To help celebrate the arrival of the migratory birds that spend winter on the Essex coast, Bird Aware Essex is inviting Tendring residents to get involved in the Great Coastal Birdwatch 2023, which takes place from 14 to 29 October.
This is the first year the project is being delivered in Essex along our coast and estuaries. It will provide valuable data on the birds that spend winter here and will help raise awareness of the wealth of bird life on our doorsteps. The Great Coastal Birdwatch will give residents the opportunity to become citizen scientists whilst alerting them to the issues coastal species are facing.
It's very easy to take part. All that is needed is to record the birds observed whilst spending an hour on the Essex Coast and submitting findings on the Bird Aware Essex website. Residents and visitors can do this by themselves or by attending one of the Coastal Ranger pop-up events.
More information including helpful bird identification guides, recording forms, activities, and advice on how not to disturb wildlife are available on the Bird Aware Essex website.
Leanne Brisland, Project Manager at Bird Aware Essex, said: “The Great Coastal Birdwatch is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get involved helping monitor our local shorebirds and we hope people taking part will be inspired to become more aware of the birds that use the area.”
She added: “The Essex coast plays a special role supporting internationally important numbers of birds over winter, and our aim is to reduce disturbance from coastal recreation, encouraging everyone to give these birds the space they need to feed and rest whilst here.”
The birdwatch is timed to coincide with the arrival of migratory birds which return every winter to the area and similar projects are also taking place on the Solent and Kent coasts.
Starting Saturday 14th October, the Bird Aware Coastal Rangers will be out and about with their pop-up stall and will be on hand with telescopes and bird guides to help identify the birds, and to chat about the ways to be more bird aware and reduce disturbance to our coastal feathered friends.
Dates and locations for the bird aware pop-up stall are as follows:
Tuesday 24th October, 10am to 3pm at Western Promenade, Brightlingsea CO7 0HH
Wednesday 25th October, 2pm to 4pm at Shoebury East Beach, Shoeburyness SS3 9AD
Thursday 26th October, 10am to 3pm at Essex Wildlife Trust Thameside Nature Park
Friday 27th October, 10am to 12pm at Dovercourt Bay Beach, Dovercourt CO12 3SS
Friday 27th October, 2pm to 4pm at The Walls, Mistley Walls, Manningtree CO11 1ET
Saturday 28th October, 10am to 3pm The Naze Discovery Centre, Walton on the Naze CO14 8LE
Councillor Mark Stephenson, Leader of Tendring District Council, encouraged residents to take part in the event.
“We are extremely proud of Tendring and delighted to be included in The Great Coastal Birdwatch this year", said Cllr Stephenson.
"Tendring has an impressive range of estuaries designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a dynamic coastline with award winning beaches, which host a vast variety of sea and coastal birds.
“This is an excellent opportunity for residents and visitors to increase their knowledge of the coastal birds in our local area whilst helping to contribute valuable data and learn how to protect our coastal wildlife.”
