Bird Reports for February 2002
28/02/02
Westcliff Leisure Centre, 09:45 to 09:55: 1 Ring-billed Gull (adult), 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 adult-s, 1 2nd-s). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir: Slavonian Grebe reported a.m.
27/02/02
Hockley Woods 07:30: 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 10-15 Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Robins, 4 Blackbirds, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves (all seen on the main "dog walking" path). In the childrens play area: 1 Green Woodpecker and 5 Redwings.
Hockley Woods, 14:00 to 15:00: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
Hadleigh Castle Country Park, Chapel Lane car park 13:15 to 13:45: 2 Jay, 4 Blackbird, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 male, 1 female), 2 Long-tailed Tits on peanuts, 4 Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch. Web Author.
Bradwell Bird Observatory: 11:30 to 16:15: 7 Skylark, 5 Cormorant, 133 Redshank, 7 Reed Bunting (7 Male), 5 Corn Bunting, 9 Chaffinch (6 Male, 3 Female), 3 Blue Tit, 7 Brent Goose, 390 Grey Plover, 17 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Carrion Crow, 92 Black-headed Gull, 7 Herring Gull (2 2y, 5 ad) 3 Shelduck, 1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail), 1 Dunnock, 1 Turnstone, 7 Curlew, 3 Great Tit, 1 Little Egret, 2 Blackbird (1 Male, 1 Female), 1 Merlin (Female), 5 Greenfinch, 2 Wood Pigeon, 102 Dunlin, 42 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Pheasant (2 Male, 1 Female), 1 Moorhen, 1 Robin, 1 House Sparrow (Male), 1 Magpie, 1 Red-legged Partridge. Also Seen: 2 Brown Hare, 1 Brown Rat. Paul Levey, Brian Oulds.
Dengie (Southminster Road): 16:30: 1 Little Owl. Paul Levey, Brian Oulds.
26/02/02
Hockley Woods - Boundary Path (West): 11:20 to 12:30: 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Collared Dove, 4 Wood Pigeon, 2 Blackbird (1 Male, 1 Female), 1 Magpie, 3 Blue Tit, 8 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Carrion Crow. Hockley Woods - Boundary Path (East): 14:25 to 15:30: 1 Skylark (Over Fields by South East Entrance to Woods), 5 Jay, 3 Great Tit, 3 Magpie, 23 Wood Pigeon, 8 Blackbird (6 Male, 2 Female), 15 Chaffinch (8 Male, 7 Female), 1 Nuthatch, 1 Wren, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest (Female), 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Robin. Paul Levey, Brian Oulds.
Eastwood Sewage Works: 12:50 to 13:20: 4 Magpie, 3 Wood Pigeon, 195 Carrion Crow, 1 Jay, 2 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Blackbird (Male), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Levey, Brian Oulds.
Flemings Farm to The Scrubs: 13:40 to 14:05: 25 Wood Pigeon, 1 Blackbird (Male), 7 Magpie, 2 Great Tit, 8 Starling, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, 17 Greenfinch, 12 Chaffinch (7 Male, 5 Female), 1 Skylark (Over Fields by Path between Gusted Hall & Hockley Woods at 14:15). Paul Levey, Brian Oulds.
25/02/02
Canvey 10:00: 8 Little Egret north side of Canvey Way on rough grazeing along side of creek, easily visible from road. Wendy and David Hills.
24/02/02
East Tilbury: C.300 Avocets, 11 Little Stints, two Jack Snipe. Also 7 Bramblings and 19 Corn Buntings. David Jobbins.
23/02/02
Southchurch Hall Park, 15:30 to 16:00: 2 Mandarin Duck (Pair). Paul Baker (SOG).
Lea Valley Country Park (Cheshunt Railway Station to Fishers Green):12:00 to 13:00: 1 Blackbird (Male), 7 Chaffinch (4 Male's, 3 Female's), 7 Great Tit, 45 Mallard (27 Drake's, 18 Female's), 5 Moorhen, 67 Coot, 8 Mute Swan, 23 Canada Goose, 20 Tufted Duck (11 Drake's, 9 Female's), 4 Blue Tit, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Greylag Goose, 28 Black-headed Gull, 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Cormorant, 2 Magpie, 2 Shoveler (1 Drake, 1 Female), 1 Common Pheasant (Male), 1 Greenfinch, 1 Stonechat (Male). Paul Levey. Lee Valley Country Park (Fishers Green to Cheshunt Railway Station):16:45 to 17:45: 2 Little Grebe, 2 Robin, 1 Bittern (In Reeds on RHS of Path from the Bittern Watchpoint towards Hooks Marsh/Fishers Green Lane Car Park), 1 Cormorant, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Pochard (1 Drake, 2 Female's), 1 Great Tit, 3 Goldeneye (2 Drake's, 1 Female), 1 Great Crested Grebe. Paul Levey.
22/02/02
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:15 to 15:30: 3 Magpie, 124 Carrion Crow, 124 Herring Gull (11 1y, 42 2y, 71 ad), 3 Grey Heron, 38 Greylag Goose, 2 Ruddy Duck (2 Drake's), 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler (15 Drake's, 9 Female's), 87 Coot, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall (1 Drake, 1 Female), 10 Moorhen, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Wren, 14 Canada Goose, 122 Black-headed Gull, 1 Blue Tit, 148 Starling, 59 Wigeon (32 Drake's, 27 Female's), 59 Teal (36 Drake's, 23 Female's), 11 Mallard (5 Drake's, 6 Female's), 22 Tufted Duck (12 Drake's, 10 Female's), 51 Pochard (27 Drake's, 24 Female's), 1 Collared Dove, 1 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Blackbird (1 Male, 1 Female), 3 Wood Pigeon, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier (Male - Being Mobbed by 2 Persistent Carrion Crows + 5 Other Carrion Crows), 2 Great Black-backed Gull (1 ad, 1 2y). Paul Levey (PWL), Brian Oulds (BO).
21/02/02
Westcliff Leisure Centre, 10:25 to 10:35: 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult-s, first-w). Paul Griggs (SOG).
20/02/02
Wat Tyler Country Park, 10:50 to 12:40: 35 Greylag Goose, 109 Canada Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier (male), 1 Peregrine Falcon (female), 1 Ruddy Duck. Paul Griggs, Paul Baker (SOG).
19/02/02
Abberton Reservoir: Layer Breton Causeway 11:20 to 12:05: 16 Great crested Grebe, 9 Cormorant, 63 Mallard (41 Drake's, 22 Female's), 33 Canada Goose, 2 Pied Wagtail, 18 Tufted Duck (10 Drake's, 8 Female's), 34 Ruddy Duck (12 Drake's, 22 Female's), 2 Grey Heron, 16 Pochard (All Drake's) 1 Smew (Redhead), 5 Mute Swan, 26 Black-headed Gull, 24 Coot, 2 Teal (Both Male's), 3 Goosander (2 Drake's, 1 Female), 1 Magpie, 2 Carrion Crow. Abberton Reservoir (From the Visitor's Centre Nature Reserve) 13:05 to 13:35: 1 Goldeneye (Drake) seen from the Scott Hide, 12 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Canada Goose, 3 Blackbird (2 Male's, 1 Female). Abberton Reservoir (From St. Andrew's Church CP, Abberton) 13:50 to 14:15: 19 Goldeneye (9 Drake's, 10 Female's), 1 Shelduck, 1 Magpie, 1 Blue Tit, 5 Mute Swan, 22 Coot, 1 Cormorant, 1 Common Pheasant (Male). Garr House Farm (Nr. Abberton Reservoir) 14:30: 3 Whooper Swan (Swan's in Field, LHS of road to Stafford's Corner). Paul Levey (PWL), Brian Oulds (BO).
River Blackwater (Nr. Tollesbury) 15:10 to 16:10: 142 Brent Goose, 2 Slavonian Grebe (w. plum), 2 Great Crested Grebe (s. plum), 6 Cormorant, 4 Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull (1 2w, 2 ad.), 44 Wood Pigeon, 16 Oystercatcher, 1 Blackbird (Male), 1 Kestrel (Male). Paul Levey (PWL), Brian Oulds (BO).
18/02/02
Wat Tyler Country Park: Very good sighting of Marsh Harrier joshing with 5 Crows for 1/2 Hr or so, also Sparrowhawk (female) flew the length of the scrape. Jes Morley.
17/02/02
Two Tree Island, 14:00 to 16:15: 2 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank, 120 Golden Plover, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Corn Bunting, 2 Stonechat (pair, including the pale male). Paul Griggs, Peter Collins (SOG).
Wakering Rubbish Tip, 11:55 to 12:45: 2 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker. Paul Griggs, Peter Collins (SOG).
Southchurch Hall Park, 11:20 to 11:45: 2 Mandarin Duck (pair). Paul Griggs, Peter Collins (SOG).
Westcliff Leisure Centre, 10:45 to 11:10: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult-s), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (drake). Paul Griggs, Peter Collins (SOG).
Southend Airport, 14:30 to 13:00: 1 Green Woodpecker (along brook near St. Lawrence Church). Paul Baker (SOG).
Tillingham 14.00hrs: On field and trees beside B1021 Tillingham Road 2 km west of Tillingham - Fieldfare c. 180. Martin Johnson.
Canvey Point 16.30 - 17.15hrs: Huge flocks of Dunlin, Knot and Ringed Plover like smoke in the sky wheeling around over the sea to east and south of Canvey Point, never settling and very difficult to estimate numbers, est. c 10,000 - 15,000; also Brent Goose 16, Shelduck 21, Teal 6, Oystercatcher c. 800, Grey Plover c. 200, Lapwing 2, Redshank c. 50, Curlew c. 120, Snipe 1. Martin Johnson.
Fobbing Marsh 1130: Hen Harrier, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits. Jes Morley.
Hanningfield Reservoir: Of particular note one Barnacle Goose together with a flock of Canada Geese in the field adjacent to the EWT Reserve.
16/02/02
Two Tree Island: On Western Lagoon area, seen from hide 16.30-17.00hrs: Little Egret 1, Grey Heron 1, Shelduck 4, Ringed Plover c. 60, Grey Plover 1, Golden Plover c. 80, Lapwing c. 80, Turnstone 1, Redshank 2, Short-eared Owl 2. Hadleigh Marsh: 17.15hrs grazing on field: Brent Goose c. 520, all spooked at 17.32hrs and flew off towards Canvey Point. Martin Johnson.
Hadleigh Downs, 10:30 to 10:30: 2 Woodcock. Also 1 Marsh Harrier (female over Chapel Lane car park at 08:35). Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
Eastwood Sewage Works, 07:40 to 08:30: 9 Snipe, 2 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wakering Old Rubbish Tip, 16:00 to 17:35: 29 Little Egret (mainly flying towards Foulness after 5pm), 1 Hen Harrier (male), 65 Avocet (approx.), 1 Barn Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Reported Around Essex: Slavonian Grebe, Belhus Woods Country Park, 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. 6 Short-eared Owl, Tollesbury Wick also Merlin, ringtail Hen Harrier and a Little Egret. Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Brightlingsea. Brent Goose, Hanningfield Reservoir, Dark-bellied bird, also female Red-crested Pochard, Common Sandpiper and Turnstone. Bittern, Fisher's Green, one showing well down to 25ft.
15/02/02
Southchurch Hall Park, 11.30: 4 Mandarin Ducks (2 males, 2 females), 1 Wigeon mixing with several Mallard. Valerie Vine.
Southchurch Hall Park 11:10 to 11:30: 4 Mandarin (2 Drake's, 2 Female's - All 4 Duck's were seen together on the Moat under the Footbridge at the Northern Entrance to the Park), 1 Moorhen, 38 Mallard (22 Drake's, 16 Female's), 23 Feral Pigeon, 1 Wigeon (Drake), 1 Canada Goose, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Blackbird (Male). Paul Levey.
Westcliff-on-Sea (Seafront from Gilbies Cafe to Shorefield Road) 12:00 to 13:00: 12 Common Gull, 128 Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull (2nd Winter), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 16 Turnstone, 32 Sanderling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Carrion Crow. Paul Levey.
Southend Pier 13:30 to 15:15: 2 Eider (Both Female's - Viewed from the Train to the Pierhead), 25 Turnstone, 7 Feral Pigeon, 1 Guillemot (Win. Plum.), 3 Great Crested Grebe (2 Sum. Plum. 1 Win. Plum.), 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 Ad., 1 1st Win.), 1 Cormorant, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull. Paul Levey.
14/02/02
Two Tree Island: 1 Short-eared Owl, 7 Corn Bunting, 7 Little Egret 2 on west scrape 5 overflew. Coming from Benfleet Creek large flock of Golden Plover. Ivan Batchelor.
Hockley Woods 15:15 to 16:15: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch. Paul Baker (SOG).
Fishers Green, Lee Valley: 3 male and 2 female Smew, at least 6 Goosanders, a pair of Ruddy Duck, 2 Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal. Also Song Thrush in full song and a Chiffchaff. Dave Messenger.
13/02/02
Southchurch Hall Park 12:40: 1 Mandarin Duck (male only visible), 1 Kingfisher (Settled, feeding; all ponds). Harry Carmichael (SOG).
Canvey Seafront 13:30 to 14:15: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult, moulting into summer plumage), 12 Kittiwake (7 juvs, 5 adults followed container ship in), 1 Guillemot. Paul Baker (SOG).
Two Tree Island 16:30: Short-eared Owl being mobbed by crow above hide. Steve Wood.
Dengie 11:00 to 11:05: 1 Little Owl. Paul Levey.
Bradwell Bird Observatory 11:15 to 15:15: 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Tawny Owl, 12 Brent Goose, 1 Merlin (1 Female), 2 Stonechat (1 Male, 1 Female), 32 Curlew, 2752 Knot, 175 Oystercatcher, 17 Ringed Plover, 27 Turnstone, 135 Grey Plover, 17 Shelduck, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-throated Diver (W. Plum.), 2 Cormorant, 9 Red-breasted Merganser (7 Male, 2 Female), 39 Redshank, 14 Herring Gull (12 Adult, 2 2nd W.), 7 Black-headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Pheasant (1 Male), 2 Reed Bunting (1 Male, 1 Female), 2 Blue Tit, 1 Chaffinch (1 Male), 2 Great Tit, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Corn Bunting, 2 Magpie, 132 Woodpigeon, 1 Blackbird (1 Male), 1 Robin. Paul Levey.
Bradwell Waterside (Pewet Island) 15:35 to 16:15: 30 Brent Goose, 12 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Plover, 32 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatcher, 382 Lapwing, 2 Shag (2 Adult's both with Curly Crest's perched on the Offshore Structure by Bradwell Nuclear Power Station), 99 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Carrion Crow, 5 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 225 Knot. Paul Levey.
Near Corringham: Great Crested Grebe sitting on nest! Has anyone else seen this species nesting this early? Jim Cockram.
12/02/02
Epping Forest - Connaught Water - Chingford Plain: 12 Magpie, 3 Black-headed Gull (+1 Dead - seen floating on the surface of Connaught Water - caught up in a discarded fishing line), 21 Blue Tit, 10 Carrion Crow, 6 Jay, 36 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 33 Canada Goose, 6 Teal (6 male), 25 Tufted Duck (9 male, 16 female), 2 Pochard (1 male, 1 female), 7 Robin, 4 Mandarin Duck (2 male, 2 female - Connaught Water), 7 Great Tit, 30 Woodpigeon, 26 Mallard (18 male, 8 female), 1 Mute Swan (1st year Swan), 5 Blackbird (5 male), 5 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Chaffinch (2 male), 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Kestrel (1 male), 21 Starling, 3 Feral Pigeon, 5 Jackdaw. Paul Levey.
Southchurch Hall Park 08:30: 4 Mandarin Duck (2 pairs). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Westcliff Leisure Centre 09:40: 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 adult-s, 1 adult-w), 1 Ring-billed Gull (adult). Paul Griggs (SOG).
11/02/02
Southend Airport 14:45: 1 Kingfisher (ranging along brook between Cherry Orchard Way and just East of St.Laurence Church). Paul Baker (SOG).
10/02/02
River Roach (WeBS Count - inc. Paglesham Lagoon, Paglesham - Great Stambridge) 08:30 - 11:30: WATERBIRDS 8 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 410 Shelduck, 227 Wigeon (139 male, 88 female), 54 Teal (32 male, 22 female), 27 Mallard (16 male, 11 female), 70 Shoveler (41 male, 29 female), 1 Pochard (1 male), 80 Tufted Duck (53 male, 27 female), 31 Goldeneye (17 male, 14 female), 2 Red-breasted Merganser (1 male, 1 female), 8 Moorhen, 59 Coot, 12 Oystercatcher, 776 Lapwing, 25 Dunlin, 43 Curlew, 234 Redshank, GULLS 667 Black-headed Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull (2 x 1st winter), BIRDS OF PREY 2 Hen Harrier (1 male, 1 female), OTHER BIRDS 18 Carrion Crow, 77 Wood pigeon, 1 Reed Bunting (1 male - winter plum.), 1 Dead Gull (unidentified species), 2 Greenfinch, 1 Skylark, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat (1 male), 2 Robin, 3 Great Tit, 7 House Sparrow (4 male, 3 female). Paul Levey.
Two Tree island: 15.00-17.10hrs: Little Egret 3 flying east at dusk towards Two Tree Island, Brent Goose c 570 on winter cereal field south of railway line, Shelduck 22 on mud banks in Hadleigh Ray, Teal c 100 feeding at water's edge in Hadleigh Ray. Martin Johnson.
Two Tree island: 10:45 to 11:15: 1 Avocet, 3 Golden Plovers in mixed flock of Lapwing and Dunlin. Large flock of Ringed Plovers on one island. David Lee.
East Tilbury: 240+ Avocets, 2 Stonechats, 5 Bramblings, Jack Snipe, Kittiwake. David Jobbins.
Abberton Reservoir: 5 Bewick's Swans, 3 Whooper Swans and 2 Mute Swans in the same field within a few yards of each other. Steve Sanford.
09/02/02
Southchurch Hall park 13:15: 2 pairs of Mandarin Duck. web Author.
Wakering Stairs, Haven point 16:00: 1 Little Egret, 1 female Hen Harrier. Web Author.
Westcliff Leisure Centre 14:30: 1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd-w), 1 Ring-billed Gull (adult), 1 Kittiwake (adult). Mark Wickens (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country park 13.30: Marsh Harrier (male), 2 Sparrowhawk, Assortment of 50 or so Starling & Fieldfare. Jes Morley.
08/02/02
Eastwood Park 10:15: 1 Grey Wagtail. Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 15:15 to 16:15: 1 Green-winged Teal (drake, on the scrape), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Dunlin. Paul Baker, Paul Griggs, Mark Wickens (SOG).
06/02/02
Southchurch Hall Park 14:00: 4 Mandarin Duck (2 pairs). Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Two Tree Island 15:30 to 17:00: 2 Little Egret, 16 Corn Bunting, 90 Golden Plover, 74 Black-tailed Godwit. Vince Kinsler (SOG).
05/02/02
Hockley Woods 08:25 to 12:00: 5 Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (pair, just west of the compound, along the stream), 5 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Jackdaw. Paul Griggs, Mark Wickens (SOG).
Two Tree Island 08.00: 11 Siskin, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Shelduck, 50+ Redshank, 20+ Curlew. John Bronze.
Southend Airport News: Kestrels nested for several years in the old Belfast aircraft near the fire practice area together with a pair of Stock Doves until the aircraft was broken up last year. A Little Owl sometimes sits in one of the engine cowls of the old cabin trainer next to the golf course ,also we have had two Kingfishers fairly regularly along the brook that runs through the airport, in the last cold snap a Little Egret was seen on three occasions in the same brook. Ivan Batchelor
03/02/02
Southchurch Hall Park 10:00: 2 drake 1 female Mandarin Duck. Park Warden reports that 5 individuals came to the morning feed. Web Author.
Friars Park, 10:40 to 10:55: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff (singing). Neil Chambers, Richard Hall (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 11:10 to 11:55: 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 ad & 1st winter.), 1 Ring-billed Gull (Coming to Budgens Loaf Cake). Neil Chambers, Richard Hall (SOG).
Eastwood Sewage Works, 09:15 to 10:00: 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail. Neil Chambers, Richard Hall (SOG).
Hockley Woods, 07:30 to 08:50: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (c300m south of play area and calling frequently). Neil Chambers, Richard Hall (SOG).
Leigh on Sea, 11:45 to 11:50: 12 Siskin (Per Brian Baldock: about a dozen Siskin feeding in the trees by the brook in Tankerville Drive). John Wright (SOG).
East Tilbury: 255 Avocets, 20 Curlew, Little Egret, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Bramblings still reported present. David Jobbins.
02/02/02
Paglesham Lagoon: Little Grebe, Little Egret (2), Shelduck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye (27), Red-Breasted Merganser (8, 4M,4F ), Kestrel, Curlew (58). Steve Sanford.
Southchurch Hall Park 10:00 to 10:30: 2 Mandarin Duck (The pair were in the northern pool east of the wooden bridge). Photographs of these beautiful ducks are now in our Local Bird Images photo album, click here. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island, western half 15.45hrs: Skylark 2 singing high on soaring flight. Western lagoon, roosting over high tide period 16.00-16.40hrs: Shelduck 7, Teal c.50, Avocet 1, Ringed Plover c. 40, Lapwing c. 350, Turnstone 10, Dunlin c. 500, Redshank c. 10, Greenshank 1, Curlew c. 40 flew over southwards from high tide roost on winter cereal fields on Hadleigh Marsh as tide ebbed. Brent Goose c. 500 flew eastwards along Hadleigh Ray at 16.50hrs. Martin Johnson.
Wat Tyler Country Park: male Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Shoveler, Wigeon Teal. Web Author.
Tollesbury Wick Marshes - from the sea-wall 10:30-13:50: 2 Peregrines, 1 Merlin, 1 male Hen Harrier, 5+ Short-eared Owls, 3 Barn Owls, 2 Kestrels, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 5+ Ruff, 5000+ Golden Plovers, 2000+ Lapwings, 350+ Black-tailed Godwits, 50+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 50+ Turnstones, 100+ Curlews, 500+ Redshanks, 500+ Dunlin, 20+ Knot, 100+ Grey Plovers, 3 Goldeneyes, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1200+ Wigeons, 100+ Shoveler, 400+ Teal, 100+ Mallard, 500+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Rock Pipits and 20 Skylarks. Stephen Patmore.
Rainham Marsh: 6.40am, Driving down the A13 next to the new Rainham Marsh RSPB area , got a fantastic sight of a Short-eared Owl for 5 minutes or so. Terence Ross. (This is our first report from Rainham, we are more than hopeful that, in a few years from now, Rainham will warrant its own sightings page! - Ed).
Abberton Reservoir: 3 Whooper Swans and 5 Bewick's Swans opposite Billet's Farm, plus 10 Goosanders on the reservoir reported.
01/02/02
Southchurch Hall Park (Gardens) 12:45 to 13:00: 1 Grey Heron, 4 Mandarin Duck (2 pair), 1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).
Two Tree Island: Little Egret, Avocet, Barn Owl on Canvey side, Snipe. A male Stonechat on fence beside road bridge over the creek. Jim English.
Fairlop Waters, Hainault 17:00: Tawny Owl hunting fields. Tony Leader.