Bird Reports for December 2007
Monday 31st December 2007
Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet 11:30
Male Green Woodpecker in garden. Tim Smith.
Sunday 30th December 2007
Priory Park Near Museum 09:30
1 Ring-necked Parakeet. Don Wildish.
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 10:30 to 11:15
9 Lesser Redpoll 
feeding on birch mast, 25 Redwing, 4 Greenfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk. Brian Baldock (SOG).
Two Tree Island 11:30
Low tide - overcast - slight westerly wind. 8 deg_c. 20 + Sanderling, 1000+ Knot, 25 Turnstone, 20 Curlew, 6 Avocet, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Shoveler, 10 Shelduck, 30+ Black-backed Gull, 35 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher (from west hide lagoon), 20+ Mediterranean Gull, 1 Robin (inside the hide, on the end of my scope !!), 1 Pheasant, 5 Little Egret, 20 Oystercatcher, 30 + Teal (from west hide lagoon), 1 Kestrel (on east of island) 1 Peregrine Falcon (f) on the east of island, 30+ Brent Geese, 10 Rock Pipit, 5 Blackbird, 3 Reed Bunting, 8 Goldfinch, 5 Stonechat, 2 Skylark (east of island), 6 Siskin, 4 Rock Pipit, 20 Magpie, 20 +Wood Pigeon. Noel Barnes.
Benfleet Creek and Hadleigh Country Park 12:00 - 15:00
6 Little Egret, 16 Brent Goose, 15 Avocet, 10+ Grey Plover, 5 Golden Plover, numerous Black-tailed Godwit, 5+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Stonechat, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Corn Bunting, 1 Greenfinch, 5 Linnet, 1 Skylark. Paul Bruty.
Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet 12:15
Female Blackcap-second sighting in last couple of days. Tim Smith.
Thundersley (My garden) 13.00 - 14.00
3 Redwing perched in Apple tree near Holly bush and causing concern to the resident Blackbirds feeding on the Holly berries. John Bennett.
Two Tree Island, 14:00 to 15:20, slipway area only
1 Little Egret in creek right next to end car park, 3,000 Knot at least from slipway, 3 Rock Pipit. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 14:15
1 Sparrowhawk. Paul Baker (SOG).
Bishopsteignton Estate 15.10 - 15.35
Green Woodpecker who resides in the copse by the church at Asda making big holes in the back lawn. No Collared Doves, Sparrows, or Blackbirds in garden or on feeders apart from Jay feasting on peanuts. Reason being Male Sparrowhawk on roof top between green and estate surveying the scene for 20 minutes. John Meredith.
Saturday 29th December 2007
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 08:30 to 08:45
5 Redwing, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Gunners Park, 08:30 to 09:30
1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Water Rail (Ness road entrance-right hand dyke just past dog bin). Brian Baldock, Dave Knight (SOG).
Leigh on Sea, Tankerville Drive, 09:20 to 09:30
c.10 Siskin in alder tree outside no.89 Tankerville Drive, 1 Little Egret over. Paul Griggs (SOG).
South Benfleet 10:00
1 Completely Leucistic House Sparrow in scrub behind Fish Market Restaurant. Paul Bruty.
Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 12.00
8 Goosander (3 drakes, 5 redheads), 2 Little Egret, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Sparrowhawk. David Jobbins.
Paglesham Lagoon, 10:00 to 15:00
2 Yellow-legged Gull (adult and 1st winter), 1 Scaup (drake still), 1 Shoveler (drake with yellow nasal saddle F1 L F1 still present), 1 Tufted Duck (female with blue nasal saddle DL still present), 3 Pintail, 10 Goldeneye (at least), 1 Kingfisher (flew over southern end). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 10:25 to 11:50
1 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing. Paul Griggs, Mike Bailey, Claire Chambers (SOG).
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 11:00 to 11:10
1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch. John Wright (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 12:00
9 Goosander (5 x fem, 4 x drake), 7 Goldeneye, 1 Pintail, 2 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Goldcrest. Louise, John and Paul Bruty.
Daws Heath, 12:00 to 14:00
3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 15:00
4 White-fronted geese with large flock of Greylag and Canada Geese on water by Causeway. Marion Burch.
Wallasea Wetlands
Kingfisher, drake Goosander, 2,200 Brent, Peregrine. usual complement of waders (seem to have a few more Knot). Jeff Delve (EBS).
Two Tree Island
A Blackbird narrowly escaped a male Sparrowhawk and a Merlin dashed over the Avocet lagoon. Chris Seaton.
Friday 28th December 2007
Treacle Mine Roundabout, Grays 11.00
1 Sparrowhawk flying from Grays towards A13. Joe French.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:00 to 13:15
1 Marsh Harrier (female), 1 Cetti's Warbler (just one brief burst of song), 220 Fieldfare (at least, seemed to be everywhere), 1 Great Crested Grebe. Paul Baker (SOG).
Chafford Gorges, Warren Gorge 14.00
5 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 6 Canada Geese, 4 Shoveler Duck, 2 Tufted Duck (m), 6 Tufted Duck (f), 4 Cormorant, 1 Gt Crested Grebe. Joe French.
Two Tree (Lagoon) 14:30
Water Rail. Andrew Johnston.
Thursday 27th December 2007
Hadleigh Downs, 08:05 to 09:15
60 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk (male). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:00
1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.20 - 12.10
3 Red Breasted Merganser (males), 4 Little Grebe, 4 Shelduck, 30 Fieldfare, Stonechat (male), 2 Grey Plover, 2 Mute Swan, Little Egret, 85 Teal, 250 Brent Goose. Ray Fuller.
River Roach - Stambridge Church 10.30 - 13.00
243 Black-tailed Godwit, 600+ Golden Plover, 1 Avocet. Iain Starke.
Old Hall Marsh & Tollesbury Fleet 11:00 - 15:30
4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Jack Snipe, 30+ Goldeneye, 1 Smew (m), 2 Scaup (1f, 1 imm.f), 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Shag, 2 Common Scoter (both imm.), 1 eider (imm.), 5 Red Breasted Merganser (3m, 2f), 1 Ross's Goose (presumably an escapee) with Greylags. Tim Bourne.
Tattersall Gardens, Leigh 13.05
1 Sparrowhawk. Martin Johnson.
Cherry Orchard Lane, 14:50
1 Kingfisher fishing in the brook between Cherry Orchard Way and Avaiation Way. Best viewed from Aviation Way. Paul Baker (SOG).
Eastwood Park, 15:35
1 Sparrowhawk over Rayleigh Road. Paul Baker (SOG).
Two Tree Island
Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret, 
1 Bahama Pintail. Ron Bartlett.
Wednesday 26th December 2007
Rochford, 10:15
8 Fieldfare flew south west over garden. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 11:00 to 11:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 90 Fieldfare. John Wright (SOG).
Wallasea Wetlands, 11:00 to 14:00
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank, 5 Little Egret, 2500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Stonechat (a pair). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Belfairs Woods, 12:00 to 13:50
1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redwing. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southchurch Park East 12.30
1 Kingfisher still fishing on pond, 1 Little Egret fishing on pond, 1 Little Egret standing in brook, 2 resident Mute Swans flying from estuary, 7 Moorhen, 8 Little Grebe, 2 Blue Tit. Robert Dobinson.
Wallasea Wetlands 13:00
1 Little Stint with Dunlin at high tide roost. Iain Starke.
Paglesham East End 14.00 - 15.30
1 Rock Pipit (near boatyard), 10 Reed Bunting (mostly males), 7 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Cormorant (flying over), 1 Dunnock, 4 Corn Bunting, 2 female Blackbird, 1 Skylark (flying), 1 female Sparrowhawk (nr Plough & Sail). Terry Priest.
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 15:10
1 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).
Ashingdon, 15:30 to 15:40, Along Brays Lane c1/2 mile from Ashingdon Road
50 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing. Neil Chambers
Tuesday 25th December 2007
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:30 to 09:35
1 male Sparrowhawk, 5 Redwing. John Wright (SOG).
Springfield Drive Allotments 13.45 - 14.05
2 Goldcrest along by the path. Terry Priest.
Southend Pier / Beach 15:00
4 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Brent and 1 Sanderling. G Turney & J French.
Stonehill Road, Leigh 13.00
Male Sparrowhawk on bird bath close to house then on to wooden bench and searching through the flower pots on patio - all close to house - stayed for approx 15 minutes. Later the regular Great Spotted Woodpecker seen on nuts. Laurie Greenwood.
Monday 24th December 2007
Rochford, 08:30 to 08:35
1 Green Sandpiper flew along creek by mini round-about along Sutton Road, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult over field). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 08:45 to 09:15
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi still showing well on the beach), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southend Pier 09:00 - 12:00
1 male Common Eider (down to 15 meters), 5 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 11 Mediterranean Gull (5 x adult, 1 x 2W, 5 x 1W). Paul Bruty.
Paglesham Lagoon, 10:00 to 15:00
29 Mute Swan (in fields to the north east of the north end of lagoon), 1 Shoveler (FL1FL Nasal Saddled Portugese bird still here), 1 Tufted Duck (the female with blue nasal saddle with DL still present (part of French scheme and first sightings since July in France), 1 Caspian Gull (advanced 2nd winter), 6 Yellow-legged Gull (5 first-winters and a fourth-winter), 10 Goldeneye, 13 Pintail, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 11.00 - 12.55
Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk, 5 Fieldfare. Ray Fuller.
Leigh, Southsea Avenue 11.00 - 11.55
2 Jackdaw on roof. Web Author.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 12.00
Small flocks of Redwing flying west all morning, 100+ birds in total. David Selley.
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 12:45 to 13:00
21 Siskin (14 in tree outside no 59 and another 7 flew west further south along the road), 1 Little Egret in the brook, then flying around the houses when flushed by me! Paul Baker (SOG).
Leigh Station, 13:15 to 13:25
c.30 Siskin in alder trees actually inside the tip! The trees run parallel to the railway on the north fenceline of the tip. Paul Baker (SOG).
Westcliff- to Leigh-on-Sea 14:00
2 Little Egret, 100(+) Turnstone, 70 Sanderling, 20 Brent Geese, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk (over Cliffs Pavilion), 6 Redshank, 2 Shelduck. Noel Barnes.
Sunday 23rd December 2007
Pound Wood, 12:30 to 13:30
2 Firecrest (male and female), 2 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Canvey West End 13.15 - 14.25
Fog made seeing anything a challenge. 80+ Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat. Martin Cracknell.
Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 13:30 to 14:30
4 Green Woodpecker, 12 Rook, 25 Jackdaw, 50 Redwing (at least). Steve Sanford (SOG).
Wallasea Wetlands Saturday/Sunday Summary
1,000+ Dunlin, 300+ Ringed Plover, 75 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60+ Curlew, 120 Grey Plover, 200+ Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 4 Turnstone, 11 Knot, 170+ Teal, 50+ Mallard, 6 Wigeon, 350 Brent, 100+ Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipit. Elsewhere on Wallasea today I had a raptor purple patch with Peregrine, Merlin, Marsh and Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk all within 30 mins along the south wall. Also 1,800 Brent in the fields with a single Greylag. Good numbers of Skylark and Corn Bunting. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Saturday 22nd December 2007
Southend, Bishopsteignton 08.30
Little Egret in garden, flew away west over the bungalows in Bickenhall. Also 6 male and 3 female Blackbird, Blue Tit, House Sparrows, Robins, Greenfinch, 4 Collared Dove and 4 Wood Pigeon. At least 1 Green Woodpecker visits next door's tall tree and hammers away. Nina and Graham Singer.
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 08:30 to 13:00
Nil activity on the tip today resulted in most gulls leaving by 9.30am. 2 Yellow-legged Gull (both 1st winters in creek), 4 Mediterranean Gull (3 adults and a 2nd winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southend, 09:15 to 10:00
1 Grey Wagtail seen several times around High Street. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 10:00 to 10:05
2 Goldfinch, 1 Jackdaw. John Wright (SOG).
Friday 21st December 2007
Coombe Wood, 08:10 to 08:20
1 Grey Wagtail seen several times this week, feeding on feeder scraps in my garden. Jeff Saward (SOG).
Southend, 09:55 to 10:00
1 Peregrine Falcon (Alexander House). John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.00 - 12.05
Avocet, Kingfisher, 12 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 700+ Brent Goose, 3 Shelduck, 5 Curlew, Stonechat (female), 50 Teal, Green Sandpiper, 90 Fieldfare, 8 Reed Bunting, 9 Golden Plover, 4 Grey Plover, 3 Little Egret. Ray Fuller.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 10.55
1 male Sparrowhawk onto sparrows on bird table. David Selley.
Leigh, Tankerville Drive 14.30
14 Siskin in tree opposite No.66. Web Author.
Coombe Wood, 15:00 to 15:05
1 male Blackcap in my garden, eating ivy berries. Jeff Saward (SOG).
Thursday 20th December 2007
Canvey Point 08.00 - 09.20
14 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kittiwake, 4 Rock Pipit, Peregrine, 2 Little Egret. Common Seal. David Morrison.
Abberton Reservoir 10.00 - 12.00
1 Siskin in alder tree by centre, 3 Bullfinch, 1 male Smew. Heybridge gravel pits; 3 Smew (1m, 2f). Trevor Bufton Brian Holwell.
Springfield Drive Allotments 14.30 - 14.45
2 Pied Wagtail, 1 female Sparrowhawk flew over. Terence Priest.
Wednesday 19th December 2007
Two Tree Island, 08:30 to 11:45
6 Siskin, 59 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 9 Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting, 10 Reed Bunting (80+ birds in mixed flock feeding and bathing around the slipway car park), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Peregrine Falcon (male on post by pillbox), 1 Kingfisher (showed very well on Egret roost pool), 1 Mute Swan (on pool opposite golf driving range). Graham Ryland (SOG).
Leigh-on-Sea 10:30
2 Siskin by Prittlewell Brook between Kingswood Chase and Tankerville Drive. David Lee.
Canvey Seafront, 10:50 to 11:05
3 adult Mediterranean Gull. Paul Baker (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 11:15
1 Little Egret. Paul Baker (SOG).
Belus Woods Country Park 12:30
2 male and 1 female Smew , 20 Siskin. Wayne Twelftree.
Tuesday 18th December 2007
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 13:35
23 Siskin in alder tree outside 63, Tankerville Drive, 6 Goldfinch in tree by brook. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southchurch 14.00 - 15.00
1 Song Thrush and 2 Blackcap. G Turney.
Monday 17th December 2007
Canvey Island, Leighbeck 13:50 - 15:00
3+ Arctic Skua, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Pomarine Skua (1st winter; down river), also, a few Kittiwakes in both directions. Ian White.
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 15:25
1 Little Egret in brook behind, viewable from Western Approaches. Paul Baker (SOG).
Sunday 16th December 2007
Two Tree Island (West), 13:30 to 15:45
20 Reed Bunting at least, 1 Corn Bunting, 2000 Knot at least, many hundreds present in creek, 4 Stonechat (2 pairs). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Battlesbridge Sewage Works, 13:40 to 14:10
3 Stonechat, 40 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, 9 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 3 Gadwall (drakes), 2 Reed Bunting (males), 1 Kestrel. Don Petrie, Paul Griggs (SOG).
Brandy Hole, 14:20 to 15:20
2 Corn Bunting, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Wigeon (drake). Don Petrie, Paul Griggs (SOG).
Benfleet, 15:00
1 Grey Wagtail in stream by church. Simon Watson (SOG).
Saturday 15th December 2007
Paglesham Lagoon, 08:00 to 14.00
3 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter x2 and a 2nd winter), 206 Shoveler (including a drake with nasal saddle F1 L F1. This bird was present here in January and was at the time only the fourth UK nasal saddle recovery from the scheme in Portugal (ducks clearly are site faithful)), 21 Pintail, 20 Goldeneye (at least ), 1 Scaup (1st winter drake still here), 1 Tufted Duck (female with pale blue nasal saddle with letters DL. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southchurch Park East, 09.00
1 Kingfisher flying along reedbeds, 1 Green Woodpecker feeding on south grass bank and flying to S.East copse Cracked Willow tree, 1 Little Egret fishing in his usual places, 1 Cormorant sunning himself on pond post, 2 Resident Mute Swans flying three circuits of Park, 1 Non resident Mute Cygnet flying in from Southchurch Park, after being there for 5 days and being pushed off by 2 resident Mutes at 11.20. Bob Dobinson.
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:30 to 09:35
1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldfinch. John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.00 - 11.35
2 Red Breasted Merganser (pair), 4 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Curlew, 60 Fieldfare, 10 Grey Plover, 20 Golden Plover, 14 Shelduck, 2 Stonechat (pair), 6 Brent Goose, 2 Reed Bunting, Snipe, Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 12.00
1 Peregrine Falcon (metal ring on right leg), 1 adult Caspian Gull, 1 Redshank, 8 Goldeneye, 3 Pintail, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, 2-3 Bullfinch. David Jobbins.
Southend Pier, 12:00
1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Purple Sandpiper. Pat Dandridge.
Southend Airport, 12:30
1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).
Thorpe Bay 13.30
1 Little Egret in my back garden looking at the fish pond some 10 feet from the house. John Pitts.
Two Tree Island (East), 14:20 to 14:45
1 Kingfisher showing well at sewage lagoons, 6 Little Egret. Paul Baker (SOG).
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 14:45 to 14:55
1 Grey Wagtail (by edge of Belfairs), 12 Siskinat least, along brook between Tankerville Drive and Kingswood Chase. Don Petrie (SOG).
Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 14:55 to 15:00
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult). Paul Baker (SOG).
Hockley/Hawkwell, 15:00
1 Sparrowhawk over Greensward School. John Wright (SOG).
Southchurch Park East, 15:10 to 15:20
4 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan (adults), 1 Little Egret. Paul Baker (SOG).
Cherry Orchard Lane, 15:45 to 15:50
1 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).
Wallasea Wetlands
1st w Little Stint, Greenshank, Knot - couple of small groups, uncommon here, Good numbers of Curlew (67), Dunlin, Ringed and Grey Plover but notable absence of Lapwing and Golden Plover (in E section at least), Goosander, drake still with Shelduck Hen Harrier, ring tail headed north across river, Merlin. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Friday 14th December 2007
Rochford, 10:40 to 10:45
1 Sparrowhawk female over station, 1 Weasel watched hunting amongst the rubbish right alongside the London bound platform of Rochford station, down to 4 ft!. Paul Baker (SOG).
Hockley/Hawkwell, 10:50
1 Little Egret seen from train in Johnson's Pond between Rochford and Hawkwell. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southend, 11:30 to 11:45
1 Peregrine Falcon on Portcullis House. John Wright (SOG).
Southend, 16:00
1 Peregrine Falcon roosting on Portcullis House. John Wright (SOG).
Thursday 13th December 2007
Two Tree Island (West), 10:15 to 12:00
1 Short-eared Owl roosting on bush, by central track 100 mtrs. before lagoon hide, 4 Corn Bunting, 9 Linnet, 12 Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, 1 Rock Pipit. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:00 - 14:00
2 Jay, 2 Wren, 13 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 Kestrel and a large group of Blackbirds and Fieldfares. Plus 3 Grey Squirrels. Dave Griffiths.
Wednesday 12th December 2007
Canvey Island (West End) 09:10 - 10:40
1 Sparrowhawk (over caravan park at Thorney Bay), 33 Shelduck (Thorney Bay), 1 Green Sandpiper (inside gas storage compound). Ian White.
Rayleigh, 09:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across A127 just east of Rayleigh Weir. Paul Baker (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront 10.20 - 10.40
1 Ring billed Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 15 Little Egret, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, 12 Sanderling. John Wilson.
Baxter Avenue Southend, 10:40 to 10:45
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Egret. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Tuesday 11th December 2007
Billericay, Lake Meadows 11.00
Goldfinches, small flocks feeding on plane tree fruits. Marion Burch.
Gunners Park 11.30 to 12.30
Lots of work going here and it looks like the shoe river is going to be covered all over by a tunnel is this right? Long-tailed Tit, 2 Snipe in the channels, 12 Lapwing on the rabbit field. 4 Redshank on the lake and channels, 3 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher heard, 2 Kestrel both female. lots of finches and I broke the Ice for them. Steve Wood.
Paglesham, Near Boatyard 13.45 - 15.15
Common Buzzard in a field, close views until chased off by Crows, 6 Red-breasted Merganser (5m 1f), 5 Fieldfare, 12 Corn Bunting, 2 Grey Plover, Brent Goose, 5 Shelduck. Ray Fuller.
Monday 10th December 2007
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 07:00 to 15:25
1 Caspian Gull (2nd winter initially found on the tip at around midday ws seen several times before being seen again in the creek on the falling tide at about 2.30pm), 4 Yellow-legged Gull (adult and 1st winter in the creek with two second-winters on the tip), 6 Mediterranean Gull (5 adults and a 2nd winter on the tip), 1 Black-headed Gull (leucistic bird flew along creek shortly after first light), 4 Pintail (flew down creek), 150 Knot (at least - unusual to see them this far up the creek in such numbers), 30 Black-tailed Godwit (at least), 30 Fieldfare (at least). Steve Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 11.30 - 13.10
2 Stonechat (pair), 100+ Fieldfare, 3 Curlew, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Reed Bunting, Little Egret, 500+ Brent Goose, 250+ Teal, Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Church Road Hockley, (near Railway Bridge) 14:00
Flock of Siskin (about 15) still present in the area and seen regularly. Ross Gardner.
Chalkwell Seafront, 15:00
100 Sanderling. Simon Watson (SOG).
Sunday 09th December 2007
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 08.15 - 10.45
2 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 86 Shelduck, 238 Teal, 57 Mallard, 9 Oystercatcher, 83 Avocet, 32 Grey Plover, 1,467 Lapwing, 1,247 Dunlin, 137 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Curlew, 233 Redshank, 640 Black-headed Gull, 14 Common Gull, 100 Herring Gull, 651 Great Black-backed Gull, 40 Fieldfare. Alan Shearman, RSPB.
Rochford Golf Course, 08:30 to 13:00
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 3 Teal (1st record), 2 Skylark (flew over), 30 Redwing. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 08:45 to 12:45 (WeBS)
309 Grey Plover, 241 Lapwing, 2100 Knot, 2180 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 222 Curlew, 108 Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 180 Turnstone, 9 Reed Bunting, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Little Egret, 854 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 181 Shelduck, 291 Wigeon, 105 Teal, 1 Kestrel, 55 Oystercatcher, 130 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 09:45 to 09:55
1 Ring-billed Gull on sea then flew to casino, 3 adult Mediterranean Gull Steve Arlow (SOG).
Abberton Reservoir 10.00
1 Green-winged Teal, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 5 Bewick's Swan, 4 Black Swan, 2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Smew, 1 Scaup, 18 Gooseander, 1 Red-crested Pochard, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Peregrine, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 20 Siskin. David Webb.
Wallasea Wetlands 10.00 - 11.30
1st winter Little Stint amongst the 500+ Dunlin and 260 Ringed Plover along the saltmarsh edge. 500 Golden Plover on fields west of Grapnell's Farm and Green Sandpiper flushed from roadside ditch nearby. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Southend Pier 11:00 - 13:30
Great Crested Grebe, 2 Peregrine (pair, harassing gulls), 200 Turnstone, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 21 Mediterraenan Gull (9 ad, 7 1st winter, 5 2nd winter), 1 Kittewake (ad), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull. Andrew Cox.
Wakering Stairs 11.40
1 Merlin - female seen during WeBS count. David Selley.
Two Tree island West and Benfleet Creek 13.00
1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 200+ Knot, 50+ Grey Plover, 50+ Lapwing, 100+ Ringed Plover, 50+ Dunlin, 30+ Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 3 Shelduck, 5 Turnstone, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cormorant, 6 Wigeon. R Shepherd.
Saturday 08th December 2007
Gunners Park 09.00
2 Cormorant sitting in the dead tree. John Pitts.
Canvey Coastguards 09.30 to 11.30
Great Crested Grebe, Common Scoter, 5 adult and 3 2nd winter Meditteranean Gulls, 16 adult and 15 juv. Kittiwakes following 3 ships upriver, 2 Rock Pipit, Great Northern Diver landed mid river at 10.52 and a female Merlin at 11.25 heading for Kent. Common Seal. Paul Hawkins and Dave Morrison.
Barling Rubbish Tip, 09:30 to 13:00
5 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winters), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 1 Green Sandpiper. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wallasea Wetlands 10.00 - 13.00
1 male Goosander, 2 (pair) Red-breasted Merganser. Web Author.
Hadleigh Downs, 10:30 to 11:15
2 Sparrowhawk, 15 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing. John Wright (SOG).
River Roach, 12:00 to 12:30
15 Goldeneye (all redheads), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (drake). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Friday 07th December 2007
Two Tree Island 10.45
Kingfisher at sewage tanks plus two pair of Shoveler. Laurie Greenwood.
Crays Hill 12.00
Harris Hawk flying around between 1200 and 1340. It had Jesses and bells. Gary Dunn.
Baxter Avenue Southend, 12:35 to 14:45
1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Thundersley, Birches Area 14.00
3 Sparrowhawk. Denise Wyatt.
Thundersley (Garden) 15.00 - 15.50
1 Green Woodpecker probing my lawn. John Bennett.
Victoria Avenue, Southend, 15:00 to 15:50
2 Peregrine Falcon. Male and female on Victoria Avenue side of Portcullis House. Female feeding on prey, probably pigeon. Don Petrie (SOG).
Thursday 06th December 2007
Baxter Avenue Southend, 11:30 to 11:45
1 Peregrine Falcon on Portcullis House. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Priory Park 14.00
Ring-necked Parakeet and Grey Wagtail last week. Phil Anderson.
Victoria Avenue, Southend, 14:30
1 female Peregrine Falcon perched up. Don Petrie (SOG).
Hadleigh Country Park 15.30
1 Harris Hawk, pursued by assorted Corvids, chestnut shoulder patches and white at base of tail clearly visible. Didn't notice any jesses. Mike Sagrott,Tony Sandeman.
Wednesday 05th December 2007
Wallasea Island Wetlands
1 drake Red-breasted Merganser, drake Goosander (remarkable being saltwater and regular here), 1 Rock Pipit. Nick Green (EBS).
Tuesday 04th December 2007
Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 08:50 to 08:55
1 adult Mediterranean Gull. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 10:25 to 10:35
1 Ring-billed Gull on breakwater, 2 Mediterranean Gull (1 x adult, 1 x 2nd-w). Paul Baker (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East), 12:30 to 14:15
1 Kingfisher on the old sewage tanks, 1 Water Rail on the old sewage tanks, Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Southchurch Park East
2 sightings of Kingfisher this afternoon, 1 Cormorant made flying visit, Little Egret feeding by tidal outlet, Resident swans on the water.
Monday 03rd December 2007
Hanningfield Reservoir 10:00 - 12:20
Numerous Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, 8 Goldeneye (5 male 3 female), Pied Wagtail, 1 Redshank, 7 Long-tailed Tit. Chris Henry, John Wilson.
Sunday 02nd December 2007
Vicarge Hill, Benfleet 09.50
1 Sparrowhawk (female) with kill sitting on drive. Martin Cracknell.
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 11:30 to 11:35
2 Goldfinch on niger seed feeder in garden. John Wright (SOG).
Southend, 13:25 to 13:30
2 Mediterranean Gull (adults over fields along Sutton Road seen from car). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Saturday 01st December 2007
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.50 - 11.40
5 Grey Plover, 2 Little Egret ,2 Stonechat (pair), 2 Curlew, 15 Brent Goose, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Shelduck, Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Gunners Park, 11:10 to 11:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker by the pond. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 12:00 to 13:15
1 Marsh Harrier beyond the bridge to Foulness, 5 Little Egret, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Goldfinch. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 12:00 to 16:00
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Redwing, 2 Siskin. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Paglesham Lagoon 13.00
Long-tailed Duck still present. Kingfisher also seen at the site. Richard Chew.
Hadleigh Country Park 14.50 - 15.05
Flock of 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Tim Smith.
Tattersall Gardens, Leigh 15.00
1 female Sparrowhawk passed over at rooftop height. Buzzard sp. at 14.50. Martin Johnson.
Southend, 15:00 to 15:05
1 Sparrowhawk over Tesco's, A127. John Wright (SOG).