Birds to See in Essex in October
162 bird species on our list for Essex are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, European Robin and Black-headed Gull. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Goldeneye and Common Merganser and 13 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
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 162 birds in October
162 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.49% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 1.14% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Oct
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.69% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.51% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.44% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.44% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.42% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.41% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.38% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.36% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.25% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.24% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.18% in Oct
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.17% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Oct
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.13% in Oct
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Oct
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.10% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.09% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraPassage migrantUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.05% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Oct
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.04% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.03% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.02% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantRare50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
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