Charlie J
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charliesj.bsky.social
Charlie J
@charliesj.bsky.social
230 followers 220 following 130 posts
Mostly birding in Essex
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charliesj.bsky.social
A predictably quiet visit to Southend Pier today with no divers, but a Kittiwake was on the posts with the Med Gulls and 5 BN Grebes were off to the east.

#essexbirding #birds
Kittiwake Med Gull A Dunlin stopped by briefly View East from the end of the pier, high tide, looking over the boat ramp and gull posts
January 18, 2026 at 8:34 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
A few photos from RHS Hyde Hall today. Other highlights: c10 Redpoll passing over a few times, Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Tawny Owl & Cetti's Warbler heard and 2 Pochard on the reservoir.

#essexbirding
Blue tit visiting a feeder Fieldfare perched in a bush Fieldfare mid-meal Robin
January 17, 2026 at 9:41 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
50 species at Weald CP today, highlights: At least 20 Goosander, 50+ Siskin, Redpoll, 2 Little Egret, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Grn & GSW, Tawny Owl (Heard), Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Buzzard perched on greenhouse Drake Goosander 9 of the 20+ Goosander on the main lake View of the London skyline at dusk as the clouds came in
January 16, 2026 at 7:45 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
A sometimes snowy local walk around Crow Grn today. At least 19 Lapwing hanging around, other highlights: Redwing, Fieldfare, Buzzard, Red kite, Tawny Owl, Rook, Grn & GSW and 5 Goosander still holding out on the tiny part of unfrozen lake.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Tawny owl 4 Goosander (3 Drake) on a small unfrozen part of a mostly frozen lake. Also pictured Mallard and Black-headed Gull. A horse with a Lapwing to the left and a Canada Goose peaking over on the right.
January 6, 2026 at 5:47 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Both lakes frozen at Weald CP and the birds that don't like thrown food have moved on, highlights: Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Siskin, Goldcrest, Grn & GSW and Coal Tit.

At least 7 Goosander near Crow Green where the lake was only half frozen with 7 Lapwing also dropping in.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
View along the frozen main lake at Weald Country Park Robin Robin produced this berry from its crop before re-eating it 3 of 7 Lapwing near Crow Green
January 5, 2026 at 6:14 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
A freezing cold day at Lynford Arboretum. M+F Hawfinch early on then Siskins, Marsh Tits, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and great views of Crossbill.

#ukbirds #birds #birding
Crossbill Marsh Tit Robin
January 4, 2026 at 9:17 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Sorry about the poor photos but does anyone have an opinion on this gull from yesterday? I assumed Herring Gull but the beady eye is throwing me. Size was comparable to LBBG also present.

#essexbirding
January 2, 2026 at 3:53 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Just a short local walk around Crow Green to start the year, highlights: Tawny Owl, 3 Goosander, Red Kite, Redwing and a flock of Siskin.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Tawny Owl
January 1, 2026 at 9:31 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Spent a nice day in St Albans with some good birds about. Showy Kingfisher in Verulamium Park, 2 Peregrine on the Cathedral and plenty of Siskin at Watercress NR. Other highlights: GSW, 2 Red Kite, Little Egret, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Greenfinch and Grey Wagtail.

#ukbirding #birds
Kingfisher Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon Grey Heron
December 30, 2025 at 7:18 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Not brave enough to go birding over Weald CP on Christmas day but a late walk on local lanes delivered a patch tick Lapwing near Crow Green. Always worth heading out.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
A proper record shot of a Lapwing A Fox enjoying the apricity
December 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Afternoon at RHS Hyde Hall today, 2 Snipe and a Pochard on the reservoir were the most notable birds, with plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing about. Lots of noisy Robin posing in the sun got the most attention.

#essexbirding #birds
A Robin perched on a hedge A Great Tit visiting a bird feeder made of natural materials A Robin perched on a garden obelisk, looking at camera A Robin perched on a hedge, singing loudly
December 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: 14 Goosander, GC Grebe, L. Egret, Kingfisher, Siskin, Redpoll, Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel. 47 species total.

Unfortunately also had to report to the rangers that one of the juvenile Swans had fishing tackle caught up in its wing.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Immature Mute Swan, not the one with fishing tackle View of the London skyline at sunset Siskin Drake Goosander
December 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Hundreds of Pied Wagtails coming in to roost in two trees on Shenfield High St. A good show if you sit at the Costa coffee.

#essexbirding
Shenfield High Street. 2 Trees and flat roofed buildings containing hundreds of Pied Wagtails.
December 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Snow Bunting today at the Naze, just at the entrance to Stone Point.

#essexbirding
Snow Bunting
December 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Chelmsford today to have a look at the Whooper Swan in Central Park, also had a very close Chiffchaff by the river at Bond St and a Grey Wagtail over the river in town.

#essexbirding
A juvenile Whooper Swan
December 6, 2025 at 8:47 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
3 Little Egret at Weald CP today after 2 yesterday. Other highlights: 17 Shoveler, 8 Goosander, Kingfisher, Kestrel, GC & Little Grebe, GS & Grn Woodpecker, Heron, Coal Tit, 50+ Siskin flocking around the lake and a Redpoll over Fox Wood.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Black-headed Gull Little Egret perched in a tree Green Woodpecker Distant view of London across fields with the sun setting
December 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: 2 Little Egret, 7+ Goosander, 15 Shoveler, Siskin, Grn & GS Woodpecker, Buzzard, GC Grebe, Nuthatch and Redwing. After, from the garden 2 Red Kite and a Redpoll flying over.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
View along the lake with Swans and Egyptian geese feeding in the foreground. Tufted Duck Distant Red Kite perched in a tree Grey Heron
December 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: Siskin throughout the woods with a flock of at least 50 moving around the lake, 15 Shoveler, 10 Goosander, 2 Woodcock, Grn & GS Woodpecker, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Goldcrest.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
View down the lake at Weald Country Park with Swans in the foreground
November 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: 4 Goosander (2 drake), Kingfisher, Shoveler, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Grn & GS Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Red Kite and Buzzard.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
View along the main lake at Weald CP. Ducks, Gulls and Swans feeding at the edge. Drake Goosander
November 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: Woodcock, drake Teal, 6 Shoveler, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, Linnet, Siskin.

They've installed a couple of platforms onto the lake, I might've preferred if the money was spent removing fishing tackle from the trees, but still a nice spot to stand.

#essexbirding
Distant view of London across fields and passed trees. One of 2 new platforms installed on the main lake at Weald CP. Probably in part to stop the bank eroding.
November 12, 2025 at 4:56 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
50 bird species at Weald CP today, highlights: Drake Teal on the main lake, Shoveler, Gadwall, Kingfisher, Redwing, Fieldfare, Greenfinch, LBBG, Common Gull, GC Grebe, Red Kite, Buzzard, Grn & GS Woodpecker, Grey Wag, Siskin, Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, Rook and Stock Dove.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Drake Teal, with a Black-Headed Gull getting involved in the bird watching Black-headed Gull. This bird returns every winter, has a darker head than all the other BHG and is always the first into summer plumage. It spends most of every winter perched on this same post in the lake. View along a footpath of autumnal trees with leaves on the ground. A view in the forest with orange leaves covering the ground.
November 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: Red Kite, Buzzard, Grn & GS Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, Shoveler, Heron, Siskin, Goldcrest and a Little Egret.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
View down the main lake at Weald Country Park with swans Swans approaching from across the lake A Cormorant, perched with wings spread against orange leaves A Little Egret
November 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Charlie J
sh1882.bsky.social
I have personally seen teenagers walking through a park in Chelmsford with a catapult trying to, and in some cases, succeed in killing squirrels and birds.

The police went after them, but I doubt they got any real punishment. Sign the petition.

petition.parliament.uk/signatures/1...
Petition: Make it an offence to carry a catapult in public without lawful defence
Change the law so catapult possession in public is an offence. Currently, police must prove intent or use to cause harm. We propose it becomes an absolute offence, like air rifles, without lawful defe...
petition.parliament.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:05 AM
charliesj.bsky.social
A few more Meadow Pipits joining the flock today at Weald CP, at least 6 Shoveler and a Little Grebe on the lakes.

One of the BHG had a leg ring but only a single metal one I can barely read.

#essexbirding #patchbirding
Swans, Black-headed Gulls and an Egyptian goose fighting over food 5 Meadow Pipit on a fence The legs of a Black-headed Gull. A single metal ring on one leg, perhaps reads 703 A handful of fishing litter
October 28, 2025 at 8:14 PM
charliesj.bsky.social
Highlights from Weald CP today: 4 Meadow Pipit back for winter, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Kestrel, Buzzard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Stock Dove, Siskin and Linnet.

Also had a couple of showy domestic Mallards take up residence in the last few weeks, maybe Silver Appleyard?

#essexbirding #patchbirding
An autumnal view along a wooded path with the sun illuminating the trees. A view of autumnal trees and a clear sky. View across the main lake at Weald CP. A very pale domestic Mallard, possibly Silver Appleyard.
October 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM