Simon Patient

Sorry it’s short for White tailed Eagle

The Abberton WTE from this morning unsuccessfully hunting a Herring gull, it caught it twice but it still got away #essexbirding

Red kite and WTE

Red kite and WTE

The WTE With the EWT visitors centre and pumping station

WTE with Herring gull, which was taken to the bank. The gull managed to get away although it didn’t look great and probably would succumb to its injuries.

That was a great morning at Abberton church watching the White tailed Eagle. Always distant but nice to see it hunting (unsuccessfully) for Coot and it even caught a Herring gull which somehow got away. Last seen flying N around midday #essexbirding

Thanks Jon. I’m trying to making the most of their visits. One was singing the other day.

4 Redpolls again in our Colchester garden this morning including this ringed bird again ( last seen on 11th Feb) #essexbirding

@cmbeale.bsky.social hello Colin. I just had the ringed Redpoll again in my garden, I have a few more photos of the ring. Looks like ‘use’ ( museum)? And a 5 with possibly a 3 after it? Don’t know if these are of any help.

A visit to Shut Heath woods EWT this morning produced 2-3 Nuthatch, 4 GSWoodpeckers in clouding some drumming but no sight or sound of the hoped for LSWoodpecker. Back home in the sunshine produced Red Admiral and Comma both my FFY #essexbirding

At least one Firecrest is still putting in an appearance in our Colchester garden this week, also 4 Redpolls still, a pair of Blackcaps and c50 Redwings still in the area devouring the Ivy berries. And this low flying Red Kite #essexbirding

Up in Suffolk and Just had these 2 Common Cranes interrupt my breakfast. They flew East over Wenhaston appearing to drop towards Blythburgh at 07:05 this morning @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #Ukbirding

Many thanks for the link. I love articles like this.

May thanks for your reply Colin. I was going by the pointed tail feathers to age it.

Bit of a long shot but one of the Redpolls here in Colchester is ringed on its right leg. A single metal ring. Can’t quite make out all of the numbers but there is a ‘K’. The bird has pointed tail feathers so a 2nd cal year. #essexbirding #birdringing #bto I’m hoping to get some clearer shots

We have now got 8 Redpolls coming to our Colchester garden. Here they are still feeding on Stinging Nettle seeds. #essexbirding

A quick wizz to Abberton this morning in the fog produced a Brambling still at the end of Lodge lane with Chaffinches. An Abberton tick for me, number 210.
Glossy Ibis still at Copt hall. And returning home a Great white Egret flew E over the garden. Our 2nd record here. #essexbirding

Our Redpoll count has gone up to 3 now in our Colchester garden. With the addition of a female today. Here she was pecking around the buds of our Elder tree. Also the males were feeding on Stinging Nettle seeds that I hadn’t cut back yet. #essexbirding

I had another look today and I’m not sure they were eating the buds now. They were definitely pecking around them still, but maybe taking other bits of of food / debris on them. And yes a Sambucas nigra.

Yes a wonderful pinky colour

I’m enjoying sticking my head out of the bathroom window for the Lesser Redpolls. They are feeding on the new buds on our Elder tree #essexbirding

2 Lesser Redpolls enjoying the rain in our Colchester garden again this morning. Plus Blackcap still singing away #essexbirding

A gloomy start to the day here in our Colchester garden. 1 Lesser Redpoll still around and a sign that spring is not too far away, here’s our male Blackcap singing which it’s been doing since Jan 26th. ( my earliest singing bird ) #essexbirding

I have just realised that these photos show 2 different birds. Confirmed this morning as there were 2 Lesser Redpolls in the garden 🤣

Certainly brightened up my morning

Thank you

Thank you

That sounds interesting, lots of history in the area.

This Lesser Redpoll dropped down into our Colchester garden early this morning. Only my 3rd that has landed here. Also the Firecrest is still visiting our Holly tree. #essexbirding

Yes they around, there are lots of Ivy berries in our area which is what they are feeding on. And yes always good to try and see the birds that Merlin suggests just to make sure.

This male Blackcap ( one of a pair ) is still feasting on Ivy berries in our Colchester garden today. Also 60+ Redwing have been hanging around also feeding on nearby Ivy berries. In the past couple of days a few Goosanders have flown over SW towards Abberton in the evenings #essexbirding

3 Tundra Bean Geese, LB causeway

Drake Smew, LB causeway

Stonechat

Enjoyed a visit to Abberton this morning with the kids. The 3 Tundra Bean geese and 5 Smew ( 3 drake) were my highlights. Plus 6 RCPochard and Scaup. The Essex birding massive were out in force, and nice to see some friendly faces. #essexbirding

Firecrest , Brown Argus, White Admiral larva, Great white Egret, White-letter Hairstreak, White Admiral indoors, Osprey, Raven , Osprey

Happy New year! 🎉 These are some of our garden highlights from this year including Osprey, GWE and Crossbills as garden ticks. Also adding Brown Argus as our 28th butterfly species. And discovering White Admiral larva. Looking forward to what 2026 has to offer 🤞 All the best #essexbirding