South East Essex RSPB Wildlife Reports for August 2016
Wednesday 31st August 2016west south west, partly cloudy, max24°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:55 to 10:25
1 Ruff on creek (mostly on dry mud below saltmarsh and was very elusive), 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Wheatear, 2 Marsh Harrier singles, 10+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Swallow, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, a few Lapwing, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Egret, 1 singing Cetti's Warbler. Richard Fahey.
Southchurch Park East 08:30
1 female Teal on water opposite Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:00 to 11:30
Saline Lagoon: 1 Glossy Ibis, 2 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 12 Little Egret, 3 Common Tern. David Lee.
Tuesday 30th August 2016calm, clear, max25°c
River Roach Seal Trip, 10:00 to 13:15
22 Little Egret, 300+ Canada Geese on RSPB Wallasea Island, 2 Marsh Harrier (female on Foulness and male flew from Wallasea to Foulness), 1 Curlew, 18 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper. 46 Common Seal. Graham Mee.
EWT Blue House Farm 12:45 15: 00
1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby. Colin Knight.
Daws Heath 13:30
1 Common Buzzard low over my garden accompanied by 2 Crows. Mike Sagrott.
Leigh on Sea 16:00
Brimstone in garden. Graham Mee.
Monday 29th August 2016northerly to southerly, partly cloudy, max22°c
East Tilbury, Coalhouse Fort 09:30 to 11:05
1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, c.10 Swallow, 2 Ringed Plover, 21 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 5 Cormorant. Richard Fahey.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 09:55
1 Buzzard over garden at roof-top level. David Selley.
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 09:55
Pair of Sparrowhawk thermalling above Belfairs Woods. Kris Mee, Graham Mee.
Hamstel Road Allotments 10:30
Female Whitethroat. Mick Holland.
Wakering Stairs 10:55 to 11:55
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, over 100 Mediterranean Gull in a mixed flock on harrowed field by Stairs Road, 8 Swallow, 3 Jay, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Stock Dove, 15 Linnet. David Selley.
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 13:15
Peregrine Falcon east to west over garden. Kris Mee, Graham Mee.
Prittle Brook, Jnc. Fairfax Drive and Victoria Ave 17:00
Grey Wagtail in shallow section of brook. Dave Cooney.
Sunday 28th August 2016south westerly, mostly cloudy, max23°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:15 to 11:05
2 Snipe up from fleet, 5 Greenshank calling flying high west (1 earlier on creek, maybe same), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Whinchat near barrier, 3 Wheatear by track/horse paddock, 20+ Yellow Wagtail mostly among Cattle Coryton, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Common Whitethroat, c.5 Swallow, 11 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 12 Teal, 2 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, 10 Little Egret, 2 singing Cetti's Warbler, 12 Stock Dove Coryton, 10+ Linnet, 6 Cormorant (included 5 north), 2 Meadow Pipit. Richard Fahey.
Westcliff-on-Sea, St. George's Drive 08:25
1 Sparrowhawk distant view soaring. Jeff Kinnerman.
Barling Magna Wildlife Park 10:00 to 11:40
c.100 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 1 Whinchat, 2 Willow Warbler - both quietly singing, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Corn Bunting. 4 Common Blue, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock and many fresh and bright Red Admiral. butterflies. David Selley.
Westcliff 15:00 to 16:00
4 Common Seal on Hadleigh Ray. David Hambling.
Wakering Stairs 17:00 to 17:50
114 Ringed Plover feeding on mud by the Broomway, 2 Little Tern, c.25 Common Tern over distant tide-line, 2 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 50+ House Sparrow, 6 Linnet. David Selley.
Saturday 27th August 2016east north east, scattered clouds, max24°c
Canvey Point 09:00 to 10:00
1 Great white Egret, 2 Black Tern, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 20+ Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 100+ Ringed Plover, 5 Little Egret, 20+ Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Turnstone. Terry Blackwell.
Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury 09:25 to 10:30
1 Arctic Skua chasing "Commic" Tern (later flew south along river), 300+ Avocet, 1 Willow Warbler, c.7 Swallow. Richard Fahey.
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 09:40 to 11:05
1 Whinchat, many Goldfinch, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe. 1 Red Admiral. Colin Knight.
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:30 to 14:00
Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, 8 Herring Gull, 3 Common Tern, 40+ Shoveler, Coot, 12 Little Egret, 5 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, 5 Tufted Duck, 6 Avocet, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plover, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, numerous flocks of Goldfinch, 2 Oystercatcher, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 2 Corn Bunting (flight towards Bowers), Lesser Yellow-legs (best views from west of main scrape by container yard around 13:00), Greylag Goose, Canadian Goose, Mute Swan, Starling, Carrion Crow, Stock Dove, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Pied Wagtail. 1 male Clouded Yellow butterfly. Common Lizard (sun bathing on log). Noel Barnes.
Friday 26th August 2016variable, clear, max27°c
Westcliff-on-Sea, St. George's Drive, 05:34 to 05:38
1 Common Pipistrelle hunting over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:33 to 10:25
3 Whinchat (2 west of track and single by shrub mound), 2 Wheatear singles on dried-up lagoon and Manorway, a few Yellow Wagtail among cattle, Common Whitethroat, a few Swallow, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Lapwing, 9 Curlew, 5 Teal and 1 Shoveler off "shrub mound pond", 20 Little Egret flew east (few later maybe same), 1 Cetti's Warbler singing, 3 Little Grebe (2 immatures on "shrub mound pound" and adult on Manorway Fleet), 3 Green Woodpecker, 6 Stock Dove Coryton. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Vange Marsh 16:30 to 17:30
1 Great White Egret, 1 Glossy Ibis. Mick Roe.
Leigh on Sea 17:10
Single Swift over garden. Kris & Graham Mee.
Shoebury 17:25
1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth on buddliea. Steve Day.
Thursday 25th August 2016Variable, clear, max26°c
Great Dunmow 11:00 to 11:05
1 Common Buzzard. Rob Harris.
River Roach Seal Trip, 14:00 to 16:30
28 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatcher, 10 Redshank, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Sandwich Tern, 32 Common Seal. Graham Mee.
Wat Tyler Country Park 19:00 to 19:30
1 Water Rail, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler. Mick Roe.
Wednesday 24th August 2016southerly, clear, max33°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:23 to 10:30
1 Hobby flew west near Manorway, 2 Wheatear track/east fence, c.6 Yellow Wagtail among cattle at Coryton (a few others heard earlier), 10+ Common Whitethroat, 15+ Swallow west over Manorway Fleet, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Avocet on creek, c.8 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, 6 Little Egret flew southeast, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Stock Dove Coryton. Richard Fahey.
Westcliff-on-Sea, St. George's Drive 08:50
c.40 House Sparrow, 1 juvenile Starling feeding on insects on top of freshly trimmed Pyracantha hedge in garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Gunners Park 09:45
75-100 House Martin all swooping and landing in the tops of two trees beside the middle path to the lake. They seemed to be in a feeding frenzy for about 10/15 minutes then left. John Pitts.
EWT Gunners Park 13:30 to 14:45
Black-headed Gull, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Cormorant, 2 Swift, Magpie, 8 House Martin, 4 Swallow, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plovers, Redshank, Mute Swan + 6 juveniles, Coot, Mallard, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Blackbird. M. Hill & S. Jackson.
Tuesday 23rd August 2016south easterly, clear, max29°c
Shoebury Park 09:55
5 Egyptian Geese (one gosling seems to have a damaged Left Leg), 1 Common Tern fishing the lake. Terry Strong.
EWT Gunners Park 10:00 to 14:00
4 Spotted Flycatcher (1 in commandants field, 1 by serin pond, 1 by conifers by heritage centre, 1 by turning circle in Reserve), Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Garden Warbler (scrub by reserve), Kestrel quartering over SSSI, 30+ Willow Warbler, Coot, Crow, Mallard, Moorhen, Redshank, Swan, Starling. Andrew Armstrong.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 11:00 to 12:00
Temminck's Stint, 1, Wood Sandpiper 1, Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank 2, Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, c.12 Little Egret all on Aveley Flash. Andrew Gouldstone.
North Shoebury 11:05
1 Sparrowhawk, 6+ House Martin over garden. Terry Strong.
River Roach Seal Trip, 12:00 to 17:15
38 Little Egret, 200+ Canada Goose, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper. 42 Common Seal. Graham Mee.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:00 to 15:00
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank. Ross Gardner.
RSPB Vange Marsh 13:00 to 14:00
1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Ruff, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit. Mick Roe.
Wickford 19:00 to 19:10
150+ Herring Gull anting just south of town centre. Rob Harris.
Monday 22nd August 2016south westerly, partly cloudy, max26°c
Priory Park 07:14 to 07:15
Willow Warbler showing well singing from holly tree opposite museum. Jeff Kinnerman.
Sunday 21st August 2016Latest Wildlife News on Twitter
Stanford-Le-Hope, Abbotts Hall Chase c.07:35
1 Hobby flew east. Richard Fahey.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:00 to 10:10
1 Wheatear at track/horse paddock, c.5 Yellow Wagtail, a small, steady passage of Swallow (2 landed on track, where adult fed juvenile), 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10+ Lapwing, a few Black-tailed Godwit, c.5 Curlew, 2 Gadwall and 1 Pochard on Manorway Fleet, c.5 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 7 Stock Dove Coryton. 1 Red Admiral. Richard Fahey.
Foulness Island 14:45 to 15:15
2 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Swift, 8 Common Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, c.50 Swallow. Steve and Fran Giles.
Near Southend Airport 16:10
Hobby flew over the house flying west. Possibly the same bird we've seen flying the same route in the afternoons over the last few weeks on odd occasions. We had a really good view today though. Chris, Jackie & Mya Graham.
Saturday 20th August 2016south westerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 09:50 to 10:10
26 Swallow - continuous light passage west flying very low into a strong headwind. David Selley.
RSPB Wallasea Island 16:00 to 16:30
2 House Martin, 9 Swallow, 1 Swift, 1 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Magpie, 7 Carrion Crow, 200+ Starling, 6 Herring Gull, 7 Common Pheasant, 40+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
Foulness Island 17:15 to 17:45
2 Marsh Harrier, c.25 Lapwing, c.100 Swallow. Steve Giles.
Friday 19th August 2016south south west, mostly cloudy, max21°c
Wat Tyler Country Park 09:00
2 Egyptian Geese on scrape, 1 Water Rail showing really well, 1 Kestrel. Mick Roe.
Thursday 18th August 2016easterly, clear, max23°c
Foulness Island 07:50
Turtle Dove. Steve Giles.
Ashingdon, Brays Lane 08:00 to 08:15
70+ House Sparrow - probably many more, in hedgerow and on stubble field harvested yesterday. David Selley.
Kensington Road 10:15
3 Badgers (mum and two full grown cubs), Two cubs were looking inside my extension doors then ran off up the garden, then a third appeared the Mum and one cub came back to feed on peanuts. I was watching them from only 15ft away. There was a large burrow under my log cabin concrete base this morning. A great sight to see. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Vange Marsh 13:00 to 15:00
180+ Greylag Geese, 10 Common Tern (8 adult 2 juvenile), 22 little Egret, 10 Mute Swan, 36 Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher (2 adult 2 juvenile), 17 Little Grebe, 11 Curlew, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Heron. David Shepherd.
Wednesday 17th August 2016easterly, partly cloudy, max23°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:22 to 10:00
1 Greenshank on lagoon, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 9 Common Whitethroat, c.10 Swallow mostly going west, 15+ House Martin Coryton, c.20 Teal and 1 Shoveler on lagoon, c.10 Lapwing, 15+ Black-tailed Godwit, c.3 Curlew, c.8 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing at Manorway Fleet, 2 Green Woodpecker Manorway Fleet, 1 Sparrowhawk. Richard Fahey.
Stanford 09:15
Little Grebe (could be a pair there), pair Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard. Stuart Broomhead.
RSPB Vange Marsh 10:15 to 11:15
1 Glossy Ibis viewing screen east side, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew. Mick Roe.
Prittlewell 10:45 to 14:30
2 Blue Tit, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, 9 House Sparrow, 7 Starling, 5 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 2 Swift over. David Griffiths.
RSPB Wallasea Island 20:00 to 20:30
1 Little Owl by wood yard. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 16th August 2016easterly, partly cloudy, max22°c
Westcliff-on-Sea, Westborough Road 17:29
2 Swift flew over. Jeff Kinnerman.
Monday 15th August 2016easterly, partly cloudy, max21°c
RSPB Vange Marsh 12:00 to 13:00
20 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker. Mick Roe.
Wat Tyler Country Park 18:30 to 19:15
1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk. Mick Roe.
Witham 19:30
Harris Hawk. Pat Gilbey.
Sunday 14th August 2016variable, scattered clouds, max22°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:23 to 11:10
4 Greenshank on lagoon, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 10+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitetroat, a few Common Whitethroat, c.10 Swallow on passage, 25+ Teal on lagoon, c.9 Lapwing, a few Black-tailed Godwit on lagoon, c.5 Little Egret, 2 Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, juvenile Green Woodpecker. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:00 to 11:30
Woodpigeon, Starling, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Redshank, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Swallow, Grey Heron, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard, Little Egret, Pheasant (juvenile), House Sparrow. M. Hill & S. Jackson.
Magnolia Nature Park/Kirby Nature Area 11:45 to 13:00
House Sparrow, Starling, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Robin, Swallow, Dunnock, Mallard, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jay, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Chaffinch. M. Hill & S. Jackson.
RSPB Wallasea Island 18:45 To 19:30
3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 40+ Starling, 3 Mallard, 2 House Martin, 6 Swallow, 4 House Sparrow, 5 Linnet, 14 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtail, 5 Skylark, 100+ Canada Geese, 3 Corn Bunting, 20+ Common Pheasant, 7 Carrion Crow, 5 Magpie, 3 Mallard, 100+ Woodpigeon, 50+ Herring Gull, 70+ Black-headed Gull. 1 Red Admiral. Rob Harris.
Saturday 13th August 2016westerly, scattered clouds, max24°c
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 08:20
Speckled Wood in garden. Kris Mee, Graham Mee.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 12:20
3 Buzzard going south and calling. David Selley.
North Shoebury 13:45
European Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (volucella zonaria) in garden. Jackie Bliss.
Friday 12th August 2016south westerly, clear, max27°c
Prittle Brook, Victoria Avenue 11:03
2 adult Grey Wagtail hunting insects. 1 Red Admiral. Jeff Kinnerman.
Hockley Woods 19:40
1 Muntjac Deer. Tim Davis.
Thursday 11th August 2016westerly, scattered clouds, max23°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:33 to 10:00
6 Greenshank on lagoon, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, c.9 Whimbrel, 10+ Swallow on passage, 1 Avocet, 15 Lapwing, 140+ Black-tailed Godwit mostly on lagoon, a few Curlew, c.30 Teal, 1 Oystercatcher, c.8 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler seen at Manorway Fleet, 2 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, 2 juvenile Shelduck on lagoon, 4 Stock Dove Coryton. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:30 to 11:15
1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Skylark, 8 Carrion Crow, 4 Magpie, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Pheasant, 4 House Martin, 1 Blackbird, 3 Mallard, 19 Black-headed Gull, 34 Herring Gull. Rob Harris.
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:30 to 13:00
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 3 Curlew, 2 Little Egret, 1 Avocet. Mick Roe.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 11:45 to 13:30
4 Kestrel hunting over the farmland between the railway line and the reserve car park - at the same time, 2 Grey Heron south side of reserve in conflict over territory, 10 Mute Swan. 1 solitary Marbled White butterfly, 1 Broad Bodied Chaser. Mick Holland.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 16:00 to 17:00
1 Glossy Ibis on Purfleet Scrape, feeding and showing well. Andrew Gouldstone.
Leigh-on-Sea, Belton Gardens West 19:55 to 20:35
1 Swift. Martin Johnson.
Wednesday 10th August 2016north westerly, partly cloudy, max18°c
Foulness Island 07:00
2 Chiffchaff, Yellow Wagtail in garden. Steve Giles.
Tuesday 09th August 2016north westerly, partly cloudy, max21°c
River Roach Seal Trip, 12:30 to 18:00
12 Little Egret, 6 Greylag Goose (adult pair and young family), 28 Canada Goose, 1 male Marsh Harrier on RSPB Wallasea, 1 Peregrine Falcon on Foulness, 4 kestrel all on Wallasea (3 together), 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Tern. 32 Common Seal. Graham Mee.
Southchurch Park East 12:50
3 Coot chicks being fed by parents SW of lake. Robert Dobinson.
Westcliff-on-Sea, St. George's Drive 13:58
1 Swift flew south over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Monday 08th August 2016westerly clear, max21°c
No reports received for this day.
Sunday 07th August 2016south westerly, mostly cloudy, max27°c
Canewdon, Hyde Wood Lane 07:30 to 07:50
1 Kestrel, 20+ Swallow - several family groups on the wires with young being fed, 3 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush. David Selley.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:33 to 10:10
2 Greenshank on lagoon, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 10+ Swallow, c.7 House Martin, c.9 Common Whitethroat, 7 Avocet, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Lapwing (including a single at Coryton), 1 Curlew, 1 immature Little Grebe on creek (obvious migrant), 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Little Egret, 5 Stock Dove at Coryton. 1 Painted Lady. Richard Fahey.
Southchurch Park East 08:30 and 16:30
7 Mallard ducklings (3 days old) with their very alert Mum, c.12 Swift swooping over pond surface and feeding. Robert Dobinson.
Wakering stairs 10:00
House Martin, Pheasant, Common Crow, Whitethroat, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Blackbird, House Sparrow (few flocks), Goldfinch (flock of around 20 birds), Little Egret, Dunnock, Wren, Black-headed Gull, Kestrel, Turtle Dove (churring by observation tower, seen briefly before dropping into thicket, still churning as I left), Swift, Robin, 6 Greylag flew over West bound. Noel Barnes.
River Roach near Great Stambridge 10:00 to 11:30
4 Greenshank, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Curlew, 2 Reed Bunting. David Chivers.
Paglesham East End 11:00 to 11:30
1 Quail calling. Heard for about 10 minutes but not seen. Location was the scrubby field just inside the footpath gate at the small parking area at the end of East Hall Road, (just behind the two houses). David Selley.
Westcliff-on-Sea, St. George's Drive 13:00
6 Swift over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Saturday 06th August 2016south westerly, clear, max26°c
Westcliff-on-Sea, St.George's Drive 10:39
c.25 Swift high, screaming over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 16:03 to 16:04
1 Buzzard drifted south, 8 Swift over garden. Graham Mee.
Friday 05th August 2016westerly, scattered clouds, max26°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:45 to 10:12
1 Greenshank and 1 Green Sandpiper on lagoon, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 15+ Swallow and c.6 House Martin passed west, 15 Teal came off lagoon, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard on west fence, c.7 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker. 1 Red Admiral. Richard Fahey.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 09:50
1 Sparrowhawk on a juvenile Blackbird in the garden - I heard the squealing, expected to find a cat, but put up the Sparrowhawk who then flew off without breakfast. No feathers around so think the Blackbird got away relatively unscathed. David Selley.
Westcliff-on-Sea, St George's Drive 12:40
c.18 Swift over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:15 to 15:50
6 Skylark. 12 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 5 Common Pheasant, 25 Starling, 14 Black-headed Gull, 12 Herring Gull, 3 House Martin, 5 Swallow, 1 Swift, 3 Mallard, 70+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
Leigh-on-Sea, Tattersall Gardens 17:40
1 female Sparrowhawk perched on bird table, then plunged into large Hebe bush frequented by sparrows, outcome unknown. Martin Johnson.
Thursday 04th August 2016westerly, partly cloudy, max22°c
Priory Park 09:29
1 Swift flew south. Jeff Kinnerman.
River Roach Seal Trip, 10:00 to 14:00
9 Shelduck, 4 Avocet, 8 Curlew. 42 Common Seal. Graham Mee.
Southend, Nestuda Way 15:15
13 Swift over Tesco's car park. David Selley.
RSPB Wallasea Island 19:15 to 20:15
2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 3 Magpie, 12 Carrion Crow, 16 Herring Gull, 14 Black-headed Gull, 43 Woodpigeon, 4 Common Pheasant, 3 Mallard. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 03rd August 2016south westerly, partly cloudy, max24°c
RSPB Bowers Marsh 07:18 to 11:52
3 Stock Dove, 19+ Swallow, 1 Skylark, 6 Reed Bunting, 3 Corn Bunting, 6 Swift, 2 Kestrel (both females together, one of which circled me twice from about 10 metres away), 1 Marsh Harrier (female), 6 Lapwing, 8 Greenfinch, 200+ Coot, 3 Little Grebe (adult with 2 juveniles), 3 Redshank, 3 Little Egret, 3 Cormorant, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, c.75 Avocet, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Bearded Tit, 3 Common Tern, 8 Linnet, 2 Green Sandpiper, c.100 Starling (2 flocks), 2 Sand Martin. 1 Red Fox, 1 Northern Water Vole (viewed swimming across ditch), Common Darter, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small White (all in abundance), 1 Marbled White, 2 Red Admiral. Jeff Kinnerman.
Two Tree Island 15:00 to 16:30
7 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow, 15 Wood Pigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 12 Starling, 5 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 3 Teal, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Lapwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Redshank, 14 Mallard + 4 duckling, 30 Avocet, c.70 mixed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, c.1800 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit. 5 Comma, 4 Red Admiral, 2 Common Blue, 4 Gatekeeper. Denis Warren.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 15:52 to 18:00
1 Green Sandpiper, 15+ Swallow passed west, 300+ Black-tailed Godwit on lagoon/creek, 2 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 8 Little Egret, 2 Pochard and 1 juvenile Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Leigh-on-Sea, Belton Gardens West 20:10 to 20:35
14 Swift. Martin Johnson.
Tuesday 02nd August 2016south westerly, mostly cloudy, max22°c
Westcliff-on-Sea, St George's Drive 07:40
8 Swift over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
River Roach Seal Trip, 11:00 to 13:30
24 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier on Wallasea, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Redshank, 8 House Martin. 42 Common Seal. Graham Mee.
Southend, Avro Road 21:00
1 Hedgehog in the garden, only the 3rd sighting in 12 years here. The other two in the last two months. Max of 3x seen last week. Chris and Jackie Graham.
Monday 01st August 2016west south west, partly cloudy, max20°c
Two Tree Island West 11:00
Lagoon: 15 Avocet, 300 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Lapwing, 10 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron. Steve Wall.
Paglesham Lagoon and Farmland 13:00 to 16:00
4 Swallow, 25 Swift, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Chaffinch, c.250 Woodpigeon, 1 Lapwing, 7 Coot + 4 chicks, 4 Moorhen, 2 Shelduck + 4 juveniles, 16 Cormorant + 3 juveniles, 65 Mute Swan, 12 Pochard + 4 ducklings, 24 Mallard + 16 ducklings, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 24 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 6 Common Tern (one carrying food), 16 Tufted Duck + 12 ducklings, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Whitethroat 1 carrying food. Many Red Admiral, large White, Gatekeeper. Denis Warren.
Westcliff-on-Sea, St George's Drive 19:08
2 Swift over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.