Naze Protection Society information appeal

The NPS need your reports and sightings from the Naze.

The Naze needs urgent protection from erosion caused by the sea and the Naze Protection Society are asking members to submit statements detailing bird sightings along with mammals, insects and flora. Statements can be sent to Mike Cooke at dogandwabbit@aol.com

                                                                Please click here for further information.

This video can be found on our YouTube channel here: Birds of Essex Feb 21 Review

EBwS 2021 Rookery Survey. A Citizen Science Project

I had a shock last week on returning home from a walk past my local Rookery.  Twenty seven nests remained of the sixty three active nests I found there on 23 March in 2020.  

The importance of the Rookery Survey we launched in our YouTube, 'End of Year Birds of Essex Review' became ever more pertinent.  And affords something we can do wherever we are within the county - during an exercise walk, run, cycle or an essential drive. Read more..

Details of how to access the virtual talk will be posted here nearer the time.

Birdwatching and the Police

Following a recent incident at Wat Tyler where a member was warned about birdwatching by Police another of our members wrote to the Police Fire and Crime Commisioner (PFCC) to clarify the situation regarding birdwatching. Here is the reply he received:

The Health Protection Act regulations that apply to the current lockdown does not include birdwatching as a reasonable excuse for a person to leave their home. Whilst walking is considered as exercise frequently stopping to view birds would make this activity a recreation as opposed to exercise.

I am aware that angling has been declared an exercise but I am unaware that the same has been done for birdwatching. 

Sam Shippey - 20th September 1933 to 1st December 2020

by Howard Vaughan

On Tuesday night - I lost my third Granddad.  I was fortunate to grow up with a full suite of Grandparents all of whom lived to a ripe old age, so to inherit another one was one of those rare bonuses that life throws your way.

I suspect I knew Sam for something like 35 years starting from early visits to Dagenham Chase when I was under the wing of Ken Barrett and then through my fervent 1990s birding scene when I was also asked to become art editor for the Essex Bird Watching Society.  Sam, like me, was one of the artistic contributors and I remember asking him for specific pieces to put into the publications. Read more...