United Kingdom Ramsar wetland
Blackwater Estuary
193 bird species recorded; the most in January, in April and in October.
Frank Shepherd · CC BY-SA 2.0
This month here
139 species in January.125 species in February.128 species in March.140 species in April.119 species in May.109 species in June.122 species in July.124 species in August.130 species in September.143 species in October.125 species in November.125 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NTNT
NT
NT
NTNTNTNT
NTNTNTNTNTNTNT- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
193 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 193Speciesrecorded more than once
- 83Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 9ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 48,343Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 10Raptors
- 4Owls
- 32Waders
- 20Gulls & seabirds
- 30Ducks & geese
- 12Herons, ibises & grebes
- 66Songbirds
- 19Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 193 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors10 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Little OwlAthene noctua
Waders32 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisVU
Gulls & seabirds20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- RazorbillAlca torda
Ducks & geese30 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Velvet scoterMelanitta fuscaVU
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- White-cheeked PintailAnas bahamensis
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
Herons, ibises & grebes12 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
Songbirds66 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Great titParus major
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minor
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
Other birds19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- CootFulica atra
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- European SwiftApus apus
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in January, in April and in October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan7°/3°61 mm
- Feb7°/2°51 mm
- Mar10°/3°48 mm
- Apr13°/5°38 mm
- May16°/8°51 mm
- Jun19°/12°55 mm
- Jul22°/14°58 mm
- Aug22°/14°63 mm
- Sep19°/11°44 mm
- Oct15°/9°72 mm
- Nov11°/6°71 mm
- Dec8°/3°69 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Blackwater Estuary.
Estuary in Essex, England
Blackwater Estuary is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United Kingdom.
193 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 48,343 open records.
The most recorded are the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Common Wood Pigeon and the Black-headed Gull.
31 species come for the summer, 51 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
9 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Common Pochard and European Turtle Dove.
The most species are recorded in January, in April and in October.
Get there and watch
- Osea Leisure Parkcampsite · 1.5 km · 11 within 10 km
- The Captain's Houseplace to stay · 1.9 km · 95 within 10 km
- Maylandnearest town · 4.9 km in a straight line
- London Southend Airport (SEN)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 17 km in a straight lineCar hire at STN airport (London, Essex)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 1bird hides within 6 km
- 4marked trails within 4 kmSt Peter's Way, King Charles III England Coast Path: Maldon to Salcott, King Charles III England Coast Path: Burnham-on-Crouch to Maldon and 1 more
- 1visitor centres within 6 kmTourist Information
- 12car parks within 3 km
- 7restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 11campsites within 10 kmOsea Leisure Park, Mill Beach Caravan Park, Barrow Marsh Caravan Park and 8 more
- 95places to stay within 10 kmThe Captain's House, Anchor Guest House, Borough Arms and 92 more
- observation towers within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Blackwater Estuary.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Darkskyas1 dark-sky places within 30 kmSouthend Central MuseumBortle 7 · 20 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Blackwater Estuary
United Kingdom
- 80Birdyas Score
- 193Species
- 83Migrants
- 9Threatened
Abberton Reservoir
United Kingdom · 14 km
- 88Birdyas Score
- 261Species
- 122Migrants
- 14Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q4923541) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 48,343 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Islandyas, Darkskyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
Find your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit 
lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit 
mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit