UK seasonal weather summary (from the Met Office):
Autumn temperatures were close to average overall, but with some cooler spells especially in September and November. The weather was unsettled as low-pressure systems brought rain and wind across the country.
The winter was milder than average overall, but very variable with cold, wintry spells in early December and mid-January contrasting with much milder, wetter, unsettled and occasionally stormy weather at other times.
Following on from comments in the previous seasonal summary, 2024 continued to be a disappointing autumn for local birdwatchers. A predominance of westerly airflows did not encourage the appearance of drift migrants from the continent and, with warm weather on the continent, there was a distinct lack of arriving flocks of wintering thrushes and finches.
The natural highlight across the county was probably the bumper autumnal appearance of Waxcap fungi. There were a lot being found during survey work at Middlewick Ranges, Colchester and with posts from elsewhere in Essex too, it seemed a good idea to check out our own most likely sites.
Waxcaps are particularly associated with long-established grassland with low-nutrient soil, classically found around churchyards. So it was great to find some in both Heybridge Cemetery (on Goldhanger Road) and Maldon Cemetery (on London Road). There are many different species, mostly brightly coloured with a waxy or slippery look. They can be hard to identify but I felt confident in naming at least five species at the former and three at the latter. More photos and discussion can be found on the Maldon Wildlife blogpost site https://wildlifeofmaldon.blogspot.com/ .
2024 was the second warmest recorded winter in Europe, so while it was a poor year for seeing scarcer wintering birds around Maldon, it was probably good news for the birds that they did not have to fly to the UK to find amenable conditions. There were a couple of Short-eared Owl sightings and, more excitingly, a male Hen Harrier too (in recent years, Hen Harriers have been hard to come by locally).
Up until 2019 there used to be a regular wintering flock of Goldeneye off Heybridge but they are only seen sporadically now. So, after a cold snap in December, it was nice that three turned up briefly off Mill Beach, followed by a longer staying male on the river between the Prom and Heybridge Pits. The same weather brought in an influx of diving ducks to Heybridge Pits, with a flock of 80 Tufted Duck along with a few Pochard.
Dark-bellied Brent Geese clearly had a very poor breeding season in 2024. Although the usual flocks returned to the estuary from their arctic nesting sites, there were very few youngsters amongst them. In one group of two hundred, I counted only two first year birds. Amongst them was a smart adult Black Brant – a handful of this eastern relative of the Dark-bellied Brent Goose nest amongst the latter in the tundra and join them on their westerly migrations.
Most of our wintering waders appear in large numbers but there are three related species that occur here only sparingly – Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, all species that breed in freshwater habitats in northern Europe. It is likely we are seeing the same individuals returning each year, as they have their favoured haunts. The most numerous is the Greenshank, which feeds on the estuary and roosts at Heybridge Pits. Then there is the Green Sandpiper, that frequents farm ditches and inland pools, normally spotted as they fly up noisily after being spooked inadvertently by a passer-by. Finally, we have occasional wintering Common Sandpiper. For several years there have been winter sightings of one along the River Chelmer, often by the Bypass Bridge. Elsewhere around the Blackwater there are wintering Spotted Redshank and Ruff too – for some reason we have been missing out on these locally.
Amongst other wintering species, three that appeared in reasonable numbers this winter were Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Stonechat, implying good breeding seasons. These are species that often move towards the coast in winter. During a walk between Tescos and Beeleigh in late December, Simon Wood saw at least five Kingfisher– an amazing total!
Our patch still remains a good wintering location for Essex finches and buntings. Counts of flocks around the Southey Creek/ Limbourne area by Tony Kennelly included 40 Corn Bunting and 60+ Linnet. These numbers far exceed the local breeding populations. Further flocks, particularly of Linnet, are normally to be found in the canal-side fields by Langford and towards Ulting and there are often flocks to the north as well. Perhaps a concerted count would be worth carrying out next winter.
One species that is spreading is Nuthatch. In recent years they have been recorded in Hazeleigh Hall and Kent Woods as well as in Mundon Furze. In November, Andrew Brown spotted one at Beeleigh (on the old tree stump visible from the weir) and Simon Wood heard one in the same general area in December.
A web post by Chris Gibson led me in a search to find some Ergot, Claviceps purpurea. This is a fungus known in history for producing alkaloids that result in the often fatal disease, ergotism – St Anthony’s Fire – when ingested by humans, with symptoms including seizures and severe mania. Its most commonly known host is rye and other cereal crops, however Chris’s post alerted me to the fact that a variant also grows on Cord Grass, that nowadays grows abundantly on the higher levels of our estuaries. Sure enough, I had a look the next time I was walking along Southey Creek and quickly found some.
During the winter it is always nice to see some flowers in bloom. Two in particular that brighten the day are Winter Jasmine and Winter Heliotrope. Neither are native but nevertheless they provide welcome sources of nectar for insects that are flying during the winter months.
On the subject of non-native species, Lofts Farm played host to a pair of smart-looking Chinese Geese in January. This is the domesticated form of Swan Goose, a species that breeds in the Russian Far East. A few weeks later, Simon Wood found an escaped Ringed Teal, also at Lofts Farm. This is a species native to South America.
Hazeleigh Wood once again provided some interesting invertebrate sightings. The diversity is amazing, Two examples here are both beetles. Firstly the False Ladybird Endomychus coccineus. Having only seen individuals before, it was impressive to come across a large gathering feasting on fungus, their staple food.
Carrion beetles have a totally different life style and diet. We have found a number of species within the wood but a special one to find was a Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle Dendroxena quadrimaculata. There are very few county records and it is in fact an Essex Red Data List species.
Stormy weather over the autumn and winter did not cause too much trouble excepting in Heybridge Wood. Here the plantation of Douglas Fir and Scots Pine has been poorly managed over past years, with no thinning out taking place, resulting in weakened trees. When the strong winds hit, many of the trees were bowled over.
Minimal management took place this winter – it is to be hoped that the developer and their appointed land management company will react to pressure from the site’s liaison committee and ensure that substantive work is carried out at the end of this year. Conifers support a range of specific species that are scarce elsewhere. These include Goldcrest and Coal Tit, as well as different invertebrates and fungi, such as Purplepore Bracket.
One positive result of increased attention being paid to the wood, was the discovery of an active Badger sett.
In January there was the annual RSPB Garden Birdwatch.
I chose to carry out my count at the Washington Close Wild Space. This is an area of previously neglected land owned by Moat Housing that the Heybridge and Maldon Climate Action Partnership have taken on as a project to create a nature-friendly community space. They have done a fantastic job. What was very apparent was that it is acting as a reservoir for species that are struggling in the surrounding housing estates. It was great to hear and see Chaffinch – I have not seen one in my own garden for several years.
According to the RSPB’s analysis, the top ten species for Essex for 2025 were the same as for 2020 but the rankings were slightly changed. Woodpigeon has moved up to second place, Magpie has gone up two places and Collared Dove and Goldfinch have dropped positions.
While the crow and pigeon family are doing well, with Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow now just outside the top ten, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Song Thrush, are continuing to decline (now in 17th, 19th and 23rd positions respectively).
Top Ten Garden Bird Species in Essex (from 2025 RSPB Garden Birdwatch):
- House Sparrow
- Woodpigeon
- Starling
- Blue Tit
- Blackbird
- Great Tit
- Magpie
- Robin
- Collared Dove
- Goldfinch
Local bird of the winter was the Dartford Warbler found by Tony Kennelly by the Hazeleigh Hall Solar Farm on 1st February. Most Essex records have been coastal – I wonder if the warbler was confused by the panels into thinking it was pitching up by a large body of water?
Tony also scored the week after, with a Raven over Tescos and the only sizeable Siskin flock seen over the period at Beeleigh, where there were 30-40.
The first true summer migrant to arrive was a Sand Martin spotted by Simon Wood at Lofts Farm on 18th March. On that note I will end this piece and leave discussion on the changing of the guard to my next seasonal post.
If you have any comments on this summary, or maybe information on anything that I have overlooked, please let me know.
My grateful thanks to those who have been out and about and contributed their sightings – without them I would have nothing to write about!
John Buchanan
john.clanbuchanan@btinternet.com
