Old Hall Marshes

Blog post: Recent Sightings 23rd May 2013

Suzanne — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:42:00 GMT

23rd May

Little Gull 1 Unimproved Fields

22nd May

Hobby 1 Unimproved Fields
Lapwing: 100% hatching success of nests inside the electric fence!

Little Tern 5 Eastern Quarters Spit

21st May

Brent Goose 30 Eastern Quarters Spit
Garganey 1 Unimproved Fields
Common Tern 16 Tollesbury Channel
Common Sandpiper 2 Bale
Wood Sandpiper 1 Bale
Bar-tailed Godwit 148 Salcott Channel
Black-tailed Godwit 55 Unimproved Fields
Whimbrel 1 Salcott Channel
Turtle Dove 1 Car Park
Cuckoo 3 Reedbed, Crescent, Copse
Swifts, Swallows, House Martins >100 Joyce’s Head
18th May
Curlew Sandpiper 1 Bale

Red Kite 1 Eastern Quarters Spit

Blog post: Recent Sightings 17th May 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:35:00 GMT

17th May

Whimbrel 1 Bale
Little Tern 1 Reedbed
Common Tern 2 Reedbed
Turtle Dove 1 Entrance
Swifts, Swallows, House Martins >100 Joyce’s Head

16th May

Little Ringed Plover 2 Bale

15th May

Common Sandpiper 1 Unimproved Fields

14th May

Common/Smooth Newt 4 Unimproved Fields

13th May

Brent Goose 54 Eastern end of reserve
Garganey 1 Unimproved Fields
Hobby 1 Reedbed
Black-tailed Godwit 115 Irongate
Cuckoo 1 Reedbed
Hairy Dragonfly 1 Unimproved Fields

Blog post: Essex Little Tern Update 10th May 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

Little terns are now returning from Africa to breed in Britain. They area already using the coast and estuaries around Essex to feed, and looking for nest sites. Up to 4 have already been seen scouting out possible nest sites on Eastern Quarters Spit, in the Blackwater, which is at the eastern end of RSPB Old Hall Marshes reserve. Similarly they have been seen near Essex Wildlife Trust Colne Point and at Hamford Water.

You will notice signs going up at sites where the terns, and other ground nesting birds, like to nest. Birds such as Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers also like the same shingle / sand habitat. So if you see a NO LANDING sign, please spare a thought for our feathered friends and keep away between May and August, or until the signs are taken down.

You may notice posters about this appearing in sailing clubs and notice boards near you. Representatives from the Essex Little Tern Group will also be out and about giving out information about this. You might see them at your local fair. If you have any questions about little terns and why it is important to protect their nest sites, do go and talk to them!

Wardening of the nest sites will begin very soon. Volunteers will be monitoring the birds’ behaviour and protecting the site from human disturbance (ie people walking onto or mooring up and landing on the nest sites). If you are interested in helping you can find more information here:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering/5649-little-tern-monitoring-and-protection-assistant

Blog post: Recent Sightings 10th May 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:43:00 GMT

10th May

Common Sandpiper 1 Bale
Common Tern 8 Whole Site
Wheatear 1 Tollesbury Channel


9th May

Hobby 1 Unimproved Fields
Little Tern 2 Eastern Quarters Spit


7th May

Garganey 2 Unimproved Fields
Common Buzzard 2 Salcott
Knot 5 Saltings, including one ‘red’ bird
Dunlin 60 Saltings, mostly summer plumage
Bar-tailed Godwit 126 Saltings
Whimbrel 25 Whole Site
Spotted Redshank 2 Unimproved Fields
Mediterranean Gull 1 Flying over
Turtle Dove 2 Near entrance
Cuckoo 1 Crescent
Swift 3 Whole Site

Blog post: Recent Sightings 3rd May 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:19:00 GMT

3rd May

Cuckoo 1 Crescent

2nd May

Hobby 1 Improved Fields
Avocet 120 Grazing Marsh
Whimbrel 75 Whole Site
Spotted Redshank 4 Whole Site
Bar-tailed Godwit 88 Tollesbury Channel
Little Tern 5 Channels
Turtle Dove 2 Copse
Little Owl 1 Near Office
Yellow Wagtail 1 Grazing Marsh
Beefly 2 Crescent

1st May

Great White Egret 1 Grazing Marsh
Mediterranean Gull 1 Eastern Quarters Spit
Short-eared Owl 1 Grazing Marsh
Nightingale 1 Copse (heard briefly)

29th April

Common Seal1 Salcott Channel

24th April

Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Grazing Marsh

19th April

Brambling 1 Crescent
Harbour Porpoise 2 Estuary

Blog post: Recent Sightings 24th April 2013

Suzanne — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:07:00 GMT

In the last week

Warblers in: sedge, reed, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, plus resident Cetti's very vocal near car park

Passing over: common buzzard

Stopping by: about 40 whimbrel feeding on the improved fields and saltmarsh, also black- and bar-tailed godwit, ruff, spotted redshank, a brambling, yellow wagtail

Arriving: increasing numbers of swallows, common tern

Emerged: peacock, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, comma, sloe carpet, water carpet, herald, common- small- powdered- and twin-spot quakers

Buzzing around: beeflies

Lurking: grass snake, common lizard, gerald the great white egret

Settling in: avocets on irongate island

Hanging on: pintail, eider, common scoter, red-throated diver, brent geese

Blog post: Recent Sightings 19th April 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:12:00 GMT

19th April

Whimbrel 4 Saltings

18th April

Great White Egret 1 Grazing Marsh
Avocet 126 Irongate
Little Owl 2 Near Office

17th April

Whitethroat 4 Crescent
Sedge Warbler 1 Goose Friendly Trail
Blackcap 1 Copse

16th April

Red-breasted Merganser 21 Channels
Eider 2 Eastern Quarters Spit
Red Kite 1 Office
Cuckoo 1 Improved Fields

15 April

Pale Buzzard Sp. 1 Improved Fields (if you see it and get a good look, please send in a description)
Bar-tailed Godwit 108 Saltings
Knot 115 Saltings
Wheatear 8 Grazing Marsh

14th April

Hen Harrier 1 Grazing Marsh

Blog post: Recent Sightings 12th April 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:05:00 GMT

10th April

Red-throated Diver 1 Eastern Quarters Spit
Slavonian Grebe 1 Grazing Marsh
Great White Egret 1 Grazing Marsh
Eider 3 Eastern Quarters Spit
Spotted Redshank 4 Whole Site
Snipe 62 Whole Site
Golden Plover 80 Bale
Mediterranean Gull 3 Eastern Quarters Spit
Little Owl 2 Near Office
Swallow 2 Grazing Marsh
Chiffchaff 1 Irongate

7th April

Black-necked Grebe 1 Tollesbury Channel
Merlin 1 Grazing Marsh
Kentish Plover 1 Eastern Quarters Spit
Ruff 30 Improved Fields
Whimbrel 1 Saltings

6th April

Garganey 2 Grazing Marsh
Hen Harrier 1 Grazing Marsh
Avocet 135 Joyce’s Saltings
Bar-tailed Godwit 315 Joyce’s Saltings

Blog post: Recent Sightings 4th April 2013

Suzanne — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:31:00 GMT

3rd April

Great White Egret 1 Grazing Marsh
Ruff 28 Improved Fields

2nd April

Great Northern Diver 1 Estuary
Black-necked Grebe 1 Salcott Channel
Bittern 1 Reedbed
Common Scoter 12 Eastern Quarters Spit
Red-breasted Merganser 44 Channels
Eider 5 Tollesbury Channel
Peregrine 2 Grazing Marsh

1st April

White-fronted Goose 5 Grazing Marsh
Spotted Redshank 8 Whole Site
Bar-tailed Godwit 89 Tollesbury Channel

31st March

Woodcock 1 Copse

30th March

Mediterranean Gull 2 Over Office
Hen Harrier 1 Improved Fields

28th March

Black Brant 2 Pennyhole Bottom
Dark-bellied Brent Goose 300 Pennyhole Bottom
Woodlark 1 Car Park

Blog post: Recent Sightings 28th March 2013

Suzanne — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:03:00 GMT

28th March

Great White Egret (Gerald) 1 Grazing Marsh

Water Rail 8 Reedbed
Ruff 61 Improved Fields
Green Sandpiper 1 Grazing Marsh
Barn Owl 1 Reedbed
Woodlark 1 Carpark
Chiffchaff 1 Reedbed

27th March

Bittern 1 Reedbed
Dark Bellied Brent Goose 500 Improved Fields
Wheatear 2 Grazing Marsh

26th March

Snipe 16 Whole Site

25th March

Great Northern Diver 1 Estuary
White-fronted Goose 4 Grazing Marsh
Common Scoter 13 Estuary
Bar-tailed Godwit 70 Great Cobb
Spotted Redshank 5 Grazing Marsh
Jack Snipe 1 Grazing Marsh
Short-eared Owl 1 Grazing Marsh
Water Pipit 1 Grazing Marsh
Twite 8 Sea Wall

19th March

Hen Harrier 1 Grazing Marsh
Water Rail 8 Western End of Reserve

17th March

Slavonian Grebe 2 EQS/Grazing Marsh
Marsh Harrier 28 Reedbed 17 Mar

Blog post: Recent Sightings 14th March 2013

Suzanne — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:48:00 GMT

14th March

Great White Egret 1 Grazing Marsh
Dark Bellied Brent Goose 540 Improved Fields

Spotted Redshank 1 Bale
Barn Owl 1 Near Office

12th March

Bittern 1 Reedbed

10th March

Peregrine 1 Grazing Marsh

9th March

Red Throated Diver 1 Eastern Quarters Spit
Great Northern Diver 1 Estuary
Shag 1 Estuary
White-fronted Goose 5 Grazing Marsh
Pale-bellied Brent Goose 1 Grazing Marsh
Black Brant 1 Improved Fields
Eider 2 Channel

Pintail 63 Whole Site
Red-breasted Merganser 23 Estuary
Common Scoter 20 Estuary
Golden Plover 900 Whole Site
Ruff 34 Salcott
Whimbrel 2 Salcott Channel
Water Pipit 1 Grazing Marsh

Blog post: Recent Sightings 7th March 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:46:00 GMT

7th March

Green Sandpiper 1 Grazing Marsh
Barn Owl 1 Near Office

6th March

Shag 1 Estuary
White-fronted Goose 5 Grazing Marsh
Dark Bellied Brent Goose 1500 Improved Fields
Pale-bellied Brent Goose 1 Improved Fields
Barnacle Goose 1 Grazing Marsh
Common Scoter 2 Estuary
Red-breasted Merganser 19 Estuary
Peregrine 2 Grazing Marsh
Spotted Redshank 7 Grazing Marsh
Mediterranean Gull 3 Over Grazing Marsh

5th March

Ruff 21 Improved Fields

1st March

Eider 2 Channel

3rd March

Hen Harrier 1 male over Reedbed
Bearded Tit 7 Reedbed

28th February

Great Northern Diver 1 Salcott Channel
Pintail 20 Irongate
Pochard 80 Joyce’s Head
Avocet 200 Tollesbury Channel

27th February

Bittern 1 Reedbed

18th February

Black-necked Grebe 1 Tollesbury Channel

Blog post: Recent Sightings 15th February 2013

Suzanne — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:03:00 GMT

15th February

Dark Bellied Brent Goose 2100 Improved Fields
Pintail 62 Irongate
Common Buzzard 1 Flying Over
Curlew 130 Improved Fields
Woodcock 3 Grazing Marsh
Barn Owl 1 Near Office

11th February

Barnacle Goose 9 Grazing Marsh
Hen Harrier 1 Grazing Marsh
Spotted Redshank 1 Grazing Marsh
Twite 5 Sea Wall
Rock Pipit 2 Sea Wall

8th February

Shag 2 Estuary
Pochard 245 Joyce’s Head
Goldeneye 11 Estuary
Common Scoter 9 Estuary
Merlin 1 Grazing Marsh
Bar-tailed Godwit 20 Saltings
Water Pipit 1 Grazing Marsh

Blog post: Recent Sightings 8th February 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:47:00 GMT

8th February

White-fronted Goose 9 Grazing Marsh
Dark Bellied Brent Goose 2000 Improved Fields
Ruff 19 Improved Fields

4th February

Pale-bellied Brent Goose 5 Improved Fields
Black Brant 1 Improved Fields

2nd February

Barn Owl 2 Near Office
Rock Pipit 1 Sea Wall

1st February

Red-throated Diver 1 Estuary
Great Northern Diver 3 Estuary
Black-necked Grebe 1 Salcott Channel
Great Crested Grebe 46 Estuary
Barnacle Goose 8 Grazing Marsh
Pochard 180 Joyce’s Head Fleet
Hen Harrier 1 Saltings
Peregrine 2 Grazing Marsh
Black-tailed Godwit 73 Salcott Channel
Spotted Redshank 5 Salcott Channel
Twite 5 Sea Wall

28th January

Knot 980 Saltings
Smew 1 Pennyhole Fleet

Blog post: Recent Sightings 25th January 2013

Suzanne — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:50:00 GMT

25th January

Dark Bellied Brent Goose 3500 Improved Fields

24th January

Great Northern Diver 1 Estuary
Red-throated Diver 2 Estuary
Slavonian Grebe 1 Estuary
Black-necked Grebe 1 Estuary
White-fronted Goose 5 Pennyhole Fleet
Pink-footed Goose 2 Flying Over
Barnacle Goose 11 Grazing Marsh
Wigeon 1800+ Improved Fields
Red-breasted Merganser 29 Estuary
Smew 2 Pennyhole Fleet
Common Scoter 17 Channels
Merlin 1 Grazing Marsh
Avocet 82 Tollesbury Channel
Ruff 42 Improved Fields
Barn Owl 2 Reedbed, Near Office
Chiffchaff 1 Car Park
Twite 5 Sea Wall

21st January

Jack Snipe 1 Grazing Marsh

Blog post: Recent Sightings 21st January 2013

Suzanne — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:08:00 GMT

21st January

Dark Bellied Brent Goose 2000 Improved Fields
Sparrowhawk 1 near Car Park
Ruff 16 Improved Fields
Snipe 9 Improved Fields
Woodcock 1 Hedgerow near Car Park

18th January

Barn Owl 1 Near Office

17th January

Red-throated Diver 11 Estuary
Slavonian Grebe 3 Estuary
Black-necked Grebe 1 Estuary
White-fronted Goose 3 Grazing Marsh

Barnacle Goose 11 Grazing Marsh
Common Scoter 3 Estuary
Goldeneye 53 Channels
Red-breasted Merganser 36 Estuary
Bearded Tit 23 Reeds over whole site
Stonechat 2 Bale
Water Pipit 1 Grazing Marsh
Twite 1 Sea Wall

16th January

Bittern 1 Reedbed

Water Rail 1 Goose Friendly Trail

15th January

Hen Harrier 1 Sea Wall east end
Merlin 1 Grazing Marsh

Blog post: Reserve Highlights November - December 2012

Suzanne — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Habitat Management

Jacksons, the contractors repairing the sea wall on behalf of the Environment Agency finally left in November, leaving the sea wall in much better condition, but the southern folding temporarily out of bounds until the surface hardens up enough to be traversable. So if you’re walking round the long walk on the southern half of the reserve, please stick to the top of the sea wall: don’t risk getting stuck along the muddy track on the landward side! The mud is above ankle in some places as Brian will attest.

With Jacksons gone, extraction of water from our fresh water source, the Salcottstone Brook, could then begin and there was no shortage of water to extract with 68mm rain in November. Water levels looked good at the start of December averaging out at 200mm above the ‘ideal’.

Rotational cutting of the reedbed was completed but final raking and measuring the plots was put on hold while higher priorities were dealt with. Namely removing the 2km of stock fencing around Bale and Nine Acre ready for the new integrated stock and electric fence to be installed by contractors in January. This should be in place ready for the start of the breeding season and it is hoped lapwing productivity will increase as a result. The bulk of the fence removal work was completed by Christmas with thanks to local volunteers who helped.

On the last day for most of us before the Christmas break a meeting was held about the hydrology of the site, looking for ways to better manage water levels to give more flexibility and control over different areas of the reserve. This will involve gathering more data on the topography of the site and reviewing the hydrological units and their monitoring.

Birds

Dark-bellied brent geese peaked at 3260 on 7/12 but there have usually been 1500-2000 daily, grazing on the improved fields managed for their benefit. Odd pairs of pale-bellied have joined them throughout, but black brants have been scarce with only 3 records. ‘Barry’ the bar-headed goose joined them throughout November, and was a splendid sight, despite his dubious origins. The menagerie was completed by the snow/Ross’s hybrid (suggested name Roger) who returned for the third year with a group of Barnacles (peaked at 36 on 10/12) that have come and gone throughout the period.

A good selection of divers and grebes graced the channels: red-throated and great northern divers – singles throughout, red-necked grebe e.g. 26/11, black-necked grebe spotted on 23/11 and 3/12, slavonian grebe 10/12. The rare treat of a passing great skua made Colin’s day on New Years Eve.

Duck highlights include pochard 110 on 28/12, common scoter – a common sight e.g. 3 on 16/12, red-breasted merganser peaked at 39 on 3/12, a long-tailed duck on 14/11, and odd smew throughout, with a peak of 3 on 16/12. Wader peaks: little stint 1 on 13/11, grey plover 2045 on 12/11, dunlin 4362 on 12/11, knot 59 on 26/11, golden plover 5000 on 26/12, lapwing 2350 on 29/12, avocet 238 on 28/12, odd spotted redshanks throughout.

Single hen harriers and merlins have been seen throughout. The good selection of owls continues with up to 2 littles, odd sightings of short-eared, daily sightings of barns near the office, and tawnies resident in the copse. Passing water pipits were spotted on 13/11 and 20/11, a peak of 12 twite were seen on 14/11, and 413 fieldfare on 30/11. Until this year a major rarity for the reserve, waxwings been munching berries in the car park and crescent from 15 in early December to a peak of 22 on 26/12.

Events and Staff

Business as usual on the staff front with a welcome and unusual period of volunteer stability! The Essex Birdwatching Society invited themselves for a self-guided walk around the site. No events were held.

Blog post: Recent Sightings 10th January 2013

Suzanne — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:18:00 GMT

Happy New Year from all at Old Hall!

10th January

Great Norther Diver 2 Channel
Red-throated 2 Channel
Black-necked Grebe 1 Channel
Slavonian Grebe 1-2 Channel
Dark Bellied Brent Goose 2000 Bale
Barnacle Goose 11 Grazing Marsh
Common Scoter 2 Channel
Pochard 108 Joyces Head
Pintail 98 Whole Site
Red-breasted Merganser 10 Channel
Merlin 1 Grazing Marsh
Hen Harrier 1 Grazing Marsh
Barn Owl 1 Near Office
Short Eared Owl 1 Grazing Marsh

8th January

Sparrowhawk 1 08 Jan
Stonechat 2 Bale

5th January

Gadwall 64 Pennyhole Fleet
Spotted Redshank 1 Irongate
Bar-tailed Godwit 18 Saltings

4th January

Great White Egret 1 Tollesbury Channel
Smew 3 Pennyhole Bottom

3rd January

Avocet 200 Tollesbury Channel
Ruff 30 Abbot’s Hall Breach
Waxwing 27 Car Park

Blog post: Recent Sightings 21st December 2012

Suzanne — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:36:00 GMT

21st December

Dark Bellied Brent Goose 1300 Improved Fields
Peregrine 1 Grazing Marsh
Plenty of curlews, black-tailed godwits, lapwings and golden plover whizzing about

20th December

Barn Owl 1 Near Office
Little Owl 1 Near Office

19th December

Goldeneye 14 Tollesbury Channel
Peregrine 2 Whole Site
Black-tailed Godwit 100 Bale
Short Eared Owl 1 Grazing Marsh

17th December

Red-Throated Diver 1 Channels
Slavonian Grebe 1 Channels
Pale Bellied Brent Goose 2 Joyce’s Head Saltings
Bar-Headed Goose 1 Grazing Marsh
Smew 1 Pennyhole Fleet
Red-Breasted Merganser 16 Channels
Common Scoter 1 Joyce’s Head
Pintail 101 Channels
Avocet 111 Tollesbury Channel
Spotted Redshank 10 Irongate

15th December

Great Northern Diver 1 Channels
Waxwing 14 Crescent
Twite 6 Grazing Marsh

Blog post: Recent Sightings 14th December 2012

Suzanne — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 08:46:00 GMT

14th December

Dark Bellied Brent Goose 1850 Improved Fields

13th December

Spotted Redshank 1 Flying Over
Barn Owl 2 Near Office

12th December

Curlew 140 Improved Fields

11th December

Bearded Tit 7 Reed Fringes

9th December

Barnacle Goose 9 Improved Fields
Bar-Headed Goose 1 Improved Fields
Snow/Ross’ Goose Hybrid 1 Improved Fields
Peregrine 1 Tollesbury Channel
Waxwing 3rd hand report of some near car park