South East Essex RSPB Wildlife Reports for December 2015
Thursday 31st December 2015southerly, clear, max7°c
Southchurch Park East 08:40 and 12:45
1 Water Rail in reedbed and around scrape, feeding and grooming itself in the bright sunshine in the usual Bloomfield bench area. Robert Dobinson.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:57 to 11:30
1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Stonechat, 1 Green Sandpiper, c.6 Fieldfare, 8 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler and 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, 200+ Teal, 300+ Lapwing at creek, a few Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker, 20+ Stock Dove. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 11:30 to 16:15
1 Short-eared Owl, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Kestrel, 1 female Merlin, c.30 Corn bunting. Andrew Gouldstone.
Wakering, Fleet Head 13:30 to 15:30
2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine Falcon on the ground preening, 1 Stonechat, 2 Golden Plover. Mike Sagrott.
Wednesday 30th December 2015southerly, clear, max13°c
Canewdon, Lambourne Hall Road 07:50 to 08:15
17 Fieldfare over, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush singing, 25+ Pheasant in small field by the pond, 11 Moorhen by the pond. David Selley.
Southchurch Park East 08:45
1 Water Rail coming across just inside reedbed for food and then crossing open water, back to NW point of reedbed. In then usual place opposite the Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
Abberton reservoir 10:30 to 14:45
Rook, Common Buzzard, Pheasant, 170+ Starling, Fieldfare, 30 Great Black-backed Gull, 250 Black-headed Gull, 100+ Tufted Duck, 35 Teal, 100+ Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Great Crested Grebe, 35 Mute Swan, 150+ Canada Geese, Skylark, 20 Herring Gull, 40 Carrion Crow, 70+ Wigeon, 100 Mallard, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Smew (drake and 2 female), 6 Goosander ( 3 drake 3female), 100+ Coot, 200+ Pochard, Lapwing, Kestrel, 10 Shoveler, Woodpigeon, 110 Greylag Goose, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Blue Tit, Blackbird, 4 Grey Partridge, Magpie. M. Hill & S. Jackson.
Jones Memorial Park 11:00
Mixed flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Robin, Dunnock and a very confiding female Blackcap in the Hawthorn bushes (stayed in very good view for at least a minute). Phil Lusher.
Tuesday 29th December 2015southerly, clear, max13°c
Southchurch Park East and Southchurch Park 08:50 and 09:05 to 12:50
2 Mute Swan and 4 Cygnets flew full length of pond from east to west, 8.50am, Southchurch Park. 1 Water Rail running around and feeding in the usual area out on the open water, in good clear view at times. 9.05 & 12.50am, Southchurch East Pk. Robert Dobinson.
Tilbury, Coalhouse Fort to Mucking Tip 10:30 to 13:15
8200 Dunlin, 430 Avocet, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Stonechat, 1 female Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler heard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. Andrew Gouldstone.
Southchurch Park East 10:45
Water Rail seen briefly close to the bank in the vicinity of the Bloomfield bench before taking refuge in the reedbed, 1 Whitethroat seen in trees on edge of Conservation area (southwest side), 1 Greenfinch seen in trees beside the brook north side of the conservation area. Mick Holland.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:35
1 Common Sandpiper. Susan Hammill.
Upminster, Cranham 14:00
4 Ring-necked Parakeet all chasing and flying together along side of railway track Upminster end of the branch line to Ockendon and Chafford Hundred seen from train driving cab window. Robin Guppy.
Chelmsford, River Chelmer 15:30
1 Kingfisher perched by Wharf Road car park. Tim Davis.
Chelmsford, Baddow Meads 15:30 to 16:00
1 Short-eared Owl hunting over north meadow, flew eastwards along river after constant harassment by flock of gulls and crows, 2 Goosander (male and female), 14 Linnet, 2 Meadow Pipit, 5 Carrion Crow, 5 Mute Swan, 3 Moorhen, 4 Mallard, 2 Song Thrush, 20+ Woodpigeon, 4 Blackbird, 2 Blue Tit, 5 Cormorant. Flock of 50+ various gulls; Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed. Paul Forsdick.
Abberton Reservoir 15:30 to 16:15
100+ Mallard, 100+ Coot, 100+ Tufted Duck, 43 Teal, 200+ Pochard, 50+ Shoveler, 4 Goosander, 50+ Wigeon, 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Herring Gull, 12 Great Black-backed Gull, 12 Moorhen, 250+ Cormorant, 30+ Great Crested Grebe, 40+ Mute Swan, 150+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 2 Kestrel, 19 Magpie, 100+ Carrion Crow, 100+ Woodpigeon, 2 Common Pheasant, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 6 Pied Wagtail, 50+ Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Monday 28th December 2015south south easterly, clear, max12°c
Hockley 08:40 to 08:50
1 Coal Tit repeatedly returning to feeder. Tim Davis.
Southchurch Park East and Southchurch Park 08:40 to 09:05 and 12:45
1 Water Rail running in and around reedbed, stopping for feed and then out into the open water with the sun lighting up its reddish brown wings for a glorious display before melting back into the reeds in the NW corner, usual Bloomfield bench area, watched for 25minutes Southchurch East Pk. 3 Mute Swan cygnet males, taking off from under footbridge and flying full length of east pond, 12.45am, Southchurch Pk. Robert Dobinson.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:32 to 11:45
1 Golden Plover flying along creek calling then southwest inland, 1 Marsh Harrier, c.15 Fieldfare, 500+ Wigeon, 80+ Teal mostly on creek, 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, 30+ Lapwing on creek, c.4 Cetti's Warbler singing. A Water Rail was seen by another birdwatcher in the ditch at Coryton but had gone by the time I caught up with him! Richard Fahey.
South Fambridge 11:30 to 12:30
2 Great Crested Grebe, 1ittle Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 41 Brent Goose, 27 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 325 Lapwing, 37 Curlew, 1 Meadow Pipit, 85 Fieldfare, 3 Reed Bunting. Steve Sanford.
Abberton Reservoir 11:30 to 12:45
1 Slavonian Grebe, 30+ Teal, 100+ Mallard, 100+ Coot, 100+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 50+ Shoveler, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 20+ Herring Gull, 12 Great Black-backed Gull, 150+ Cormorant, 1 Swan Goose, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Moorhen, 40+ Mute Swan, 100+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 1 Kestrel, 9 Magpie, 50+ Carrion Crow, 60+ Woodpigeon, 12 Common Pheasant, Rob Harris.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 13:00 to 15:30
1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Fieldfare,1 Stonechat. Mike Sagrott.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 13:05 to 14:30
Blackbird, House Sparrow, Starling, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Little Egret, Coot, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Turnstone, Sanderling, Redshank, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Robin, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Chaffinch, Wren, Common Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker. S. Jackson.
Hyde Hall 13:30 to 14:00
Song Thrush, Fieldfare hanging in a crab apple tree! Jan Coveney.
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:45 to 14:30
2 Common Pheasant, 20+ Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 4 Kestrel, 9 Starling, 4 Corn Bunting, 20+ Linnet, 16 Carrion Crow, 5 Moorhen, 50+ Woodpigeon, 50+ Mute Swan, 2 Short-eared Owl, 50+ Herring Gull, 60+ Black-headed Gull, 100+ Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Redshank. Rob Harris.
Sunday 27th December 2015south westerly, cloud, drizzle, max15°c
Hullbridge, Keswick Avenue 08:40
1 Blackbird with white tail feathers in garden. Colin Knight.
Southchurch Park and Southchurch Park East 08:45, 09:05 and 13:10 to 13:40
2 Mute Swan and 4 Cygnets flying full length of pond (east to west), cygnets very late in leaving this year. Southchurch Park, 8.45am. 1 Water Rail waiting for food and coming across to pickup in the usual area r/hand scrape and returning to NW of reedbed, 9.05am for 10 minutes and 1.10pm for 30 minutes. 1 Little Egret flying across park towards SW to estuary, 1.10pm. Southchurch Park East. Robert Dobinson.
Billericay, Lake Meadows 09:45 to 10:20
Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goosander (7m + 2f), a single Mandarin Duck (very briefly). Chris Henry.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 10:00
2 Short-eared Owl from Butts hide, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Water Pipit in front of Butts hide. Andrew Gouldstone.
Heybridge, Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation 13:30 to 13:35
1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Grebe. Tim Davis.
Saturday 26th December 2015south westerly, scattered clouds, max16°c
Southchurch Park East 08:55 to 09:05
1 Water Rail feeding on a lump of brown bread, clear view from 30ft as delicately picked away it, nice and quitely, then it walked NW just outside reedbed/open water with another lump of food and merged into the habitat. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:45 to 13:20
3 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 2 Little Egret, 1 Common Pheasant, 1 Stonechat, 50+ Carrion Crow, 12 Mallard, 4 Moorhen, 60+ Woodpigeon, 4 Magpie, 30+ Black Headed Gull, 60+ Herring Gull. Rob Harris.
Canvey, Tewkes Creek 13:30 to 14:30
90 Avocet, 2500+ Dunlin, 400+ Grey Plover, 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Redshank, 200+ Brent Geese, 100+ Teal, 32 Wigeon, 25 Shelduck, 14 Knot, 150+ Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 2 Little Egret. Terry Blackwell.
Daws Heath, Pound Wood 14:00 to 16:00
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, earlier 1 female Sparrowhawk over my garden. 4 Red Fox. Mike Sagrott.
Southchurch Park East 15:20
Solitary Water Rail seen amongst reeds adjacent to the bank in the vicinity of the Bloomfield Bench and then, on being disturbed, in the main reedbed. Mick Holland.
Friday 25th December 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max15°c
Daws Heath 08:30
2 Song Thrush in full song from my garden, as they have been for the last two weeks. 1 Grey Heron surveying my pond, as it has been twice weekly for a month. Mike Sagrott.
Southchurch Park East 08:35 and 09:15
2 Egyptian Geese on pond being harassed by the 2 Mute Swan, eventually flying off towards golf course at 8.35am, 1 Water Rail just inside reedbed/scrape edge walking over to pick up food then coming back two more times onto scrape area, came out into open water for a bit, then back to the far NW point of reedbed opposite the Bloomfield bench. Watched for 35 minutes. Robert Dobinson.
Westcliff, Southbourne Grove 10:00
Goldcrest in garden - a garden first. Dave Dove.
RSPB Wallasea Island 10:00 to 11:30
Peregrine Falcon, Short-eared Owl, Kestrel, male and female Marsh Harrier, male Hen Harrier by sea wall from white gate, many Corn Bunting, Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit. Jim Bailey.
Shoeburyness, Shoebury Park
Pair of Egyptian Geese. Terry Strong.
Thursday 24th December 2015south westerly, scattered clouds, max15°c
Southchurch Park East 08:40
1 Water Rail running just inside north reedbed/scrape edge to pick up food, then going back to the far NW point of reedbed opposite the Bloomfield bench. Note: no crashing and bashing, damaging the flora/fauna about the bank reedbed area (below bench) please. If you are invisible/quiet the Water Rail will appear. Robert Dobinson.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:00 to 13:30
400+ Coot, 300+ Wigeon, 150+ Canada Geese, 80+ Mallard, 7 Teal, 60+ Greylag Geese, 50+ Cormorant, 30+ Mute Swan, 70+ Pochard, 5 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, 3 Moorhen, 40+ Carrion Crow, 1 Jay, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 200+ Herring Gull, 2 Robin. Rob Harris.
Woodham (Crow Lane) 13:45 to 14:00
7 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare, 6 Moorhen, 30+ Starling 300+ Carrion Crow, 1 Blue Tit, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 7 Magpie, 1 Common Pheasant, 2 Goldfinch. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 23rd December 2015south westerly, clear, max11°c
Chalkwell Park 08:55
1 Goldcrest in trees on main drive. Jeff Kinnerman.
Southchurch Park East 12:45
1 drake Teal drake feeding across water at west end of pond. 1 Kestrel hovering over wasteland near car park area. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 14:00
2 Short-eared Owl hunting near the Butts hide (still being seen well most days), 1 Dartford Warbler reported as still present, near Ken Barrett hide. Andrew Gouldstone.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:30 to 15:30
Short-eared Owl (4 different sightings during the hour - 3 probably the same bird), 3 Kestrel, fleeting glimpse of 1 male Hen Harrier being mobbed by Crow near car park. Matt and Katherine G.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:50 to 15:30
2 Common Pheasant, 50+ Shelduck, 24 Mallard, 2 Kestrel, 8 House Sparrow, 15 Starling, 30+ Corn Bunting, 30+ Linnet, 8 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 3 Moorhen, 50+ Woodpigeon, 50+ Mute Swan, 1 Short Eared Owl, 50+ Herring Gull, 60+ Black Headed Gull, 600+ Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 22nd December 2015south westerly, mostly cloudy, max15°c
Chalkwell Park 08:55 to 11:00
2 Green Woodpecker (rose garden), 1 Greenfinch flew over. Jeff Kinnerman.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 10:30 to 10:45
18 Egyptian Geese, 20 Gadwall, 100+ Mallard, 100+ Pochard, 300+ Tufted Duck, 35+ Teal, 200+ Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 37 Coot, 15 Moorhen, 100+ Cormorant, 20+ Mute Swan, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 60+ Herring Gull, 12 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie. Rob Harris.
Monday 21st December 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, rain, max12°c
Hullbridge, Keswick Avenue 07:45 to 08:00
1 Barn Owl hunting fields off Keswick Avenue, watched as it landed in tree close to me and ate its catch. Colin Knight.
Chalkwell Park 09:59
1 Little Egret flew up from pond on west side of park. Crocus and Snowdrops in flower. Jeff Kinnerman.
Sunday 20th December 2015south south west, mostly cloudy, max14°c
Southchurch Park East 08:40
1 Water Rail picking up food just inside the reeds then crossing the open scrape/shallow water with beak full of food as it moved toward the far tip of the reedbed point, watched it come and go for 10 minutes, same as yesterday in the morning, opposite the Bloomfield bench as usual. Robert Dobinson.
Wakering Stairs 10:15 to 11:35
585 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon on falling tide line - very high number for here, 3 Little Egret, 133 Oystercatcher, 66 Curlew, 49 Redshank, distant flock of c.120 Bar-tailed Godwit flying up-river, 12 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, c.40 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush singing, 7 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting. David Selley.
Hornchurch 11:00
Pair of Goldcrest quite tame came within 1 metre. Roy.
Hanningfield Reservoir 11:00 to 15:00
20 Blue Tit, 250+ Canada Geese, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 20 Great Tit, Robin, 6 Coal Tit, 12 Chaffinch, 18 Stock Dove, 50 Gadwall, 80 Mallard, 300+ Coot, 300+ Black-headed Gull, 200+ Tufted Duck, 15 Moorhen, Carrion Crow, 100 Cormorant, 20 Great Black-backed Gull, Magpie, 9 Little Grebe, 15 Pochard, Scaup, 30+ Mute Swan, Dunnock, 5 Pied Wagtail, 75+ Teal, 100+ Greylag Geese, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Egyptian Geese, 200+ Wigeon, Grey Heron, 30 Shoveler, Pintail, Herring Gull, 60 Starling, Common Gull, Black Swan, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Lapwing, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Collared Dove. Pipistrelle Bat. M. Hill & S. Jackson.
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:50
2 Short-eared Owl flying westerly across the site, female Marsh Harrier, pair of Kestrel - the male devouring a small mammal on a post, then painstakingly cleaning its talons. Judy.
Westcliff, St George's Drive 12:57
1 Sparrowhawk flew over. Jeff Kinnerman.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:10 to 15:40
3 Kestrel, 1 Short-eared Owl mostly over salt marsh then crossed over sea wall not to far from RSPB car park. Matt and Katherine G.
Saturday 19th December 2015south south west, scattered clouds, max16°c
Thames Estuary, Hadleigh Ray 14:00
1 Grey Seal. June Lyon.
Shoeburyness, Shoebury Park
Pair of Egyptian Geese. John Atfield.
Friday 18th December 2015south west, mostly cloudy, max14°c
North Shoebury 08:37
14+ Collared Dove, 6 Wood Pigeon, 20+ Starling, 10+ House Sparrow, 3 Blackbird, 5 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Robin, Wren, Magpie in garden and 1 Grey Heron low over. Terry Strong.
Southchurch Park East 08:45
1 Water Rail out on the open scrape/shallow water feeding, watched for over 1O minutes as it moved around its territory, same yesterday in morning and lunchtime, opposite the Bloomfield bench as usual. Robert Dobinson.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:45 to 11:00
1 Goldcrest and 2 Yellowhammer at Coryton, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Sandpiper, 200+ Fieldfare, 14 Wigeon by lagoon, 200+ Teal and 1 drake Shoveler on creek, 1 Gadwall and Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, 300+ Lapwing at creek, c.25 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret. Richard Fahey.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 09:00 to 11:20
1 Grey Heron, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 9 Goldfinch, 9 Long-tailed Tit with a few Blue Tit and 1 Chiffchaff in a mobile flock, 5 Jackdaw. 1 Peacock butterfly, quite a few bumblebees on Mahonia flowers, and a queen wasp prospecting our garage. David Selley.
Foulness Island 14:00 to 15:00
1 male, 1 female Hen Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher. Steve Giles.
Thursday 17th December 2015south south west, partly cloudy, max14°c
Chalkwell Park 08:50 to 13:00
1 Sparrowhawk flew over, 1 Green Woodpecker flew low over rose garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:00 to 12:00
2 female Marsh Harrier, 1 male Sparrowhawk landed on bush, 1 Grey Wagtail, Gadwall, Shoveler. Mick Roe.
Wednesday 16th December 2015south south west, mostly cloudy, max15°c
Chalkwell Park 09:27
1 Little Egret flew low over flower beds. Jeff Kinnerman.
Southchurch Park East 12:00 to 12:30
1 Water Rail showing well in sunlight, opposite bench. B. Andrews.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 12:20 to 14:00
60+ Starling, 25+ House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, many Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Magpie, 30+ Brent Geese, 150 Oystercatcher, 70 Sanderling, 45 Redshank, Common Gull, Reed Bunting, 47 Turnstone, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Mallard, Curlew, 8 Little Grebe, Little Egret, Moorhen, Rock Pipit, Kingfisher, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch. S. Jackson.
RSPB Vange Marsh 14:15 to 15:45
20 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Avocet, 100+ Lapwing, 150 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 50+ Teal, 5 Pintail, 6 Pochard, 8 Gadwall, 8 Pied Wagtail, 3 Shelduck. David Shepherd.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 15:00
2 Short-eared Owl near marshland discovery zone, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, c.150 Linnet, 4 Stonechat. Andrew Gouldstone.
Tuesday 15th December 2015easterly to southerly, drizzle, max12°c
Southchurch Park East/Shaftesbury Avenue 08:45
1 Green Woodpecker calling from crook of tree inside Shaftesbury Avenue back garden. 1 Water Rail running just inside reeds and getting its food before 2 Moorhen tried to snatch it. 1 drake Teal feeding across water in the same area and 'thrip thrip thriping' noisily, opposite the Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 10:00
3 Short-eared Owl and 1 male Marsh Harrier hunting near Butts hide, 1 Dartford Warbler in bramble/grass scrub near Ken Barretts hide. Andrew Gouldstone.
Hullbridge 12:00
Charm of Goldfinch on niger feeder and in tree, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker on nut feeder in garden. David Flack.
Garden Opposite Southchurch Park 12:05
1 male Sparrowhawk caught a sparrow in the garden, regular visitor and told apart from a couple of white marks with two being on the back of the head. B. Andrews.
Monday 14th December 2015south south east, cloud, rain, max9°c
Southchurch Park East 08:45 and 12:45
1 Water Rail in reedbed area feeding and moving around the scrape in the usual place opposite the Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
Two Tree Island East and West 12:00 to 14:30
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe, 30+ Brent Geese, 3 Curlew on Creek, 50+ Avocet, 100+ Dunlin, 100+ Ringed Plover, 300+ Knot, 3 Greenshank, 2 Turnstone, 1 Snipe, 10+ Grey Plover, small flocks Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Reed Bunting. 100+ Shelduck Canvey Island side creek. Richard Shepherd.
Shoeburyness, Gunners park 13:15 to 14:25
Starling, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Reed Bunting, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Stonechat, Redshank, Turnstone, Little Grebe, Cormorant on the lake flew off going towards the Pier, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker. S. Jackson.
Sunday 13th December 2015easterly to southerly, drizzle, max13°c
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 08:30 to 08:40
Female Green Woodpecker in tree, Lesser Redpoll and 6 Goldfinch on feeders. Web Author.
Hockley, Glencrofts 08:40
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker on peanut feeder and coconut shell, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, 3 Collared Dove, 6 Goldfinch. Irwin Lewis.
Southchurch Park East 08:45
1 Water Rail (smaller female) coming out of reeds for food on edge of scrape, then melting back into cover. Robert Dobinson.
Westcliff, St George's Drive 12:50
c.60 House Sparrow, single flock resting up in tree in garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Cold Norton 13:00
Redpoll on niger feeder spotted yesterday returned again today and I noticed it has a ring on its left leg. S. Lambeth.
Saturday 12th December 2015south westerly, mostly cloudy, max13°c
Southchurch Park East 08:30 to 08:45
1 Water Rail coming out of reeds for food on edge of scrape, 1 drake Teal feeding busily across water in the same area opposite the Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
Hockley 10:50 to 11:00
1 Coal Tit on feeder, 1 Goldcrest in conifers. Tim Davis.
Cold Norton 13:30
1 Lesser Redpoll back on niger feeder. Steve Lambeth.
Friday 11th December 2015southerly, partly cloudy, rain, max11°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:30 to 14:00
2 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 50+ Corn Bunting, 60+ Woodpigeon, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Common Pheasant, 1 Blackbird, 12 Black-headed Gull, 7 Herring Gull, 11 Carrion Crow, 5 Magpie. Rob Harris.
Collier Row, Birds Farm Avenue 14:00
Goldcrest on conifer - a garden first for me after 34 years! Ian Phillips.
Ashingdon 14:15 to 14:20
20+ Woodpigeon, 3 Common Pheasant, 5 Black Headed Gull, 3 Carrion Crow, 2 Magpie, 4 Jay. Rob Harris.
Thursday 10th December 2015south south west, mostly cloudy, rain, max11°c
Chalkwell Park 07:45 to 13:15
Black-headed Gull (c.65 on football pitch and 100+ on cricket outfield), 1 Greenfinch, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit, 6+ Blue Tit, c.15 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 6 House Sparrow (in peafowl enclosure), 1 Grey Heron (flew over), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Starling, Carrion Crow. Grey Squirrel. Jeff Kinnerman.
Hullbridge, Keswick Avenue 08:50 to 10:10
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Goldfinch on dead flower heads, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch, 7 Starling, 8 Greenfinch, 3 Blackbird, 6 House Sparrow, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk. Colin Knight.
Southchurch Park East 12:45
1 Water Rail (smaller than one seen in the last 14 days), so could be female of pair from 2014/15) coming over for food just inside reedbed/scrape edge in the usual Bloomfield bench area. Robert Dobinson.
Wednesday 09th December 2015south westerly, clear, max11°c
Two Tree Island West 08:00 to 12:00
1 Barn Owl, 1 Water Rail, 1 Marsh Harrier. Large Numbers Of Various Waders. David Davies.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:17 to 11:30
2 Marsh Harrier singles, 100+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal mostly at creeks/lagoon, 2 Shoveler, c.5 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe Manorway Fleet, 1 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat, 10+ Fieldfare, 600+ Lapwing, 500+ Dunlin on Upper Horse island, a few Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk. Richard Fahey.
Hadleigh Marshes 11:00 to 12:30
1 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, Teal, Coot, Green Woodpecker, solitary Canada Goose, Kestrel, flock of 100 Brent Geese (feeding on Winter Wheat!!), 30 Black-tailed Godwit overflying, Cormorant, Redshank, flock of Lapwing, Kestrel. Mick.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 13:00 to 14:00
Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Turnstone, Black Swan, Redshank, Coot, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Jackdaw. S. Jackson.
Tuesday 08th December 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max13°c
Vange 10:00 to 11:00
Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeder, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Robin. Mick Roe.
Southchurch Park East 12:50
1 Water Rail moving just inside reedbed to pickup food dropped in that area, in the usual place opposite Bloomfield bench. Robert Dobinson.
Monday 07th December 2015southerly, mostly cloudy, max13°c
Chalkwell Park 07:30 to 14:00
c.100 Black-headed Gull on football field, 2 Cormorant flew south, 4 Robin (one of which kept within 1 metre to me whilst forking rose bed, taking small worms. I reburied the larger ones), 1 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Wren, 1 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Blackbird (all males together), 13 House Sparrow (all in peafowl enclosure), 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Sparrowhawk mobbed by Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Herring Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker, Chaffinch (both heard). Grey Squirrel. Jeff Kinnerman.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 10:00
1 Kingfisher on the lakeside, 2 Song Thrush. John Pitts.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:00 to 12:15
Water Rail showing well in Timbermans Creek, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, many Redwing, Song Thrush, Bearded Tit, Blackcap, Little Egret. Mick Roe.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 14:00
1 Short-eared Owl hunting very near visitor centre, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Raven. Andrew Gouldstone.
Sunday 06th December 2015south westerly, mostly cloudy, max14°c
South Fambridge 10:35 to 11:30
60 Wigeon on north bank of Crouch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Coot, 14 Moorhen, 1020 Lapwing with c.40 Redwing and c.40 Fieldfare together feeding on newly ploughed field, 4 Jackdaw, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 45+ House Sparrow, 6 Chaffinch. David Selley.
Southchurch Park East 12:00 to 12:20
Few sightings of a Water Rail going in and out of reeds, opposite Bloomfield bench. Brett Andrews.
Southchurch Park East 12:50
1 Water Rail feeding around scrape and reedbed area in the usual place, watched for over 15 minutes, good clear visual. Robert Dobinson.
Hornchurch, The Cranleigh 13:00
Yellow Wagtail after spiders on car wing mirror. Roy.
Saturday 05th December 2015south westerly, mostly cloudy, max12°c
Southchurch Park East and Southchurch Park 08:25 to 08:35
2 Cormorant on island drying out wings in in SW wind, Southchurch Pk 8.25am. 1 Water Rail running in out and across reedbed/scrape area opposite Bloomfield bench, 1 Egyptian Goose on water, super user friendly came up grass bank within 15ft for grain, Southchurch East Pk 8.35am. Robert Dobinson.
Friday 04th December 2015south westerly, scattered clouds, max13°c
Chalkwell Park 07:45 to 13:30
Goldfinch (heard), 1 Greenfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Blue Tit, 2+ Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robin (one of which kept close to me whilst I was forking over the rose bed taking small grubs), 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Great Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Common Gull, 1 Dunnock, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow. Grey Squirrel. Jeff Kinnerman.
Rayleigh, Grove Woods to Rawreth Hall Wood 09:05 to 10:45
Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Robin, Great Tit, 1 Jay, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw, Starling in and around Sewage farm, 2 Redwing on western fringe of Rawreth Hall Wood, Sparrowhawk south over the woods mobbed by crows, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker. c.20 Fieldfare in the fields East of the woods. Grey Squirrel. Paul Adams.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 09:30
2 Short-eared Owl, 2 male Marsh Harrier - both species being seen well daily at the moment, 1 Peregrine Falcon, Dartford Warbler seen yesterday - has been present for c.10 days near Ken Barrett hide. Andrew Gouldstone.
Southchurch Park East 12:50
1 Water Rail running across scrape from inside reedbed in the usual place opposite the Bloomfield bench, sighted three times in a few minutes. Robert Dobinson.
Thursday 03rd December 2015southerly, partly cloudy, max12°c
North Shoebury 08:37
Firecrest/Goldcrest. Only a fleeting glance so couldn't be sure. Terry Strong.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:25 to 11:45
2 Lesser Redpoll flew overhead calling at Manorway Fleet (sort of "terrip-terrip", interspersed with metallic calls), 1 Kingfisher at fleet, 2 Marsh Harrier singles, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Stonechat, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall and 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet, 30+ Teal, 50+ Lapwing flying on other side of creek, c.5 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing at Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Wednesday 02nd December 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max13°c
Chelmsford, River Chelmer 07:35
1 Kingfisher near Riverside Weir. Tim Davis.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 09:30
1 Black Swan. It had been missing for about 10 days and now back. John Pitts.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 10:00 to 12:30
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Little Egret, Little Grebe, 3 Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Blackbird, 130 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Robin, 3 Stonechat, House Sparrow, c.120 Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting. Web Author.
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:45 to 14:15
6 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, Carrion Crow, 5 Magpie, 40+ Starling, 80+ Woodpigeon, 2 Common Pheasant, 20+ Herring Gull, 1 Blackbird, 11 Mute Swan, 20+ Corn Bunting. Rob Harris.
Canvey Point 14:00 to 15:00
1500+ Dunlin, 200+ Knot, 150+ Grey Plover, 62 Ringed Plover, 22 Sanderling, 4 Redshank, 6 Curlew, 10 Turnstone, 1 Little Egret, 150+ Oystercatcher, 20 Wigeon, 200+ Brent Geese, 26 Shelduck, 7 Cormorant, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Black-throated Diver. Terry Blackwell.
Canewdon 14:25 to 14:33
3 Kestrel, 8 Common Pheasant, 1 Mallard, 30+ Starling, 50+ Woodpigeon, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Jay, 3 Blackbird, 4 Moorhen, 5 Collared Dove. Rob Harris.
Tuesday 01st December 2015west south west, overcast, max14°c
Chalkwell Park 07:00 to 11:00
1 Wren, 7 Greenfinch, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Blue Tit, 1 Robin (+1 heard calling), 2 Jay, 1 Great Tit, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Starling, Blackbird. Grey Squirrel. Jeff Kinnerman.
Two Tree Island 13:00 to 15:00
1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret (east end), 20+ Avocet, 50+ Ringed Plover, 10+ Dunlin, 6 Turnstone, 8+,Snipe, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, 2 Greenshank. 1 Grey Plover, 50+ Lapwing (west end), 700+ Knot, 25+ Brent Geese (creek). Richard Shepherd.