Essex Birdwatching Society

Congratulations to Diane, the winner of our recent Winter Bird Photography Competition, pictured here with her prize. Entry to the spring competition is now open, for full details visit ebws.org.uk/index.php/phot… @EssexBirdNews #ebwsphotos

The EBwS Spring 2026 Bird Photography Competition is open for entries. Send us your best 3 photos taken between 1/3/26-16/5/26 to have a chance of winning! Rules and how to enter at ebws.org.uk/index.php/phot… Good luck! @EssexBirdNews

Congratulations to Diane Butcher for winning the @EssexBirdNews Winter Bird Photography Competition with this stunning capture of a Goldcrest. Thanks to everyone who took part - you can view all of the entries by clicking here: youtu.be/OG-uHPmy2ec?si…

This month's Birds of Essex is on Friday 27th at 7:30pm, with the usual roundup of birding news, sightings & photos from across the county. Login to join the chat, and share your birding videos, photos or stories at ebwstalks@gmail.com youtube.com/live/cJfCXTpLk… @EssexBirdNews

It's the FINAL of the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition! Here are the entries - please choose your winner photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/e7ZJadAxKg3 Results will be announced LIVE during Birds of Essex on Youtube this Friday from 7:30pm

It's the semi-finals of the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition! Here are the entries in the 2nd - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/NPgxedDqQZ2

It's the semi-finals of the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition! Here are the entries in the 1st - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/NMnQNJ3zMg6

It's voting time in the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals! Here are the entries in the 4th - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/xVg71v2Lryr

It's voting time in the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals! Here are the entries in the 3rd - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/40Zm40XLAga

It's voting time in the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals! Here are the entries in the 2nd - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/X3nkPbk8EgE

It's voting time in the @EssexBirdNews Winter 2025-26 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals! Here are the entries in the 1st - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/GPgVYWlv8na

WIN GREAT RAFFLE PRIZES in the @EssexBirdNews 2026 Conference in March, see the full list at ebws.org.uk/2026conference All proceeds go to Colchester Owl Rescue - buy your tickets by email at info.ebws@gmail.com, at our Holkham field trip on 15/2, or at our Chelmsford meeting on 6/3

Taking place on Anglia Ruskin Uni’s Chelmsford campus, our 2026 conference is just a few minutes’ walk from the train & bus station, & also has convenient free parking. Finding out about Essex’s key birds couldn’t be easier! More info & book your place at ebws.org.uk/2026conference

Tonight's online talk is going to be a cracker, as Dr Rob Williams talks about Hummingbirds of the World! With lots of superb photographs and interesting information it's definitely worth tuning in to watch at youtube.com/live/g9ioCPrp_… @EssexBirdNews

Thanks to everyone who attended the joint Winter Birding Day at Fingringhoe Wick with @essexbirdnews Grotty weather but we saw 2 BARN OWLS, HEN HARRIER, waders galore, RB MERGANSERS + lots more! Group pic by @stuttonsparrows #ukbirds #birds #birding #WorldWetlandsDay2026

At just £28, including lunch, our full day conference, in Chelmsford provides great value, with six fascinating presentations about the status of the key birds of Essex, and 12 conservation displays to browse. More info and registration: ebws.org.uk/2026conference

If you haven't done so already, please can you submit your 2025 Essex bird records/sightings by 31st January - more details at ebws.org.uk/index.php/2025… @EssexBirdNews

Prominent Dutch biologist Bart Ebbinge & Essex farmer Andrew St Joseph will talk about Brent Geese at the EBwS conference in March. With 50yrs experience, Bart's led many research projects & was chair of the IUCN-SSC Goose Specialist Group. Book tickets at ebws.org.uk/2026conference

Don't forget to watch tomorrow night's 'Birds of Essex' LIVE on YouTube, and send your 2026 pics, your most surprising missed species so far, and any birding 'selfies' you may have from the past to: ebwstalks@gmail.com Watch the show at youtube.com/live/M1cfbA4G5… @EssexBirdNews #BoE

Really enjoyable @EssexBirdNews field trip to Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday with over 50sp. seen by the group in total inc Kingfisher, Common Snipe, Kestrel, Yellow-legged Gull and more. Thanks to @SwallowBirding and all of the other leaders, and to everyone who came along.