Birds to See in Essex in August
154 bird species on our list for Essex are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Mallard and Magpie. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Goldeneye, Northern Pintail and Wheatear and 14 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Essex’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 154 birds in August
154 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.03% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Aug
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.88% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.41% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Aug
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.12% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.06% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Aug
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.01% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.98% in Aug
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Aug
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.83% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Aug
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.69% in Aug
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.66% in Aug
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.60% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.45% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.40% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.38% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.36% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.34% in Aug
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.34% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.33% in Aug
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.31% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Aug
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.26% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.24% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Aug
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Aug
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.13% in Aug
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.12% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.11% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in Aug
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Jul–Aug · 0.08% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.08% in Aug
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Aug
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.06% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Aug
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Aug
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Aug
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturSummer visitorUncommon26–28 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.03% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraPassage migrantUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.03% in Aug
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantRare50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made