Birds to See in Essex in September
164 bird species on our list for Essex are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, European Robin, Black-headed Gull and Magpie. New this month: Brent Goose, Rock Pipit, Eurasian Siskin and Black-necked Grebe and 12 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
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 164 birds in September
164 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Sep
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.45% in Sep
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Sep
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Sep
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Sep
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Sep
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.68% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.44% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Sep
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Sep
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Sep
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Sep
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.81% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.80% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Sep
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Sep
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.61% in Sep
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.55% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.53% in Sep
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.49% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.44% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPassage migrantCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.39% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.37% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.32% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.32% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.31% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Sep
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.28% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.27% in Sep
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.22% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.21% in Sep
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorCommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.20% in Sep
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Sep
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusSummer visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.13% in Sep
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.09% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.07% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.07% in Sep
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraPassage migrantUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Sep
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Sep
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentRare13–14 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantRare50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.02% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantRare30–38 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisWinter visitorUncommon69–81 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.01% in Sep
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisWinter visitorRare12–13 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantRare10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentRare50–71 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.01% in Sep
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Sep
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