Boost to bird numbers after reserve restoration

An increase in bird populations following restoration work carried out at a nature reserve in Essex is "a very positive sign", a wildlife charity has said.

Essex Wildlife Trust has released the results of its annual breeding bird survey.

It revealed there had been a record number of black-headed gulls spotted at Blue House Farm nature reserve in North Fambridge, and an increased number of Mediterranean gulls and shovelers.

Stuart Brooker, the trust's senior conservation ecologist, said the survey meant conservationists could identify "which species need our help".

"So to see birds responding well on reserves that have had restoration projects over the past few years is a very positive sign," he added.

Blue House Farm recently benefited from a large wetland project.

This year, 879 black-headed gulls were spotted across Essex and 586 of these were recorded at Blue House Farm.

In 2023, 411 of them were recorded in the county, 177 of which were at the North Fambridge site.

The gulls are on an amber list of species, which are of moderate conservation concern.

However, mistle thrush, turtle dove and yellowhammer have all seen their numbers fall after the first and second year of surveying, and the number is yet to recover.

Species recorded for the first time this year include goldeneye at Thameside Nature Discovery Park, grey wagtail at Aubrey Buxton nature reserve near Stansted Mountfitchet, ruddy shelduck at Blue House Farm, and short-eared owl at Lower Raypits nature reserve near Rochford.

In the four years since its monitoring programme began, the charity has recorded 123 species in total.

But there was not enough data to determine full trends around bird population, a spokesperson added.

• 1 (4) Black-headed gull (879)
• 2 (2) Woodpigeon (792)
• 3 (1) Blue tit (679)
• 4 (3) Wren (616)
• 5 (5) Robin (511)
• 6 (6) Starling (473)
• 7 (8) Chiffchaff (456)
• 8 (7) Blackcap (449)
• 9 (15) Mallard (339)
• 10 (10) Blackbird (337)

Previous list position appears in brackets

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.