Bird Reports for December 2003
Wednesday 31st December 2003
Friars Park, Shoebury 11:10 - 11:45: 6 Redwing 1 Fieldfare, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush. Web Author.
River Roach 14:15: 2000+ Brent Geese flew from Potton Island on to the River. Web Author.
Tuesday 30th December 2003
Hampton Barns - Paglesham Lagoon: 10.00 - 13.00: 1 Black Swan (on the Lagoon), 93 Gadwall, 1 Pintail (drake), 4 Red-Breasted Merganser (2 drakes), 11 Great-Crested Grebe, 10 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 54 Avocet, 500 Dunlin, c.35 Black-Tailed Godwit, 5 Bar-Tailed Godwit, 3 Green Woodpecker, 12 Meadow Pipit, 1 Fieldfare, 20 Yellowhammer (seen again around the couple of acres of stubble near Barton Hall). Steve Sanford.
Roper's farm, 14:00 to 15:00: 25 Goldeneye (5 drakes), 2 Black-necked Grebe (2 possibles seen at a distance in the gloom.), 6 Little Egret, 2 Avocet. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 14:10 to 14:50: 6 Mediterranean Gull (2nd adults, 2 2nd winters and 2 adults including a metal rung bird), 1 Shag (offshore ), 2 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Friars Park, Shoebury: 1 Waxwing in bushes to the left of the children's play area. Lee Ebbs.
Two Tree Island (NNR side): 1 Barn Owl hunting over scrub within 100 yard radius of EWT hut. Stephen Burt.
Monday 29th December 2003
Westcliff Seafront 15:00-16:00: 210+ Sanderling (174 counted along shore plus approx 40 flying east). Observed between Three Shells area and Chalkwell Station, but mostly along Westcliff stretch. Ross Gardner.
Sunday 28th December 2003
East Tilbury 09.00 - 12.00: 1 first-winter male Marsh Harrier; 390 Avocet; 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Stint, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, at least 5 Brambling, 2 Lapland Bunting. David Jobbins.
Brandy Hole / South Fambridge 09.50 - 11.35: 365 Brent Goose, 73 Widgeon, 3 Little Egret, 6 Grey Plover, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Curlew, 6 Reed Bunting, 3 Fieldfare, 38 Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe. Ray Fuller.
Hullbridge, 10:30 to 10:40: 44 Mute Swan (also 2 Black Swan), 2 Little Grebe. Paul Baker (SOG).
Brandy Hole, 10:50 to 11:50: 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 14 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Corn Bunting, 5 Reed Bunting, 1 Skylark. Paul Baker (SOG).
Hampton Barns to Paglesham Lagoon 11.00 - 14.00: 159 Shoveler, 4 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 68 Avocet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 21 Yellowhammer. Steve Sanford.
Fleet Head (by scout hut) 12.00 - 13.00: 2 Little Stint. Andrew Bridge & Lee Ebbs.
Rochford Golf Course, 12:00 to 15:45: 1 Siskin, 1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 12:30 to 13:30: 1 Lesser Redpoll (feeding in trees and bushes along stream), 2 Woodcock, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
Saturday 27th December 2003
Southend High School, 12:10 to 12:15: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult on playing fields). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Barling Rubbish Tip, 12:30 to 15:00: 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 2nd summer), 1 Black-headed Gull (leucistic). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Roper's Farm (road only) 13:45 - 15:00: 2 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 2 (pair) Stonechat. Web Author.
Two Tree Island 14:30: 1 Slavonian Grebe reported. B Maher.
Friday 26th December 2003
Southchurch Hall Park 09:30: 1 drake Mandarin Duck, 1 Grey Heron. Web Author.
Westcliff Seafront, 11:35 to 11:50: 1 Ring-billed Gull (the adult again present sat on its favourite lamp post by Rossi), 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 2nd winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southchurch Park West, 12:00 to 12:15: 1 Mediterranean Gull (The annually returning adult to the park was seen in the high tide gull roost). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wallasea Island, 13:00 to 13:15: 550 Golden Plover (a large flock was disturbed by a presumed wildfowler), 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow, Brian Baldock (SOG).
Barton Hall /Paglesham Lagoon: c.20 Yellowhammer. River Roach: 48 Mute Swan, 43 Avocet. Paglesham Lagoon: 2 Pintail (1 drake), Goldeneye, approx 100 Shoveler and 100 Gadwall (Too many people around disturbing the birds for any sort of count). Steve Sanford.
Thursday 25th December 2003
River Crouch - South Woodham Ferrers: 2 Black Swan. Ray Holden.
Wednesday 24th December 2003
Two Tree Island 09:30 - 12:00: 1 Short-eared Owl hunting over EWT reserve. 2 Shoveler on pond in EWT and another 12 on the lagoon at the western end. 4 Little Grebe in the creek by the slipway. David Lee.
Gunners Park, Shoebury 10.45 - 11:15: 14 Great Crested Grebe off shore, 5 Chaffinch. Web Author.
Wakering Old Tip 12.10 - 13.15: 8 Little Egret, 400+ Lapwing (on The Fleet), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (in Potton Creek), 2 Hen Harrier (both ring tails, 1 on Barling Marsh 1 on Rushley Island), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 11 Corn Bunting. Web Author.
Magnolia NR and surrounding areas 14.00 - 15.00: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 12 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 2 Jackdaw. Steve Sanford.
Pembury Road, Westcliff 14.00: 14+ Turnstone feeding on the pavement in Pembury Road, just off Westcliff Seafront. Also 1 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Little Egret seen from Westcliff seafront near Rossi's. Yasmine Hamid.
Tuesday 23rd December 2003
Westcliff Casino, 08:35 to 08:40: 1 Ring-billed Gull (adult), 2 Mediterranean Gull (2nd winters), 1 Sanderling. Paul Griggs (SOG).
South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club 14:00: Pair of Black Swan amongst flock of 36 Mute Swan. Roy Gambrill.
East Tilbury, Stanford House Car Park: 2 Siskin feeding in silver birch. Jim Cockram.
Monday 22nd December 2003
Westcliff Seafront, 08:15 to 08:20: 1 Ring-billed Gull (the adult again showing well along the seafront), 3 Mediterranean Gull (all 2nd winters). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 13:10 to 13:40: 1 Ring-billed Gull (still present during a lunch time visit), 6 Mediterranean Gull (3 adults and 3 2nd winters). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Rubbish Tip, 14:00 to 15:00: 1 Hen Harrier (A ring tail on Havengore). Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Sunday 21st December 2003
Brandy Hole / South Fambridge 09.35 - 11.30: 2 Mute Swan, 154 Brent Goose, 9 Shelduck, 22 Golden Plover, 5 Little Egret (2 on north side of Crouch), 2 Kingfisher, 5 Reed Bunting, 7 Fieldfare, 2 Great Crested Grebe. Ray Fuller.
Ashingdon, 11:00 to 11:20: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (on peanut feeder), 2 Green Woodpecker (all 3 in the garden), also 9 Chaffinches. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wallasea Island 11.30-12.30: 1,200 Common Gulls, 400 Golden Plover, 6 Little Egret, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Skylark, Jeff Delve & Nick Green (EBS).
Southchurch Seafront, 14:50 to 15:30: 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 2nd winter), 500 Black-headed Gull (A large pre-roost flock gathered along the seafront also contained an adult leucistic bird (this is the same bird that has been in the area for the past 3 years at least). It is pure white with exception of blackish primaries and bright red bill and legs). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Thursday 18th December 2003
Potton Island 14.30-15.30: 2 Short-Eared Owl, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 male Kestrel, 1 female Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl (very pale upperwings and back), 50+ Golden Plover with Lapwings. Mike Sagrott.
Southend Seafront, 15:10: 1 Little Egret (one flew past my office window). Also at 15:20: 1 Mediterranean Gull (An adult flew past window). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Monday 15th December 2003
Gunners Park, Shoebury 09.45 -10.15: 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Long-tailed Tits. 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay. John Pitts.
Southchurch Hall Park, 12:20 to 12:30: 3 Mandarin Duck (all male). Harry Carmichael (SOG) (nice to see our usual wintering Mandarins returning again - Ed.)
Sunday 14th December 2003
Rochford Golf Course, 07:45 to 12:20: 1 Brambling (probable seen flying over, but only called once), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Redwing (several). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Brandy Hole / South Fambridge 10.05 - 12.00: 60 Widgeon, 49 Curlew, 517 Brent Goose, 8 Grey Plover, 25 Shelduck, 4 Little Egret, 4 Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, 6 Golden Plover. Ray Fuller.
Belfairs Woods 09:00 to 10:30: 2 Stock Dove west of third golf hole. 1 Treecreeper west of 16th hole. David Lee.
River Roach / Paglesham Lagoon 10:00 - 13:00: see RSPB field walk report.
Eastwood Sewage Works, 10:00 to 12:00: 2 Snipe (note, the last 2 settling beds which the Jack Snipe favoured are now dry as ALL the water goes into the new sedge filled settling bed which has no access), 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 8 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing. Paul Baker (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East) / Leigh Marshes 1300 - 1400: 3 Fieldfare (Two Tree) 1 female Shoveler on pond at Leigh Marshes. Yasmine Hamid.
Wat Tyler Country Park 13:30 - 16:15: Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk (made unidentified kill at bird feeder), Kestrel, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Water Rail (heard), Bearded Tit, 200+ Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler (heard). Andrew Cox.
Friday 12th December 2003
Leigh on Sea, 10:00 to 10:30: 40 House Sparrow (Feeding in my garden). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG) (Can anyone beat this number ? - Ed.)
Westcliff Seafront, 13:10 to 13:15:1 Ring-billed Gull (adult again present on the sea opposite Rossi's). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Thursday 11th December 2003
Southend, 13:00: 1 Grey Wagtail (Flew over the High Street). John Wright (SOG).
Tuesday 09th December 2003
Belfairs Nature Reserve, 07:45: 1 Waxwing (flew south calling). Tony Mead. (SOG). (there have been a few Waxwing reports from Essex today, if anyone is near their usual winter haunt at Tesco's in Pitsea it may be well worth keeping an eye open for these birds. Ed.)
Fleet Head, Wakering 13.00 - 14.30: 4 Little Egret, 1 male Stonechat, 2 Redwing, 2 Short-Eared Owl (on Potton Island ), 1 male Kestrel, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 ring-tail Hen Harrier. Mike Sagrott.
Monday 08th December 2003
Southend Pier, 08:00: 1 Great Northern Diver, 15 Mediterranean Gull (2 with colour rings), 2 Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Diver. Tony Mead (SOG).
Sunday 07th December 2003
Two Tree Island 10:00: 10 Shoveler on the lagoon. Together with a large number of Lapwing and Teal. David Lee.
Magnolia NR, Hawkwell: 11.00 - 12.00: 6 Redwing, 17 Goldfinch and 15 Jackdaw (in a nearby field). Steve Sanford.
Southend Pier 12:00 - 14:00: 20+ Mediterranean Gulls, most adults just 2 1st w, 3 Kittiwakes, all adults - one oiled, 2 Little Gulls, 1 adult one 1st w, 2 Gannets - with large gull flock actively fishing downriver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Crested Grebe. Also: At Rossi's 5 Mediterranean Gulls. Jeff Delve & Nick Green EBS.
Wakering Old Tip 14.00-16.00: 4 Little Egret, Golden Plover, Brent Geese, 3 Hen Harrier (2 Ringtail on Potton and Rushley, and 1 Male on Rushley), 1 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl (a pale bird), Fieldfare. Stuart Bailey, Simon Buckell, Steve Bunn.
Tesco's on the A127 between Eastwood and Southend, 16:00: At least 30 Pied Wagtails, feeding across much of the car park. Tim Bennett.
Saturday 06th December 2003
Brandy Hole / South Fambridge 09.50 - 11.40: 186 Brent Goose, 6 Little Egret (3 on north side of Crouch) 65 Grey Plover, 5 Reed Bunting, 31 Greylag Goose, 18 Canada Goose, 9 Curlew, 200+ Widgeon, 5 Shelduck . Ray Fuller.
Rochford Golf Course, 11:30 to 15:30: 2 Green Woodpecker, 60 Fieldfare (flock flew over east at 15:10). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hampton Barns: 235 Fieldfare,31 Goldfinch,1 Stonechat (male),1 Kestrel and 1 Weasel. Paglesham Lagoon - 60 Mute Swan plus all the usual ducks in ever increasing numbers. River Roach - All the usual waders and ducks. Steve Sanford.
Friday 05th December 2003
Hadleigh Castle CP 13.55: 300+ Fieldfare over Chapel Lane car park, flying east to west. Web Author.
Thursday 04th December 2003
Hadleigh Downs, 15:30 to 15:30: 1 Woodcock Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.