Bird Reports for July 2003
Thursday 31st July 2003
Wat Tyler Country Park, 17:45 to 17:55: 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Little Grebe. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Rayleigh Mount, 18:00 to 18:00: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.00 - 20.00: 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Garganey, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff, 3 Green Sandpiper. Steve Hiscock.
Two Tree Island (East End) 20:15 to 20:45: 22 Little Egret on and around the roost, plus 2 Little Grebe on lagoon, 3 Curlew on mudflats. Tim Bennett.
Two Tree Island: (on lagoon): 8 Canada Geese, 10 Avocet. In the Creek 3 Yellow Legged Gull, Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and 5 Little Egrets. Terry Strong.
Wednesday 30th July 2003
Westcliff Casino, 08:40 to 08:50: 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad-summer (also 5 Common Seals)). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Priory Park, 12:15 to 12:50: 2 Green Woodpecker (Adult & juvenile), 
1 Spotted Flycatcher (Adult), 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Presumably a migrant). John Wright (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East), 17:00 to 18:00: 37 Little Egret (feeding on the mud), 70 Greenshank, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult), 18 Little Tern, 10 Whimbrel, 37 Black-tailed Godwit. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 17:45 to 17:55: 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.15 - 20.00: 5 Bearded Tit, 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Turtle Dove, Steve Hiscock.
Tuesday 29th July 2003
Two Tree Island (East) 20.17: 28 Little Egret on the roost. Terry Strong.
Monday 28th July 2003
Belfairs N.R., 08:00: 1 Crossbill. Tony Mead (SOG).
Benfleet, 08:00: 1 Hobby seen flying over Sadlers Farm roundabout (A130/A13 intersection). Richard Chew.
Wat Tyler Country Park 09:00 to 11:00: 1 Whimbrel, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit in summer plumage, 1 Greenshank all from the southern end. 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 male Ruff from the Bird Hide by the Motor Boat museum. David Lee.
Fobbing Marshes 10.00 to 12.00: 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 2 Kestrel and 5 Yellowhammer (all singing) Andy Woodhouse.
Two Tree Island, 14:20 to 16:30: 7 Little Egret, 3 Yellow-legged Gull (2 adults and a possible 1st summer), 1 Whimbrel, 59 Greenshank, 30 Black-tailed Godwit. Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 17:30 to 17:45: 1 Yellow-legged Gull. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East), 18:00 to 18:35: 15 Little Egret (feeding on the mud), 9 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Sunday 27th July 2003
Ballards Gore, 07:40 to 18:00: 4 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellowhammer (singing), 1 Turtle Dove (singing), 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Tern. Neil Chambers (SOG).
The Fleet Wakering 14.00-15.00: 2 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, Red-Legged Partridge, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Common Tern, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, Skylark. Stuart Bailey.
Wakering Stairs 15.30-16.00: 11 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern. Stuart Bailey.
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole, 15.45 - 18.15: 6 Shelduck (5 were young ), Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, 5 Little Egret, 15 Curlew, Sedge Warbler, 2 Turtle Dove, 3 Common Sandpiper. Of interest ten Grey Heron at Brandy Hole saltmarsh, of which at least half were young. Ray Fuller.
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 18:15: 1 Hobby (adult, flew through over the garden heading west). Paul Baker (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 18:20 to 19:15: 1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East), 20:00 to 20:10: 10 Little Egret (on the roost). Andrew Woodhouse.
North Fambridge Area: 11:00: 1 White Stork between North Fambridge and Woodham heading South Easterly. Gavin Thomson.
Saturday 26th July 2003
Rochford Golf Course, 08:00 to 11:45: 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Vange Marsh, 15:30 to 16:30: 13 Common Sandpiper (majority were in the creek), 8 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 1 Whimbrel (in the creek), 59 Canada Goose, 8 Tufted Duck (female with 7 young), 3 Little Grebe (inc 1 juv), 3 Common Tern (juv's), 3 Kestrel. Paul Baker (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 15:45 to 17:30: 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Little Egret, 15 Greenshank, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (3rd Sm), 4 Common Tern (I only went along the creek about 200 yds pass Two-Tree Island). John Wright (SOG).
Abberton Reservoir 18:40: Great White Egret reported at the southern end of Layer de la Haye causeway.
Wednesday 23 July 2003
Thorpe Bay Seafront, 12:30 to 13:00: 34 Mediterranean Gull (22 adults, 5 2nd summers and 4 1st summers between the Old Gasworks Pier (the best place to look for them) and Thorpe Bay). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 16:30 to 17:15: 3 Mediterranean Gull (1st summers east of the Casino. Note there has been a large increase in Black-headed Gull numbers among the length of the seafront the past couple of days). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Tuesday 22nd July 2003
A127/A130 17:30: 1 Hobby seen flying over the A127/A130 intersection. Richard Chew.
Gunners Park: 1 Sparrowhawk (either female or immature). John Pitt.
Monday 21st July 2003
Hadleigh Country Park 13:15: Hobby clutching prey flew across Chapel Lane car park. Web Author.
Sunday 20th July 2003
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 09:00 to 09:15: 1 Grey Wagtail. Brian Baldock (SOG).
Fleet Head / Potton Island 12.00 - 14.00: 20+ Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier (Females seen on Potton), 2 Kestrel, Avocet, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 9 Ruff, 50+ Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker. Andrew Bridge & Lee Ebbs.
Fleet Head, 17:00 to 19:20: 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 5 Little Egret, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Turtle Dove, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Haven Point, 18:10 to 20:00: 1 Little Egret, 1 Golden Plover (almost summer plumage), 14 Sanderling (mostly adult summer), 9 Little Tern, 7 Whimbrel (also a flock of about 40 roosting in cover on Havengore saltings), 1 Kestrel, 1 Turtle Dove, 23 Sand Martin, 5 Grey Plover, 38 Greenshank (23 on the mud and another 15 flying over), 18 Bar-tailed Godwit (mostly in summer plumage). Don Petrie (SOG).
Wakering , 19:30 to 19:35: 4 Mediterranean Gull (2 adults & 2 1st summers on fields just west of the mini roundabout along Southend Road). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Saturday 19th July 2003
Westcliff Seafront, 08:30 to 08:40: 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 2nd Sms, 1 adult. Also 3 Common Seals on a sand bank), 1 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).
Gunners Park, 09:00 to 09:40: 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel. John Wright (SOG).
Southend Area 09:00 to 10:00: 41 Mediterranean Gull (21 adults, 12 1st summers, 7 2nd summers and the first Juvenile of the autumn at Shoebury Coastguards. Several ringed birds were seen including Green P20 and Green A00 freshly returned, a yellow ringed 2nd summer 57P or possibly 57F. If the former this bird was seen on the Pier in March. Plus the Dutch metal ringed bird and one of the Praha Czech Republic birds. The juvenile was also ringed with a green ring on the right leg but was flushed by joggers before I could read it. Most of the Meds were on the Mussel beds south of the old Gasworks Pier.), 4 Greenshank (East Beach). Steve Arlow (SOG).
The Fleet - Wakering, 11:15 - 12:15: 9 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, 3 Avocet, 39 Black-tailed Godwit (most in summer plumage), 3 Whimbrel, 2 Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker. Lee Ebbs, Web Author.
Barling, 11:45 to 12:30: 4 Little Egret, 17 Tufted Duck (Female with 16 ducklings). John Wright (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 19:15 to 20:45: 1 Sparrowhawk (female), 3 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Friday 18th July 2003
Two Tree Island, 17:45 to 19:45: 4 Yellow-legged Gull (adults, we should now start to see an increase in this species being record over the next month or so. Best places to look for Yellow-legged Gull are off of Two Tree Island slipway, Tewkes Creek on Canvey and Benfleet Creek. Birds will no doubt be found in other places), 2 Mediterranean Gull (Ad-summer, 2nd-summer), 5 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 52 Greenshank, 6 Little Tern, 88 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 10 Little Egret. Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow (SOG).
For Any Dragonfly Enthusiasts: Butts Hill pond, Canewdon currently has good numbers of Black-tailed skimmers, Brown Hawker, Emperor and Ruddy Darter and Hummingbird Hawkmoth regular in local gardens. Jeff Delve.
Wednesday 16th July 2003
Shoebury East Beach, 07:00 to 07:20: 11 Little Tern (Sat out on the mud flats. These are the first to be recorded locally this year). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Thorpe Bay Seafront, 07:30 to 08:15: 2 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southend Areas, 06:00 to 08:15: 44 Mediterranean Gull (25 adults (including the returning green ringed bird P20, both Praha 35054 & 35055 Czech Republic birds and a new White Ringed bird either 860 or B60, 5 2nd summers including the Dutch ringed bird from June 3.581.891 and 14 1st summers. Majority were on the mussel beds south of the Old Gasworks Pier). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Old Tip, 19:50 to 20:45: 32 Little Egret (on roost at 20:30), 4 Barn Owl (1 on the Fleet, 1 on Rushley, 2 on Potton), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Turtle Dove, 1500 Starling (circa), 2 Kestrel (1 juvenile). Web Author.
Tuesday 15th July 2003
Two Tree Island, 18:00 to 20:00: 3 Yellow-legged Gull (2 adults and a moulting 3rd summer/near adult on the raised bank bar in centre of the creek), 3 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret (in creek), 1 Whimbrel. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Monday 14th July 2003
Gunners Park 18:00: 3 Green Woodpecker in same tree at the southern end of the park. Jenifer Akib.
Southchurch Seafront, 19:30 to 19:45: 5 Mediterranean Gull (2 adults, 2 2nd summers & 1 1st summer on the mud just out from the Southend Marine Activity Centre). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Ashingdon, 22:30 to 22:30: 1 Tawny Owl (1 hooting to the east of Golden Cross Road). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Manningtree: 3 Spoonbill (1 adult and 2 colour ringed juveniles) reported at Mistley Walls.
Sunday 13th July 2003
Wakering Common - Fleet Head 08.00 -10.30: 7 Oystercatcher, 20 Redshank, 40 Avocet, 5 Little Egret, 5 Shelduck (including 1 pair with 11 duckling), 1 Marsh Harrier (male hunting over the borrow dyke inland from Potton Creek), 21 Black-Tailed Godwit (several in full summer plumage), 6 Skylark, 2 Linnet, 1 Sedge Warbler. Richard Mander.
Stanford Warren 08.00 - 09.00: 1 Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher, Turtle Dove, 8 Sand Martin. David Jobbins (Birds of East Tilbury) Birds of East Tilbury Website.
East Tilbury 09.00 - 13.00: 1 female Marsh Harrier (flew across river to Kent); 80+ Avocet, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 2 Stonechat. David Jobbins (Birds of East Tilbury) Birds of East Tilbury Website.
Barling Rubbish Tip, 11:50 to 13:10: 5 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults and 1 1st summer), 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wallasea Island 13:00 - 15:00: 3 Marsh Harriers - 2 females in heavy wing moult (one missing many inner primaries), 1 2nd yr male also moulting. 30 Corn Bunting, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Avocet ad and near fledged young, 2 Greenshank, 11 Little Egret, 4 roosting in field with 4 Grey Heron, others in borrow dykes and over Foulness. Jeff delve, Nick Green (EBWS).
Rochford Golf Course, 14:30 to 17:30: 1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 14:35 to 14:35: 
1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling just east of the concrete blocks). Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
Ashingdon, 22:00 to 22:00: 1 Tawny Owl (hooting to the east of Golden Cross Road). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Saturday 12th July 2003
Vange Marsh, 08:10 to 09:15: 2 Little Egret, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper. Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 10:10 to 11:50: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer along the creek. Also up to 5 White-letter Hairstreaks on Hadleigh Downs). Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
Wakering Stairs 16:30: 1 adult male Marsh Harrier (observed flying in from the east over long building), 1 female Sparrowhawk, 2 Yellowhammer. Web Author.
Friday 11th July 2003
Southend Seafront, 11:30 to 13:45: 2 Mediterranean Gull (An adult seen from office window was possibly the same seen along Thorpe Bay Seafront at 1.45pm when there was also a 1st summer sat on the beach.). Steve Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole, 12.30 - 13.50: 60+ Curlew, 4 Little Egret, Greenshank, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Turtle Dove. Ray Fuller.
Canewdon: 1 Quail heard close outside house at 11pm for 5 minutes. Moved off and not refound next morning. Jeff Delve.
Wednesday O9th July 2003
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole, 19.15 - 20.55: 3 Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Tern, 2 Curlew, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Corn Bunting, Turtle Dove. Ray Fuller.
Tuesday 08th July 2003
Wat Tyler Country Park 15:00 - 16:30: 1 Mediterranean Gull. 1 Little Ringed Plover. 1 Little Egret. 1 Great Crested Grebe. 3 Little Grebes + chicks with one. 1 Pied Wagtail. All on the large Scrape on on the Fleet. Small flock of Long-tailed Tits around Holly Cottage. Martin Itter.
Fleet Head, 17:20 to 21:20: 6 Green Sandpiper, 10 Ruff, 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover (adult still present), 2 Greenshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer on pool with Black-headed Gulls), 5 Avocet, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Barn Owl (with one making regular visits to nesting hole on Potton), 13 Sand Martin, 2 Marsh Harrier (female on Rushley Island and 2nd year male over Fleet Head), 78 Little Egret (on the Foulness roost viewed distantly from Wakering Tip). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Monday 07th July 2003
The Fleet, Wakering 19:00 - 21:00: 1 Hobby, 1 Barn Owl, 50+ Avocet (on Potton), 32 Little Egret (on roost), 40+ Black-tailed Godwit (in Barlinghall Creek), 5 Ruff, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 (1m,1f,2juv) Reed Bunting. Steve and Corrina Giles.
Sunday 06th July 2003
Two Tree Island 7:30 to 9:30: 5 Little Egret (2 on the Avocet lagoon and 3 in the creek), 2 summer plumage Dunlin (1 on the lagoon and 1 on the creek), 1 summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit on the creek, 1 male Blackcap by the eastern pond, 1 Lesser Whitethroat at the eastern tip. David Lee.
Southend Seafront Areas 08:00 to 09:00: 62 Mediterranean Gull (includes 16 adults, 1 2nd summer and 2 1st summers at East Beach and 25 adults, 2 2nd summers and 16 1st summers at Thorpe Bay). Also 7 Little Egret at Shoebury East Beach. Steve Arlow, Mike Bailey (SOG).
Eastern Avenue 10.40: Osprey circling high above Waitrose being mobbed by gulls then glided towards Garons golf course. Don Wildish.
Fleet Head, 11:00 to 12:45, (all waders were seen on the road side pool): 9 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover (adult), 1 Spotted Redshank, 8 Ruff (including 2 ruffed males, one white and one black), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult over the old tip), 3 Marsh Harrier (2 females over New England Island and a 2nd year male over the fleet), 1 Little Egret, 5 Turtle Dove, 3 Greenshank. Steve Arlow, Web Author.
Saturday 05th July 2003
Southend Seafront Areas, 06:30 to 10:20: 37 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults & 3 1st smrs at East Beach / 15 adults, 9 1st smrs & 1 2nd smr at Thorpe Bay / 1 adult, 2 of both 1st & 2nd smrs at Westcliff). Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
Shoebury East Beach, 07:05 to 08:30: 7 Little Egret, 2 Greenshank, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing male by the pond), 1 Gull-billed Tern (adult spent three minutes on the mud off of the Ice cream shop end of the road viewed from the Blackgate road end. It then flew east past us towards Wakering Stairs at 8am). Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole, 09.55 - 12.10: Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting, 10 Reed Bunting, 5 Sedge Warbler, 5 Little Egret, Greenshank, 8 Curlew, 7 Common Whitethroat, 2 Shelduck, 2 Common Tern. Ray Fuller.
Two Tree Island (West), 13:00: 1 Hobby. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service
Wakering Old Tip 14:50 - 15:20: 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 7 Ruff (including one bird strutting around and displaying with almost a full ruff and ear tufts!), 2 Turtle Dove. Web Author.
Rochford Golf Course, 15:30 to 18:45: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap (singing) Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wakering Stairs 15:45 - 16:30: 2 Sparrowhawk, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, 1 Yellowhammer. Web Author.
Two Tree Island (West), 16:30 to 17:45: 30 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 3 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).
Magnolia Nature Reserve, Ashingdon: 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 15 Whitethroat and 1 Bullfinch (male). Steve Sanford.
Eastwood Park, 14:00 to 18:45: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Hobby, 1 Grey Wagtail. Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Friday 04th July 2003
Leigh on Sea, 08:20: 1 Mediterranean Gull (Adult at the junction of Grand Drive & Grand Parade. Of interest I saw a 
Peach-faced Lovebird at the Junction of the London Road and Southsea Avenue on Monday 30th June). John Wright (SOG).
Southend Old Gasworks, 12:40 to 12:45: 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 1st summer again seen from my office window). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Boyce Hill Golf Course Benfleet 18:30: 1 Grey Wagtail. Jerry Stock.
Thursday 03rd July 2003
Southend Old Gasworks, 15:30 to 16:00: 3 Mediterranean Gull (all 1st summers seen from my office window ). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir: Female Red Crested Pochard with 4 ducklings. Gary Jackson.
Information: Ringed Mediterranean Gull 3.581.891 (as reported on 28/06/03). We have received the following information regarding this ringed bird: Arnhem 3.581.891 pull 01.06.2001 Stellendam, Scheelhoek-eilanden, Zuid-Holland, NL (51.49 N, 04.04 E).
Wednesday 02nd July 2003
Thundersley area (back garden) 0845 - 09.00: Thirteen juvenile Blue Tits and two juvenile Great Tits feeding on my Peanut peckers. John Bennett.
Shoebury East Beach (on MOD beach) 12.30 - 12.45: 7 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 3 Oystercatcher. No Mediterranean Gulls seen. John Bennett.
Westcliff Seafront, 12:35 to 12:40: 2 Mediterranean Gull (both 1st summers with one bird showing a near full 2nd summer hood and bill colouration, this is a new bird). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Shoebury East Beach, 18:00 to 18:35: 6 Little Egret. Steve Arlow, Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southend Seafront Areas 18:00 to 20:15: 49 Mediterranean Gull (42 counted at Thorpe Bay included 13 1st summers, 6 2nd summers and 23 adults, a single adult at Westcliff and 6 adults at Shoebury East Beach. The East Beach count could have been higher though, rain stopped play here). Steve Arlow, Paul Griggs (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 19:55 to 20:15: 2 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Tuesday 01st July 2003
Southend Area, 18:00 to 20:30: NEW ESSEX RECORD!! 65 Mediterranean Gull (The exceptional numbers continue to increase. Again I spent several hours all along the seafront. Adults 53, 2nd Summers 8, 1st summers 4. At Westcliff there was 3 adults and a 2nd summer, between the pier and Shoebury viewed from Thorpe Bay there was 30 adults, 7 2nd summers and 3 1st summers. At East Beach there was 17 adults and 1 1st summer and Wakering Stairs had 3 adults but more could have been present as the tide was a long way out). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Shoebury East Beach, 20:00 to 20:15: 5 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).