Bird Reports for July 2006
Sunday 30th July 2006
Benfleet, 14:00
1 Marbled White. Simon Watson (SOG).
Wakering, Fleet Head 14:30 - 16:30
2 Turtle Dove, 10 Little Egret, 40 Avocet, 2 Green Sandpiper, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit (2 full summer plumage), 23 Lapwing, 6 Skylark, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Moorhen, 1 Common Tern. Richard Mander.
Canvey Island 13.30 - 18.00 (anti-clockwise cycle around Canvey Island seawall starting from Benfleet rail station).
Benfleet Creek: 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult opposite Benfleet Station), 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Common Sandpiper (by Benfleet sewage works. East Haven Creek: 3 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Little Egret. Hole Haven Creek: 13 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 270+ Curlew, 13 Whimbrel (all roosting at high tide on Lower Horse Island), 2 Mediterranean Gull (adults in flight), 1 Bottlenose Dolphin (idiot on jetbike rushing over to place it surfaced each time. 4 other jetbikers keeping a safe distance). Canvey Point: 8 Sandwich Tern (at least 2 Juvs.), 3 Common Tern, 1 Little Tern. Oddly, considering it was high tide, not a single roosting wader visible on the point itself? Smallgains Creek: 57 Sandwich Tern (23 Juvs.), 27 Common Tern (8 Juvs.), 2 Yellow-legged Gull (adults), 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 Adults, 1 1st Summer), 80+ Turnstone. All above roosting on wooden jetties. Hadleigh Ray: 7 Greenshank, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron (roosting on saltmarsh opposite Two Tree Island). Martin Cracknell.
Havengore and Foulness Islands 14:30 - 17:00 (cycle ride across islands to Foulness open day fayre)
29 Little Egret, 52 Lapwing, 3 Turtle Dove, 4 Yellow wagtail. Christine Dell, Web Author.
Saturday 29th July 2006
Old Hall Marshes 05:45 - 08:15
Note that access to the site is by permit only, although visual access can be obtained from the sea wall
Adult Wood Sandpiper on Bale Field, adult Curlew Sandpiper with 20 Dunlin (incl. 1 juv) on McClure's Marsh, Adult+juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 19 Spotted Redshank, 4 Little Tern (incl. 2 juvs.), 5 Ruff, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Harrier, 65 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Grey Plover. Neil Chambers. (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 06:00 to 08:40
144 Mediterranean Gull (58 adults, 16 second-summers, 41 first-summer and 29 juveniles). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 09:00 - 11.30
1 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 2 Red-crested Pochard, 1 Common Buzzard. David Jobbins.
Paglesham Lagoon, 09:20 to 14:00
1 Caspian Gull (1st summer), 8 Yellow-legged Gull (adult, 4 first-summers and 3 juveniles), 4 Mediterranean Gull (2 adults, 1st winter and juvenile), 55 Little Grebe (includes 2 pairs with chicks), , 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 9 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern (2 pairs with chicks), 51 Black-headed Gull (juveniles of various stages of fledging), 1 Common Gull (adult with orange die on the head and undertail coverts). Steve Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.40 11.40
Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Little Egret, 12 Yellow Wagtail (10 were young), Curlew, 5 Common Whitethroat, 2 Swallow, Hobby, Greenshank, Little Grebe, 4 Shelduck (all young), Turtle Dove, Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Billericay 10.30
Ring-necked Parakeet feeding on cherries. Very vocal. Heard on 3 previous days before being sighted. Marion Burch.
Potton Creek, 13:00 to 13:10
1 Curlew Sandpiper. Lee Ebbs (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 14:00 to 14:30
4 Painted Lady. Paul Baker (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 14:00 to 18:00
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 17:45 to 18:05, just after high tide
1 Bottlenose Dolphin (still doing its thing, but not leaping or jumping), 6 Shelduck, 2 Whimbrel. Paul Baker (SOG).
Friday 28th July 2006
Paglesham Lagoon 10:00
Reported Bittern in bushes by lagoon (creek side) flew off and landed in cornfield. Luke Klein.
Priory Park 10:30
2 Spotted Flycatcher in the scented flower garden. Clive Jolly.
Belton Hills, 17:10 to 17:15
1 Hobby. John Wright (SOG).
Hadleigh, Garden 18:30
1 Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Ellen.
Thursday 27th July 2006
Wat Tyler Country Park 08:30 - 11:00
Peregrine on pylon, 5 Heron, 1 female Gadwall with 5 ducklings, 1 Common Tern, 7 Little Egret in one tree across the Fleet, all from holly cottage hide. 3 Greenshank, 12-15 Avocet, 1 Common Sandpiper all on dried out large Scrape. Martin Itter.
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek 11.00 - 11.30
Bottlenose Dolphin Showing well from the same spot, 11 Curlew and 7 Cormorant. Graham Saunders and David Galloway.
Hanningfield Reservoir 16.30
2 Black Swan, 3 pairs Red Crested Pochard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Marion Burch.
Two Tree Island, 16:50 to 18:10
3 Yellow-legged Gull (adults), 10 Golden Plover, 26 Greenshank, 5 Little Egret, 733 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 14 Whimbrel, 20 Dunlin (at least). Steve Arlow (SOG).
RSPB Vange Marsh, 17:30 to 18:30, even less water than last week! (Low tide)
4 Green Sandpiper (1 in creek, 3 in surrounding ditches), 20 Common Sandpiper (majority in creek), 1 Teal, 2 Greenshank in creek, 1 Kestrel, 1 Song Thrush, 49 Lapwing, 6 Oystercatcher (4 in creek), 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Skylark. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 18:30 to 19:40
104 Mediterranean Gull. 17 pristine juveniles, 25 first-years, 18 second-years and 44 adults. Colour ringed birds: adult Red PAJ1, adult Red 14K, second-year Green 272, second-year Green 3TV4. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wednesday 26th July 2006
Hanningfield Reservoir 07:35 - 07:45
Adult Yellow-legged Gull. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Monday 24th July 2006
Basildon, Luncies Road 09:00
Hummingbird Hawk Moth (feeding on petunias), 12 swift really screaming overhead this morning. Gary Clinton.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 17:35 to 18:00
1 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Southend Airport, 18:00 to 21:00
4 Sparrowhawk (2 adults seen, and 2 fledged young heard), 1 Skylark, 1 Green Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
RSPB Old Hall Marshes 20:00
Note that access to the site is by permit only, although visual access can be obtained from the sea wall
Great White Egret again seen briefly in flight to east of windpump. Also 2 Wood Sandpiper and 3 Curlew Sandpiper on McClure's Marsh. Hollis and June Cloughton.
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek
Bottlenose Dolphin showing well. Sue Cowie.
Sunday 23rd July 2006
1 Green Woodpecker fledgeling at base of large tree looks to young to be out of nest, I have seen parent bird near by. first seen on 21/7/06 so must be being fed. Michael Howell.
Southend Seafront, 07:30 to 08:50
82 Mediterranean Gull (43 adults incl. Red PAJ1, Green AAEZ, 22 first-summers incl. Green 272), 3 Little Egret, 1 Hobby (west over the Thorpe Hall Avenue junction). Steve Arlow (SOG).
RSPB Vange Marsh 08.50 - 10.00 (Marsh and Ditches very dry)
8 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Tern (4 Adults, 2 Juvenile), 1 Kestrel, 2 Skylark, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) 1 Sedge Warbler, 6+ Reed Warbler (at least 2 still singing), 6 Linnet, 2 Meadow Pipit. Martin Cracknell.
Shoebury East Beach, 09:00 to 09:10
3 Mediterranean Gull (adults (included in the seafront count)), 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Tern, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby. 1 Painted Lady (on beach), Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 09:20 to 10:00
1 Turtle Dove, 30 Sand Martin (minimum), 12 Swallow, 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.35 11.40
10 Yellow Wagtail (at least half were young), 6 Little Egret, Turtle Dove, 2 Curlew, Reed Bunting, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 3 Swallow, Corn Bunting, Common Whitethroat, 3 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Wakering, Fleet Head, 10:15 to 11:50, (most of the pools are now dry, the waders were in the creek)
3 Ruff, 1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd summer), 42 Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Little Egret, 15 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 1 Turtle Dove 3 Peacock Butterfly, 3 Painted Lady, 6 Red Admiral, 100 Gatekeeper (at least), 50 Meadow Brown (at least), 40 Small Skipper (at least), 2 Comma. Steve Arlow (SOG).
One Tree Hill, One Tree Hill Country Park, Basildon 15.15 - 17.05
At 16.23 Red Kite over flying in an east-west direction about 100 feet up over the slope just below us. It had some feathers missing from near the right wing tip seen from below. 2 Swallow, 2 Green Woodpecker. Clive Jolly.
RSPB Old Hall Marshes 18:45
Note that access to the site is by permit only, although visual access can be obtained from the sea wall
Great White Egret at western end of Irongate Flashes until disturbed by two walkers on seawall. It then flew close to us and landed out of sight about 300 yards east of the wind pump. 2 Wood Sandpiper on pool by wind pump. Also Spotted Redshank and Greenshank. Hollis and June Cloughton.
Canvey Point, 19:00 to 20:30
45 Sandwich Tern (many juveniles), 10 Little Egret, 14 Common Tern. Jeff Saward (SOG).
Canewdon, 19:30 to 19:30
1 Barn Owl (adult roosting behind nestbox. Private site). Steve Sanford (SOG).
Saturday 22nd July 2006
Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 12.00
5 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 7 Common Tern, 2 Yellow-legged Gull. David Jobbins.
Two Tree Island (East), 10:00 to 14:00
23 Little Egret, 1 Mediterranean Gull. Web Author.
Canvey Point 11.15 - 12.00
6 Sandwich Tern (4 Ad. 2 Juv), 30+ Dunlin, 1 Knot (lone adult in summer Plumage). Martin Cracknell.
RSPB Vange Marsh, 11:30 to 12:30, (very little water left on marsh)
34 Common Sandpiper, 12 Green Sandpiper (favouring the wet ditches and not the marsh itself), 2 Greenshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Teal, 4 Common Tern, 50 Lapwing, 2 Marbled White, 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Reed Warbler. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southchurch Park 14:00 - 16:30
2 Sparrowhawk, One circling and one flying past later. One tatty Peregrine with missing tail feathers heading to Southend. Steve Wood.
Canvey, off Hole Haven Creek 14:30
4 Black Tern. Chris Cook.
Rayleigh Mount, 15:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
Benfleet, Vicarage Hill 19.15 - 19.50
Flying Ants attracting c.120 Black-headed Gull, 150+ Swift, 40+ House Martin, 10+ Swallow and 2 Sparrowhawk (both seen flying in direction of Shipwrights Wood with prey in talons). Martin Cracknell.
Lofts Farm, Heybridge 17.00 - 18.00
Great White Egret seen from end of footpath initially and then from gate in Scraley Road. Black-necked Grebe on non fishing lake. Tim & Viv Connett.
Thursday 20th July 2006
Benfleet, Vicarage Hill 05.50
1 Sparrowhawk causing panic in flock of House Martins. Martin Cracknell.
Wat Tyler Country Park 15.05 - 15.45
1 Greenshank and 28 Black-tailed Godwit in summer plumage, on Vange Creek 3 Spotted Redshank in summer plumage. Clive Jolly.
Leigh-on-Sea, Leigh Park Road 15.33 - 15.37
1 Peregrine Falcon spotted gliding low over rooftops from east, it circled up over Leigh Park Court and away to the west riding on up currents apparently causing concern among the feral pigeons in the area, 2 of which left at very low altitude; the falcon returned at greater height a couple of minutes later and was still in the area when I left. Martin Johnson.
Wallasea Island, 18:00 to 20:50
1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Common Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, 5 Common Tern, 8 Little Egret, 12 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Reed Warbler (singing), 8 Corn Bunting, 15 Skylark. 2 Brown Hare, 2 Common Seal. Neil Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).
Wednesday 19th July 2006
Rochford, 14:00
1 Sparrowhawk flew through Lesley Gardens. Paul Baker (SOG).
Eastwood, 15:15
1 Sparrowhawk high over Heycroft School. Paul Baker (SOG).
The Lady Essex III Boat Trip 17:50 - 20:30
1 Grey Heron, 14 Little Egret, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Goose, 8 Shelduck, female Marsh Harrier on New England Island, Hen Harrier - super views of this bird flying around the Wallasea Island webcam mast, 3 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Grey Plover, 39 Golden Plover, 50+ Dunlin in summer plumage, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Common Tern and young. 15+ Common Seal in Shelford Creek. John Hunter-Lang, Gillian Lang, Christine Dell, Web Author. (a fantastic trip and well worth booking - details of the Lady Essex seal and wildlife Trips can be found on their website: www.ladyessex.com. Ed.).
Tuesday 18th July 2006
Southend Airport, 11:00 to 15:00
4 Sparrowhawk (adult pair again carrying prey into wooded area where there are at least 2 fledged young), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).
Rayleigh Mount, 16:00
1 Sparrowhawk in garden chasing collared doves. Paul Baker (SOG).
Wallasea Island (Cycle on Road), 18:00 to 20:00
15 Corn Bunting, 18 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Yellowhammer, 14 Skylark, 2 Sedge Warbler, Christine Dell, Web Author.
Two Tree Island 20.10 - 20.50
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank watched on the mud just offshore. Clive Jolly.
Monday 17th July 2006
RSPB Vange Marsh, 10:05 to 10:10
1 Common Tern (mobbing the hawk and then alerting me to the presence of the falcon), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon (all 3 species over my garden from the marsh). Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Wat Tyler CP 14:15 - 15:30
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Avocet (inc.8 juvs.), 2+ Bearded Reedlings, 3 Little Egrets (flew together into reed bed beyond road to left of hide), 1 Water Rail (probably - heard only). Ian White.
Hadleigh Downs, 15:15 to 16:00
5 Kestrel (pair with 3 juveniles). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Rayleigh, 17:35
1 Sparrowhawk low through gardens of Clarence Road. Paul Baker (SOG).
Sunday 16th July 2006
Westcliff 15:10
Hobby amongst 24 Swift over St. James Gardens. Web Author.
Benfleet Creek, 15:20 to 16:00
5 Pochard, 51 Lapwing, 29 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Linnet. Also 75+ small red-eyed damselfly in borrowdyke. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Canvey Point 19.45 - 20.15
48 Dunlin (first returning flock to the Point all in fine summer plumage), 5 Grey Plover (2 in summer plumage), 20+ Turnstone (incl. several summer plumage males), 2 Mediterranean Gull (1 Ad. 1 2s), 3 Little Egret. Martin Cracknell.
Saturday 15th July 2006
RSPB Vange Marsh 07.00 - 07.45
4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sandwich Tern (over), 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Bearded Tit, 8+ Reed Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 4 Linnet, 34 Black-tailed Godwit, 42 Avocet (at least this many Godwit and Avocet present probably more, viewing is currently very difficult as not only does the site unsurprisingly appear very dry, vegetation on the main marsh has grown to the point where it obscures the majority of the remaining watery areas). Martin Cracknell.
Barling Rubbish Tip, 09:30 to 12:30
5 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults and a 1st summer), 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Little Egret in Barling Creek, 1 Green Sandpiper. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Paglesham, Cycle Ride Along East Hall Road to Sea Wall 12:30 - 14:00
9 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellow Wagtail. Clouded Yellow. Christine Dell, Web Author.
Friday 14th July 2006
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 16.10 - 18.00
Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper, 29 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, 3 Swallow, 30 + Swift, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 5 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Canvey Point 20.15 - 20.45
1 Whimbrel, 6 Little Egret, 2 Sandwich Tern, 3 Mediterranean Gull (all adults), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult having an altercation with a large Essex crab). Martin Cracknell.
Wat Tyler Country Park (p.m.)
Black Tern on lagoon seen through webcam. Alan Shearman RSPB.
Thursday 13th July 2006
Southend Seafront, 06:15 to 07:20
64 Mediterranean Gull. 37 adults incl. Red PAJ1, 8 second-summers, 18 first-summers and an early juvenile, 2 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wallasea Island, River Roach 1200 to 1330
Marsh Harrier hunting along Eastern sea wall of Wallasea Island, 3 Whimbrel on Potton Island, 6 Little Egret feeding on Foulness. 18 seals including young. All seen from Lady Essex III. Gary Dunn.
Wallasea Island Wetlands 14.00 - 17.30
15 Skylark, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Pied Wagtail, 11 Corn Bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler (Several heard), 4 Meadow Pipit, 12 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank (on Concrete road), 9 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, numerous Black Headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 5 Lapwing and at the Roach end 10 Avocet and around 25 Swallow flying close and resting on the wire fence in numbers mainly juveniles. Graham Saunders and David Galloway.
Southend Seafront, 17:30 to 19:20
73 Mediterranean Gull. 42 adults inc. (Red PAJ1, Yellow 57P, White O9R and Green AAEZ), 11 second-summers inc. (Green 272), 19 first-summers and 1 juvenile), 2 Black-tailed Godwit over. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 19:25 to 19:30
1 female Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).
Wednesday 12th July 2006
High Easter 06:15
6 Yellowhammer disturbed flew into an adjacent field,1 Barn Owl sitting in a tree causing havoc to 2 Blackbirds. Martin Jameson.
Dark-breasted Brent Goose swimming on the sea just offshore between 14.35-at least 15.25. Clive Jolly.
Southend Seafront, 18:50 to 19:30
43 Mediterranean Gull. (31 adults, 10 first-summers and 2 second-summers). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Canvey Point 20:00
2 Adult Mediterranean Gull, 7 Little Egret, 2 Sandwich Tern. Martin Cracknell.
Tuesday 11th July 2006
Southend Seafront, 17:05 to 18:00
39 Mediterranean Gull (22 adults including returning Red ringed PAJ1 the Czech Republic bird and a Green ringed bird which was probably the annually returning P20 but ring not read), 6 second-summers and 11 first-summers. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Monday 10th July 2006
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 10:30 to 11:00
1 Bottlenose Dolphin. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Leigh on Sea, 13:30 to 13:40
1 White-letter Hairstreak (nectaring on marjoram in my garden!), 1 Gatekeeper. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Wallasea Island, 19:00 to 20:30
1 Hen Harrier (summering ringtail, perched on wooden post for 10 minutes then quartering seawall around eastern most breach), 1 Water Rail calling from borrowdyke just past Marina, 18 Yellow Wagtail, 25 Corn Bunting, 40 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 300 Swift over southern part of island, 3 Little Egret, 1 Common Tern, 8 Reed Warbler singing in close proximity in borrowdyke, 8 Reed Bunting (males, all singing just east of marina, none further along), 4 Brown Hare, 1 Ringed Plover on new pools which look excellent, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 1 Mute Swan on river. Paul Baker (SOG).
Sunday 09th July 2006
Hole Haven Creek 10.45-11.15
Bottlenose Dolphin still by the green buoy. Karen Gordon.
Wakering, Fleet Head, 11:00 to 13:30
8 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Mediterranean Gull (adult, first-summer and second-summer), 2 Yellow-legged Gull (adults). Steve Arlow, Lee Ebbs (SOG).
Saturday 08th July 2006
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 07:20
1 Green Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 08:30 to 16:00
45 Avocet, 3 Turtle Dove, 2 Bearded Tit, 23 Black-tailed Godwit. Web Author.
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.55 12.05
3 Swift, 20 Curlew, Corn Bunting, 4 Little Egret, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Sedge Warbler, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Common Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Hobby, Swallow, 3 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Southchurch Park 11.30 - 12.30
Little Egret feeding on Sticklebacks in the lake, 1 juvenile Cormorant fishing, 2 high Sparrowhawk, House Martins. Steve Wood.
Benfleet Downs 15:00 - 17:00
20+ Marbled White, 20+ Ringlet, 1 Clouded Yellow, Many Small Skippers. 1 Adder. Phil Lantaff.
Two Tree Island 17:20
2 Stock Dove on southern sea wall path on the western side. David Lee.
Westcliff, My Garden 20:00
1 Wren. Emily Broad.
Friday 07th July 2006
Hanningfield (Causeway) 1140 - 1210
240+ Tufted Duck, 93 Pochard, 7 Red-crested Pochard, Many Swallows, Martins and Swifts. Gary Clinton.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 19:00
2 Greenshank (via the webcam!). Paul Baker (SOG).
Southend Airport, 20:45 to 21:50
3 Sparrowhawk (probably 2 birds fledged, and 1 adult carrying prey into nearby trees), 1 Song Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).
Wallasea island
Note that access is along north sea wall from the marina - there is no public access past Grapnells Farm along the road. It is permissible and necessary to walk the new sea wall from where they split.
Summering Hen Harrier, very tatty Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, Ringed Plover on shingle capped island, 3 Avocet on borrowdyke and the usual plethora of Skylarks, Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Thursday 06th July 2006
Corringham Recreation Ground 09.40
1 Common Buzzard heading north mobbed by Crows. Jim Cockram.
Southchurch Park 16:40 - 19:30
1 female Sparrowhawk chased by two Crows, up to 30 House Martins which were alarmed first by a Kestrel then later at 18.30 by a very low Hobby. Steven Wood.
Battlesbridge, 17:30
1 Little Egret in the Crouch just east of The Barge. Paul Baker (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 18:00 to 18:30
1 Skylark (singing), 2 Sparrowhawk. Paul Baker (SOG).
Canvey Town, Tall Old Tree Next to Iceland 19:00
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Emily Broad.
Canvey Point 19.45 - 20.00
1 Grey Plover (full summer plumage). Martin Cracknell.
Due to many email requests and phone calls, we have provided a map with the location of the Bottlenose Dolphin and the also best viewpoint. Follow the link below (which will open a new window) and select Bottlenose Dolphin from the left menu. The new page may take a little time to load depending on the speed of your Internet connection. Take time to explore the map as you can do many things, for example you can ask for directions to any of the pin points that are included. Once you have identified the number of the pin that you wish to view, click on it once and then select 'Zoom to street level'.
Click here for our wildlife points of interest map.
Wednesday 05th July 2006
Tewkes Creek, Canvey Island 08:30 - 09:50
1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sandwich Tern, 12 Black-tailed Godwit (plus 40+ Benfleet Creek), 3 Curlew (plus 4 Benfleet Creek), 3 Oystercatcher (plus 3+ Benfleet Creek), 3 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 3 Redshank (plus 70+ Benfleet Creek). Also 2 Marbled Whites (beside boating jetty). Ian White.
Canvey, Hole Haven 19:55 - 20:10
Bottlenose Dolphin still showing nicely. Gary Clinton.
Canvey Golf Course Pond 21:00
1 Little Egret and Kestrel. Emily Broad.
Tuesday 04th July 2006
Southchurch Park & Southchurch Park East, 09:00
1 juvenile Little Egret feeding in Southchurch Park, 2 fledged Green Woodpeckers from Southchurch Park roosting/feeding between Poplar trees on the edge of Southchurch Park pond & across to poplar trees bordering Lifstan way/Southchurch East Marshes. 1 Cormorant feeding Southchurch Park. Bob Dobinson.
Hole Haven Creek, 14:00 to 15:00
1 Bottlenose Dolphin, 15 Mediterranean Gull all flying east. Steve Bunn (SOG).
Chalkwell Seafront, 19:00 to 19:05
1 adult Mediterranean Gull. John Wright (SOG).
Southchurch Park East 19.05
Fledgling Green Woodpecker waiting to be fed in willow tree in Southchurch Park East. Adult on ground. After feeding, both flew in direction of Thorpe Hall Golf Club. Tim Sayer.
Southend Airport, 20:00
4 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).
Monday 03rd July 2006
Canvey, Hole Haven Creek 14:20 to 14:45
Bottlenose Dolphin in usual place showing very well. Web Author.
Benfleet Downs, 14:50 to 15:30
Sparrowhawk. 3 Marbled White, 1 Comma, many Meadow Browns. Web Author.
A130 at Canon Barns Bridge 20.00
Barn Owl crossed A130 eastwards into Barnards Farm and dropped down to begin quartering the field. Leslie Spurling.
Sunday 02nd July 2006
Hadleigh Downs, 09:00 to 10:40
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Whitethroat (2 singing), 4 Blackcap (singing). 30 Marbled White, 20 Ringlet (and 1 Hairy Dragonfly). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Southchurch Park 10:00
2 adult, 2 fledgling Green Woodpecker. An early morning check found one of the newly fledged woodpeckers dead in the pond. Rob Dobinson.
Benfleet Downs, 13:00 to 14:40
20 White-letter Hairstreak (at least). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 15:00
1 Sparrowhawk hunting high over garden. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southend, 15:00 to 15:05
1 adult summer Mediterranean Gull on Westcliff High School playing fields. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Leigh on Sea, 15:15
1 adult Mediterranean Gull flew over St Thomas Moore High School. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island West 16:00
24+ Avocet and 5 Chicks, 50+ Redshank, 8 Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Ringed Plover +2 Chicks, 2 Common Tern 1 Hobby, 1 Kestrel. R Shepherd.
Rochford Golf Course, 16:15 to 19:30
1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Vange Marsh, 19:30 to 20:35
1 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper (incl. 3 in the freshwater stream to the east), 1 Common Tern, 1 Teal (drake), 8 Shelduck (pair with 6 young), 1 Shoveler, 8 Reed Bunting. Paul Baker (SOG).
Rayleigh, 20:50 to 20:50
1 male Sparrowhawk hunting woods just west of Rayleigh Weir over A127. Paul Baker (SOG).
Canewdon 20:55
Little Owl, junction of Brays Lane and Scotts Hall Lane. Ray Fuller.
Wallasea Island
The first two sections are now flooded and the farm manager tells me the main eastern section will be breached on Tuesday. The flooded section holds water in pools throughout the tide cycle and is looking good and islands created . Most of the new saltmarsh fringe along the new sea wall has yet to be flooded - wait on the first spring tide.
The new islands have attracted 3 pairs of Common terns - not obviously nesting but at least prospecting as is a pair of Ringed Plover. Also 2 pairs of Avocet on the islands with another 3 birds nesting on small islands in the eastern borrowdyke and 2 pairs of Oystercatchers.
Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtail are abundant and we also had 5 Turtle Doves, 40+ Stock Doves, 800+ Starlings and 5 Brown Hares (I had 15 in one visit a couple of weeks back).
Bird of the weekend is a ringtail Hen Harrier that was seen briefly last wekend but was present both days hunting the sea wall and saltmarsh in the NE quadrant of the island. This bird is very pale below and has strikingly pale marks on upper wing coverts. Nick advises this is only 3rd July record apart from one that summered for two years in N of county.
Note that access is along north sea wall from the marina - there is no public access past Grapnells Farm along the road. It is permissible and necessary to walk the new sea wall where they split. Jeff Delve and Nick Green (EBS).
Saturday 01st July 2006
Southend Seafront, 07:00 to 08:00
8 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults, 2 second-summers and 2 first-summers only). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 07:15 to 09:30
4 Little Egret, 39 Black-tailed Godwit (first returning birds), 2 Greenshank, 4 Stonechat (female & 3 immatures), 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 2 Kestrel (females), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Reed Bunting (males). 20 Marbled White. John Wright (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 09:30 to 11:30
2 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Heron. 15 Marbled White, 10 Ringlet. John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.35 11.30
3 Little Grebe (2 were young), 6 Curlew, 12 Swallow, Corn Bunting, 6 Sedge Warbler, 10 Common Whitethroat, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Common Tern, 2 Shelduck, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Little Egret, 6 Skylark. Ray Fuller.
Benfleet Downs, 10:15 to 11:15
50 White-letter Hairstreak. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Hockley Woods, 10:45 to 11:25
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Blackcap (singing). 10 Heath Fritillary. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 11:00
1 male Sparrowhawk hunting low through the garden. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southchurch Park 16:15 - 16:30
5 Green Woodpecker - 3 just fledged. The Woodpeckers have fledged from a tree which was in the process of being cut down, with the support of local residents we were able to get the work stopped until the woodpeckers had all left the nest. Rob Dobinson, Web Author.