South East Essex RSPB Wildlife Reports for December 2013
December 2013
Tuesday 31st December 2013southerly, mostly cloudy with rain, max10°c
Two Tree Island West 11:00 to 12:30
1 Spoonbill, 1 Little Egret, 100+ Avocet in channel from hide, 150+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 50+ Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover, 200+ Knot, 15+ Oystercatcher, 10+ Grey Plover, 10+ Dunlin, 50+ Lapwing, 10+ Redshank, 70+ Teal, 10+ Wigeon, 10+ Shelduck. Jeff Elliott.
Little Baddow, Paper Mill Lock 12:05
1 Kingfisher. Tim Davis.
Monday 30th December 2013southerly, light rain, max11°c
Hanningfield Reservoir 15:00 to 15:40
100+ Tufted Duck, 100+ Pochard, 100+ Mallard, 30+ Gadwall, 100+ Wigeon, 350+ Coot, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Magpie, 60+ Carrion Crow, 250+ Canada Geese, 150+ Greylag Geese, 80+ Cormorant, 200+ Herring Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 30+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Lapwing, 60+ Woodpigeon, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Blackbird, 1 very light Common Buzzard, 4 Pied Wagtail. Rob Harris.
Sunday 29th December 2013west south west, clear, max7°c
Horne Row (South Edge of Danbury Common) 09:00 to 10:00
2 Mistle Thrush (one defending hawthorn tree with mistletoe berries against other Thrushes and Blackbirds), 4 Redwing, 6 male Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Green Woodpecker eating apple windfalls, 4 Woodpigeon, 2 Blue Tit, Greylag Geese (small flock). John Steele.
Wakering Stairs 10:35 to 12:20
1655 Dark-bellied Brent Goose mostly coming in off the falling tide and flying towards Potton/Wallasea, also an additional c.800 over Havengore Island, 8 Shelduck, 3 Little Egret, 2250 Dunlin, 700+ Knot, 840 Bar-tailed Godwit, 115 Curlew, 40 Redshank, c.1000 Oystercatcher on the roost, 2 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit. David Selley.
Wat Tyler Country Park 12:35 to 12:40
Lesser Redpoll. David Lee.
Wat Tyler Country Park 13:00
2 female Marsh Harrier from the scrape hide. Gary & Cheryl Beacon.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 13:00 to 16:00
3 Snipe, Corn Bunting, Goldfinch, Little Egret, Wren, Robin, Marsh Harrier. Steve Day.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 14:30 to 14:50
100+ Tufted Duck, 100+ Pochard, 100+ Mallard, 30+ Gadwall, 100+ Wigeon, 150+ Coot, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Magpie, 23 Carrion Crow, 150+ Canada Geese, 100+ Greylag Geese, 80+ Cormorant, 100+ Herring Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 30+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 7 Grey Heron, 14 Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Saturday 28th December 2013south westerly, clear, max8°c
Canvey Point 09:39 to 11:00
2500+ Knot and Dunlin, 6 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 150+ Oystercatcher, 12 Curlew, 15 Redshank, 10 Turnstone, 100+ Brent Geese, 1 Red-throated Diver, 25 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Wigeon, 5 Shelduck, 20 Cormorant. Terry Blackwell.
Springfield Lock, Chelmsford 10:00
1 Grey Heron, 1 drake Goosander, 8 Little Grebe, 4 Magpie, 4 Mallard, 7 Moorhen, 2 Black-headed Gull, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Dunnock. Paul Forsdick.
Cock Clark's, Essex 10:30
5 Lesser Redpoll on Niger feeders in my garden. Jane Baxter.
EWT Thameside Nature Park 11:00
50+ Avocet, 2 Curlew, 50+ Shelduck, 100+ Teal, 30 Redshank, Yellowhammer. Jason Burton.
Private Site Near Great Wakering 14:00 to 15:15
1 male and 1 female ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Kestrel, 14 Little Egret, c.2000 Lapwing, c.500 Starling. Steve and Fran Giles.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 14:30 to 15:30
3 White-fronted Geese, c.50 Greylag Geese, c.100 Canada Geese, few Tufted Duck, c.100 Wigeon, c.300 Coot, many Great Crested Grebe, many pairs of Mallard, 1 pair Mute Swan with 4 juveniles, 2 Moorhen, several large flocks of Woodpigeon, 3 Pied Wagtail, c.15 Common Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, few Herring Gull, 100s of Black-headed Gull, many Cormorant. David & Brenda Hale.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:30 to 16:00
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 2 Kestrel, 400+ Lapwing, 20+ Corn Bunting, 1 Stonechat, 16 Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Blackbird, 60+ Starling, 12 Carrion Crow, 1 Magpie, 3 Mute Swan, 30+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
Friday 27th December 2013south westerly, partly cloudy, max11°c
Abberton Reservoir 14:00 to 14:30
20+ Canada Geese, 50+ Coot, 12 Greylag Geese, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Pochard, 100+ Tufted, 5 Shoveler, 7 Magpie, 1 Little Egret, 80+ Cormorant, 50+ Mute Swan, 200+ Starling, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 200+ Carrion Crow, 3 hybrid Geese, 1 Swan Goose, 1 Aylesbury Duck. Rob Harris.
Thursday 26th December 2013south westerly, partly cloudy, max8°c
Hockley, Glencrofts 09:00 to 10:00
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Magpie, 1 House Sparrow, 2 Blackbird, Great and Blue Tit, 1 Robin. Irwin Lewis.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 13:30 to 14:00
2 Goosander (pair), 5 Pintail. Peter Norgate.
Wednesday 25th December 2013south westerly, partly cloudy, max11°c
Chalkwell and Westcliff Seafront 11:00 to 12:30
3 Little Egret, 47 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Shelduck, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 12 Great Black-backed Gull, Curlew and Redshank heard, c.60 Turnstone, small flock of Dunlin. 9 Common Seal on the sandbank (low tide). David Selley.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 12:00 to 12:15
150+ Tufted Duck, 60+ Pochard, 100+ Mallard, 30+ Gadwall, 140+ Wigeon, 150+ Coot, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 150+ Canada Geese, 100+ Herring Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 30+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 80+ Cormorant, 1 Little Egret. Rob Harris.
Private Site Near Great Wakering 12:30 to 13:00
1 Short-eared Owl, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, c.1000 Lapwing. Steve Giles.
Tuesday 24th December 2013south westerly, partly cloudy, max12°c
Rayleigh, Daws Heath Road 09:30 to 10:00
Sparrowhawk and female Blackcap in garden. Peter and Margaret Norgate.
Canvey Point 12:30 to 14:00
1 Gannet, 2000+ Knot and Dunlin, 200+ Oystercatcher, 20+ Brent Gese, 8 Curlew, 10 Turnstone, 6 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 1 Pied Wagtail. 10 Common Seal. Terry Blackwell.
Monday 23rd December 2013southerly, rain, max12°c
No reports received for this day.
Sunday 22nd December 2013south westerly, partly cloudy, max10°c
Bradwell on Sea 09:15 to 13:00
Walk south from St Peter's Chapel: 7 Corn Bunting, 2 female/immature and 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 Buzzard, c.25 Skylark, 8 Linnet, c.12 Reed Bunting, 1 Kestrel, 9 Pintail, impressive wader flocks at high tide - Golden Plover, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Dunlin. Andrew Gouldstone.
North Shoebury 10:00 to 11:00
2 Sparrowhawk kills in front garden within half an hour, both taking collared doves. Female Sparrowhawk was completely unphased by our walking past it and getting in and out of our car a few feet away whilst it fed. Jackie and Mike Bliss.
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:00 to 14:45
1 Rough-legged Buzzard (Foulness in trees behind steps with Black and yellow rail leading to water with red sign facing away), 2 Hen Harrier (ringtails one at Foulness end and one in plastic compound by side of road before car park), 1 drake Red-breasted Merganser (Foulness end). Jeff Elliott.
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:45 to 13:00
2 Hen Harrier (ringtails), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, massive flock of Lapwing, 40+ Corn Bunting, 3 Stonechat. Jim Bailey.
Ashingdon, King Georges Field 12:00
1 Red Kite being mobbed by 2 Crows. Gary & Cheryl Beacon.
Private Site Near Great Wakering 15:00 to 15:30
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. Steve and Fran Giles.
EWT Blue House Farm, North Fambridge15:00 to 16:15
2 female and 1 Immature Marsh Harrier, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 female Sparrowhawk, Water Rail heard, c.200 Brent Geese. Andrew Gouldstone.
Saturday 21st December 2013south south westerly, light rain, max12°c
Southend, Waitrose 07:40 to 08:00
1 Song Thrush singing behind the petrol station, 1 Mistle Thrush singing from the top of a conifer at the far end of the store car park. David Selley.
Bradwell on Sea, Near St. Peter's Chapel 12:30 to 13:00
Several hundred Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, several hundred Knot, 1 Curlew, c.8 distant swans in grassy field, possibly not Mute. Anthony Cheke.
Friday 20th December 2013south south westerly, late scattered clouds, max11°c
Wat Tyler Country Park 07:30 to 08:00
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier. Neil Phillips.
Southchurch Park East 11:00
Solitary Fieldfare seen in hawthorn tree south side of the lake. Flew off towards Shaftesbuty Avenue Mick.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:35 to 15:00
1 female Stonechat, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Fieldfare, 250+ Wigeon flying around or on creek with 3 Shoveler and a large flock of Teal, c.6 Gadwall, 2 Pochard and 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, 1 Little Egret. Richard Fahey.
Thursday 19th December 2013southerly, clear, max10°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:45 to 12:30
3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Little Egret, 1000+ Lapwing, 300+ Dunlin, 150 + Redshank, 1 Curlew, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Shelduck, 3 Skylark, 30+ Linnet, 20+ Corn Bunting, 4 Stonechat, 2 Magpie, 20+ Carrion Crow, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 20+ Woodpigeon, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard, 500+ Brent Geese. Rob Harris.
EWT Thurrock Thameside 10:50 to 13:15
1 Skylark, 3 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 4 Meadow Pipit, 9 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, c.50 Curlew, few Turnstone, c.25 Lapwing, c.30 Grey Plover, c.100 Dunlin, 2 very large, distant flocks of assumed Dunlin, many 1000s of birds, many Teal, 24 Shelduck, 4 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 2 pair Wigeon, 1 female Pintail. David & Brenda Hale.
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 13:45 to 15:40
Sightings from roadside hide: 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 juvenile Scaup, 3 Green Sandpiper, 9 Common Gull, many 1000s of Gulls over landfill site and surrounding marsh, 1 pair Gadwall, many Teal, few Shoveler, Pochard, Mallard, many Canada and Greylag Geese, 9 Fieldfare, few male Blackbird, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Jay, c.50 Curlew. 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, many Lapwing. David & Brenda Hale.
Private Site Near Great Wakering 14:00 to 15:15
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, c.75 Corn Bunting, c.40 Chaffinch. Steve Giles.
Canvey Point 14:30 to 15:45
1 Red Throated Diver, 1000+ Knot, 100+ Dunlin, 100+ Brent Geese, 8 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 80+ Oystercatcher, 6 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail. 1 Common Seal. Terry Blackwell.
Wednesday 18th December 2013southerly, mostly cloudy, max10°c
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 09:30 to 11:30
1 Peregrine falcon on fields to north of reservoir, 1 Mediterranean Gull on reservoir, 2 Green Sandpiper, on reservoir, 40+ Curlew in fields north of reservoir, 1 male Stonechat by 's-bends' near red hill, 1 Kestrel (pantile area), 2 female Marsh Harrier hunting over Bowers Marsh. Ian White.
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:00 to 12:30
3 Kestrel, 3 Little Egret, 200+ Lapwing, 150+ Dunlin, 40+ Redshank, 2 Magpie, 30+ Carrion Crow, 30+ Herring Gull, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 50+ Woodpigeon, 1 Linnet, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Skylark. Rob Harris.
Gloucester Park, Basildon 12:30
1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay. Ben Setterfield.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:00 to 13:30
100+ Tufted Duck, 80+ Pochard, 200+ Mallard, 20+ Gadwall, 35 Coot, 50+ Shoveler, 100+ Canada Geese, 100+ Greylag Geese, 1 Blackbird,33 Carrion Crow, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 80+ Wigeon, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Herring Gull, 5 Greater Black-backed Gull, 80+ Cormorant, 50+ Mute Swan, 3 Moorhen, 4 Domestic Geese, 200+ woodpigeon, 30+ Starling. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 17th December 2013variable, mostly cloudy, max7°c
RSPB Rainham Marshes 10:30 to 15:35
1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Barn Owl, (showing in box), still large numbers of House Sparrow around visitor centre, 2 Robin, c.20 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 pair Reed Bunting, 1 Wren, c.12 male Blackbird, many Chaffinch, few Great and Blue Tit, c.200 Starling, 1 pair Pheasant, 6 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 drake and 1 female Pintail, 4 Curlew, hundreds of Wigeon, hundreds of Teal, many Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler and Gadwall. 6 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Gull, few Herring and Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c2000 Lapwing, c.50 Golden Plover, many Canada and Greylag Geese. David & Brenda Hale.
Monday 16th December 2013south south westerly, mostly cloudy, max12°c
RSPB Vange Marsh 10:30 to 12:00
Juvenile Spoonbill, 9 Ruff, 37 Redshank, 14 Dunlin, c.600 Lapwing including an albinistic individual. Mike Poole.
Gloucester Park, Basildon 13:15
2 Jay, 4 Carrion Crow, 20+ Great Tit and Blue Tit in mixed flock, 1 Kingfisher flying along stream by small fishing lake. Ben Setterfield.
Sunday 15th 2013southerly, partly cloudy, max12°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:50 to 11:25
1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper came in over seawall (I think this bird commutes between here and West Canvey Marshes), 40+ Wigeon, drake Pochard on Manorway Fleet, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker. Richard Fahey.
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 13:00 to 13:30
Juvenile Scaup from roadside hide. Terry Jeffreys.
Saturday 14th December 2013south westerly, clear, max11°c
Hanningfield Reservoir 11:00 to 13:30
Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, 30+ Blue Tit, 40+ Great Tit, 28+ Moorhen+, 8 Stock Dove, 150+ Tufted Duck, 90+ Mallard, 60+ Gadwall, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mute Swan, 150+ Cormorant, 2 Coal Tit, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Robin, 130+ Coot, 14 Little Grebe, Blackbird,8 Grey Heron, Great Black-backed Gull, 50+ Lapwing, 70+ Shoveler, 200+ Teal, 40+ Wigeon, 180+ Pochard, 2 Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 170+ Canada Goose, 110+ Greylag Goose, Common Gull, Chaffinch, Wren, Aylesbury Duck. S. Jackson & M. Hill.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:32 to 15:30
1 Whimbrel at creek, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, Water Rail heard at Manorway Fleet, drake and female Pintail on lagoon, 10+ Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall and drake Pochard on Manorway Fleet, 1 Little Grebe on creek, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler heard by ditch, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Green Woodpecker. Richard Fahey.
Friday 13th December 2013southerly, cloud, rain, max10°c
Billericay, Buttsbury Junior School 13:00
16 Magpie on playing field. Marion Burch.
Thursday 12th December 2013south south westerly, mist, max9°c
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 10:00
Mute Swan, 2 Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen. John Pitts.
Canvey Point 11:00 to 12:00
50 Brent Geese, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Shelduck, 50 Dunlin, 15 Curlew, 12 Ringed Plover, 15 Grey Plover, 25+ Redshank, 10 Oystercatcher, 4 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant. Terry Blackwell.
Hawkwell, Rectory Road 11:10
2 Fieldfare in berry-bearing trees near Golden Cross. David Selley.
Wat Tyler Country Park 12:30 to 15:15
Scrape hide: 3 Marsh Harrier (2 female, 1 male), 1 Peregrine Falcon on distant pylon, c.150 Lapwing over Bowers Marsh, c.30 Wigeon, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit, 2 flyover Snipe, 1 female Shoveler, 3 drake and 1 female Mallard, 1 Jay, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 30 Canada and 25 Greylag Geese, Cetti's Warbler and Bearded Tit heard, 4 male, 1 female Blackbird. 2 Common Gull, c.20 Black-headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. 1 Fox. David & Brenda Hale.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 13:00 to 15:00
30+ Greylag Geese, 1 Peregrine Falcon flew on to a pylon, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen harrier. 1 large dog fox. David Shepherd.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:00 to 15:40
3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Egret, 2 Lapwing, 30+ Dunlin, 40+ Redshank, 1 Magpie, 30+ Carrion Crow, 9 Black-headed Gull, 7 Herring Gull, 20+ Woodpigeon, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Mute Swan, 40+ Brent Geese. Rob Harris.
West Mersea
Female Long-tailed Duck spotted on one of my boat trips yesterday in the Thorn Fleet Creek at West Mersea and on Wednesday up Salcott Creek. Stacey Belbin.
Wednesday 11th December 2013calm, freezing fog, max9°c
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:45 to 16:00
4 Bearded Tit, 4 Reed Bunting, 10 Common Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Grebe, 15 Snipe, 16 Curlew, 3 Shelduck, 250+ Lapwing, 1 Ruff, 4 Marsh Harrier (3 birds flew in together, one male), Teal, Wigeon, Shovler. David Shepherd.
Hanningfield Reservoir 14:00 to 14:30
150+ Tufted Duck, 60+ Pochard, 200+ Mallard, 24+ Gadwall, 50+ Coot, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 50+ Canada Geese, 100+ Greylag Geese, 12 Carrion Crow, 100+ Herring Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 30+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Greater Black-backed Gull, 80+ Cormorant, 30+ Mute Swan, 1 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Great Tit, 50+ Starling, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Magpie, 40 Wigeon, 60+ Lapwing, 5 Redshank, 4 Domestic Geese. Rob Harris.
North Fambridge 15:00 to 15:15
50+ Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Canada Geese, 8 Carrion Crow, 30 Herring Gull, 34 Black-headed Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Robin, 4 Blackbird, 5 Magpie, 5 Chaffinch, 30+ Starling, 2 Pied Wagtail, 50+ Lapwing, 35 Redshank, 7 Collared Dove, 40+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 10th December 2013south south west, mist, partly cloudy, max9°c
No reports received for this day.
Monday 09th December 2013west south west, clear, max10°c
No reports received for this day.
Sunday 08th December 2013west south west, partly cloudy, max12°c
Hawkwell, Magnolia Park NR 10:00 to 11:00
1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Snipe flushed from bulrushes on the old Kirby's site, 20 Mallard, 6 Moorhen, 3 Green Woodpecker, 10+ Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, many Blackbird, 6 Jackdaw. David Selley.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:30 to 12:25
1 juvenile/1st year Spoonbill on creek, 1 Whimbrel on creek, 1 female Stonechat, 1 immature Marsh Harrier, Water Rail heard at Manorway Fleet, 1,500 to 2,000 Lapwing over towards Canvey Island, 1 Little Egret, c.4 Gadwall on Manorway Fleet, 2 single Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe on creek. Richard Fahey.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:15 to 11:55
Hide only: 3 female Marsh Harrier (1 in front of hide hunting for the duration), 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail heard, Cetti's Warbler heard under hide, 1 possible male Hen Harrier flew in over left hand reed bed being mobbed by crows. Jim Bailey.
Southend, Cromwell Road 13:00
Cracking female Sparrowhawk on a fence at the bottom of the garden. Two robins and a Dunnock. Phil Lusher.
Bulphan, Thurrock 14:00
A large flock of Fieldfare seen from the road (40+) driving from North Ockendon to Bulphan and a another smaller flock of about 20 in the village. Neil Phillips.
Wat Tyler Country Park 14:00 to 14:30
2 Marsh Harrier one mobbing and chasing off 1 Common Buzzard. Mick Roe.
Saturday 07th December 2013west south west, scattered clouds, max9°c
Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea 11:10 and 13:30
Adult male Sparrowhawk in garden. Colin Newman.
Southend, Wyatts Drive 11:35
Small Tortoiseshell in back garden. Alec Beanse.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:55 to 15:40
c.10 Avocet at creek, 3 Marsh Harrier included female on bush towards northwest edge of marshes, 4 Knot, 15 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover and a large but smaller flock of the some 600+ Lapwing here, on lagoon c.10 Wigeon, c.6 Gadwall, 2 drake Shoveler and 1 Pochard on Manorway Fleet, 1 Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler heard at Coryton, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 small Sparrowhawk. Richard Fahey.
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 13:00 to 15:30
1 immature Marsh Harrier along creek at Pantile Farm, 24 Fieldfare, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker. Andrew Gouldstone.
Friday 06th December 2013west north west, mostly cloudy, max7°c
Gloucester Park 08:40
Egyptian Goose seen in the fishing lake. Jason Burton.
EWT Warley Place 09:50 to 14:00
2 Buzzard, c.15 Jackdaw, 1 Jay, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 pair Blackbird, 3 Moorhen, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, many Great and Blue Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren, many Chaffinch, c.50 Woodpigeon, Magpie. 5 Grey Squirrel. David & Brenda Hale.
Canvey Point 10:00 to 11:30
1 Merlin, 100+ Brent Geese, 11 Ringed Plover, 25+ Grey Plover, 500+ Dunlin and Knot, 150+ Oystercatcher, 15 Redshank, 3 Lapwing, 4 Sanderling, 25+ Turnstone, 3 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Cormorant, 1 Rock Pipit. Terry Blackwell.
Abberton Reservoir 15:00 to 15:15
20+ Canada Geese, 33 Coot, 12 Greylag Geese, 2 Moorhen, 100+ Mallard, 100+ Pochard, 2 Magpie, 50+ Cormorant, 17 Mute Swan, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Carrion Crow, 1 Aylesbury Duck, 5 hybrid Geese, 1 Swan Goose. Rob Harris.
Thursday 05th December 2013westerly, scattered clouds, max11°c
Purleigh (The Street) 14:30 to 14:40
1 Kestrel, 50+ Fieldfare, 70+ Starling, 2 Blackbird, 1 Pheasant. Rob Harris.
Hanningfield Reservoir 14:55 to 15:20
250+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 300+ Mallard, 30+ Gadwall, 350+ Coot, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 100+ Canada Geese, 150+ Greylag Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 12 Carrion Crow, 250+ Herring Gull, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 40+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Greater Black-backed Gull, 100+ Cormorant, 60+ Mute Swan, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Robin, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Pheasant, 50+ Starling, 1 Magpie, 100+ Wigeon,4 Domestic Geese. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 04th December 2013westerly, scattered clouds, max9°c
Leigh on Sea, Stonehill Road 09:30 to 12:30
Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Chaffinch, 4+ Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock, male Blackcap, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch flying over. Laurie.
Southend, Jones Memorial Park 11:00
Nice mixed flock of about a dozen Blue and Long-tailed Tit in trees along the fencing with 'Boots and Laces'. 1 brave little Robin following me round while I walked the dogs, 1 very brightly plumaged Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 5 Magpie, 2 Mistle Thrush which shot into the crematorium bushes as I approached. Phil Lusher.
Two Tree Island 12:00
1 ringtail Hen Harrier at eastern end of island. Seen several times in 30 minutes. Mike Howe.
Hanningfield Reservoir 12:00 to 12:30
150+ Tufted Duck, 80+ Pochard, 200+ Mallard, 20+ Gadwall, 350+ Coot, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Canada Geese, 16 Greylag Geese, 50+ Herring Gull, 250+ Black-headed Gull, 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Greater Black-backed Gull, 5 Carrion Crow, 100+ Cormorant, 12 Mute Swan, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Ruddy Shelduck, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Robin, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Domestic Geese. Rob Harris.
Canvey Point 13:30 to 15:00
1 Merlin, 30+ Brent Geese, 9 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 150+ Dunlin, 10+ Knot, 100+ Oystercatcher, 2 Teal, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 25+ Turnstone, 4 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 1 Lapwing, 5 Cormorant. Terry Blackwell.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:45 to 15:30
4 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egret, 200+ Lapwing, 100+ Dunlin, 70 + Redshank, 3 Curlew, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Shelduck, 1 Skylark, 7 Moorhen, 1 Magpie, 40+ Carrion Crow, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 30+ Herring Gull, 20+ Woodpigeon, 7 Mute Swan, 200+ Brent Geese. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 03rd December 2013north westerly, overcast, max7°c
Hockley, Beckney Wood, 08:00 to 09:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 15-20 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch, 12 Long-Tailed Tit, 5 Redwing and a couple of Fieldfare passing over, 1 Chiffchaff. David Glover.
EWT Two Tree Island 10:30 to 15:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, c.10 female Reed Bunting, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Wren, 5 pair Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Turnstone, few Oystercatcher, c.20 Curlew, c.100 Lapwing, Knot and Dunlin in their 1000's. 100's of Grey Plover, 100's of Brent Geese all very mobile, c.12 Shelduck, 1 pair Shoveler, few Teal, 8 Wigeon, few Common Gull, many Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull. David & Brenda Hale.
Monday 02nd December 2013north easterly, overcast, max9°c
Southchurch Park East 08:45
1 large flock of Long-tailed Tit browsing/feeding on berries/shrubs within 10ft of me. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB West Canvey Marshes 09:30 to 12:15
250+ Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 25+ Teal, 4 Pochard, 25 Canada Geese, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, 8 Curlew, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Fieldfare, Corn Bunting, Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier (seen from sea wall looking towards Pitsea). Terry Blackwell.
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:30 to 14:30
3 Grey Heron, 3500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (approx 2000 on wetlands flew in from Dengie side, 1500 on winter wheat fields south of works), 6 Marsh Harrier (On Wallasea adult male, adult female with striking white head and shoulders, another female with pale head and all dark 1st winter, two more dark birds on Foulness), 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Sparrowhawk (female in low and fast across river from Foulness), 180 Ringed Plover (roosting by new pools), 400+ Golden Plover, 50+ Grey Plover, 1650 Lapwing (850 by pools, another 800+ at east end), 1500 Dunlin (definite increase in numbers - many by new pools and island roost), 280 Black-tailed Godwit (large flock at east end - at last!), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 47 Curlew, 1 Greenshank (roosting on island west of conveyor), 2 Turnstone, 3 Stonechat (pair by reptile area, single by car park), 18 Snow Bunting (flock working concrete apron of sea wall on Foulness side of Roach). the 2 Brown Hare on newly cut area behind car parkand 1 Common Seal in Roach. Jeff Delve.
Sunday 01st December 2013north westerly, overcast, max9°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 09:15 to 14:00
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 male Peregrine Falcon, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1000+ Brent Geese, flock of 100+ Stock Dove, 15+ Corn Bunting. Mike Butler.
Wakering Stairs 10:20 to 11:35
4 Little Egret, 405 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail over Havengore Island), 1 Kestrel, 4000+ Knot, c.2200 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2000+ Oystercatcher, 175 Grey Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, 10 Turnstone, 6 Sanderling, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Common Seal. David Selley.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 10:22 to 12:50
1 Kingfisher flew along fleet and landed on sluice by creek before flying to opposite bank, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Snipe, 1 immature female Marsh Harrier earlier on thicket with Magpies, Water Rail heard at Manorway Fleet, c.20 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 1 drake Shoveler and Pochard on Manorway Fleet, Fieldfare heard, 1 Little Egret, 2 Cetti's Warbler heard over area, 400+ Lapwing, 30+ Greenfinch at Coryton, 1 Little Grebe on creek. Richard Fahey.
Hadleigh, Near Westwood 10:30
1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Stonechat, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Robin, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird. Jenny & Gordon Knight.