birding...

Abberton Reservoir

Satellite View
Excellent for wildfowl & occasional rarities, it also has the advantage of a visitor centre selling everything from food to optics. (August 2011 access restricted by construction work - check the Essex Wildlife Trust website for access details)

Amwell Lakes

Good for Smew.

Aveley Bay

River Thames & marshy fields.

Berwick Ponds

Reedy ponds.

Bradwell Bird Observatory

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Lies on the south shore of the Blackwater estuary by the river mouth, access from Bradwell-on-sea.

Canvey Island

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Seafront shelters, this is just far enough up river to funnel the birds close in before they turn around & fly back to sea, Long-tailed Skua & Sabines are regular on Easterly winds in August/September.

Connaught Water

Good for Mandarin & woodland species.

Copperas Bay RSPB Reserve

access east of Mannningtree.

Copperas Wood

This is an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve.

Dagenham Chase

Lake & surrounding fields.

Danbury Lakes CP

Hawfinch & woodland.

Fingringhoe Wick NR

Satellite View
An Essex Wildlife trust reserve & is excellent for a wide range of species. In spring it is probably the best place in the country to see Nightingales sitting in the open in full song. Up to 40 pairs in this reserve. The Fatbirder has sat in his car in the car park here hearing 10 nightingales and seeing three or four without even breaking sweat! The reserve has salt marsh, estuary, scrub and young woodland and there is a gravel pit close to the entrance road which is excellent for swifts and hirundines.

Fishers Green

Complex, which is accessed off the B194 just north of Waltham Abbey. This area is famous for it's wintering Bitterns, which show extremely well from the Bittern hide. It is also very good for Smew in the winter.

Gunners Park

Good for migrants.

Hainault Forest

Typical woodland species.

Hamford Water

Area is excellent, especially in winter, but access & parking are difficult. Best access is from Walton-on-the-naze.

Hanningfield Reservoir

Satellite View
Smaller than Abberton but has a totally different character, it often gets sea birds for example, which Abberton does not , there are hides & a visitor centre.

Havengore Creek

Holland-On-Sea

Holland Haven lies just south of Walton-on-the-Naze & is Excellent for migrants, gardens along the seafront held a Steppe Shrike for sometime in 1996.

Old Hall Marshes RSPB

A permit is required from the RSPB.

Rainham Marsh

Satellite View
Thames foreshore & rough grassland recently purchased from the Army by RSPB - a grazing marsh hardly changed in centuries. The Rubbish tip is renown for attracting unusual gulls.

Reeveshall Marsh

Southend Pier

Sea Watching.

Tollesbury Wick

Satellite View
Open access is from the village of Tollesbury.

Wakering Stairs

Sea watching & migrants.

Bishop's Stortford & District Natural History Society

Website

Bird Group - Monthly MEETING - 20:00, Bricklayers Arms, Hadham Road. First Monday of every month, unless Bank holiday, then held on second Monday...

East London Birders Forum

Website

ELBF was set up in August 1997 as a forum for local birders to network more easily and to accumulate data on the local avifauna and most importantly to promote the importance of local patch birding. Meetings: On the 2nd Tuesday in every month at 8pm. Upstairs in the County Arms, Hale End Road, Highams Park, E4.

Essex Wildlife Trust

Website

We manage 93 nature reserves covering 7,700 acres of land. We give advice on wildlife problems and campaign on wildlife issues. We run five visitor centres that welcome 200,000 visitors per year. We have a membership of over 16,000 that is growing fast. Our members are the backbone of the Trust, funding its activities, providing volunteers that are vital to its operation, and spreading the word to others. Without them the Trust would not be able to function and wildlife would be under even greater threat.

Essex Bird Watching Society

Website

Members actively participate in many national surveys and projects, including the BTO Atlas projects, Wetland Bird Surveys, Common Birds Census, etc. All members and other observers are requested to send their Essex bird records to a Society Recorder. Chairman is Gerry Johnson - gerry2johnson at aol.com

Harlow Conservation Volunteers

Website

Harlow Conservation Volunteers (HCV) is a group of volunteers who work for nature conservation in and around Harlow - Essex. Their aim is to improve the environment for wildlife, nature conservation, and recreation, and to improve public access. All over the country conservation volunteers do practical work which makes a major contribution to our natural heritage. They manage trees, woodlands, and hedgerows; build bridges, hides, steps, and stiles; and clean out streams and ponds. They work on footpaths, clearing them of vegetation and making them easy to walk along; they work mostly on nature reserves and public open spaces, but occasionally on privately owned land. The work done depends on the time of year, but has included coppicing, tree planting, hedge-laying, scrub control, wild flower planting, constructing boardwalks, and even charcoal making.

Holland Haven Birding Group

Website

The Holland Haven Birding Group recording area generally lies in north east Essex between the furthest most north east residential area of Holland on Sea and the seaside town of Frinton-on-Sea. Historically known as ''Holland Gap'' this undeveloped area is bordered to the south east by the sea, to the west by the B1032 and to the north west by a low ridge running from the village of Great Holland to Great Holland Hall. Contained within the recording area is a diverse range of habitats including a council maintained country park complete with scrape, Frinton Golf Course, grazing marsh, arable fields, a small sewage farm, paddocks, modest reed beds and fringes as well as scattered bushes and a small woodland all of which are transected by Holland Brook and associated feeder ditches which release fresh water to the sea via a sluice...

RSPB Southend-on-Sea Members Group

Website

I particularly like the pages introducing birdwatching to the novice… The keys to success in bird watching are stealth, patience and quietness - in short, the ability to make yourself as inconspicuous as possible. Some birds, of course, are more easily alarmed than others: birds in towns, for instance, are generally much easier to come close to than their counterparts in the country, simply because they are more used to the presence of human beings. But wherever you are, remember that any sudden noise or movement - the crack of a dry branch underfoot, the unexpected raising of a hand - can easily frighten birds away. By making the best use of hedges, shrubs, shadows and other forms of cover, and by moving at a steady pace, you can frequently come close to even the shyest birds. The clothes you wear may also help to conceal you, so always choose quiet colours and make certain that your clothes are warm, well-fitting and weatherproof.

Wakering & District Natural History Society

Website

Early in 1980 John Threadgold was approached by Councillor Ernie Adcock to see if he would be willing to start up a Natural History group in the village. The answer being 'Yes', John then had to liaise with the Parish Clerk to fix up a meeting place and then get some helpers. The obvious choice for help was George Bailey who was a keen photographer and a fellow member of the South Essex Natural History Society...

Wildlife Gateway

Website

Wildlife Gateway has been created by the Wildlife Trusts in Thames Gateway as part of their commitment to high quality regeneration which delivers for people and wildlife...

Artist - Richard Allen

Gallery

Starting as a freelance illustrator in advertising, publishing and newspapers, my work has gradually drifted towards my main interest of birds and wildlife especially after winning "British Birds - Bird Illustrator of the year" in 1993...

Photographer - Dave Blackwell

Gallery

Welcome to my website I have always had a passion for wildlife but this is the first time I have been able to photograph my passion. I live on Canvey Island in Essex and all my photographs are taken in the area. I am chairman of Canvey Island Wildlife and Conservation Group and I am hoping through my photos I can help encourage the protection of our wildlife. I hope you enjoy some of my photography….

Photographer - Dave Farrow - & Sound Recordist

Gallery

Images from Essex

Photographer - Ian Rose

Gallery

Photos of British Birds, mostly taken in Essex and Herts…

Photographer - Margaret Welby

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I have been taking wildlife images since the late 1980s and my work has been published in many publications and books. I have also been Highly Commended in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition...

Photographer - Peter Mann - Manny's Wildlife

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Mainly common birds of the UK including the odd deer…

Photographer - Richard Chew

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I am an amateur photographer and my principal interest is the wildlife and landscapes of the UK. My website includes a selection of photos that I have taken over the last 12 years or so in England, Wales and the Scottish Highlands and Islands. I have also included details of the equipment that I use and some of my own personal photography tips which I feel have contributed to my development as a photographer.

Webcam - Nature Watch

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We have cameras set up in 4 nest boxes, a bird bath, mealworm feeder and seed feeder, recording all of the action from a regular household garden in Essex. You can now watch some of these cameras online through our Live Streaming system! There are also diaries of events, news pages and the Get Involved section has information for you to get out with nature in your own garden. To find out what has been happening in the garden, check out the News page for all the up to date info!