Sightings & News from Chafford Gorges Nature Park
WILDLIFE
In May and June there is a spectacular array of wild flowers which include up to 11 orchid species, kidney vetch and bladder campion. The lakes support overwintering wetland birds and summer migrants. Other habitats include chalk grassland and woodland. You can see kingfisher, sand martin, reed warbler, Cetti's warbler, siskin, redpoll and pochard. There are a variety of reptiles and amphibians alongside an array of butterflies. Grays Gorge is a SSSI which supports rare invertebrate assemblages. There are at least four different species of bats that feed over over the lakes. The old quarry tunnels are inaccessible and are winter bat roosts.
WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS FOR 2012
Tuesday 8 May 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Common tern
Reed warbler (2)
Blackcap
Grays Gorge
Jelly ear fungus
Auricularia auricularia-judae
Fox
Lion Gorge
Whitethroat
Wouldham Cliff
Swift (10)
Fox
Mill Wood
Chiffchaff
English bluebells
Greater stitchwort
Sunday 6 May 2012
Warren Gorge
Kingfisher (2)
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Green woodpecker
Fox
Thursday 3 May 2012
Warren Gorge
Jay - by Gary & Sue
Kingfisher
Whitethroat
Reed warbler
Grey heron - by John Attiwell
Cormorant
Woodpigeon
Canada goose
Swift
Little egret
Collared dove
House martin - by Tajinder Lachhar
Lion Gorge
Herring gull - by John Attiwell
Swift
Blackcap - by Tajinder lachhar
Slow worm - by Peter Davis
Wednesday 2 May 2012
Warren Gorge - by Tajinder Lachhar
Song thrush
House martin
Swift
Grays Gorge by Adam Taylor
Bird's nest orchid
Common spotted orchid
Common twayblade
Round leaved wintergreen orchid
Tuesday 1 May 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Song thrush
House martin
Swift
Sunday 30 April 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Lion Gorge
Kestrel
Warren Gorge
Swift
Thursday 26 April 2012 - by John Attiwell
Warren Gorge
Blue tit
Wren
Chaffinch
Great tit
Green woodpecker
Great spotted woodpecker
Swift
Goldfinch
Grey heron
Little egret
Coot
Greylag goose
Stock dove
Woodpigeon
Collared dove
Reed warbler
Chiffchaff
Whitethroat
House sparrow
Herring gull
Song thrush
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion crow
Great crested grebe
Grey wagtail
Mute swan
Wouldham Cliff
Dunnock
Blackbird
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Wren
Lion Gorge
Coot
Jay
Carrion crow
Chiffchaff
Garden warbler
Cormorant
Jackdaw
Robin
Magpie
Blue tit
Woodpigeon
Grey heron
Mallard
Long tailed tit
Great tit
Black headed gull
Herring gull
Tuesday 24 April 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Cormorant
Lion Gorge South
Long tailed tit
Saturday 21 April 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
House martin
Chiffchaff
House sparrow
Friday 20 April 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Chiffchaff
Thursday 19 April 2012
Warren Gorge
House martin - by John Attiwell
Grey heron
Cormorant
Chaffinch
Magpie
Collared dove
Coot
Moorhen
Great tit
Mute swan
Greylag
Canada goose
House sparrow
Feral pigeon
Little egret - by Tajinder Lachhar & John Attiwell
Chiffchaff
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Warren Gorge
Greylag
Magpie
Kingfisher
Woodpigeon
Crow
Coot
Wren
Blue tit
Great tit
Robin
Canada goose
Little grebe
Great crested grebe
Mallard duck
Jay
Moorhen
Blackcap
Tufted duck
Green woodpecker
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Cormorant
Willow warbler
Chiffchaff
Tuesday 17 April 2012 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Mute Swan
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Kingfisher
Water Rail
Teal
Gadwall
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Coot
Moorhen
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Lion Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Coot
Moorhen
Tufted Duck
Grays Gorge
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Robin
Wren
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Green Woodpecker
G S Woodpecker
Stock Dove
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Canada Goose
Sparrowhawk
Mill Wood
Blackcap
Sunday 15 April 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Chiffchaff
Saturday 14 April 2012
Warren Gorge
Grey wagtail
Kingfisher
Green woodpecker
Great crested grebe
Thursday 12 April 2012 - by John Attiwell
Warren Gorge
Speckled wood butterfly
House martin
Cormorant
Jay
Mute swan
Moorhen
Coot
Chaffinch
Feral pigeon
Lion Gorge
Mallard duck
Blackbird
Wednesday 11 April 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Chiffchaff
Saturday 7 April 2012 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Collared Dove
Wood Pigeon
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Coot
Moorhen
Kingfisher
G C Grebe
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Teal
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Cormorant
Lion Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Green Woodpecker
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Coot
Tufted Duck
Grays Gorge
Green Woodpecker
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Monday 26 March 2012 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Kingfisher
Tufted Duck
Mallard
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Cormorant
Coot
Moorhen
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Collared Dove
Tuesday 20 March 2012 by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Comma butterfly
Small white butterfly
Grays Gorge
Brimstone butterfly
Comma butterfly
Mill Wood
Small tortoiseshell
Tuesday 13 March 2012 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Reed Bunting
Chiffchaff
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Kingfisher
Teal
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Mallard
Mute swan - by Other
Heron
Cormorant
Wood pigeon
Collared dove
Magpie
Jay
Goldfinch
House sparrow
Starling
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Carrion crow
Mill Wood
Robin
Dunnock
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Blackcap
Monday 5 March 2013 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Linnet
Greenfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Jay
Sparrowhawk
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Shoveler
Pochard
G C Grebe
Little Grebe
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Grey Heron
Cormorant
Lion Gorge
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Blackbird
Greenfinch
Jay
Tufted Duck
Coot
Mallard
Grays Gorge
Green Woodpecker
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Jay
Sunday 4 March 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Sparrowhawk
Wednesday 29 February 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Great crested grebe
Great spotted woodpecker
Shoveler
Friday 24 February 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Long tailed tit
Kingfisher
Saturday 18 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Sparrowhawk
Long tailed tit
Friday 17 February 2012 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Magpie
Collared Dove
Lion Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Chaffinch
Magpie
Jay
Coot
Moorhen
Little Grebe
Tufted Duck
Mallard
Kestrel
Grays Gorge
Lesser Redpoll
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Chaffinch
Jay
Sparrowhawk
Mallard
Thursday 16 February 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Goldfinch
Green woodpecker
Black headed gull
Great spotted woodpecker
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Sparrowhawk
Common snipe
Redpoll
Heron
Redwing
Saturday 11 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Heron
Friday 10 February 2012 - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Fieldfare
Redwing
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Grey Heron
Bittern
Curlew
Lapwing
Greylag Goose
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Lion Gorge
Song Thrush
Redwing
Fieldfare
Blackbird
Lesser Redpoll
Blue Tit
Sparrowhawk
Little Grebe
Coot
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Mute Swan
Grays Gorge
Robin
Wren
Blackbird
Redwing
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Wood Pigeon
Jay
Sparrowhawk
Thursday 9 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Long tailed tit
Wednesday 8 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Great spotted woodpecker
Jay
Magpie
Collared dove
Long tailed tit
Blue tit
Great tit
House sparrow
Sparrowhawk
Tuesday 7 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Mallard duck
Black bird
Blue tit
Greylag
Tufted duck
Green woodpecker
Saturday 4 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Kingfisher
Redwing
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Warren Gorge
Song thrush
Tuesday 31 January 2012 - by Tajinder Lachhar
Warren Gorge
Shoveler
Coot
Heron
Black headed gull
Great crested grebe
Greylag
Tufted duck
Dunnock
Moorhen
Mute swan
Mallard duck
Redwing
Common gull
Lion Gorge
Song thrush
Cormorant
Tufted duck
Mallard duck
Coot
Goldfinch
Jay
Redwing
Grays Gorge
Jay
Redwing
Great spotted woodpecker
Mill Wood/ London View
Redwing
Friday 28 January 2012
Warren Gorge
Long tailed tit
House sparrow
Tuesday 24 January - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Redwing
House Sparrow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
G S Woodpecker
Chaffinch
Stock Dove
Kingfisher
Coot
Moorhen
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Mute Swan
G C Grebe
Mallard
Shoveler
Gadwall
Tufted Duck
Grey Heron
Cormorant
Lion Gorge
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Coot
Tufted Duck
Grays Gorge
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Green Woodpecker
G S Woodpecker
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Mill Wood
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Robin
Dunnock
Thursday 19 January 2012
Warren Gorge
Siskin
Kingfisher
Tufted duck
Grey heron
Cormorant
Dunnock
Sparrowhawk
Green woodpecker
Long tailed tit
Shoveler
Coot
Moorhen
Great tit
Blue tit
Black headed gull
Robin
Blackbird
House sparrow
Wood pigeon
Collared dove
Mute swan
Canada goose
Greylag goose
Carrion crow
Goldcrest
Fieldfare
Redwing
Magpie
Saturday 7 January - by Ruth Barnes
Warren Gorge
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Magpie
G C Grebe
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Moorhen
Coot
Cormorant
Lion Gorge
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
G S Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Coot
Tufted Duck
Grays Gorge
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Redwing
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Stock Dove
G S Woodpecker
Chaffinch
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Sparrowhawk
Mill Wood
Redwing
Blue Tit
Great Tit
G S Woodpecker
Chaffinch
Blackcap
House Sparrow