essex buzzard

[essexbuzzard]

Yes, autumn was very late last year. Great for me, as it makes the winter shorter!

January was an excellent month. Dry, sunny weather and no lockdown this year meant I was able to get out and about. None more so than here on the Essex Coast, on New Year’s Day.

[essexbuzzard]

Plenty of other people had the same idea!

[trevor]

Not long now Mark, plenty of signs of Spring around now.
My Snowdrops have gone over and my wild Daffs are out.

Hope to see some Oxlip images from you later on.

Stay well'
Trevor.

[essexbuzzard]

Challenge accepted, Trevor!

With various restrictions, I wasn’t able to have my usual walks on the Essex Coast last winter. So I made sure I got a bit of coastal birdwatching in this time around!

Brent geese are very common, and one of my favourites. Here are some at Maldon.

Wigeon are one of the prettiest ducks.

Teals are the smallest British ducks, and are common on the mudflats.

[essexbuzzard]

Also managed to spend some time on the Thames estuary this winter. Brent geese are especially abundant here.

But there is plenty of other stuff too. Here is a mixture of dunlins and knots on two tree island.

And at Shoeburyness, these are mixed dunlins and sanderlings.

Sanderling.

And a redshank at Shoebury beach.

[essexbuzzard]

We also got the chance to visit WWT Welney in Norfolk, for the first time since coronavirus. One of the nicest things I saw there were tree sparrows. We used to get them when I lived on the farm at Ongar. They are long gone now, not just from the farm, but probably from the whole of Essex.

Welney is far better known for it’s winter visiting wildfowl. Whooper swans are the dominant species.

Pochards are one of the most attractive ducks .

Snipe are not always easy to see, but several were on display here.

[essexbuzzard]

The weather during February was less notable, dominated by named storms mid month. However, we did manage to visit Welford Park for the first time, to see the spectacular show of snowdrops there. And they didn’t disappoint.

[David M]

...However, we did manage to visit Welford Park for the first time, to see the spectacular show of snowdrops there. And they didn’t disappoint.

That must be an incredible sight, Mark. It literally does look like snow. I've never seen anything even remotely similar to that.

[essexbuzzard]

Hi David. Yes, the staggering numbers of snowdrops there was quite a sight!

Although I had seen the odd Red Admiral in January and February, for me the 18 March was the day my butterfly season got properly started. Sadly, I missed the splendid weeks weather that followed, as I was at work.by the time I was off the weather had changed! But my time will come.

A couple of Brimstones were flying along the woodland rides.

The highlight though, was the excellent numbers of Commas. One corner had five territorial males present, and watching them spiral upwards in combat was an enjoyable experience.

Peacocks were present, too, with several seen.

Both species were finding the willows most attractive.

[millerd]

The good numbers of spring Commas this year seems to be a universal phenomena - you've confirmed it from another point of the compass!

Cheers,

Dave

[Neil Freeman]

The good numbers of spring Commas this year seems to be a universal phenomena - you've confirmed it from another point of the compass!

Cheers,

Dave

A long way behind Small Tortoiseshells for me, coming a distant second but still slightly more numerous than Peacocks so far.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

Commas not so numerous here; well behind Brimstones & Small Tortoiseshells.

Glad you saw such good numbers, Mark, and hopefully plenty more when the weather improves.

[essexbuzzard]

On the 21 March, we were in Gloucestershire, to see the glorious spectacle of wild daffodils in Dymock woods, near Newent. They also spill out of this and other woods in the area, and grow on many road verges, too. A splendid morning was spent here.

Then, on to the attractive Cotswold resort of Bourton on the Water, for a late lunch and a pleasant afternoon.

[Goldie M]

Hi! essex, that truly is a wonderful sight, I've seen Bluebells in the woods like that but never Daffodils Goldie

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Goldie. They are a truly glorious sight.

One of the best places to see daffodils in Essex is near Brentwood. This is an Edwardian Garden, belonging to Ellen Willmot. So although these resemble, and possibly are, wild daffodils, this splendid display is probably man-made.

[essexbuzzard]

We were in Dorset during the first weekend in April. This was mainly family time, but I did manage my first Speckled Woods near Corfe Castle.

[Wurzel]

Lovely looking Specklie Essex That's a really interesting view of Corfe Castle - I don't think I've seen it from that angle before

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

That carpet of daffodils is just as impressive as the one of snowdrops that preceded it, Mark.

Time for the bluebells now!

[essexbuzzard]

Thanks Wurzel and David.

April arrived, so it was time to visit the north Essex anemone Woods. These wonderful little flowers are simplicity itself. However, when seen in their thousands, forming a carpet like this, they give one of the best shows of flowers on the planet. And it’s right here in Britain. And all for free!

[essexbuzzard]

Pictures.