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Bird Reports for February 2001

26/02/01
Hadleigh Castle Country Park: Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Pheasant, Robin, Goldcrest, Jay, Collared Dove, Grey Heron, Green Woodpecker x 3, Sparrowhawk chased by Crow and two female Kestrels hunting. Tony Leader.

25/02/01
Hockley Woods (children's play area) 08:45: Hawfinch. Stephen Anderson.
Two Tree Island (from new hide) pm: 1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Red Breasted Merganser, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 male Merlin. Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park 1500-1700hrs: 1 Marsh Harrier (female), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail. Steve Hiscock.
Eastwood Sewerage Farm: 2-3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Wagtail, Nuthatches.
Hockley Woods: 2 Siskin flew over, Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers displaying.
Two Tree Island: 1 Short-eared Owl at midday.
Southend Pier: 1 adult Kittiwake and at least 9 Mediterranean Gulls: 4 1st-winters with green colour rings of A00 and E02 on left leg (see below - Ed), a 3rd-winter, and 4 adults. Two of the adults had a metal ring on the right leg and first character was an "A". On nearby shore at least another 3 more Mediterranean Gulls, so it is conservative and safe to say 10-15 individuals present! Superb views on pier - advice -TAKE BREAD AND CAMERA! Nick Green EBWS.

24/02/01
Eastwood Sewerage Farm (woods to South): Grey Wagtail, 15 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Meadow Pipit. Jeff Delve.

23/02/01
Brentwood, Childerditch, by Greyhound pub: 40 Waxwing reported. Please view from main Road as farm is under quarantine.

20/02/01
Two Tree Island: By the side of the Railway, in two bushes was a 'flock' of 31 Magpies! Also observed were: 1 Stonechat, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 1 Kestrel, 3 Reed Buntings and 3 Little Grebes. Terry Strong.
Hanningfield Reservoir: Second winter Glaucous Gull reported roosting off of causeway.

18/02/00
South Woodham Ferrers: 8 Waxwing reported in parkland by Creekview Road opposite Cornwallis Drive.
Two Tree Island: 2 Stock Dove, 2 Little Egret, 1 Wren, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, good numbers of Knot, 11 Cormorants, numerous Shelduck and the usual waders.  Terry Strong.
East Tilbury: 400+ Avocets and a Peregrine. David Jobbins.

17/02/00
Eastwood Sewerage Works: 2 Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wakering Stairs 14.00 - 16.30: 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kestrel, 3 Little Egret, 2 pairs Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, 30 Ringed Plover. Steve Giles.
Fleet Head, Great Wakering: 5 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher in borrowdyke. Web Author.
Stanford Warren: Bittern observed briefly in flight at approx 5.30 pm. David Jobbins.

15/02/01
East Tilbury: 2 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting and quite a few Skylark. D. Messenger
Stanford Warren: 1 Bittern. D.Messenger.
Wat Tyler Country Park: 4 Little Grebe, 2 Redshank, approx 20 Curlew. D.Messenger.
Westcliff-on-Sea, on top of street lamp outside Rossi's 15:30: Ring-billed Gull. Richard Chew.
 

14/02/01
Temple Farm Industrial Estate, Sutton Road, at the junction of Cordwainers: 5 Waxwing. (per SOG).

13/02/01
Wakering, Star Lane, behind brick works: Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail. Steve Arlow & Paul Griggs (SOG).
Fleet Head: 3 Little Egret. (per SOG).
Eastwood Sewerage Farm: 3, possibly 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Jack Snipe. (per SOG).
Temple Farm Industrial Estate, Sutton Road, at the junction of Cordwainer, from 1.15pm - 1.30pm: 5 Waxwing. John Wright (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront by Rossi's: Adult Ring-billed Gull seen on Lampstandard between Rossi's and the Casino. Geoff Goldsmith.
East Tilbury, by Coalhouse Fort: Estimates of 800+ Avocet present most days.

12/02/01
Wellsley Hospital entrance, Eastern Avenue: 7 Waxwing. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Hockley Woods, children's play area early morning: 1 Hawfinch. (per SOG).
For information: We reported 2 ringed Mediterranean Gulls on the end of the Pier on 09th February. I have contacted the French ringing programme and have been informed that these birds were ringed in Northern France by Camille Duponcheel. The details of these birds are as follows:

11/02/01
Wakering Stairs 12:00 - 15:00: C.9 Eider off shore, 1 drake Eider no more than 20 yards from the shoreline. Steve Sanford.
Wakering Stairs, from Haven Point 12:00 - 15:00: 1 juvenile male Hen Harrier, 1 Female Hen Harrier, 2 Barn Owl. Web Author.
Sutton Road Cemetery, by Temple Farm Industrial Estate 15:00: 5 Waxwing. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Childerditch Common, South of Brentwood: 39 Waxwing opposite Greyhound pub. David Jobbins.

10/02/01
Waitrose, Eastern Avenue 09:30: 3 Waxwing in saplings by entrance to Wellsley Hospital. Pat Dandridge.
Westcliff Seafront, by Rossi's 11:00: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gulls. Jeff Delve. 
Eastwood Sewerage Farm: 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper. (per SOG).
South Weald Country Park (nr Brentwood): Little Owl, Treecreeper, flock of c.30 Lesser Redpolls, several Great Spotted Woodpeckers. David Jobbins.

09/02/01
Southend Pier (end): 10 (5 adult) Mediterranean Gulls. Two of these gulls had green rings numbered A00 and E02 respectively, if anyone can help us to trace these we would be very grateful. Pat Dandridge.
Westcliff, by Rossi's ice cream: adult Ring-billed Gull and Mediterranean Gull. (per SOG).
Barling Tip: 2 Green Sandpiper, 2nd and 3rd year Caspian Gulls, 3 Red-breasted Merganser in creek. (per SOG).
Fleet Head: 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Little Egret, 2 Barn owl. (per SOG).
Lea Valley (Turnford car park area): 5 Waxwing, also around the were Sparrowhawk, 1 male Smew, Goosander, 1 long-eared Owl, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, at least 6 Goldcrest 3 Water Rail and 1 Bittern in full view from the pochard hide. Dave Messenger.

07/02/01
Hadleigh Castle Country Park, Chapel Lane car park 13:00: 14 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch and male Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeding station. Web Author.
Stanford Warren 17.00: A male Merlin flew over the reedbed, 3 Green Woodpeckers were also at the same site. Jim Cockram.

06/02/01
Bultham 09:00 on Brentwood Road by Plough House motel: 2 Waxwing reported.
Pitsea 09:30: 7 Waxwing by Tesco petrol station reported.
Southend, Eastern Avenue by hospital entrance: 1 Waxwing reported.
Wat Tyler Country Park 13.30: 1 Peregrine Falcon and 1 Sparrowhawk. Steve Hiscock.

05/02/01
Pitsea 12:00: 15 Waxwing around Tesco petrol station. Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.

04/02/01
Hockley Woods, Children's play area 08:20: Hawfinch. Torrential rain did not stop this bird sitting in its usual tree! Web Author, Steve Sanford.
Hanningfield Reservoir: One drake and two red-head Smews; three Slavonian Grebes; one drake Goosander; Ruddy Duck; Goldeneye. David Jobbins.
Garden in Leigh: 1 male Blackcap. (per SOG).
Wakering Stairs, from Haven Point 15:25 - 16:45: 4 Little Egret,1 female Hen Harrier, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Barn Owl. Web Author.
Waitrose, Eastern Avenue: 1 Waxwing reported early this morning.
Blenheim Chase, near fire station: 15 Twite, also in the area were 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls. (per SOG).
Two Tree Island: 2 Short-eared Owls, at least 10 Little Egrets. Jim Cockram.
Wat Tyler Country Park: 1 female Marsh Harrier. Stephen Hiscock.
Pitsea: 4 Waxwing. Jim Cockram.

03/02/01
Hockley Woods (children's play area) 08:55: Good views of Hawfinch in north east corner. Web Author, Jeffrey Elliot. Also, 2 Bullfinch.
Pitsea: 21 Waxwing reported near petrol station at Tesco.
Benfleet Creek: 4 Avocets, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 100 Golden Plover, 600 Lapwing. (per SOG).
Two Tree Island: male Stonechat, 18 Little Egrets roosted this evening. (per SOG). Also, Water Rail from the new hide.
Barling / Fleet Head area: first winter Yellow-legged Gull, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 20 Avocet, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Barn Owl, 2 female Hen Harrier. (per SOG).
Wakering Stairs 15:00: 2 Barn Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl, 5 Little Egret. Steve Giles.
Ferry Boat Inn, North Fambridge (sea wall): 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Little Egret, 2 Barnacle Geese, possible Marsh Harrier. Web Author.
Also: reports of Waxwing back in the vicinity of Waitrose, Eastern Avenue of which we are waiting confirmation.

02/02/01
Paglesham Lagoons midday: Glaucous Gull. Peter Low
Fleet Head, Wakering: Glaucous Gull, 4 Little Egret and 2 Spotted Redshank. Robin Chittenden / Steve Arlow (SOG).
Pitsea: 6 Waxwings. Robin Chittenden.
Hockley Woods (children's play area) 11:30: Hawfinch and 2 Bullfinch. (per SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir: Slavonian Grebe from Lyster hide 1.45pm, Barnacle Goose from Lyster hide on causeway. Jeffrey Elliot

01/02/01
Pitsea: 7 Waxwing reported near Tesco.
Two Tree Island: Female Merlin reported
Benfleet Creek (from boat): While the fishing was very poor, the bird life was probably the best we have seen this winter! Numerous waders of all types were evident, a group of 4 Little Egret and later three individuals passed us, a flock of about 100 Lapwings were on the mud bank in the creek and a pair of Short-eared Owls were hunting on the banks behind us. Mark Allington.