• Out on the marshes

    Friday 14 Vange Marsh -12:35 to 13:30, Rain, westerly wind
    55 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 420 Teal (possible the highest number recorded on the marsh), 2 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 1 Sparrowhawk (female), 42 Snipe (one large 'wisp' flying around the marsh for about 10 mins occasionally breaking up into smaller groups.)

    Monday 10 Wat Tyler Country Park - 08:30 to 15:15
    1 Red-breasted Goose (likely escaped bird on the scrape at…

  • Recent sightings

    The bittern which has taken up residence on Vange Marsh, continues to be seen albeit briefly in flight over the eastern reedbed. This bird takes some patience to see, but it is well worth putting the effort in. Probably the best place to look from is the raised path to the viewing screen, here you will have the sun behind you in the mornings, please avoid entering the reedbeds and good luck. More interesting species seen…

  • Briefly bittern!

    The bittern was seen again briefly in flight over the eastern reedbed at Vange Marsh yesterday. Also seen was a kingfisher as it flew along the creek near the screen hide and later over the reedbed. Also a green sandpiper flew from the saline lagoon and 7 common snipe were on the freshmarsh. A green woodpecker flew across the reserve.

    In Timbermans Creek and viewed from the marina at Wat Tyler Country Park was a nice…

  • Bittern on New Year's Day

    Vange Marsh (RSPB), 12:30 to 16:15
    1 bittern ((First seen at 15:30, then seen again as it flushed from the reed bed, then flew out over reed bed and circled over main marsh before returning in to same area of reed bed at the east end of Marsh)), 177 lapwing (Vange Wick), 9 ruff (Vange Wick,), 1 spotted redshank (Vange Creek), 1 green sandpiper (Vange Wick), 1 snow bunting (male, feeding in straw supplements on track near…