South East Essex RSPB Latest Reports for August 2014
Sunday 31st August 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max20°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:03 to 11:55
2 Whinchat mobile between near "lagoon" and by reed bed near north bank, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellow Wagtail flew east, 2 Sand Martin, a steady passage of House Martin and Swallow, 15+ Whitethroat, 70+ Teal on creek, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker near old bungalow, 1 Sparrowhawk, c.8 Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:00 to 11:45
255 Canada Goose - birds around the whole perimeter of one of the new lagoons behind the conveyer, 1 Mute Swan, 21 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 3 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage, 11 Swallow, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, mixed flock of about 20 each of House Sparrow and Linnet. David Selley.
Abberton Reservoir 16:00 to 17:30
16 Great Crested Grebe, 40 Lapwing, 200+ Tufted Duck, 20+ Swallow, 250+ Pochard, 300+ Mallard, 20+ Swallow, 100+ Greylag Geese, 1 Swan Goose, 100+ Canada Geese, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 7 Swift, 200+ Herring Gull, 5 Common Tern, 300+ Coot, 100+ Cormorant, 60+ Mute Swan. 7 Moorhen, 60+ Woodpigeon, 50+ Carrion Crow, 12 Pied Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 30+ Starling, 1 Great White Egret, 16 Little Egret, 8 Grey Heron, 12 Gadwall, 5 Pintail. 3 Hybrid Duck, 3 Hybrid Geese. Rob Harris.
Rochford 17:20 to 17:45
1 Buzzard very high going south, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swift. Seen while watching anting gull flock from station car park. David Selley.
Hanningfield Reservoir 19:00 to 19:30
4 Great Crested Grebe, 100+ Greylag Geese, 80+ Canada Geese, 100+ Cormorant, 200+ Coot, 17 Mute Swan, 200+ Mallard, 2 Magpie, 200+ Pochard, 200+ Tufted, 4 Greater Black-backed Gull, 80+ Black-headed Gull, 160+ Herring Gull, 13 Carrion Crow, 2 Pied Wagtail 30+ Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove. 2 White Hybrid Duck. Rob Harris.
Wat Tyler Country Park 19:15
1 Water Rail squeaking and showing well below main hide. Mick Roe.
Woodham Ferrers. Edwin's Hall Road 20:00 to 20:05
1 Little Owl. Rob Harris.
Saturday 30th August 2014south westerly, partly cloudy, max20°c
Rochford 07:20 to 08:00
c.80 House Martin over town centre. At least two nests still have young showing although most of the second brood seem to have now fledged. David Selley.
River Roach Seal Trip Aboard the Discovery 12:00 to 14:00
16 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck, 1 Peregrine Falcon flew over Crouch towards Blue House Farm. 32 Common Seal, 1 Grey Seal. Web Author.
RSPB Wallasea Island 19:00 to 19:30
1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Redshank, 6 Bar-Tailed Godwit, 1 Common Crow, 12 Mallard, 3 Herring Gull, 6 Black-HHeaded Gull. Rob Harris.
Paglesham East Hall Road 19:45 to 20:00
2 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 1 Moorhen, 2 Blackbird, 3 Rabbit. Rob Harris.
Friday 29th August 2014south westerly, partly cloudy, max21°c
Two Tree Island 09:00 to 13:00
Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch. Kevin Taylor.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:08 to 11:35
1 Whinchat and 2 Wheatear between pillbox and horse paddock, 3 Green Sandpiper, a very small passage of Sand Martin, c.8 Swift passed through, a small passage of House Martin and Swallow, a few Whitethroat, 45+ Teal on creek, 3 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, c.7 Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Manorway Fleet, 1 Black-tailed Godwit. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 09:40 to 16:00
2 Swift, 1 Swallow, many Sand Martin, many flocks of Starling, (mostly juveniles), few Pochard (1 female with 5 ducklings), few Shoveler, c.10 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank, many Little Egret, many Grey Heron, 1 Ruff, 1 Avocet, c.40 Lapwing, several Teal and Mallard, 1 Barn Owl (bird asleep at box entrance), 1 Peregrine Falcon made several sorties over Wennington Marsh, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Hobby. On feeders: House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit. 3 Common Lizard, 3 Marsh Frog. David & Brenda Hale.
Thursday 28th August 2014south westerly, partly cloudy, max23°c
RSPB Rainham Marshes 10:00 to 13:00
1 juvenile Black Tern, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Ruff, Swift, 4 Little Egret, 1 Avocet, c.15 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 juvenile Little Ringed Plover. Andrew Gouldstone.
Southend, Cromwell Road 13:00
Pair of Goldcrest on the mealworm feeder tray long enough for me to get my bins and have a good 30 seconds watching them. Delightful! Phil Lusher.
Wickford 15:00 to 17:00
6 Collared Dove, c.30 Starling, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, c.30 House Sparrow in garden. Our Sparrow numbers are going up each year, thanks to access they have found into a neighbours loft and our constant supply of feed. The three compartment nest box I had under the eves of our house for a few years was completely ignored by these birds. Cosier in the loft I guess. David Hale.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 15:00 to 18:00
1 Swift, 5 Sand Martin and light passage of Swallow South and West all afternoon. David Selley.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 15:15 to 15:40
1 Little Egret, 3 Pied Wagtail, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Magpie, 12 Woodpigeon, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 150+ Mallard, 140+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 150+ Coot, 100+ Cormorant, 100+ Herring Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Greylag Geese, 80+ Canada Geese. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 27th August 2014easterly, partly cloudy, max19°c
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 07:45 to 10:30
Female Common Redstart just past the gate past the redhills, a lot of Sand Martin and Swallow flying over. David Davies.
Sutton Place, Sutton Road 11:51
1 Buzzard. June Ford.
EWT Warley Place 12:15 to 15:15
3 Nuthatch, many Great Tit, few Blue Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, c.20 Jackdaw, 1 Jay, few Chaffinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Robin, 2 Moorhen, 1 Magpie, 1 Green Woodpecker. 1 Speckled Wood Butterfly, 1 Brown Rat, 1 Bank Vole. David & Brenda Hale.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:38 to 15:45
Large "white" Gull on other side of creek with gull flock near Canvey barrier seen from viewing mound (looking at it in scope, I noticed silvery grey or white back but the primaries were definitely white with no black. Alongside a Lesser Black-backed Gull, looked same size but I think the bill looked smaller and, at that distance and height in strong wind, I couldn't see what I wanted to see. Probably Iceland Gull which is very unlikely now or crossed with Herring Gull, 1 female Marsh Harrier flying towards refinery, 2 Common Sandpiper at creek, 1 drake Wigeon on Manorway Fleet, 13 Sand Martin flying east, a few House Martin and Swallow, 1 Whitethroat at Coryton, 2 Avocet at Holehaven Creek, 4 Black-tailed Godwit on creek, 32 Teal on Holehaven Creek, 2 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, 10 Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Manorway Fleet, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Pheasant that looked like juveniles flew up from behind shrub towards ditch. Richard Fahey.
Abberton Reservoir 14:00 to 15:20
16 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Lapwing, 200+ Tufted Duck, 250+ Pochard, 300+ Mallard, 20+ Swallow, 100+ Greylag Geese, 1 Swan Goose, 100+ Canada Geese, 1 Kingfisher, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 200+ Herring Gull, 5 Common Tern, 200+ Coot, 100+ Cormorant, 30+ Mute Swan. 2 Moorhen, 60+ Woodpigeon, 9 Magpie, 50+ Carrion Crow, 9 Pied Wagtail, 20+ Starling, 1 Great White Egret, 16 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Hybrid Geese. Rob Harris.
RSPB Vange Marsh 14:30 to 17:00
14 Greenshank, 35 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 8 Mute Swan (5 juvenile), 150 Lapwing, large numbers of Canada and Greylag Geese. 2 Common Lizard on a broken post. David Shepherd.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 16:00 to 16:20
1 Osprey, 14 Great Crested Grebe, 100+ Greylag Geese, 120 Canada Geese, 120+ Cormorant, 200+ Coot, 12 Mute Swan, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Pochard, 200+ Tufted, 250+ Black-headed Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 160+ Herring Gull, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Hybrid Duck. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 26th August 2014north easterly, rain, max16°c
Southend, North Avenue 09;45
Female Kestrel in the back Garden and then on back fence. S. Jackson.
Southend, Cromwell Road 10:00 to 18:00
Flock of about 30 juvenile House Sparrow are now resident in the back garden (a product of the 7 nest boxes I put under the eaves at the back of the house last year). These little chaps are the pride of my wife and she feeds them 3-4 times a day. Shows how easy it is to help their number increase. Phil Lusher.
Canvey Point 15:30 to 16:30
12 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Black Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, 12 Common Tern, 7 Little Egret, 20 Ringed Plover, 4 Grey Plover (full summer plumage), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (full summer plumage), 30+ Redshank, 5 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone, 8 Curlew, 20+ Oystercatcher, 6 Swallow. Terry Blackwell.
Monday 25th August 2014south south easterly, drizzle, max17°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 07:30 to 07:40
250+ Swallow going south-east in a single loose flock ahead of rain. David Selley.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:50 to 14:15
7 Great Crested Grebe, 26 Cormorant, 17 Mute Swan, 4 Moorhen, 7 Domestic Goose, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Pochard, 200+ Tufted, 100+ Coot, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 50+ Swift, 300+ Swallow, 200+ House Martin, 4 Pied Wagtail, 9 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie. 2 White Hybrid Duck. Rob Harris.
Sunday 24th August 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max19°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:45 to 12:00
7 Whinchat between track and thicket 3 of which later found by Peter Worland by thicket, 1 Common Buzzard north of marshes going west while mobbed by crows, 1 female Marsh Harrier briefly alighted on small tree/bush west of ditch, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail heard calling overhead, 2 Sand Martin among a fairly strong passage of House Martin, 15+ Common Whitethroat, 1 Water Rail heard at Manorway Fleet but Peter Worland earlier saw one cross path here, 1 Cetti's Warbler seen well in bush singing at Manorway Fleet where a few others were singing to each other, 10+ Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Lapwing on creek, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, c.10 Little Egret, 1 Teal on creek. Richard Fahey.
Canvey Point 09:00 to 11:00
Many Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, many Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, good numbers of Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 6 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, Swallow. Kevin Taylor.
Paglesham Eastend 09:45 to 11:30
16 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 30 Swallow, 4 Reed Warbler, 80+ House Sparrow on stubble field edge by boatyard, 12 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting. 2 Common Lizard. 4 Red Admiral, 2 Gatekeeper, 1 Common Blue and 4 Holly Blue butterflies. David Selley.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 13:15 to 14:10
House Sparrow, Starling, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, 15 House Martin, Herring Gull, 20 Swallow, Robin, Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Mute Swan with 5 juveniles, Mallard, Turnstone, Moorhen, 5 Little Grebe, Blackbird, Green Woodpecker, Dunnock. S. Jackson.
RSPB Wallasea Island 18:20 to 18:50
50+ Woodpigeon, 9 Carrion Crow, 5 Magpie, 12 Herring Gull, 7 Black-headed Gull, 14 Redshank, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50+ Canada Geese 2 Swallow. Rob Harris.
Hornchurch 19:00
Hummingbird Moth feeding on phlox in garden. Roy Fynn.
Paglesham East Hall Road 19:00 to 19:15
1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Wheatear, 7 Woodpigeon, 3 Carrion Crow. Rob Harris.
Saturday 23rd August 2014westerly, scattered clouds, max19°c
Hanningfield Reservoir 09:00 to 14:30
Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Swift, Common Tern, Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch. Kevin Taylor.
Thurrock, Thameside Nature Park 09:50 to 11:00
1 Common Buzzard flying west north of reserve, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Common Tern 1 calling flying south, a few Sand Martin passed through, 1 Swallow, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 1 Avocet, 1 Black-tailed Godwit. Richard Fahey.
Southend Airport, 12:00 to 13:15
5 Swift, 50+ Swallow passing through with 1 Spitfire, 1 Hurricane and 2 Lancaster. Wonderful!. Kris Mee, Web Author.
Foreshore, East of QE2 Bridge 15:00 and 16:00
2 Grey Seal basking on mud and another swimming off West Thurrock Power station. Also on 22nd. Paul Jeffries.
Billericay, Mayflower School 16:45
4 Green Woodpecker (1 female and 3 juveniles feeding again on football field). Marion Burch.
RSPB Wallasea Island 18:30 to 19:00
1 little Egret, 1 Moorhen, 4 Shelduck, 5 Carrion Crow, 1 Magpie, 9 Woodpigeon. Probable Wood Warbler (mobile flying out to catch flies Small bird yellow breast, eye stripe, slender beak, vivid yellow front). Rob Harris.
Prittlewell, Derek Gardens 19:00
3 Swift. David Selley.
Friday 22nd August 2014westerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
EWT Fingringhoe Wick 09:10 to 16:30
6 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 female Tufted Duck with 2 tiny ducklings, 1 Dunnock, 3 Greenfinch, few Swallow, many Sand Martin, 7 Greenshank, 100s Redshank, c.200 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Turnstone, c.20 Curlew, c.50 Avocet, 18 Little Egret, 4 juvenile Shelduck, c.10 Common Tern, c.50 Grey Plover, c.50 Cormorant, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed, many Black-headed Gull, few Lapwing, 1 Stock Dove. 1 Common Seal, few Speckled Wood Butterflies, few Large White Butterflies, 1 Ruddy Darter, many Southern Hawker and many other unidentified Dragonflies. David & Brenda Hale.
EWT Abberton Reservoir 16:45 to 18:00
Many Sand Martin, 2 Green Sandpiper, 25 Ruff, 6 Grey Heron, 15 Little Egret, few Lapwing, large Linnet flock, many Pied Wagtail, 1 Sparrowhawk, many Gadwall, many Pochard, c.100 Rook, 21 Mute Swan, 4 Wigeon, many Tufted Duck and& Mallard. David & Brenda Hale.
Thursday 21st August 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max19°c
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 12:30 to 12:50
100+ Tufted Duck, 150+ Pochard, 2 female Red Crested Pochard, 150+ Mallard, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Mute Swan, 3 Magpie, 80+ Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 60+ Herring Gull, 7 Common Crow, 5 Collared Dove, 23 Woodpigeon, 17 Cormorant. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 20th August 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max19°c
Vange 07:20
Great Spotted Woodpecker on peanut feeder. Mick Roe.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:45 to 12:00
1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, a few Yellow Wagtail passed through, a small but fairly steady passage of House Martin, a few Whitethroat, 1 Kingfisher off sluice by creek, 1 juvenile Peregrine Falcon chasing a Stock Dove south over thicket, 1 adult Little Grebe close to edge of creek (suppose another migrant), 100+ Black-tailed Godwit all but 1 on Holehaven Creek, 5 Lapwing, 1 juvenile Green Woodpecker below seawall, c.10 Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Manorway Fleet, Sparrowhawk singles over seawall and Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Tuesday 19th August 2014west north west, scattered clouds, max20°c
Canewdon, Hyde Wood Lane 07:20 to 07:45
35 Swallow, 1 Swift feeding with the Swallows, 1 Green Woodpecker. 1 Brown Hare. David Selley.
EWT Hanningfield Reservoir 10:00 to 16:00
1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Buzzard, c.50 Blue Tit (large woodland flock), 1 Robin, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, 14 Teal, 2 female Wigeon, 10 Great Crested Grebe, c.30 Common Tern, few Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, c.50 Tufted Duck, many Mallard, 100+ Cormorant, few, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, 1 Stock Dove, several Mute Swan, few Coot, few Moorhen. 1 Swift, few Swallow, 100s House Martin, Sand Martin in amongst them, 100s Canada Geese, many Greylag Geese. 1 Fox, 1 Muntjac Deer, 1 Speckled Wood Butterfly. David & Brenda Hale.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:30 to 15:05
2 Whinchat behind horse paddock, 1 female/juvenile Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler heard in shrub by track near horse paddock (maybe a local bird), 1 Chiffchaff seen and heard going into Elderberry shrub by old bungalow near horse paddock, 1 tatty immature Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Reed Warbler in small thicket by track, a few Whitethroat, 1 Swallow, a small passage of House Martin, 10+ Black-tailed Godwit on creek, 1 Lapwing, Water Rail heard at Manorway Fleet, a few Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 adult Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:00 to 14:30
1 little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Magpie, 7 Carrion Crow, 9 Herring Gull, 14 Black-headed Gull, 150+ Woodpigeon, 15 Starling, 2 Swallow. Rob Harris.
Canewdon, Canewdon Road 14:40 to 14:45
1 Common Buzzard. Rob Harris.
South Ockendon 18:00
Juvenile Cuckoo feeding on grubs in garden. Mark & Jim.
Monday 18th August 2014westerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:10 to 15:00
14 Linnet, 20+ Corn Bunting, 3 Reed Bunting, 16 House Sparrow, 3 Swallow, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Blackbird, 7 Common Crow, 3 Magpie, 50+ Woodpigeon, 20+ Stock Dove, 50+ Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Canada Geese. Rob Harris.
Wat Tyler Country Park 14:35 to 16:30
1 Bearded Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, c.50 Sand Martin, c.50 House Martin, c.200 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 6 Mute Swan, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 7 Little Grebe, 1 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, few Mallard, c.30 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Gadwall, 45 Lapwing, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, several small Starling flocks. David & Brenda Hale.
Sunday 17th August 2014westerly, mostly cloudy, max20°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:20 to 11:55
1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Sand Martin passed through Coryton, 2 Swallow, a few House Martin, 80+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Lapwing on creek, 1 immature Little Grebe on creek close to sluice (very unusual on here now, and I think it must be a Dutch bird), 3 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, a few Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Coryton, 1 Water Rail heard at ditch by path, back of Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Two Tree Island East 20:00 to 20:40
168 Little Egret (annual roost count). Mark Bridges.
Saturday 16th August 2014westerly, scattered clouds, max21°c
EWT Blue House Farm 10:30 to 19:00
2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 female Marsh Harrier, c.12 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Blue Tit, many Swallow, (small groups flying west throughout the day), 1 Sand Martin, few House Martin, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 female Garganey, 6 juvenile Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, c.20 Mallard, 5 Little Grebe, c.60 Lapwing, c.50 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Stock Dove, 6 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 6 Mute Swan, 14 Moorhen, many Coot, 100+ Rook, 1 Jackdaw, few Carrion Crow. 1 Brown Hare, 3 Common Lizard, 5 Slow Worm. 6 Gatekeeper, 1 Clouded Yellow, few Small White Butterfly. Of interest, 2 Lancaster Bombers, low on other side of River Crouch & seen to land in distance. David & Brenda Hale. (see my own photographs of these two last mentioned 'special birds' at: http://goo.gl/4rja4C. Ed.).
Great Horkesley, North Essex 10:45
Red Kite seen soaring high on thermals. Distinct and graceful with outstretched wings and forked tail. Observed for ten minutes soaring higher and higher and not flapping its wings once before disappearing northeast towards Boxted and Langham. Colin James.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:45 to 15:25
Wheatear singles seen briefly near near pillbox but were very shy, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 chestnut male Wigeon on Manorway Fleet, 1 Teal, a few House Martin passed through, a few Whitethroat, 8 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, a few Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Manorway Fleet, 1 Green Woodpecker, c.9 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Lapwing on creek. Richard Fahey.
Friday 15th August 2014northerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:15 to 12:00
4 Whinchat by tract, 1 Wheatear on and around pillbox, 1 Green Sandpiper, a few House Martin passed through, 1 Peregrine Falcon flew towards and circled over refinery, 1 Water Rail heard at close range at ditch by path, back of Manorway Fleet, 12 Black-tailed Godwit and a few Curlew on creek, a few Whitethroat, c.7 Little Egret, a few Cetti's Warbler heard at Manorway Fleet, 7 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Canvey Point 13:30 to 14:30
60+ Common tern, 13 Sandwich Tern, 90+ Ringed Plover, 47 Grey Plover, 10 Dunlin, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Little Egret, 500+ Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 7 Cormorant. Terry Blackwell.
Thursday 14th August 2014south westerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 10:00 to 10:10
2 Buzzard over together. David Selley.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:45
1 juvenile Cuckoo, 1 Marsh Harrier, 50 Canada Geese, 7 Mute Swan, 1 grey Heron, large number of Coot. David Lee.
RSPB Vange Marsh 13:00 to 15:30
3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 5 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 14 Redshank, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Curlew, 12 Graylag Geese, 5 Cormorant, 150+ Lapwing, 1 Common Tern, House Martin, Swallow. David Shepherd.
Canvey Point 13:10 to 13:30
2 Little Tern, 18 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 100+ Ringed Plover, 35 Grey Plover, 15 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 2 Curlew, 200+ Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret. Terry Blackwell.
Mayflower School, Billericay 14:30
1 female and 3 juvenile Green Woodpecker feeding on football pitch. Marion Burch.
Wakering Stairs 17:35 to 18:15
1 Cormorant, 4 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, c.400 Oystercatcher, 36 Redshank, 10 Ringed Plover, 175 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 12 Turnstone, c.1800 Black-headed Gull, 19 Herring Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Little Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Swift, 7 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow. David Selley.
EWT Blue House Farm 18:30 20:45
1 Wheatear, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe, Swallow, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Barn Owl. Hilary and Colin Knight.
Wednesday 13th August 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max22°c
Rayleigh, Ferndale Road 17:45 to 18:00
10+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Nuthatch (first in 40+ years birdwatching in Rayleigh!). Robin Peppiatt.
Tuesday 12th August 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max21°c
Wakering, Mill Barn Fishery 10:00
Pair of Kestrel flying above the lake for some time, many Reed Warbler, good view of a male Cuckoo, two pairs of Tufted Duck, s skein of 10 Canada Geese flew over. Stoat running up and down the far bank. Phil Lusher.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:45 to 15:10
1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Swallow and 10+ House Martin passed through, 1 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Monday 11th August 2014south westerly, scattered clouds, max21°c
EWT Two Tree Island 11:00 to 16:00
Sightings from slipway and scrape hide: c.500 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Avocet, c.100 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, c.12 Curlew, 1 Snipe, c.12 Grey Plover, c.25 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 20 Lapwing, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Heron, c.50 Little Egret, 9 Canada Geese, few Cormorant, c.20 Common Tern, 1 Swift, c.1000 Starling, 4 female Teal, 1 female Mallard, 1 female Gadwall, 2 Common Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, many Black-headed Gull, many Herring Gull, many Lesser Black-backed Gull. David & Brenda Hale.
Sunday 10th August 2014southerly to westerly, scattered clouds, max22°c
RSPB Rainham Marshes 09:30 to 10:30
1 Spotted Crake still showing at back of Aveley Flash, view from northern boardwalk, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Garganey - all on Aveley Flash, 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plover on Purfleet scrape, 1 immature Marsh Harrier. Andrew Gouldstone.
Wakering Stairs 10:00 to 12:00
150+ Swift in groups of about 15-20 going low south-west into the wind and rain during WeBS count. David Selley.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:45 to 15:25
2 Yellow-legged Gull on lagoon with large flock of gulls, Hobby earlier and later at Manorway Fleet (this second bird then flew north where it almost landed on pylon but hovered a few times at a low height before flying west. I have very rarely seen Hobby hovering but there was nothing about it to make me think it was a Red-footed Falcon), 2 Common Sandpiper on walls by barrier at high tide, 2 Sand Martin, a few House Martin and 10+ Swift passed through, 1 Teal, Gadwall and Pochard at Manorway Fleet, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pied Woodpecker at Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Saturday 09th August 2014south westerly, scattered clouds, max23°c
River Roach Discovery Charters Seal Trip 10:00 to 12:30
37 Little Egret, 18 Shelduck, 1 male Marsh Harrier on Wallasea, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Common Tern, 8 Swallow. Kris Mee, Web Author.
Thurrock, Thameside Nature Park 10:25 to 11:30
c.9 Whimbrel, 3 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret. Richard Fahey.
Bradwell Marina 12:00 to 13:00
Many Swallow visiting nest sights under fuel pier, few Black-headed Gull, few Herring Gull, 2 Jackdaw, 4 Pied Wagtail. Many large Grey Mullet, 100's of Fry, (presumed Mullet, but unsure) many small Shrimp, 1 Sand Eel. 1 small 4 inch Jellyfish. David & Brenda Hale.
Friday 08th August 2014easterly, mostly cloudy, max22°c
Langdon NR, Dunton 11:15 to 11:55
1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 juvenile Willow Warbler. Richard Fahey.
Thursday 07th August 2014westerly to easterly, partly cloudy, max25°c
Two Tree Island 13:30 to 16:45
6 Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 16 Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 13 Reed Warbler, 20+ Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Tern, 8 Curlew, 3 Little Egret. 2 Water Voles. Aston Phillips.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 16:00 to 16:20
2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Lapwing, 1 Pied Wagtail, 12 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 40+ Woodpigeon, 1 Common Tern, 20+ Great Crested Grebe, 250+ Mallard, 140+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 250+ Coot, 4 Moorhen, 60+ Cormorant, 250+ Herring Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Greater Black-backed Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 250+ Greylag Geese, 250+ Canada Geese. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 06th August 2014southerly to westerly, partly cloudy, max25°c
EWT Warley Place 10:45 to 14:45
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Long-tailed Tit, many Great and Blue Tit, 4 Coal Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 2 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 4 Nuthatch, 4 Moorhen. David & Brenda Hale.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 11:00 to 14:00
1 Spotted Crake back of Aveley Flash, elusive but can show well with patience - view from northern boardwalk, 1 eclipse drake Garganey on Purfleet scrape, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Little-ringed Plover, 8 Snipe, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, Bearded Tit. Andrew Gouldstone.
Hanningfield Reservoir 11:30 to 12:30
5 Magpie, 12 Carrion Crow, 250+ Mallard, 250+ Tufted Duck, 300+ Coot, 200+ Pochard, 1 Little Grebe, 160+ Greylag Geese, 100+ Canada Geese, 14 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Common Tern, 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 5 Moorhen, 12 Lapwing, 100+ Mute Swan, 8 Domestic Geese, 2 Blackbird, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Robin, 30+ Woodpigeon, 7 Collared Dove, 3 Red Crested Pochard, 1 Egyptian Goose. Rob Harris.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:40 to 15:40
1 Spotted Flycatcher at Manorway Fleet, 2 Yellow-legged Gull on creek, 1 Wheatear on pillbox, 1 Willow Warbler in thicket by track, 50+ Black-tailed Godwit, a few Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Coryton, 2 Gadwall and 1 Pochard on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Leigh-on-Sea, Tattersall Gardens 19:55
1 Hobby flying north over rear gardens below rooftop height. Martin Johnson.
Tuesday 05th August 2014south south westerly, clear, max24°c
No reports received for this day.
Monday 04th August 2014south westerly, clear, max24°c
Canvey Point 08:15 to 09:15
12 Little Egret, 12 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern, 100+ Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 20+ Redshank, 5 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 20 Oystercatcher, 12 Turnstone, 12 Cormorant, 3 Lapwing, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Swallow. Terry Blackwell.
Benfleet, Canvey Way 08:30
1 Spoonbill flying over towards RSPB Bowers Marsh. Richard Gray.
Vange 15:30
1 Greenfinch and 2 Goldfinch on feeders. Mick Roe.
Sunday 03rd August 2014south westerly, partly cloudy, max24°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:05 to 11:25
1 Wheatear on fence behind pillbox, 1 Snipe up from fleet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper on creek, c.3 Whimbrel on creek, c.7 Little Egret, 3 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Woodpecker. Richard Fahey.
Paglesham Eastend 10:00 to 11:40
1 Little Egret, 6 Mallard, 1 Turtle Dove calling east of boatyard, 2 Stock Dove, 18 Swallow, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Linnet. David Selley.
Canewdon 11:50
1 Buzzard low over Lambourne Hall Farm. David Selley.
Chelmsford, Hoe Mill Lock 15:45
2 Spotted Flycatcher - adult feeding juvenile in garden 100 metres from hoe mill lock. First I have seen in years. John Spencer.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 18:30 to 19:00
2 Magpie, 5 Carrion Crow, 150+ Mallard, 160+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Coot, Pochard, 40+ Greylag Geese, 50+ Canada Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 7 Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Foulness Island 18:30 to 19:30
2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 3 Green Woodpecker, c.30 House Martin, up to 1000 Swallow feeding over corn fields, 14 Grey Heron and c.40 Little Egret flying over roost. Steve & Fran Giles.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 20:00
10 Swift at 20:00 but there has been a steady trickle South all afternoon. David Selley.
Saturday 02nd August 2014south westerly, partly cloudy, max24°c
Canewdon to Ashingdon 07:15 to 08:00
70+ Swallow. Many family groups on overhead wires - the local birds seem to have had a much better breeding season than last year. David Selley.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 14:00 to 14:20
200+ Mallard, 200+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 30+ Canada Geese, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Magpie, 9 Carrion Crow, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island 19:45 to 20:30
20+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 250+ Black-headed Gull, 200+ Herring Gull, 5 Mallard, 1 Curlew, 25 Ringed Plover, 12 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret, 7 Magpie, 16 Carrion Crow, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Blackbird, 2 Corn Bunting. Rob Harris.
Paglesham East Hall Road 20:35 to 20:45
1 female Pheasant on point duty with 10 young chicks. Rob Harris.
Friday 01st August 2014southerly, partly cloudy, max24°c
Chelmsford Town Centre 10:30 to 10:50
Peregrine Falcon hunting along high street bridge along the river and perching on scaffold on Burger King office tower. (resident pair in Chelmsford now?). Ieuan Reed.
EWT Hanningfield Reservoir 11:15 to 16:30
1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Common Sandpiper, 12 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egret, c.20 Common Tern plus many juveniles, c.100 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, several Lesser Black-backed Gull (few juveniles), 2 Swallow, a flock of tits working through woods together comprising: 1 Coal Tit, many Long-tailed Tit, many Blue and Great Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c.10 Great Crested Grebe, 100s Tufted Duck, 15 Red Crested Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, c.100 Canada Geese, c.50 Greylag Geese, 100s Coot, few Moorhen. 2 Muntjac Deer together on island, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Gatekeeper Butterflies. David & Brenda Hale.
North Fambridge 15:00 to 15:30
1 Little Egret, 3 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Collared Dove, 30+ Woodpigeon, 2 Blackbird, 7 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 60+ Herring Gull, 1 Pied Wagtail. 3 Barn Owl on BHF nest Webcam. Rob Harris.
Two Tree Island East 16:00 to 16:30
c.45 Little Egret on sewage lagoon and in trees, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Lapwing, 1 Grey Wagtail also on the lagoon, c.30 Goldfinch in the field adjacent to the hide, huge flock of Curlew in the air over the river. Peter Bowden.