South East Essex RSPB Wildlife Reports for December 2014
Wednesday 31st December 2014south westerly, clear, max7°c
Southchurch Park East 12:30
2 drake Teal feeding around low reedbed opposite Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:45 to 14:45
1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 1 Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Kestrel, 1 Stonechat, 50+ Starling, 4 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 150+ Corn Bunting, 3 Magpie, 20+ Carrion Crow, 200+ Lapwing, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Mute Swan, 50+ Lapwing, 60+ Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 50+ Redshank, 30+ Shelduck, 20+ Black-tailed Godwit, 50+ Mallard, 100+ Brent Geese, 150+ Woodpigeon, 6 Reed Bunting. Rob Harris.
Foulness Island 14:00 to 16:00
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Kestrel, c.350 Lapwing, c.750 Redwing (amazing sight) c.50 Blackbird. Steve and Fran Giles.
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 14:45 to 16:00
1 Barn Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier, several hundred Wigeon, 100+ Canada Geese, 40+ lapwing, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Stonechat, 1 Pheasant. Keith Bartels.
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 15:00 to 15:45
Roadside hide: 2 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, Many Wigeon, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker. Andrew Bridge.
Tuesday 30th December 2014west south west, clear, max6°c
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:00
9 Goosander, 3 Goldeneye, flock of Meadow Pipit. Richard Shepherd.
A130, Howe Green 13:45 to 13:50
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. Rob Harris.
Abberton Reservoir 14:00 to 14:30
200+ Mallard, 2 Goldeneye, 200+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 100+ Coot, 30+ Moorhen, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 200+ Herring Gull, 50+ Canada Geese, 100+ Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Kestrel, 7 Magpie, 150+ Carrion Crow, 200+ Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 12 Mute Swan, 2 Pheasant, 60 Cormorant, 8 Blackbird, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Swan Goose, 3 White Hybrid Geese. Rob Harris.
EWT Fingringhoe Wick 14:45 to 15:10
5 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, 12 Blackbird, 6 Chaffinch. 50+ Fieldfare, 60+ Lapwing, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:30 to 16:30
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 4 Short-eared Owl, 1 male Stonechat, 12 Linnet, 8 Corn Bunting. Richard Mander.
Messing 16:00 to 16:10
4 Red-legged Partridge, 1 male Common Pheasant, 1 male Blue Pheasant. Rob Harris.
Monday 29th December 2014westerly, clear, max6°c
Belfairs N.R. 08:00 to 09:30
2 Stock Dove (1 singing), 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 3+ Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch (vocal and showing well), 2 Treecreeper (1 briefly in song). Richard Gray.
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:00 to 15:00
1 Rough-legged Buzzard (seen distantly then over car park down to 50yds), 5+ Short-eared Owl, 1-2 Hen Harrier, 3+ Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 3+ Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 150 Corn Bunting, 2 Stonechat. Robin Peppiatt.
Southchurch Park East 16:10
1 Water Rail flying from north edge of pond to corner of low reedbed then running up and down stubble opposite the usual Bloomfield bench. The Water Rails back was lit up by the glorious red sunset for at least 5 minute, until it melted into the reeds again. Great to see it again and still about. 1 drake Teal in and around same area, 11 Moorhen (3 juveniles), 3 Coot (1 juvenile), 2 Mute Swan (resident pair). Robert Dobinson.
Sunday 28th December 2014northerly, partly cloudy, max6°c
Wakering Stairs 10:50 to 12:05
3 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 11 Turnstone, 18 Redshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Song Thrush together coming west over Havengore Creek, 25+ Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 4 Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipit, 13 Long-tailed Tit in flock with Blue Tit and Great Tit, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch. David Selley.
Thurrock, EWT Thameside Nature Park 10:25 to 11:10
40+ Avocet, 1 Little Egret, 20+ Teal, 2 Turnstone, 20+ Ringed Plover. Richard Fahey.
EWT Hanningfield Reservoir 10:30 to 16:30
Goosander (3 female, 1 drake), Goldeneye (5 pairs at least), c.100 Wigeon, many Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Mallard snd Coot, few Moorhen, 1 drake Pochard, 1 female Red-crested Pochard, 5 Little Grebe, 6 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, many Great Crested Grebe, 100's Canada Geese, (not 1 Greylag Goose!), 1 Ruff, c.50 Lapwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, many Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, c.30 Chaffinch (usual flock on island), many Robin, Meadow Pipit, few Blackbird, 1 Green Woodpecker, c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c.20 Great Black-backed Gull, 100s Black-headed Gull, many Common Gull, 2 Buzzard. 1 Muntjac Deer, 1 Fox. David & Brenda Hale.
Barling, Stonebridge 12:20
1 Peregrine Falcon - large female low over fields scattering Wood Pigeons in all directions. David Selley.
Foulness Island 14:15 to 15:30
1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Kestrel, c.25 Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, c.50 Chaffinch, c.20 Corn Bunting. Steve and Fran Giles.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:15 to 15:35
3 Marsh Harrier, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 4 Short-eared Owl, 20+ Corn Bunting, 2 Magpie, 300+ Brent Geese, 200+ Lapwing, 60+ Redshank, 67 Herring Gull, 1 Little Egret, 2 Curlew, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Woodpigeon, 14 Carrion Crow. Rob Harris.
Saturday 27th December 2014north westerly, mostly cloudy, max9°c
A130 North 11:30 and 15:30
1 Buzzard sitting on a post (morning) then moving low by the side of the road (afternoon). A big specimen. David Z.
EWT Hanningfield Reservoir 12:15 to 15:45
Sightings from visitor centre: 2 pair Goosander, 3 female Goldeneye, 2 Lapwing, 4 Shelduck, 7 Wigeon, 2 pair Gadwall, many Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Coal Tit, many Great and Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Stock Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Heron. David & Brenda Hale.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:00 to 16:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, many Teal, many Redshank, 10 Shelduck, Mallard, many Starling. Neil Hughes.
Friday 26th December 2014southerly, clear, max9°c
Canvey Point 11:45 to 13:45
c.3000 Dunlin and Knot, 100+ Grey Plover, 20+ Curlew, 4 Sanderling, 2 Redshank, 400+ Oystercatcher, 32 Great Crested Grebe, 40 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 17 Shelduck, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 6 Cormorant. Terry Blackwell.
Southend Pier 14:00
20+ Oystercatcher, 15 Turnstone at the end of the pier, large flocks of Knot. David Z.
Thursday 25th December 2014south westerly, clear, max9°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:00
3 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Short-eared Owl, 10+ Linnet, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Grey Heron. John Spencer.
Wickford, Garden 11:00 to 11:15
c.20 Magpie, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 10 House Sparrow, c.15 Starling, 5 Collared Dove. David Hale.
Chalkwell Seafront 11:15 to 12:15
139 Sanderling, 20 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin. 2 Common Seal, Bumblebees on gorse and hebe flowers. David Selley.
Shopland Road 11:30
1 Kestrel. Alexandra Burgess.
Hockley Woods 15:50 to 16:00
4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Common Pheasant. Tim Davis.
Wednesday 24th December 2014variable, drizzle, max12°c
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 10:20 to 10:40
2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Gull, 50+ Herring Gull, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Greater Black-backed Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 1 Jay, 1 Blackbird, 15 Pochard, 40+ Mallard, 18 Tufted Duck, 33 Cormorant. Rob Harris.
Maldon
Black Swan by te Bembridge Hotel. Jim Bailey.
Southchurch Park 20:19
The male Cygnet that was taken to the estuary on Monday morning was found on the pond perimeter path in the dark at 8.10pm with the adult Mutes not letting it into water. It must have flown after I left at 4.15pm. I picked it up, took it out to the foreshore and walked it way out to the waters edge where it flew off a small distance. Nice and heavy/healthy cygnet too. Robert Dobinson.
Tuesday 23rd December 2014south westerly, mostly cloudy, max13°c
Southchurch Park 08:30
1 Cygnet and the 2 Mute Swan parents took off from east end of the pond, 2 Mute adults landed on the pond at the west end and the Cygnet flew off westerly over the rooftops, circled back over Camper Road, and then over the pond for one last look then cleared the rooftops in Kensington Road before heading towards the estuary. Couldn't see it out there so I hope it did clear the rooftops! This is the last of this years seven Cygnets. Robert Dobinson.
Tewkes Creek 10:15 to 11:00
3 Golden Plover, Little Grebe, little Egret, 120+ Lapwing, 40 Teal, 100+ Wigeon, 3 Curlew, 25+ Redshank, 3 Corn Bunting, Grey Heron. T. Blackwell.
Monday 22nd December 2014west south west, mostly cloudy, max14°c
Southchurch Park 08:30
1 Cygnet, believed to a male, lifted from rose garden area and taken to the estuary water just off of Camper Road after being pushed out of pond and harassed for the last 24hrs by its two parent Mute Swans. It flew off as soon as I placed it on the foreshore. 2 Cygnets left now and they are also now being chased around by parents. Robert Dobinson.
Epping 10:00
3 Ring-necked Parakeet. Joy Forman.
Foulness Island 14:15 to 15:15
1 Barn Owl, 5 Kestrel, 11 Little Egret, 2 Green Woodpecker, c.150 Fieldfare, c.75 Chaffinch, c40 Blackbird, c.30 House Sparrow, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, c.25 Redwing. Steve Giles.
Sunday 21st December 2014south westerly, mostly cloudy, max11°c
Canewdon, Hyde Wood Lane 07:15 to 07:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, many Blackbird. David Selley.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:50 to 11:30
1 female Bullfinch at Coryton by footpath, 3 Avocet on creek, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Marsh Harrier (female, 1 1st year, 2 2nd years), 2 Redwing, 1 Water Rail heard in reed bed at Coryton, 1 Little Egret, 1,500+ Lapwing along creek, a few Black-tailed Godwit, a few 100 Dunlin near Canvey Island, 400+ Wigeon mostly on creek, 400+ Teal and 3 drake Shoveler on creek, 2 Gadwall at Coryton, 1 Great Crested Grebe on creek, 1 Sparrowhawk. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:30 to 12:10
665 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (including many on field just west of car-park), 8 Teal, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard between car park and conveyer (sat on small earth mound for about 10 minutes with excellent views from sea wall above car-park), 2 Pied Wagtail, 100+ Linnet, 135 Corn Bunting. David Selley.
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:30 to 13:00
Minimum numbers: 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 4 Marsh Harrier (3 males), 3 ringtail Hen Harrier (ringtails), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 500 Brent Goose, 100 Golden Plover, 80 Lapwing, 100+ Corn Bunting, 50+ Linnet. Robin Peppiatt.
Saturday 20th December 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max10°c
A127/A130 Junction 10:00
Buzzard flying low across Canvey bound carriageway. John Ford.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 11:30 to 11:45
100+ Greylag Geese, 200+ Canada Geese, 4 Shoveler, 100+ Coot, 50+ Mallard, 40+ Tufted Duck, 15 Pochard, 60+ Cormorant, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 50+ Herring Gull, 2 Magpie, 12 Carrion Crow, 12 Woodpigeon 5 Mute Swan. Rob Harris.
Upminster, Cranham Golf Course 14:00
10 Egyptian Geese on and around lake on the golf course. Stuart Mitchell.
Friday 19th December 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max13°c
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 10:20 to 10:50
60+ Greylag Geese, 100+ Canada Geese, 35 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 15 Pochard, 50+ Cormorant, 21 Starling, 1 Blackbird, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 40+ Herring Gull, 12 Magpie, 6 Carrion Crow. Rob Harris.
Thurrock, Thameside Nature Park 10:35 to 10:55
1 adult male Black Redstart around wooden "Xmas tree" near centre, 20 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret. Richard Fahey.
RSPB West Canvey Marshes 11:45 to 14:30
Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stonechat, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling. Kevin Taylor.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:00 to 14:30
1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 150+ Lapwing, 40+ Linnet, 60+ Corn Bunting, 1 Kestrel, 300+ Brent Geese, 5 Mallard, 100+ Starling, 1 Blackbird, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 7 Magpie, 8 Carrion Crow. Rob Harris.
Thursday 18th December 2014south westerly, mostly cloudy, drizzle, max14°c
RSPB Rainham Marshes 10:00 to 15:20
2 Dunnock, 1 Robin, c.20 Redwing, c.10 Blackbird, few Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, c.10 Goldfinch, many Great and Blue Tit, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Peregrine Falcon (roosting on ground, rear of Purfleet scrape), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 100s Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Pintail (4 drakes, 1 female), 100s Wigeon, 8 Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard. 2 Brown Rat. David & Brenda Hale.
Wednesday 17th December 2014westerly, partly cloudy, rain, max13°c
Foulness Island 14:30 to 15:10
3 Kestrel, 14 Little Egret, c.350 Fieldfare in two large groups flew in from NE direction, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush. Steve Giles.
Tuesday 16th December 2014westerly, partly cloudy, max8°c
EWT Abberton Reservoir 10:30 to 16:00
1 pair Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 1 Fieldfare, 1 male Stonechat, 3 Skylark, 1 Rock Pipit, many Meadow Pipit, 6 Snipe, 2 Redshank, many Pied Wagtail, several male Blackbird, 100s Lapwing, 100s Pochard, 1 drake 2 female Goosander, 1 female Red Crested Pochard, several pair Goldeneye, many Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Wigeon, Gadwall, c.30 Common Gull, 24 Great Black-backed Gull. 6 Grey Heron. 2 Fox. David & Brenda Hale.
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:45 to 12:15
1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 3 Little Egret, 50+ Corn Bunting, 3 Magpie, 7 Carrion Crow, 60+ Lapwing, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 5 Mute Swan, 80+ Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 27 Herring Gull, 6 Redshank, 200+ Brent Geese, 300+ Stock Dove, 200+ Woodpigeon, 12 Mallard, 2 Moorhen. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:00 to 14:00
1 Rough-legged Buzzard hovering repeatedly, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Kestrel, many Lapwing and Brent Geese. Hilary and Colin Knight.
Chelmsford, Regiment Way 13:30
1 Red Kite. John Wilson.
Foulness Island 14:45 to 15:30
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 5 Kestrel, 8 Little Egret, c.250 Brent Geese, c.75 Chaffinch, c.50 Redwing. Steve Giles.
Little Wakering, Barrow Hall Road 15:10
One Buzzard flying very slowly and lazily South from resting in field by leylandii hedge mobbed half heartily by solitary Crow. John Meredith.
Monday 15th December 2014south westerly, clear, max9°c
No reports received for this day.
Sunday 14th December 2014south south westerly, clear, max9°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:50 to 11:30
2 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 1 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail heard in Manorway Fleet reed bed behind thicket by track, 450+ Teal mostly on creek, 4 Shoveler on creek, 150+ Lapwing at fleet/creek, 2 Little Grebe on creek, 1 Sparrowhawk. Richard Fahey.
South Fambridge 10:10 to 11:40
2 Mute Swan, 9 Teal, 247 Wigeon on north bank of Crouch, 23 Cormorant, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 80 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Redshank, 37 Golden Plover, 15 Lapwing, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail, c.100 Blackbird, 9 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Mistle Thrush, 6 Blue Tit, c.50 House Sparrow, 10 Chaffinch. David Selley.
RSPB Wallasea 11:15 to 12:15
1 Rough-legged Buzzard hovering close by, great views, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Kestrel, 2 Corn Bunting, many lapwing and Brent Geese. Mick Roe.
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:00 to 16:00
1 Rough-legged Buzzard present the entire time, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 male and 2 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Kestrel, 2 Short-eared Owl, Skylark, c.10 Corn Bunting, 2 Fieldfare. Andrew Gouldstone.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 14:00 to 14:20
200+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 150+ Herring Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 150+ Lapwing, 3 Magpie, 14 Carrion Crow, 300+ Canada Geese, 150+ Greylag Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Gadwall, 200+ Wigeon, 80+ Pochard, 100+ Mallard, 30+ Tufted, 100+ Cormorant, 1 Blackbird. Rob Harris
RSPB Wallasea island 15:15 to 15:55
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier, 4 Short-eared Owl, 2 Kestrel, Merlin.
Saturday 13th December 2014westerly, clear, max6°c
Eastwood, Progress Road 09:00
Whilst stuck at the lights, I looked up to see a Raven circling low for about 30 seconds, before drifting off towards Eastwood. Good views of the triangular tail (and the huge size!). Phil Lusher.
Hanningfield Reservoir 09:30 to 13:00
Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Ruff, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow. Kevin Taylor.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 10:30 to 13:30
2 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 5 juvenile Mute Swan, 1 Pied Wagtail, 60+ Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 60+ Canada Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Stonechat, Reed Bunting, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 30+ Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 10+ Wigeon. Chris Cole.
Southchurch Park East 12:53
1 Water Rail showing brilliantly in the usual place in the low afternoon sun. 2 Mute Swan to pond after being away since Wednesday mid morning, 1 drake Teal feeding along edge of north edge of pond/reedbed. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:30 to 15:30
2 Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5+ Short-eared Owl (5 up together - probably more present), 1 Merlin, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Barn Owl, 50+ Corn Bunting, 1 Stonechat, 300+ Brent Goose, 200+ Lapwing. Robin Peppiatt.
Wakering Stairs 15:40
4 Common Seal (possibly 5). Tony & Linda Pilkington.
Friday 12th December 2014west south west, partly cloudy, rain, max10°c
RSPB Wallasea island 11:30 to 12:15
Rough-legged Buzzard, ringtail Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier. Laurie Greenwood.
Canvey Point 12:15 to 13:15
24 Sanderling, 400+ Dunlin, 10 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 350+ Oystercatcher, 30+ Grey Plover, 2 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 50+ Brent Geese, 9 Shelduck, 20 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Egret, 17 Cormorant. T. Blackwell.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:30 to 15:45
2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Short-Eared Owl, I Barn Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. Mike Sagrott.
Thursday 11th December 2014south westerly, partly cloudy, rain, max9°c
No reports received for this day.
Wednesday 10th December 2014west south west, partly cloudy, max12°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:15 to 15:00
1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 1 Stonechat, 50+ Starling, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 60+ Corn Bunting, 3 Magpie, 20+ Carrion Crow, 200+ Lapwing, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Common Pheasant, 5 Mute Swan, 60+ Linnet, 1 Little Grebe. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island
1 hovering Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl. John Atfield.
Tuesday 09th December 2014south westerly, clear, max10°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 06:55
1 Blackbird in full song at first light. After about five minutes he obviously thought better of it and went quiet. David Selley.
Monday 08th December 2014west north west, partly cloudy, max6°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 10:00 to 12:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Jackdaw, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, 24 House Sparrow counted on feeders. David Selley.
Stanford-Le-Hope c.12:35
Peregrine Falcon flew south near road to port. Richard Fahey.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 12:40 to 15:15
1 immature female Marsh Harrier, 1 Stonechat, 1 Fieldfare, 1 male Blackcap at Coryton, 40+ Teal mostly at creek/saltmarsh, c.8 Gadwall at Coryton, 4 immature Shoveler on Manorway Fleet, 400+ Lapwing creek/saltmarsh, 2 Little Egret, 10+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Dunlin flew north along creek, 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 small male Sparrowhawk flew close behind Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Leigh on Sea, Tattersall Gardens, 13:13
1 Sparrowhawk perched on roof of neighbour's conservatory then missed in swoop at House Sparrows flocking in hebe bush. Martin Johnson.
Canvey Point 14:15 to 15:15
500+ Dunlin, 27 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 30+ Turnstone, 10 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 7 Cormorant, 54 Great Crested Grebe, 120+ Brent Geese, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Merlin. Terry Blackwell.
Foulness Island 14:30 to 15:45
2 Buzzard, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Kestrel, c.300 Lapwing, c.75 Redwing, c.75 Chaffinch, c.50 Blackbird, 14 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Little Egret, 7 Fieldfare, pair Stonechat . Steve Giles.
Sunday 07th December 2014westerly, mostly cloudy, max11°c
RSPB Vange Marsh 10:45 to 12:15
1 Water Rail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Shelduck, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, large numbers of Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull. David Lee.
Wakering Stairs 09:50 to 12:50
105 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 2 Stonechat seen during WeBS count. David Selley.
Two Tree Island West 12:30 to 13:30
60+ Avocet, 20+ Snipe, 3 Greenshank, 20+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 200+ Knot, 2 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, Shelduck, Wigeon, Shoveler, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 5 Curlew, Teal, Redshank, 25+ Brent Geese, Sparrowhawk. Richard Shepherd.
Shopland 13:05
1 Buzzard flew low over the road by the equestrian centre. David Selley.
Saturday 06th December 2014south westerly, partly c;oudy, max11°
Abberton Reservoir 09:00 to 12:00
Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Swan Goose. Kevin Taylor.
Thurrock, Thameside Nature Park 10:05 to 11:15
2 Stonechat, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Egret. Richard Fahey.
Foulness Island 11:00 to 12:00
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 8 Little Grebe, 17 Little Egret, c.50 Redwing, c.50 Blackbird, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff. Steve Giles.
Hockley Glencrofts 14:30
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 male 2 female Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, Blue and Great Tit, Blackbird, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Magpie, 1 Starling, 1 House Sparrow. Irwin Lewis.
North Shoebury 14:30
1 juvenile female Sparrowhawk on front lawn, with prey. Jackie and Mike Bliss.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:15 to 16:00
1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Kestrel, 1 Stonechat, 50+ Starling, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 20+ Corn Bunting, 5 Magpie, 20+ Carrion Crow, 12 Mallard, 30+ Black-headed Gull. Rob Harris.
Friday 05th December 2014westerly, mostly cloudy, max7°c
No reports received for this day.
Thursday 04th December 2014variable, light drizzle, max6°c
No reports received for this day.
Wednesday 03rd December 2014northerly, mostly cloudy, max9°c
No reports received for this day.
Tuesday 02nd December 2014northerly, drizzle, max9°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:00 to 12:00
Flocks of Brent Geese, Shelduck, Dunlin, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Mallard, 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egret, a few Curlew and Grey Plover. R. Shepherd.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:00 to 14:00
3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Dunnock, 2 Redwing, 1 pair Blackbird, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 26 Gadwall, 65 Pochard, few Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 100+ Lapwing up over RSPB West Canvey Marsh, many Starling and Woodpigeon. David & Brenda Hale.
Monday 01st December 2014north north east, drizzle, max8°c
Thurrock EWT Thameside Nature Park 10:45
1 Dartford Warbler near centre showing well (2 reported on Friday). Paul Frampton.
Rochford, Close to Toomeys 18:55
1 Barn Owl over road. Steve Sanford.