Bird Reports for February 2007
Wednesday 28th February 2007
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 07:20
1 Merlin chasing Starlings. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Tesco, Pitsea 07.30
Sparrowhawk Scattering about 50 feral pigeon. Gary Clinton.
Hockley Woods 07.30 - 10.00
1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 female Hawfinch (all in and around the play area). Cleve Bull.
Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 11.30
4 Goosander (1 male and 3 females), 8 Goldeneye. David Jobbins.
Hartford End Near Felsted, 16.45
1 male Peregrine. John wilson.
Tuesday 27th February 2007
Abberton Reservoir 09.00 - 11.30
2 Oystercatcher, 1 female Red Crested Pochard, many Goldeneye, Wigeon and Pochard. M.Jameson and M.Howell.
East Mersea 12.30 - 15.30
3 Little Egret, 1 male Reed Bunting, 7 Yellowhammer, 100 Brent Geese, 2 Little Grebe. Also large amount of Curlew, Knot, Shelduck and Redshank. M.Jameson and M.Howell.
Wat Tyler Country Park
1 Water Rail caught on camera! See our webcam page.
Monday 26th February 2007
Hockley Woods 08.15 to 09.30
6 Redwing, 4 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Jay, 4 Magpie, 1 female Hawfinch all in play area. Cleve Bull.
Wallasea Island, 16:00 to 16:15
1 Little Stint (on the first breach by the car park), 6 Little Egret, 400 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Paul Baker (SOG).
Paglesham Churchend 16.35 to 16.45
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (showing well in Little Owl willow but nothing else). Paul Baker (SOG).
Cherry Orchard Country Park
1 Little Egret. There is also a swan, present these last few months and I have seen 4 Little Grebe and of course Moorhens. Penny.
Sunday 25th February 2007
Hockley Woods, 08:00 to 10:00
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Hawfinch (female in play area), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Redwing. Brian Baldock, Dave Knight (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 09:40 to 10:15
1 Water Rail (heard), 1 Reed Bunting (singing male), 2 Cetti's Warbler (1 singing frequently to left of hide, 1 sang once briefly to the right), 4 Oystercatcher (on scrape), 1 Skylark (singing), 2 Fieldfare. 1 Weasel ran across road. Paul Baker (SOG).
Vange Marsh, 10:30 to 11:30, (flooding quite nicely now and starting to look more like a marsh at last!)
1 Green Sandpiper (on east side), 6 Snipe, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 65 Lapwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing along east bank), 18 Reed Bunting, 6 Skylark, 25 Meadow Pipit, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew. Paul Baker (SOG).
Benfleet, Vicarage Hill 15.40
1 Blackcap (male) in garden. Martin Cracknell.
Chalkwell Park, 16:00 to 16:05
1 Black-headed Gull (an individual with a greyish hood, black primaries, rest of wings, mantle and body pure white. Bill & legs dark pink). John Wright (SOG).
Wallasea Wetlands
3 Little Stint, 17 Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing (v. few), Redshank, 30 Knot, female Goosander, 3 Pintail (first record here), Mallard, Teal, Shelduck, Brent (couldn't find the Black Brant today), 12 Little Egret, 20+ Corn Buntings - many singing on territory, Skylark (ditto), 5 Reed Bunting. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Saturday 24th February 2007
Hockley Woods 08.00 - 09.30
3 Nuthatch, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 female Hawfinch in play area for 15-20 minutes. Cleve Bull.
Hockley Woods, 09:00 to 10:30
1 Hawfinch (female in play area), 3 Goldcrest, 10 Nuthatch (numerous and very vocal), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male seen well in top car park at 10.30). Vince Kinsler, Bob Young (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.40 – 11.10
4 Curlew, 6 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Shelduck, 3 Little Egret, 4 Wigeon, 5 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Wallasea Island, 10:00 to 12:00
60 Shelduck, 10 Little Egret. Dave Knight (SOG).
Rochford, 14:00
1 Red Admiral in the Garden Centre next to the Horse and Groom. Steve Sanford (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 14.00
1 female Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Snipe. Richard Shepherd.
Paglesham Lagoon 14:00
c.20 Pintail, c.20 Gadwall, 50+ Pochard, 11 Goldeneye (4 drake), 6 Little Grebe, c.50 Avocet (River Roach), 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Stonechat. John, Matt & Paul Bruty.
Southend Seafront, 14:50
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult near Sealife Centre). John Wright (SOG).
Paglesham Churchend 15.40
6 Fieldfare in tree just before entering village. Then flew down on to field. Tim Smith.
Paglesham, Churchend 16:00
c.100 Fieldfare, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker. John, Matt & Paul Bruty.
Friday 23rd February 2007
Hockley Woods 08.00 - 09.30
Play area: 1 Nuthatch, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (150yds south of play area). Cleve Bull.
Hockley Woods, 09:00 to 10:00
Play area: 1 Hawfinch (female), 1 Blackcap (female), 3 Redwing, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Jay. Vince Kinsler (SOG).
The Maltings, Near Ongar 11:30
5 Mistle Thrush making one hell of a racket in an old tree next to which was a Magpie starting to build a nest. Martin Jameson.
Thursday 22nd February 2007
Southend, Eastern Avenue 06:40
c.200 Knot flying over road in one large almost perfectly circular wheeling and diving ball heading north (signs of migration?). Web Author.
Hockley Woods 08.00 - 09.30
1 Nuthatch, 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redwing, 3 Greenfinch, 3 Long-tailed Tit. Cleve Bull.
Abberton Reservoir, Layer Breton Causway 12.00
2 Smew (pair), 3 Gooseander(1 male), 10+ Goldeneye. Ric Shepherd
Pitsea Cemetary 12.45 - 13.10
Shared sandwich with a Carrion Crow, seemed almost tame. The Crow finished the sandwich and then sat on bonnet and pecked window until I shared Doritos as well, what a blagger! Gary Clinton.
Wednesday 21st February 2007
Hockley Woods 08.15 - 09.15
1 Hawfinch female (feeding on the ground just after heavy rained ceased roughly 09.15), 1 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Sparrowhawk soaring over clearing. Robin Peppiatt.
Hockley Woods 09.50 - 11.30
1 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap (female in play area), 2 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch. Cleve Bull.
Hockley Woods 10:00
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 2 Mistle Thrush. Martin Jameson.
Hanningfield Reservoir 12:00
1 Avocet, 4 Red Crested Pochard (2m,2f), 100 Wigeon, lots of Teal and hundreds of Black-headed Gulls. Martin Jameson.
Benfleet Downs, 14:30 to 14:40
1 Adder. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 15.00
1 Little Egret. Penny Watkins.
Battlesbridge, 16:40
1 Sparrowhawk over A130 between Battlesbridge and A127. Paul Baker (SOG).
Paglesham Churchend, 17:25 to 17:35
2 Little Owl in the usual, rather pruned willow, 1 Fieldfare. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Tuesday 20th February 2007
Southend Pier 14.40 - 15.40
3 Purple Sandpiper roosting with Turnstone and Dunlin, also Guillemot and Great Northern Diver. Andrew Allen.
Fairland Close, Rayleigh
Male Blackcap in garden. John Atfield.
Monday 19th February 2007
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 09:00
1 Little Egret in brook to east of roadbridge. Paul Baker (SOG).
Wickford 09.10
1 Little Egret in the River Crouch, field side of the London Road, Wickford. Tina Wing.
Leigh on Sea, 11:00 to 11:05
1 Blackcap (a male in my garden). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Southend Pier 13.00 – 15.15
3 Purple Sandpiper and Great Northern Diver. Connor Barbour.
Hockley Woods 11.00
Female Hawfinch in playground. Connor Barbour.
A127 / Hobleythick Lane junction 17.10
Flock of about 60 Pied Wagtail circling over Shell garage and the Bell. David Selley.
Sunday 18th February 2007
Hockley Woods, 08:30 to 09:30
1 Cormorant flew over, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male, in the wood chip clearing), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch. John Wright (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 09:50 to 13:30
WEBS: 172 Turnstone, 1 Greenshank, 424 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Wigeon, 11 Snipe, 340 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Kestrel (pair), 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2,260 Dunlin, 226 Knot, 326 Curlew, 305 Redshank, 5 Little Egret, 241 Ringed Plover, 644 Grey Plover. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Wallasea Island, 10:30 to 12:00
1 Black Brant (adult), 3 Little Stint, 8 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hadleigh Marshes, 11:00 to 11:30
1 female Merlin. Steve Bunn (SOG).
Hockley Woods 11.10 to 11.40
1 male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Green Woodpecker (calling). All in the vicinity of the entrance to the main path, which leads to the clearing. Andrew Allen, John Williams and Rod Cowley.
Southend Pier, 13:15 to 14:15
3 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Red-throated Diver. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 14:00 to 15:00
1 Cormorant (flying over), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Jackdaw. Steve Sanford (SOG).
Cherry Orchard Lane, 15:00
2 Green Sandpiper (still there!), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer, almost with full black hood but still moulting), 1 Kestrel. Paul Baker (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 16:30
1 Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Gulls, 1 Little Egret flew east over back garden then landed in brook. Paul Baker (SOG).
Saturday 17th February 2007
Hockley Woods, 07:30 to 10:30
2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (around the play area), 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Cormorant (flew over). Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 07:45 to 08:45
2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Maybe 3, in the wood on the right as you walk down from the Chapel Lane car park by the steps. Female showed well and 2 drumming birds which were not seen. Note, there was a drumming female here a couple of years ago), 1 Woodcock, 1 Bullfinch, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (3 drumming), 3 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 08:50
1 Little Egret opposite Benfleet station. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Canvey West End, 09:00 to 10:30
200 Great Black-backed Gull (very few other large gulls present), 240 Black-tailed Godwit, 950 Lapwing, 25 Meadow Pipit, 12 Reed Bunting (including a few in song), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 09.10 - 11.20
Many Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Teal, Widgeon, Lapwing & Cormorant, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 9 Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pochard, 3 pair Red-crested Pochard, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Twite, 2 Jay, 1 pair Goldeneye, 1 male Shelduck. Chris Henry.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 09.20
1 Grey Heron flew low over gardens chased by 4 Jackdaw and a Carrion Crow. David Selley.
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.35 – 11.25
17 Shelduck, Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Yellowhammer, Little Egret, 9 Reed Bunting, 4 Wigeon, male Red Breasted Merganser, 2 Curlew, 337 Brent Goose, 4 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Benfleet Creek, 13:30 to 13:35
1 Cetti's Warbler (sang briefly from edge of borrow dyke), 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).
Goldhanger, First Field on Left Going North 15.00
500+ Fieldfare. Tim & Viv Connett.
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 17:00
1 Sparrowhawk menacing the roosting starling flock. Paul Baker (SOG).
Bulphan/West Horndon Area 16.00
Still plenty of Fieldfares and Redwings in various locations(usually horse fields). Kevin Rees.
Wallasea Wetlands
Still 3 Little Stint with mixed flock of 300 Dunlin and Ringed Plover (50:50), 2,000+ Lapwing, 1,000+ Golden Plover, few Grey Plover, 2 pairs Oystercatcher. Over 150 Shelduck also on lagoons. Over 50 Herring Gulls also which is increase for here Skylark 20+ many singing and good scattering of Corn Bunting also singing well. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Canewdon
Ring-necked Parakeet over garden this morning. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve, near St Margarets in the Lee Valley
Flying Bittern, Water Rail. David Lee.
Friday 16th February 2007
Hockley Woods 07.30 - 10.00
2 Nuthatch, 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (play area & clearing). Cleve Bull.
Hockley Woods 10.15 - 11.15
2 Nuthatch, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker. John Wilson.
Southend Pier 12.00 - 13.45
1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Great Crested Grebe between pier and Leigh buoy, 1 Purple Sandpiper and c.30 Turnstone on charred timbers where pub used to be while tide still high at 1200hrs, 8 Mediterranean Gull on piles over east facing ramp of which 1 immature had black legs with narrow metal band on right tarsus and tall white band with black lettering 3K89 on left tarsus, 1 Guillemot. Martin Johnson.
Hanningfield Treatment Works 13:00 - 13:50
3 Chaffinch, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 3 Blackird, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Moorhen. Dave Griffiths.
Thursday 15th February 2007
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 10:30
1 Little Egret flew east over house, 1 Small Tortoiseshell flew through garden at 12 noon. Paul Baker (SOG).
Canvey Island, Leighbeck 10:35 - 12:15
2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Red-throated Diver (all on the water), 2+ Kittiwakes (up river), 1 Arctic Skua (dark morph) watched for about 10 minutes - flew up & down river a few times (briefly landing twice) around Chapman Buoy before settling on water & drifting out into the estuary. 1 seal (swam up river). Ian White.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:00 to 12:00
3 Greenshank (1 on scrape, 2 in creek), 22 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Bullfinch (by the creek). Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Southend Pierhead 12.00 to 13.45
2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Purple Sandpiper and c.60 Turnstone roosting on east facing wooden ramp while tide high enough to cover lower deck of KGV extension, 9 Mediterranean Gull. Martin Johnson.
Wednesday 14th February 2007
Leigh, Belton Way West/Castle Drive junction 14.07
1 Kestrel, perched on tree. Martin Johnson.
Tuesday 13th February 2007
Hockley Woods, 07:15 to 08:00
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 1 Hawfinch (female. In the play area for a few seconds at 07.35, then in tree tops just west of play area between 07.55-08.00 before flying off W/SW into the wood). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hockley Woods 07:55 - 08:05
Hawfinch seen briefly in tops of the trees in woods opposite play area before it flew off, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker heard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Jay, Blackbird, Robin, Jackdaw. Sam Richardson and Paul Levy.
Hockley Woods 08.05
1 Hawfinch see in trees above double gate (play area). Cleve Bull.
Two Tree Island (West), 16:00 to 17:00
14 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 1 Short-eared Owl. Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Monday 12th February 2007
Gunners Park 09.00 - 09.45
3 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, heard Kingfisher. Steve Wood.
Whitmore Way, Basildon 12.00
27 House Sparrow in car park, that's the most I've seen in one place for years, Also Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Gary Clinton.
Leigh on Sea, 15:10
1 Sparrowhawk flew along the gardens in Shirley Road. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Sunday 11th February 2007
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.50 – 11.20
10 Shelduck, 100 + Brent Goose, 5 Curlew, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Reed Bunting, 9 Fieldfare, 12 Teal, 2 Red Breasted Merganser (1m,1f), 2 Little Egret, 7 Wigeon. Ray Fuller.
Two Tree Island, West Lagoon 12.10
1 Little Egret, 1 male Shoveler, 60 Teal, 12 Redshank, 350 Lapwing over Benfleet Creek. David Selley.
Hockley Woods 12.30 - 13.15
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (female). Steve Hiscock.
Barling Creek
1 Green Sandpiper at edge of lake near riding stables at Barling Creek. Marion & Ian Smith.
Saturday 10th February 2007
Benfleet Creek, 14:00 to 15:00
2 Short-eared Owl (reported). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Leigh on Sea, 23:05
1 Badger along Leigh Road approx 100 yards from Chalkwell Park. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Friday 09th February 2007
Chalkwell Park, 08:25 to 08:55
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. John Wright (SOG).
Thursday 08th February 2007
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 12:00
1 Sparrowhawk in pursuit of Collared Dove in the garden. Paul Baker (SOG).
Gunners Park 13.00 - 14.30
3 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 2 Cormorant, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Linnet, 1 KingFisher. Steve Wood.
Chalkwell Park, 16:15 to 16:20
1 male Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).
Rayleigh, Sweyne Park
Several Redwing around park this afternoon. John Atfield.
Wednesday 07th February 2007
Hockley Woods, 07:45 to 08:15
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (3 drumming), 1 Nuthatch. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Corringham Recreation Ground, 10.00
1 Common Buzzard heading east. Jim Cockram.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13.30 - 15.30
1 Black Swan, 1 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 15 Goldeneye males and females all swimming together, 4 Pintail also good number of Wigeon and Teal. M.Jameson and M.Howell.
Wat Tyler Country Park 14.00
Water Rail about 6' up a tree continually calling in the RSPB office garden, a cat was close by! I have regularly seen moorhens in trees, but I'm sure this is the first time I've had a Water Rail in one! Alan Shearman RSPB.
Pitsea Cemetary 14.00 - 14.45
Leucistic Starling (Mob of 20 near main building), Marsh Harrier over dry marsh mobbed by crows, 4 Jackdaw, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, Blue and Great Tits very active in lower hedgerow. Gary Clinton.
Two Tree Island 15.00
Jack Snipe in the lagoon. Andrew Johnston.
Hanningfield Reservoir 16.00 - 17.00
Oak Hide: 6 Goosander (3m 3f), 4 Goldeneye, 1 Black swan, 6 Shoveler. Rawl hide: 2 Gadwall, 20 Wigeon. Mr John Wilson.
Tuesday 06th February 2007
Westcliff Seafront Between the Arches Cafes and Rossi, 11.10 - 11.35
5 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, c.30 Turnstone flying west just above the incoming tide, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying west, 1 Curlew. Lyn Davies.
Westcliff Seafront, 15:35 to 15:45
100+ Sanderling near Rossi's, 1 Great Crested Grebe. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Monday 05th February 2007
Pitsea Cemetery 10.20
Leucistic Starling in a group of 20 or so, really striking bird very white wings and tail, sure it's the same as one seen last year. Gary Clinton.
Sunday 04th February 2007
Hockley Woods, 07:50 to 10:00
1 Hawfinch (7.55-8.05 in play area. Bird was sat in tops of the trees on arrival before moving along the line of oaks along the fence before flying north east towards the gardens), 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (flew over the clearing only), 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker (minimum), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper (in the clearing), 4 Nuthatch (at least), 2 Jay (a confiding pair near the play area). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southchurch 10.00
2 Snow Bunting feeding along strand adjacent to speed camera/Thorpe Bay Marine shop. Doug Holden.
Southend Pier 12.00 - 14.00
6 Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Guillemot, Dunlin, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gulls. Tim and Viv Connett.
Westcliff Seafront 13:15
1 Ring-billed Gull on water close to front almost directly opposite Rossi's. Hollis and June Cloughton.
Two Tree Island 15:00
4 Corn Bunting along main pathway between carpark and model aircraft strip. Hollis and June Cloughton.
Leigh, Marine Avenue, 16.02
Escaped female Red-sided Eclectus on garden fence. David Lee
Wallasea Wetlands
Lapwing 800+, Golden Plover 200+, Grey Plover 10, Curlew 8, Little Stint 1, Dunlin 150+, Ringed Plover 75+, Black-tailed Godwit few, Redshank 15+, Brent goose 75+ with a Black Brant (huge collar nearly meeting behind, dark mantle but pale flanks not so striking), Good numbers Mallard, Teal and Shelduck, few Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser - the near resident drake, Goosander - ditto (duck), Merlin - female pursuing a Skylark in ever tighter vertical circles, Also on island: Corn Bunting 5+ singing, Skylark - 10, again several singing, Rock Pipit 3, Stonechat pair, Great Northern Diver - immature close in on Roach wall. Huge hatch of spiders - their webs cover over half a mile of seawall! Jeff Delve (EBS).
Saturday 03rd February 2007
River Crouch and Roach (RSPB Boat Trip Aboard Lady Essex III) 09.00 - 15.00
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Dark Bellied Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser (pair at Bridgemarsh Island), Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Common Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Lapwing (many 1000's), Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Common Redshank, Knot, Dunlin, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Reed Bunting. Species count: 43. Web Author.
Southend Pier, 10:30 to 14:00
6 Great Northern Diver (2 to the west of the pier, often close and 4 to the east of the pier), 10 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-necked Grebe (old life boat slipway bay), 1 Purple Sandpiper (on the burnt wood on the west side by the temporary toilets), 15 Mediterranean Gull (8 ads, 3 2nd w, 4 1st w.), 4 Guillemot. John Wright (SOG).
Friday 02nd February 2007
Hockley Woods, 07:50 to 08:35
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male drumming almost continuously between 08.00-08.10 at north end of open area just left of main path by wood chip pile), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch (singing), 30 Greenfinch (in trees just south of play area at 4.30pm). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Southend Seafront, beach opposite 'The Castle' pub 14.55 to 15.25
10 Oystercatcher, 125 Ringed Plover, 168 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sandpiper (mainly close to water's edge on wooden ramps), 21 Turnstone, c. 200 Dunlin, 1 Redshank. Martin Johnson.
Thursday 01st February 2007
Two Tree Island (RSPB Guided Walk) 10.00 - 12.00
Brent Goose (Dark-bellied), Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting. Total number of species 39. Alan Shearman RSPB.
Southend Pier 13.00 - 14.20
2 Great Northern Diver, 3 Guillemot, 14 Mediterranean Gull. Alan Shearman RSPB.
Eastwood, Mayflower Close, 14:00
2 Little Egret flew low west straight over the garden, 1 Sparrowhawk mobbed by Black-headed Gulls over the garden. Paul Baker (SOG).