 LRPs. Highlight this juvenile Stonechat which, given date, possibly locally bred @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

After 5 weeks I finally tried releasing my young Pallid Swift today. Amazingly it took flight and headed off. I feel totally elated - cannot believe this little bird survived falling over 40 feet from my roof and has now headed off to Africa. Good luck.#swift #Swifts #birds

Pincey Brook, Hatfield Broad Oak pre work amble, corvids calling around hill top church, bells ringing for 8am - lovely atmosphere. No waterside waders but 2 @ of Marsh Tit and Bullfinch plus Nuthatch, 4 Sand Martin. Abundant Red Bartsia and a single Painted Lady noted @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

Rainham RSPB: shockingly bad photos of my first ever Brown Hairstreak, a few showed intermittently in brief sunny periods and a Wall Brown nearby. Also Jersey Tiger seen and Kingfisher heard. Great few hours though with @birdinghertsessex.bsky.social and Andrew Middleton @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

1 of 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths in garden this evening

Wall Brown seen in Waterbeach, just north of Cambridge. They do seem to be regaining ground a bit. @hutchisonjtw.bsky.social

Another Wall in mid Essex. Surely a sign of further spread from the coast @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Quite a few young heads peering out of our Swift boxes now in Rayne. This one had 3 yesterday, 2 today. @sosswifts.bsky.social @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

Blackley Lane GP, Braintree: distant video of some of the 128 Sand Martin nests in south of pit, most of which seem to be in use. Thanks to owners of site, Frank Lyons, for keeping area clear of workings following the loss of the original holes in north of pit. @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

A beautifully captured array of wildlife here to be celebrated and an all too apt reality check:

Afternoon visit to Bradwell Gravel Pits was quiet birdwise with Marsh Harrier and LRP noted. A Wall Brown butterfly was completely unexpected and was my first ever in central Essex, predictably flying away the moment I attempted to get a photo @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

3 Crossbills east over Rayne calling at 7:38 @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #birds

Marsh Harrier over Leez Reservoir, near Braintree, this morning. A quite good local bird, albeit a bit distant @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #birds

I found this Hedgehog wandering around at 3.20pm near Gosfield, Essex on Sunday. It’s the only live one I’ve seen all year, all others have been roadkills