Bird Reports for July 2005
Sunday 31st July 2005
Rochford Golf Course, 08:00 to 11:00
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap. Neil Chambers (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.40 11.25
2 Common Tern, 4 Common Sandpiper, 8 Little Egret (3 on north side of Crouch), Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Whitethroat, 2 Corn Bunting, Curlew, 8 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Westcliff 14.30
3 Grey Seal on sand bank before being disturbed by three small boats. Web Author.
Hadleigh Downs, 16:30
1 Peregrine Falcon (Male, eastern end adjacent to the Belton Hills). John Wright (SOG).
Ashingdon, 19:00
1 Green Woodpecker (in churchyard). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island 19.50 to 20.00
48 Little Egret at roost on trees (seen from Belton Gardens). Martin Johnson.
Saturday 30th July 2005
Gunners Park, 09:10 to 09:20
1 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpecker. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 09:40 to 10:10
A very low high tide meant that Havengore Creek was empty an hour after the high water mark. 31 Greenshank, 2 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier (females on Havengore Island), 2 Turtle Dove. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 10:30 to 12:00
78 Mediterranean Gull 
(35 adults including Yellow Colour rings 31P and 57P, Red PAJ1, 10 2nd summers including white ringed partially read bird ?E72, 22 1st summers including Green ringed bird 3TV4 and 11 juveniles). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 11:00 to 12:30
17 Little Egret, 3 Greenshank, 627 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Hobby, 1 Stonechat (male). John Wright (SOG).
Stambridge, 16:00 to 17:00
1 Marsh Harrier (male), 6 Corn Bunting (3 pairs), 3 Yellow Wagtail. Steve Sanford (SOG).
Leigh Marsh, 16:15
2 Wheatear (on the seawall). Simon Watson (SOG).
River Roach, 17:00 to 18:00
2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Black-tailed Godwit (3 in near summer plummage). Steve Sanford (SOG).
Paglesham Lagoon, 18:00 to 18:30
1 Little Egret, 24 Little Grebe (The islands in the Lagoon are disappearing fast!). Steve Sanford (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 18:00 to 20:00
26 Little Egret, 16 Greenshank, 7 Whimbrel, 8 Little Tern, 686 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 5 Yellow-legged Gull (adults), 1 Curlew Sandpiper (adult-summer). Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow (SOG).
Friday 29th July 2005
Southend, 08:00
4 Painted Lady (On Budlia, Baxter Avenue). John Wright (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:30 to 13:20
2 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 35 Greylag Goose, 1 Bearded Tit (heard), 1 Hobby. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southchurch Park
1 juvenile Cormorant sitting on island edge. Robert Dobinson.
Thursday 28th July 2005
South Avenue, South Hill, Langdon Hills 10:30
30+ Long-tailed Tit, 12 Goldfinch, pr Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Kestrel, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Skylark. Gary Clinton.
Rayleigh Mount, 15:15
1 Whimbrel (flew S high over garden calling). Mike Bailey (SOG).
Glouster Park, Basildon 17:30
3 Green Woodpecker very close, Cormorant and one high Sparrowhawk. Steve Wood.
Wednesday 27th July 2005
Barstable School, Basildon 09:30
Peregrine striking Ornamental Dove low over cricket club (really violently spectacular, feathers everywhere). Gary Clinton.
Canvey Coastguards 14.00 - 15.20
6 Sandwich Tern, 58 Common Tern, 1 1st summer and 1 2nd summer Mediteranean Gull, 17 Little Tern ( up and down river for about an hour, feeding as a group ), 22 Grey Plover and 1 Little Egret. David Morrison.
Two Tree Island 19.00 - 20.40
7 Little Egret, Oystercatcher, 2 Avocet, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, c.500 Black-tailed Godwit (on high tide roost on western end lagoon), Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Tern. Martin Johnson.
Tuesday 26th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:20 to 13:00
4 Bearded Tit (heard), 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Ruff (male), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult-summer), 17 Greylag Goose. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 18:20 to 19:20
300 Dunlin (at least, with many in summer plumage), 147 Sanderling (with some stunning summer plumaged birds), 53 Greenshank, 10 Knot (with some fine 'brick' red birds), 10 Bar-tailed Godwit (at least and like the Knot some red ones), 3 Little Egret, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult with green ring 3HI4), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult with black ring with orange lettering on left leg (R604)). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Glouster Park, Basildon 18:30
Kingfisher heard, Meadow Pipit. A Common Tern caught 22lb carp! Steve Wood.
Rochford Golf Course, 18:40 to 20:20
3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap (singing briefly), 9 Mistle Thrush. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Monday 25th July 2005
Southend Seafront, 19:00 to 20:30
104 Mediterranean Gull (48 adults including returning colour ringed birds Green P20 and Yellow 57P, 11 2nd summers, 36 1st summer and 9 juveniles. This is a new Essex record and the first of over 100 birds at any one site). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Ashingdon, 20:00 to 20:10
1 Green Woodpecker (in the garden). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Sunday 24th July 2005
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.00 11.15
2 Little Egret, 6 Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Swallow, Common Whitethroat, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting . Ray Fuller.
Canewdon, 12:30
3 Barn Owl. (1 Adult roosting in nestbox and 2 recently fledged juveniles on top of the box). Steve Sanford (SOG).
Canvey Point 17.00 - 17.30
5 Little Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Little Ringed Plover. Martin Cracknell.
Rochford Golf Course, 17:00 to 20:00
3 Green Woodpecker, 12 Coot (2 pairs each with 4 young), 1 Grey Wagtail (Also Little Egret and Kingfisher reported to me as being seen in the last month). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Gunners Park 19.55
3 Green Woodpeckers all together in the dead tree, 1 Cuckoo (Being fed by two rather worn out small song birds) just inside EWT reserve.Name: Graham and Mandy Saunders.
Saturday 23rd July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park 08:15 - 10:00
1 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, Tufted Duck with 9 chicks, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 24 Avocet, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull (juvenile), 1 Common Whitethroat, 5 Bearded Tit. Web Author.
Two Tree Island 11.30 to 11.40
16 Little Egret grouped along edge of deep water channel north of island. John Bennett.
Gunners Park 11:45 - 12:15
1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker. Many Large Whites, Meadow Browns and Gatekeeper butterflies. Web Author.
Southend Pier Covering High Tide at 14.50
6 Gannet, 15 Mediterranean Gulls (3 juvs, 2 x 1S, 4 x 2S, 6 adults), 24 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel - flew east, 7 Sand Martin - flew south, 3 Arctic Skua - flew east at 15.30, 9 Sandwich Tern. Jeff Delve and Nick Green (EBS).
Hanningfield Reservoir 17:20 - 17:30
4 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 1st summer Common Gull. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Southend Seafront - Old Gasworks Pier
4 Med Gulls (juv, 1 x 2S, 2 adults), 4 Sandwich Terns. Jeff Delve and Nick Green (EBS).
Wakering Stairs
10 Sanderling, 1 Knot, 40 Turnstone. Jeff Delve and Nick Green (EBS).
Tuesday 19th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 17:30 to 18:35
26 Grey Heron, 2 Bearded Tit (heard), 2 Hobby (adults), 4 Turtle Dove, 5 Stock Dove. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Tewke's Creek, 18:50 to 19:15
2 Whimbrel. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 18.55 - 20.00
2 Hobby, 4 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Black Tailed Godwit. Adrian Mann.
Canvey Point, 19:30 to 20:30
2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Little Egret. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Monday 18th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:15 to 13:00
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret, 4 Bearded Tit (heard), 12 Greylag Goose, 2 Mediterranean Gull (1 adult-winter 1 1st-summer). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Rayleigh, 20:15
Ring-necked Parakeet in large tree behind property at bottom of Upway, Rayleigh, George Clark.
Sunday 17th July 2005
Rochford Golf Course, 09:30 to 13:20
1 Sparrowhawk (female), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Blackcap. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Benfleet Creek 12.30 - 14.00
5 Grey Heron, 9 Little Egret, 80+ Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel. Martin Cracknell.
Wakering Stairs, 19:00 to 20:00
1 Black Tern (juvenile along the tideline) , 8 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin (at least), 8 Greenshank. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hullbridge, 21:10
1 Little Owl Neil Chambers (SOG).
Saturday 16th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 15:00 to 15:30
1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 16:00 to 17:00
2 Yellow-legged Gull (adult and 2nd summer), 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Friday 15th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:20 to 13:00
5 Bearded Tit, 4 Mediterranean Gull (3 ad-summ 1 2nd-summ). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 17.45 - 19.15
Hobby, Sparrowhawk (caught a starling), Little Egret, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 2 Bearded Tit, Turtle Dove, Goldfinch. Andrew Cox.
Ashingdon, 20:40
1 Sparrowhawk (female over garden). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Thursday 14th July 2005
Gunners Park 08.45
12 Swallow including several juveniles. 2 Linnets. John Pitts.
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.00 - 20.45
1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 17 Black tailed Godwit, 4 Little Egret, 5 Oystercatcher, 16 Avocet, 3 Turtle Dove, 8 Swift. Adrian Mann.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Opal Park (East of Rushley) 09:00
28 Magpie, is this a record? Gary Clinton.
Wat Tyler Country Park 0915 to 1045
20+ Jackdaw, 100+ Crow, 2 Turtle Dove,1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Bearded Tit,1 Little Egret, 3 Oystercatcher. marbled white and brimestone butterflies.t.j.hurdley.
Vange Marsh, 12:20 to 12:50
2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin (summer plumage). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southend, 17:20
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult flew over Eastern Avenue with anting flock of gulls). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 19:10 to 20:50
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Shoebury East Beach, 19:40 to 20:10
2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 2nd summer), 3 Little Egret, 1 Whimbrel. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 20:20 to 20:45
3 Mediterranean Gull (2 adults and a 2nd summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Ashingdon, 21:00
1 Sparrowhawk (female over Ashingdon Rd. just south of Golden Cross). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Tuesday 12th July 2005
Two-Tree Island 20.00 - 21.00
1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 9 Black-Tailed Godwit, 3 Little Egret. Martin Cracknell.
Monday 11th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:20 to 13:00
1 Whimbrel, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bearded Tit (heard), 4 Mediterranean Gull (adult-summers). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wakering, Fleet Head, 18:00 to 19:20
18 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.15
2 Spotted Redshank (summer plumage), 2 Ruff, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Water Rail, 6 Oystercatchers, 1 Little Egret. Adrian Mann.
Sunday 10th July 2005
Southend Seafront, 06:15 to 08:00
38 Mediterranean Gull (11 1st summers, 4 2nd summers and 23 adults), 33 Common Gull (27 adults, the rest all 1st summers), 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper (flew over calling). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering, Fleet Head, 08:10 to 08:20
1 Spotted Redshank (partial summer plumage), 4 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 30 Yellow Wagtail (as a minimum), 4 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
North Shoebury 08:30
12 House Martin over house since yesterday evening. Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park 08:00 - 11:00
On Scrape; 3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Egret, 12-15 Avocet. 2 Oystercatcher, Many Reed Warblers feeding fledglings, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, (on Timmermans Creek far bank) 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Mediterranean Gull. Martin Itter.
Great Wakering, Fleet Head 09:00 - 09:45
1 Little Egret, 1 Avocet, 12 Lapwing, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Common Turn, 1 Chaffinch, 5 Swallow, 2 Common Whitethroat. 1 Hare. Richard Mander.
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.00
2 Spotted Redshank (full summer plumage) 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Egret, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 14 Avocets, 2 Bearded Reedling, 3 Black-Tailed Godwit. Adrian Mann.
Saturday 09th July 2005
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 08:00
1 Sparrowhawk. Brian Baldock (SOG).
Sea Wall from Leigh to Benfleet 09:40 to 11:40
15 Black-tailed Godwit in two groups, one of 8 and later a group of 7 (one of the second group had coloured rings on both legs). 1 male Stonechat, 1 Whimbrel, 1 little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, plenty of Redshank, Black-headed Gull and Lapwing. David Lee.
OO WL was ringed as an adult female on spring passage in SE Iceland. 03 May 2000. Alftafjrur. 64 32N 14 35W. It has never been seen again which is pretty amazing. Two years since we had a new bird of the 2000 cohort seen.
Tmas G. Gunnarsson
Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
School of Biological Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ
UK
Gunners Park, 10:20 to 11:30
1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (female), 1 Song Thrush, 30.c Linnet . Web Author.
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.20 12.10
8 Little Egret (6 on north side of Crouch), 18 Curlew, 3 Common Tern, 6 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 4 Swift, 4 Common Whitethroat, Greenshank, 2 Corn Bunting, 10 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:00
1 Little Ringed Plover 10+ Avocet. R Shepherd.
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 18:15
1 Grey Wagtail. Brian Baldock (SOG).
Friday 08th July 2005
Vange Marsh 09:00
2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, several Grey Heron (The water level in the Mere is getting low and the Heron & Egret must be having a field day). also; Grassnake and 2 Water Vole. Gary Clinton.
Wakering Common & Fleet Head 10:00 - 13:30
2 Spotted Redshank , 3 Ruff, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Turtle Dove, Reed Warbler (heard) , 2 Common Whitethroat, 6 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 30+ Yellow Wagtail, 6 Redshank, 30 Oystercatcher, 1 Kestrel , 6 Avocet, 4 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Swallow, 2 Swift, 8 Red-legged Partridge, 38 Lapwing, 4 Coot, 2 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 3 Curlew, 5 Little Egret. 1 Hare. Richard Mander.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:20 to 13:00
8 Mediterranean Gull (4 adult-summ, 2 2nd-summ, 2 1st-summ), 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Bearded Tit (heard). Paul Griggs (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 13.50 16.00
Common Tern, 4 Greylag Goose, 3 Little Egret (2 on north side of Crouch), 2 Reed Bunting, 12 Swift, 5 Sedge Warbler, 7 Curlew, 4 Common Whitethroat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Mute Swan, Black Swan, Sparrowhawk, 6 Swallow, 6 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Thursday 07th July 2005
Southend - Overhead Waitrose Car Park 14:30
1 Peregrine Falcon. Iain Henderson.
Wat Tyler Country park 19:00
1 Hobby, 13 Avocet, 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo. Adrian Mann.
Mucking Churchyard 20.30
1 Barn Owl, 4 Little Owl. Adrian Mann.
Tuesday 05th July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park 18:45
Long-eared Owl (Immature) on fence beside pony sanctuary very bedraggled after heavy rain and looking quite unhappy. Gary Clinton.
Monday 04th July 2005
Leigh on Sea, 18:30 to 18:50
1 Common Seal (1 dead animal visible on the edge of saltings from marine parade). Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Sunday 03rd July 2005
Westcliff Seafront, 07:30 to 07:50
1 Mediterranean Gull (1st summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 08:00 to 12:00
4 Whitethroat (singing), 2 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island 08:45
Large number of Curlew on the marshes south of the pillbox, 2 Brent Goose further south. David Lee.
Benfleet Downs, 10:00 to 11:30
34 White-letter Hairstreak (Feeding on bramble and creeping thistle). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
RSPB Rainham Marsh 11.00-13.00
Note that the reserve is not yet open to general public access, since infrastructure and facilities are currently under construction.
Collared Pratincole, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover. Steve Gill.
Southend, 13:00
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult flew over the A127 by progress road). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Leigh Marsh, 13:35 to 15:00
1 Reed Warbler. 1 Four Spotted Chaser,7 Black Tailed Skimmers,4 Emperors, dozens of Common Blue Damselflies and some Blue Tailed Damselflies. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Wakering, Fleet Head 1400 - 1500
1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Avocet, 6 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron. Iain Henderson.
Hanningfield Reservoir 15.00 - 16.30
4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Yellow Legged Gull, 2 Common Tern. R Shepherd.
Belfairs N.R., 16:30 to 17:45
1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap (singing). 10 Heath Fritillary. Neil Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 18:10 to 18:30
2 Seal seen from Marine Parade Leigh. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Two Tree Island 18:45 - 20:30
Long-eared Owl - hunting near the tree stump graveyard, perching in full view on one of the stumps, giving great views. Several very unhappy whitethroat and wren scolding it, also mobbed by magpie whilst perched in bush. Ear tufts were incomplete . 1 Avocet on the lagoon. Andrew Gouldstone.
Saturday 02nd July 2005
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.45 12.45
6 Reed Bunting, Turtle Dove, 6 Sedge Warbler, 5 Curlew, Little Egret, Corn Bunting, Swift, 10 Common Whitethroat, Common Tern, 6 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Southchurch Park 17:30
Hobby followed by fast male Sparrowhawk and 2 crows high over park. Steven Wood.
Wat Tyler Country Park 18.00
2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 13 Avocet, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret. Adrian Mann.
Friday 01st July 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:35 to 13:05
3 Bearded Tit, 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 ad-summ 1 2nd-summ), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard). Paul Griggs (SOG).