Author | Lightnews

David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · 9d

Stone-curlew flying over my Billericay house last night. I was a bit surprised by this and did go for a second opinion, who confirmed the ID, but if anyone knows different, I would appreciate your input. Bit of a noisy recording but the calls are clear. xeno-canto.org/1048090 #essexBirding #NocMig

XC1048090 Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)

SNR 24dB (ISO/ITU) Unattended recording. High pass filter has been applied to reduce the impact of background noise.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Sep 24

Recorded the first redwings over my Essex garden last night #essexBirding #NocMig

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Sep 17

Couple of photos from Eastbrookend Country Park today - cormorant, black-headed gull and moorhen #essexBirding

First year black-headed gull with moorhen behind. Both birds sat in amongst floating leaves.

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Aug 8

Love the colours of this lapwing at #EWT #Hanningfield today. #essexBirding

Lapwing standing by the edge of the water looking left, showing green, red, white and brown colours

Lapwing standing by the water's edge, looking at the camera with head cocked

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Aug 5

Common pipistrelle #bat recorded with an #Audiomoth a few days ago. #Xeno-canto provide a version of the recording that is audible. Includes social calls, #echolocation and a feeding buzz xeno-canto.org/1026359 #field-recording #WSRS

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Jul 20

In case you need a reminder of the rain - Woodpigeon (never sure if this is one word or two; seen both used) recorded in my garden yesterday morning freesound.org/people/natur... #essexBirding #birdsong #birdcalls #rain #weather

Wood Pigeon in Light Rain by naturenotesuk

Wood pigeon calling during a period of light rainfall. This was recorded during the first significant rain in the area for some time. This was about 06:25 in the morning. In addition to the main wood...

freesound.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Jun 27

Suburban #soundscape, featuring a bush cricket (anyone know species?), magpies, wood pigeons and others. Much #birdsong in background but some much closer #essexBirding freesound.org/people/natur...

Late June Suburban Soundscape by naturenotesuk

Time period represented here is approximately 03:50 to 05:40 on 26th June, 2025. Sunrise was at 04:42. A cricket (I don't know the species, but will amend this description if I am able to determine t...

freesound.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Jun 12

Had to record the marsh #frogs at Fingringhoe yesterday, xeno-canto.org/1005865 #amphibians #essexBirding (birds in background!)

XC1005865 Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

SNR 42 dB (ISO/ITU). Frogs calling from areas of reeds in pond.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Jun 12

Sand martins at Fingringhoe yesterday, xeno-canto.org/1005866 #essexBirding #birdsong

XC1005866 Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

SNR 31 dB (ISO/ITU). Birds flying over area with ponds, meadow and farmland.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Jun 12

Lesser spotted woodpecker calling, Queens Park CP, yesterday 04:00 xeno-canto.org/1005662 #essexBirding #birdsong it's very short and quite a busy recording

XC1005662 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor)

Unattended recording. The Audacity plugin provides a rating of D/E, with SNR 18dB (ISO/ITU). This appears to be because the background is quite busy, though the call is clear. I have uprated it to C...

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Jun 4

This is a redo of a recording I made in Chestnut Wood, Hanningfield on 25/04; I have cut the worst of the aircraft noise, so this is much shorter. For me, most interesting sound is the possible female cuckoo at around 34 mins freesound.org/people/natur... #birdsong #essexBirding #dawnchorus

Chestnut Wood Dawn Chorus by naturenotesuk

Dawn chorus recorded on 25/04/2025. Time represented is from about 05:10 to 06:40, with sunrise being 05:51 on this day (all times BST). The recording has been edited to remove the worst of the aircr...

freesound.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 30

Must admit I doubted my ears at first and went for a second opinion, who confirmed the ID

David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 30

My microphone picked up a quail from my Billericay garden last night. A first for me. #essexBirding #birdsong #nocmig

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 29

Think they may be mosquito larvae, Google for an image to check.

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 25

They are all brilliant!

David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 10

Posting this as I found it interesting, though an awful recording (very windy)! xeno-canto.org/996465 goldfinch squeak call, which I had never heard before. #essexBirding #birdsong #birdcalls

XC996465 European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

SNR 19dB (ISO/ITU) Adult calling the top of a bush. One of a small group of birds.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 7

Reed bunting recorded at #RSPB Bowers Marsh. Noisy environment but this is one of my favourite songs. Recorded this morning. xeno-canto.org/995508 #essexBirding #birdsong

XC995508 Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

SNR 35dB (ISO/ITU) Bird singing from the top of a bush adjacent to a reedbed.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · May 4

Happy #dawnchorus day! Here is one I made earlier! xeno-canto.org/990820, Peninsula Wood, Hanningfield #EWT reserve 20/04/2025, 05:10 to 06:10, with sunrise at 05:51. All sounds have been left in to leave an uncut record of the hour #essexBirding #birdsong see link for species.

XC990820 Soundscape

Unattended setup in Peninsula Wood, a wooded area adjacent to the reservoir. Time period covered was 05:10 to 06:10, with sunrise being 05:51 (all BST). All sounds have been left in, including aircra...

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 27

Nice, thinking of heading that way some time. Have recorded dartford warbler at Dunwich in the past but am after a better recording

David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 27

Following a suggestion from @ss15birder.bsky.social here is a nightingale (and friends) at Canvey Wick this morning xeno-canto.org/992200 #essexBirding #birdsong

XC992200 Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

47dB (ISO/ITU) Singing from an area of bushes and small trees, hidden from view.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 25

Thanks, will read properly later

David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 25

Funnily enough, I was thinking of that. I think I saw a report from you? Thanks for the reply, will post a sound if I get there and get something

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 24

Went to The Backwarden to record nightingales. Heard a couple but not able to record, so here is just over 5 minutes of song thrush I recorded today instead! #essexBirding #birdsong xeno-canto.org/991423

XC991423 Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

SNR 55dB (ISO/ITU) Singing from the top of a tree.

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 23

#dawnchorus #EWT #Hanningfield 20/04/25 05:10 to 16:42, sunrise at 05:51. For me, most interesting sound is at 1:11:30 (over an hour in!) think there may be the bubbling call of female cuckoo. Unwanted aircraft noise has been left in #essexBirding #birdsong #soundscape xeno-canto.org/990819

XC990819 Soundscape

Unattended setup in Chestnut Wood, a wooded area adjacent to the reservoir. Time covered is 05:10 to 06:42, with sunrise being at 05:51 (all BST) with nothing removed. Aircraft and other sounds have...

xeno-canto.org

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David Bissett @naturenotesuk.bsky.social · Apr 16

Stanford Warren this am, heard my first cuckoo. Plenty of Cetti's and reed warblers, amongst others. Highlight was a non-bird, a beautiful adder #essexBirding taken with phone.

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