EBS County Bird Survey Projects:

Bullfinch, Cuckoo, Turtle Dove Project 2010

Cetti's Warbler Project 2009

2007 Essex Corn Bunting Survey Results (Appendix III map)

Wing Tagged Hen Harriers

If you are lucky enough to see a Hen Harrier in Essex (or anywhere else for that matter) this winter please check carefully to see if the bird has any coloured wingtags.  Please note sex, colour combinations and on which wing they occur and send details to David Sowter or for more details (Acrobat Reader required).  These birds are from northern England and all sightings would be much appreciated.

 

BTO Wetland Bird Survey

Priority WeBS Dates for 2010:
17th January 18th July
21st February 15th August
14th March 19th September
18th April 10th October
16th May 14th November
20th June 19th December

 

Colour-ringed Twite in Essex

Twite used to be a common winter visitor to the Essex coastal marshes but in recent years the numbers have crashed and seeing any Twite while on a winter walk is noteworthy.  Over 1500 have been colour-ringed on their British breeding grounds. 

Twite, Cambridgeshire October 2003 – Jim Lawrence

Please click the picture for more information on what to look for and who to contact.  There have already been records from Hamford Water. Harwich, Mersea and Maldon so keep your eyes open.

Bird Conservation in Essex

Skylark by Steve Arlow

Click on the photo above or here to view the article

Counting Rookeries

This is very simple survey to participate in and does not take much time or effort.  Simply stop and count as accurately as possible the number of apparently active nests in any Rookeries that you find between mid March and mid April. Please record the following data :-

  1. Date of observation (dd/mm/yy format)
  2. Site
  3. Ordnance Survey map six-figure grid reference
  4. Number of nests
  5. Observer

Rook by Steve Lindsell

If possible, please submit the data on an Excel file with the above columns email to an EBS County Recorder, whose names and addresses appear on the Essex Records Page. Thank you.

Black Redstart Survey

Black Redstart at Rainham Marshes by Reg Mellis

In co-ordination with Dusty Gedge of the Black Redstart study group www.blackredstarts.org.uk , London Biodiversity Partnership and the East London Birders' Forum (ELBF) we are looking to assist in a coordinated search and subsequent survey for Black Redstarts in Metropolitan Essex (and London as a whole).  Good breeding sites also exist along the outer reaches of the Thames and areas such as the Harwich Docks also look suitable for holding this sporadic breeder.  If you can spare some time to help please contact Dusty Gedge or Mike Dent