iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Tonight! >>> www.youtube.com/live/lVNERuQ... Please follow and support >>> saveouressexswifts.weebly.com www.facebook.com/groups/80184... Please contact via saveouressexswifts@gmail.com if you would like some free Swift nestboxes and a call system to install. #EssexBirding

youtube.com

Swift Conservation

YouTube video by Essex Birdwatching Society

070

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Swifts need our help! There has been a 70% decline in the Swift population in the UK since 1995. Please follow and support. saveouressexswifts.weebly.com www.facebook.com/groups/80184... @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

074

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

074

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/06/06/r... www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/n... We all need to be vigilant for any wildlife crime when we are out and about. At least PC Jed Raven is the Wildlife Crime Officer investigating 😊

raptorpersecutionuk.org

Raven shot in Essex: Police appeal for information

Press release from Essex Police (4 June 2026): COLCHESTER: APPEAL AFTER RAVEN SHOT IN SUSPECTED WILDLIFE CRIME We are appealing for information after a raven was shot dead in West Bergholt. It was …

131

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

What an excellent "garden tick" even if it was a "heard only" recording 😊

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Yes, well done to Neil and everyone else involved. I wrote a section of the systematic list too plus I grabbed the front cover of the mega-rarity that was the Northern Waterthrush 😊 Just saying for transparency 😂 #essexbirding

050

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

No problem Mel. Not everyone “does” social media and there are lots of reasons not to, especially given some of the dubious content (to put it mildly). However, thank you for your support. I hope that you are keeping the hordes well-behaved at the Kingfisher hub at RSPB Rye Meads!

100

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I have set up a “Save our Essex Swifts!” Facebook group. www.facebook.com/groups/80184... I want to raise awareness of this declining species and any initiatives and projects in Essex. If you are interested in following progress, follow the link above and click on “join group” 😊 #essexbirding

2125

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Supporting cast at RSPB Canvey Wick yesterday …. Cetti’s Warbler x 5 singing males Common Buzzard 2 Green Woodpecker 2 Mediterranean Gull 4 Shelduck 2 Grey Heron 1 Red Fox 1 Peacock 4 Orange Tip 3 Brimstone 2

051

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Excellent visit to RSPB Canvey Wick yesterday. Nightingale - 12 singing males, 2 seen including a very showy bird that didn’t get the “must skulk” memo Common Whitethroat - 7 singing males Willow Warbler - 1 calling bird Chiffchaff - 15+ singing males Blackcap - 15+ singing males #essexbirds

051

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Visit to St. Nicholas Church local patch site yesterday. New for 2026 site list: Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron. Also Common Buzzard, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, pair of Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker and a very watchful Red Fox! ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/04/visi... #essexbirding

0110

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Short item on sound tracking Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on BBC Breakfast this morning. Go to 2:27: 25 >>> www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... Follows this talk on LSWs provided to the Essex Birdwatching Society on 9th January 2026 >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=erl5... #essexbirding

061

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I remember seeing that bird 😊 My only UK record.

000

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I have had a "reticent" Blackcap too 🤣 but, as you say, Chiffchaffs are singing loudly everywhere now.

020

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Visit to St. Nicholas Church Laindon local patch yesterday. Blackcap pair, 2 singing Chiffchaffs, calling male Stock Dove, 2 Green and 2 G/S Woodpeckers ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi... #essexbirding

042

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Visit to St. Nicholas Church patch yesterday. New for 2026 site list: Common Buzzard pair, Stock Dove pair, 2 Canada Goose, Pied Wagtail. Also 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Green and 1 G/S Woodpecker, Red Fox and Reeves’ Muntjac ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi... #essexbirding

0101

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Visit to my Noak Bridge Nature Reserve local patch yesterday. First site record for the year of a singing male Chiffchaff. I guess they hunkered down today in yet more wonderful spring weather (not). ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi... #essexbirding

0100

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

After my first (early!) Blackcap of the spring on 25th February, my St. Nicholas Church local patch has now produced my first singing Chiffchaffs (3), year site record of Cormorant (3), very active GSWs (pair) and still c.5 Redwings. ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2026/03/visi... #essexbirding

051

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Visit to St. Nicholas Church local patch site in Laindon yesterday. Stonechat (50th species for 2025 and 70th all time), Common Buzzard, Grey Heron, Goldcrest, Redwing, Green and G/S Woodpeckers, Reeves’ Muntjac #essexbirding ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/10/visi...

0110

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

"Rooks having own Conference Season" 🤣🤣 .... and I bet their Leader's speech made sense 🤣

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

St. Nicholas Church local patch site. Very quiet for birds this summer but exceptional for butterflies. But today, my first site record of Red Kite! Plus Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Muntjac ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/08/visi... #essexbirding

0110

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Hi Joe. I have received your new book which I have just started reading. After reading the excellent "Bird Therapy" and meeting you at Birdfair a few years ago, I am very much looking forward this latest book from you.

000

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

RSPB Vange Marshes, RSPB Bowers Marsh and RSPB Wallasea Island featured in this video >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6KG... #essexbirding

youtube.com

Landscapes of the future - how we're helping wetlands withstand the climate crisis | RSPB

YouTube video by RSPB

070

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Well, that's an amazing "first"! A very difficult bird to hear let alone see!

110

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Today is International Dawn Chorus Day. I set my alarm for stupid o’clock and left home at 4 a.m. for a walk around my St. Nicholas Church local patch site. 13 species recorded, most notably the usual male Lesser Whitethroat plus at least 8 singing males of both Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

My first 5 Swifts of the year "screaming" past Basildon railway station at 12:00 whilst waiting for my delayed train. I wouldn't have seen them if the train had been on time. Thank you c2c! #essexbirding

1120

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Visit to my St. Nicholas Church local patch yesterday. Lesser Whitethroat, 5 each of Chiffchaff/Blackcap, Green and G/S Woodpecker plus first Wall, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Peacock, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood of the year at the site. ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/04/visi... #essexbirding

0130

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

www.edp24.co.uk/news/2511306... …. 40+ year old Oystercatchers! This further demonstrates the value of ringing (such as that undertaken regularly by x.com/SouthEssexRG) and projects such as Nightingale tracking supported and sponsored by @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding

edp24.co.uk

Record breaking bird found in Norfolk

One of the oldest Oystercatcher bird recorded in the UK was found in Norfolk earlier this year.

071

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Lovely! I knew one of them would step forward to the microphone 🤣 About the time you were recording this, I was listening to a constantly singing male at Westleton Heath and managed to get a brief view. Plenty of other birds singing too including Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Yellowhammer 😊

110

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

It is always exciting when you get a "lifer" 😊 I have seen Dotterel several times in the UK but not since 2019 so if I get to see these birds it will almost be a "lifer" re-visited!

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Red-necked Phalaropes too 😊

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Link to my report in my previous post. Good luck!

020

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Hi David. If you can, get yourself down to RSPB Canvey Wick. The Nightingales will be falling over themselves to get in front of the microphone 🤣 11 singing males on Wednesday plus loads of other singing summer migrants ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/04/trip...

ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com

Trip away from SS15 – RSPB Canvey Wick, Canvey Island, Essex – 22nd April 2025

A blog to provide records of wildlife sightings and photographs from sites in the SS15 postcode area of Basildon in Essex.

110

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

…. 5 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Marsh Harrier, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Green Woodpecker plus loads of common residents 2/2 #essexbirding ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/04/trip...

091

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Superb spring/summer migrant festival at RSPB Canvey Wick yesterday: 1 Cuckoo, 11 Nightingale, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 22 Common Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Swallow plus >>> 1/2 #essexbirding

071

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Very quiet visit to my St. Nicholas Church local patch this morning but singing male Lesser Whitethroat again seen after first record on BCBW Sunday plus 7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, Sparrowhawk, Green and “drumming” G/S Woodpecker. ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/04/visi... #essexbirding

090

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

So if I can get Garden Warbler on a walk to Asda, I wonder what a trip to Waitrose would produce 🤣

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Butterfly season has also arrived at Noak Bridge NR …. 2 each of Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Small White #essexbirding

0173

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Visit to my Noak Bridge NR local patch yesterday. 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 1 each G/S and Green Woodpecker, 1 Stock Dove, Moorhen pair plus 4 juveniles ss15wildlifewatching.blogspot.com/2025/04/visi... #essexbirding 1/2

0111

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Even a short walk to Asda has its birding opportunities 😊 My first Garden Warbler of the year. Unfortunately, I didn’t see it but the much more rapid and continuous song compared to Blackcap was diagnostic …. and Merlin agreed 😊 #essexbirding

180

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/... At least in Essex we have a lot of knowledgeable and experienced birders 😊 …. unless someone wants to quietly share that they have “penguin” on their Essex list 🤣🤣 #essexbirding

yorkshirepost.co.uk

Coastguard called after ‘penguin’ spotted on Yorkshire beach

A coastguard team leapt in to action after reports from concerned members of the public that a 'penguin' had turned up on a beach in Yorkshire.

191

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Well done Matt! I have never cracked a hirundine shot other than those that politely pose in non-flight.

010

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

This reminds me of going to watch football many years ago 🤣

020

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I agree .... but this is Matt we are talking about 🤣

020

Richard Chew @ss15birder.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

I found this too .... the local House Sparrows became a figment of my imagination when they heard about the EWT survey 🤣 It must be so good to have your own nesting Swallows 😊

010