Covid-19 Lockdown : Part 1 Doggetts Pits

So this post relates mostly to the Covid-19 Lockdown and how this affected the ability go birding and engage with nature.

I had cancelled trips to Israel in March and Fair Isle at the end of May as a result of the virus outbreak so I was not in a happy state.

Having to work from home this gave me the opportunity to make daily visits for the next couple of months to Doggetts Pits, aka Doggetts Wildlife Area, as this is only a short walk from my front door. Being an inland site I was not expecting a great deal from here and I was largely correct in this respect but I did see the change from winter species through the early migrants arriving to breeding birds. Numbers of Blackcaps went from 1 to a peak of around 20 in a day and here is where I saw most early migrants.

Due to the lockdown fishermen were banned which was a blessing for both visiting and the wildlife present, sadly though both this suffered once the first stage lockdown restrictions were lifted and fishermen descended on the place en-mass and it was suddenly an unpleasant place to visit. Rubbish everywhere and I even witness some younger fishermen throwing a bag of rubbish over the hedge and into the farmers field.

The highlight from the visits to Doggetts Pits and Doggetts Farm were the long staying male Ring Ouzel I found by the farm, it lingered 2 weeks, a flock of over hundred Redwings, Mistle Thrushes, Muntjacs, Cetti’s Warblers and the vocal and showy Sedge Warblers.

Other than this birding was limited to the garden and I had a total of three Red Kites over the garden and numerous Common Buzzards, plus Hobby, Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and Peregrines but it at times was hard work to stay motivated.

Once restrictions started to be lifted I was able to venture just a little further, Canvey, Hockley Woods, Lower Raypits, Wakering Stairs, Fleet Head etc and a few extra things were seen; such as Black-necked Grebe, Nightingales, Whooper Swans, Short-eared Owls, Ravens, Spoonbill, Turtle Doves, Little Ringed Plovers and the like but the best of the spring period was missed and nothing made up the loss of not getting onto Fair Isle for the second consecutive spring. I would have had around six Fair Isle ticks had I managed to get there when planned.

The following are extended set of images from the lockdown period from end of March through to early June but I really need a proper trip away somewhere, and soon.

Doggetts Pits and Doggetts Lane / Farm

Part 2 : Garden and elsewhere