South East Essex RSPB Wildlife Reports for July 2015
Friday 31st July 2015southerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
Stambridge 07:20 to 08:00
45 House Martin around nests, flock of at least 17 Mistle Thrush on harvested field, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff singing. David Selley.
Leigh on Sea, Tattersall Gardens 09:28 to 09:32
4 Buzzard, very high wheeling in and out of cloud and drifting away to north west. Martin & Gina Johnson.
Leigh-on-Sea, Dawlish Drive 10:35
1 Sparrowhawk soaring among Swifts. Jeff Kinnerman.
A127 Warley 15:00
Pair of Buzzard circling not too high directly above road. Roy.
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 18:55 to 19:00
Adult female and juvenile Green Woodpecker in garden. Kris Mee, Web Author.
Thursday 30th July 2015variable, partly cloudy, max18°c
Leigh on Sea, Southsea Avenue 10:20
1 Painted Lady sunbathing on garden wall. Jeff Kinnerman.
Wednesday 29th July 2015westerly, partly cloudy, max19°c
A13/M25 11:30
2 Buzzard above junction. Kris Mee, Web Author.
Tuesday 28th July 2015westerly, partly cloudy, max20°c
Westcliff, Imperial Avenue 16:12
7 Black-tailed Godwit overhead flying south. Jeff Kinnerman.
Monday 27th July 2015westerly, mostly cloudy, max20°c
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:00 to 14:30
4 Whimbrel feeding on the tidal mud flats, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Little Tern diving for fish on the River Crouch. 4 Brown Hare. Mike Hughes.
Great Wakering 14:00 to 16:00
1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2/3 Skylark, pair of Shelduck with 8 young, 1 Marsh Harrier being buzzed by 2 Avocet, 4/5 Kestrel (with 3 in the air at once, good to see these days), 2 Corn Bunting. Mike Sagrott.
Sunday 26th July 2015southerly, mostly overcast, max17°c
Southend, Jones Memorial Park 08:00
Brief, but excellent views, of a single male Tree Sparrow, perched on a dead tree. Never seen them at this site before. Phil Lusher.
Southchurch Park East 08:30
5 Mallard ducklings hatched and sitting with mum on lower south grass bank/water. Robert Dobinson.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:13 to 09:50
1 Turtle Dove by Manorway Fleet, 1 juvenile Bearded Tit at Manorway Fleet, 3 Common Tern (at least one was a juvenile, flying south at creek), 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (including juvenile at Coryton), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper on creek, 2 Whimbrel, c.4 Little Egret, 2 Curlew, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Coryton), 1 adult Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
Saturday 25th July 2015westerly, scattered clouds, max20°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 07:50 to 08:00
100+ Swift going north-west in a single tight flock and towards brightening sky, 2 Blackbird - female building nest in our ivy and very tatty looking male singing again. David Selley.
Southend, Wyatts Drive 11:01
One adult and one juvenile Green Woodpecker on lawn feeding. Alec Beanse.
Wakering Stairs 17:15 to 18:15
3 Little Egret, 285 Oystercatcher, 30 Curlew, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 3 Sanderling, 2 Turtle Dove, 4 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 10 Swallow, 1 Meadow Pipit, 60+ House Sparrow on cereal crop just inside Landwick Gate, 45 Goldfinch on thistle heads, 4 Greenfinch, 1 Reed Bunting. David Selley.
Friday 24th July 2015variable, rain, max18°c
RSPB Vange Marsh 10:30 to 11:45
2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff, 6 Black-Tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 4 Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 50+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Reed Bunting, pair of Mute Swan with nine cygnets. David Shepherd.
Southchurch Park and Southchurch Park East 12:45
1 drake Tufted Duck in eclipse on east pond/narrows Southchurch Pk. 1 Common Sandpiper flying around reed beds whilst calling and feeding on scrape near Bloomfield bench. Southchurch East Pk. Robert Dobinson.
Thursday 23rd July 2015westerly, clear, max22°c
Southchurch Park East 08:40
1 Common Sandpiper feeding across scrape near sluice/SW corner of pond. Watched for 10 minutes. Robert Dobinson.
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:00 to 12:00
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 2 Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank. Mick Roe.
Hadleigh Country Park 15:30
1 female Marsh Harrier hunting over Two Tree Island. Mike Sagrott.
Wednesday 22nd July 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max23°c
Stambridge 07:20 to 07:45
3 Green Woodpecker - 1 adult and 2 young feeding on the small green by the allotments, 7 Swift, 50+ House Martin around the nest sites. David Selley.
Southchurch Park 08:30
1 Tufted Duck asleep on water near island end. Robert Dobinson.
Jones Memorial Park 10:00
Green Woodpecker with two young, Pied Wagtail family (2 adults and 3 juveniles) Jay, Chaffinch Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stock Dove, family of 5 Carrion Crow, Linnet, Whitethroat and about 8 Swift charging about. Not bad for a 15 minute walk with the dogs. Phil Lusher.
Daws Heath 12:00 to 14:00
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 male Sparrowhawk through the garden whereupon it was buzzed by a Swallow. Mike Sagrott.
Rochford, Doggetts 14:00 to 15:00
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Swallow, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Skylark. Many Comma and Gatekeeper butterflies, also 2 Marbled White, 1 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral. David Selley.
Tuesday 21st July 2015south south west, few clouds, max25°c
Hockley, Woodlands Road 05:30 to 06:00
8 Swift, 5 Greenfinch, 1 male Chaffinch calling loudly. David Z.
Monday 20th July 2015south south west, mostly cloudy, max24°c
Westcliff on Sea 11:30
Peregrine falcon. Chris Witham.
The Chase, Eastbrookend Country Park, Dagenham 11:30
c.20 Lapwing, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, 1 Common Sandpiper. Steve Wall.
RSPB Wallasea Island 17:00 to 19:00
1 female Peregrine Falcon, 2 adult and 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sand Martin, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Swallow, 15 Avocet, 25 Corn Bunting, 50 Black-headed Gull. 2 Hare. Sea Lavender in flower one mile to west at creek mouth. John Palmer.
Hanningfield Reservoir 18:30 to 19:30
300+ Canada Geese, 300+ Greylag Geese, 1 Ruddy Shelduck, 6 Magpie, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 200+ Mallard, 300+ Tufted, 200+ Pochard, 300+ Coot, 36 Cormorant, 150+ Herring Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 60+ Woodpigeon, 150+ Carrion Crow, 30+ Mute Swan, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Blackbird, 30+ Swallow. Rob Harris.
Sunday 19th July 2015south westerly, mostly cloudy, max25°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 09:00 11:05
2 juvenile Bearded Tit at Manorway Fleet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel on creek, 1 Common Buzzard mobbed by 2 crows over north bank, 1 Chiffchaff (seen briefly and ID by call at Coryton), a few House Martin passed through (Coryton), 1 Lapwing on creek, 3 Curlew (included one up calling from south), c.6 Little Egret, immature Sparrowhawk (Coryton), 1 Corn Bunting singing on bush west of track. Richard Fahey.
Foulness Island 10:30 to 11:45
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, c.35 Little Egret, c.30 Skylark, c.75 Swallow, c.20 House Martin, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker. Steve and Fran Giles.
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:00 to 12:15
1 Buzzard circling, Sparrowhawk with prey, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit. Mick Roe.
Abberton Reservoir 14:00 to 14:45
200+ Mallard, 200+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 150+ Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 150+ Herring Gull, 40+ Carrion Crow, 6 Swallow, 250+ Canada Geese, 150+ Greylag Geese, 100+ Cormorant, 40+ Woodpigeon, 100+ Starling, 80+ Mute Swan, 50+ Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Little Egret, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Pied Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Swan Goose, 2 Red Breasted Geese, 7 Egyptian Geese, 20+ Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Shoebury 15:00
Peacock, Cabbage White, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Blue, Hummingbird Hawk Moth all around buddliea's in garden. Steve Day.
Saturday 18th July 2015variable, clear, max23°c
Rochford 07:30 to 07:55
30 Swift - good to see and hear this low flying flock screaming around the nest sites. David Selley.
Canvey Island 09:30
1 Red Kite circling from Leigh direction over to Canvey Marshes. Brian Limage.
Eastwood, St Lawrence Park, 13:30 to 15:00
Small Skipper, Six spot Burnet, Large White, Meadow Brown (all abundant), 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Emperor Dragonfly (with prey 'White butterfly'). 1 Painted Lady and 1 Peacock in garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
RSPB Wallasea Island 15:30 to 15:50
6 Corn Bunting, 4 Linnet, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Little Egret, 20+ Swallow, 17 Carrion Crow, 30+ Starling, 50+ Woodpigeon, 2 Mallard, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Magpie. Rob Harris.
Rayleigh, Ferndale Road 16:00
2 Bullfinch, 30+ Swift. Robin Peppiatt.
Wickford 18:20 to 18:35
200+ Black-headed Gull (ant feeding). Rob Harris.
Friday 17th July 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max24°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:04 to 10:11
5 Avocet on creek, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper and 4 Whimbrel on creek, 10+ Sand Martin, 5 Swallow and 4 Swift passed through, 2 Lapwing and c.7 Curlew on creek, 10 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler heard (Coryton), 1 Corn Bunting seen and heard at Coryton among others heard. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:30 to 13:00
12 Corn Bunting, 4 Linnet, 2 Skylark, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Egret, 14 Swallow, 9 Carrion Crow, 20+ Starling, 30+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
RSPB Vange Marsh 15:30 to 17:00
6 Spotted Redshank, 23 Redshank, 16 Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff, 30+ Lapwing, 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Tern, 4 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel. David Shepherd.
Thursday 16th July 2015easterly, mostly cloudy, max21°c
Barling Magna, Millennium Reserve 10:30 to 12:45
House Martin, Swift, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Herring Gull, Chaffinch, Black-headed Gull, Goldfinch, Swallow, Great Tit, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Stock Dove, Magpie, Skylark, Linnet, Wren, Dunnock, Starling, Green Woodpecker, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Gull, Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit. S. Jackson & M. Hill.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:00 to 14:45
7 Corn Bunting, 8 Linnet, 3 Skylark, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret, 9 Swallow, 3 Magpie, 14 Carrion Crow, 20+ Starling, Many large White, Small White, Small Skippers and 1 Red Admiral. Rob Harris.
Hullbridge 15:20 to 15:35
1 Black Swan, 33 Mute Swan, 12 Black Headed Gull, 25 Herring Gull, 30+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 15th July 2015variable, mostly cloudy, max24°c
Chelmsford, Sandford Lock 10:20 to 10:40
12 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 4 Swallow, 1 Swift, 3 Mallard, 8 Carrion Crow, 2 Blackbird, 12 Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 30+ Wood Pigeon, 4 Collared Dove. Gatekeeper. Rob Harris.
Ashingdon 16:00 to 16:15
25 Swift, 4 Mediterranean Gull - adults in anting flock with Black-headed Gulls. David Selley.
Tuesday 14th July 2015westerly, mostly cloudy, max22°c
Heybridge, Maldon, 11:17
2 Peregrine Falcon. Brett Keyes.
Garden, Wickford. 12:30
Young Sparrowhawk sitting in tree just outside our garden. Sat there for five minutes until a Magpie scared it off. Pam Bigland.
Monday 13th July 2015south westerly, light rain, max21°c
Chelmsford, Gasworks site 07:25
2 Green Woodpecker (adult and juvenile) feeding on footpath verge. Tim Davis.
Southchurch Park East 08:45
9 Mallard ducklings with mum appeared from far left hand corner of pond. Robert Dobinson.
Ashingdon 15:15 to 16:00
c.200 Swift in continuous westerly movement over the garden. David Selley.
RSPB Wallasea Island 19:00 To 19:30
5 Corn Bunting, 2 Skylark, 3 Linnet, 2 Common Pheasant, 6 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 7 Swift, 1 Blackbird, 5 Magpie, 50+ Woodpigeon, 17 Carrion Crow, 12 Black Headed Gull, 8 Herring Gull. Rob Harris.
Paglesham 19:40 To 20:00
5 Corn Bunting, 6 Linnet, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Common Pheasant, 3 Swallow, 4 Swift, 3 Blackbird, 2 Magpie, 60+ Woodpigeon, 6 Carrion Crow. Rob Harris.
Battlesbridge 20:30 to 20:35
1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Swift. Rob Harris.
Sunday 12th July 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max23°c
Westcliff 11:45
1 Harlequin Ladybird in garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Saturday 11th July 2015westerly, clear, max26°c
Rochford, Old Ship Lane 07:30 to 07:40
16 Swift. David Selley.
Wakering Stairs 09:00 to 11:00
2 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Curlew, 7 Stock Dove, 2 Turtle Dove, 40 Swallow, 6 Whitethroat, 6 Linnet. Butterflies: Small White (very many), Large White, Gatekeeper, Small Copper, Small Skipper and/or Essex Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady looking very bright and fresh. Also large numbers of 7 Spot Ladybirds coming in off the sea at Haven Point. David Selley.
Foulness Island 10:30 to 11:30
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, c.50 Oystercatcher, c.10 Little Egret. Steve and Fran Giles.
Westcliff 11:30 to 11:45
1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk both viewed from garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Wat Tyler Country Park 13:30 to 14:15
4 Bearded Tit. Mick Roe.
Hullbridge, River Crouch 14:10 to 14:15
33 Mute Swan, 1 Black Swan. Tim Davis.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:20 to 14:45
3 Shelduck, 1 Oystercatcher, 30+ Herring Gull, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Little Egret, 3 Corn Bunting, 4 Linnet, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Magpie, 12 Carrion Crow, 1 Swallow, 1 Swift, 1 Marsh Harrier. Lots of Small White and Skipper Butterflies. Rob Harris.
Friday 10th July 2015southerly, clear, max25°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:47 to 10:09
3 Sand Martin passed through, 5 Swallow included 3 passing through, immature male and female Marsh Harrier, 1 Green Sandpiper, c.8 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler heard (Coryton), pair of Corn Bunting among a few others heard, 7 Grey Heron on fence posts by north side of Manorway Fleet reed bed. 2 Marbled White. Richard Fahey.
Abberton Reservoir 13:30 to 14:45
200+ Mallard, 250+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 180+ Coot, 200+ Black-headed Gull, 150+ Herring Gull, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Magpie, 50+ Carrion Crow, 1 Swallow, 400+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 200+ Cormorant, 60+ Woodpigeon, 70+ Starling, 50+ Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Little Egret, 100+ Mute Swan, 1 Common Tern, 4 Skylark, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 14 Pied Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Swan Goose, 2 Red Breasted Geese, 5 Egyptian Geese, 1 juvenile Little Owl, 6 Jackdaw, 40+ Lapwing, 1 Kestrel, 6 House Sparrow. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island 19:00 To 19:45
1 Marsh Harrier, 30+ Herring Gull, 40+ Black-headed Gull, 1 Little Egret, 12 Corn Bunting, 5 Linnet, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Magpie, 16 Carrion Crow, 1 Swallow, 1 Kestrel, 4 Skylark, 1 Common Pheasant. Rob Harris.
Shoeburyness
Herring Gull, caught stealing over 30 fish out of our pond caught on our CCTV cameras over the last few days. 30 years of having the pond we have never known this to happen before. The crucial time is 20:04 (from the top of the video) when he spots a fish that braves it out of the Lillies. See video at: https://youtu.be/0_mLaVKqEzE. Graham Saunders.
Thursday 09th July 2015variable, clear, max21°c
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 11:00 to 11:20
200+ Canada Geese, 250+ Greylag Geese, 21 Great Crested Grebe, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 250+ Coot, 32 Cormorant, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 30+ Herring Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Lapwing, 12 Woodpigeon, 1 Carrion Crow, 12 Mute Swan, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Magpie. Rob Harris.
RSPB Vange Marsh 11:00 to 13:00
1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, 2 Pheasant, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron all seen just in front of viewing screen! Mick Roe.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 12:00 to 16:00
Grey Heron, many Little Egret, Cormorant, Canada and Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Starling, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Shelduck, Redshank, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Bearded Tit. Comma Butterfly, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral Gatekeeper and Ringlet Butterflies. Chris Henry.
RSPB Wallasea Island 12:30 to 13:00
6 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, 15 Herring Gull, 30+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Little Egret, 5 Corn Bunting, 2 Linnet, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Magpie, 8 Carrion Crow, 1 Swallow, 1 Kestrel, lots of Small White and Skipper Butterflies. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island, 12:30 to 13:30
1 female Marsh Harrier, 6 Corn Bunting, 2 Essex Skipper, 8 Small White. Kris Mee, Web Author.
RSPB Vange Marsh 16:30 to 18:30
9 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 18+ Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 13 Avocet, 6 Black-Tailed Godwit, 4 Oystercatcher, 50 Lapwing, 10+ Pied Wagtail, pair of Mute Swan with 9 cygnets, 2 Kestrel, 2 Reed Bunting. David Shepherd.
Wednesday 08th July 2015westerly, mostly cloudy, rain showers. max20°c
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 12:30 to 13:00
300+ Canada Geese, 300+ Greylag Geese, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 350+ Coot, 7 Cormorant, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 18 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 40+ Woodpigeon, 4 Carrion Crow, 2 Mute Swan, 7 Pied Wagtail. 11 Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Westcliff 22:05
1 Common Pipistrelle over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Tuesday 07th July 2015south westerly, scattered clouds, max24°c
Hullbridge 07:40
1 Barn Owl hunting fields off Keswick Avenue. Colin Knight.
Canewdon 07:15 to 07:45
25+ Swallow - at least five family groups with young being fed in various places on roadside overhead wires. David Selley.
Billericay 09:30 to 09:40
2 Greenfinch, Song Thrush in garden. Chris Henry.
Abberton Reservoir 14:00 to 14:45
200+ Mallard, 150+ Tufted Duck, 60+ Pochard, 90+ Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 70+ Herring Gull, 60+ Carrion Crow, 200+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 100+ Cormorant, 60+ Woodpigeon, 1 Swallow, 12 Swift, 24 Starling, 2 Skylark, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Grey Heron, 31 Little Egret, 100+ Mute Swan, 2 Common Tern, 2 Goldfinch, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 Swan Goose, 2 Red Breasted Geese, 18 Egyptian Geese, 20+ Lapwing. Rob Harris.
Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 16:15 to 16:40
300+ Canada Geese, 300+ Greylag Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Magpie, 20+ Great Crested Grebe, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Tufted Duck, 200+ Pochard, 300+ Coot, 42 Cormorant, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Herring Gull, 40+ Woodpigeon, 7 Carrion Crow, 50+ Mute Swan, 3 Pied Wagtail. Rob Harris.
A12 Chelmsford 17:10
1 Red Kite seen alongside the A12 at the junction for Maldon. Pete and Dawn.
Monday 06th July 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max23°c
Westcliff 10:45
1 Privet Hawk-moth on front garden fence. Jeff Kinnerman.
Sunday 05th July 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max22°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:22 to 09:10
2 Marsh harrier (1 earlier over north bank and an immature male towards refinery with prey), 2 Avocet on creek, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, c.7 Curlew, 2 Corn Bunting seen singing and a few others heard, c.6 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Shelduck on creek. Richard Fahey.
Hullbridge 07:55
1 Barn Owl hunting fields off Keswick Avenue. Colin Knight.
Hockley, Glencrofts 08:40
Green Woodpecker on roof in full voice. Irwin Lewis.
Saturday 04th July 2015south westerly, partly cloudy, max28°c
Westcliff 07:30 to 12:00
1 Red Admiral, 1 Meadow Brown (both feeding on Knapweed), 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldfinch, 6 Swift, c.15 House Sparrow, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull in garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Stambridge 08:00 to 08:30
80 House Martin around and over nest sites, 5 Swift, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Garden Warbler singing. David Selley.
Rayleigh, Ferndale Road 09:00 to 20:00
A day spent gardening produced 42 species including: 5 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 + 2 Bullfinch (10am and 6pm), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Siskin, 1 Linnet. Also 1 Marbled White. Robin Peppiatt.
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 11:20
Black-tailed Skimmer, first visit of dragonfly to my new garden pond. Kris Mee, Web Author.
Hanningfield Reservoir 12:30 to 13:00
300+ Canada Geese, 300+ Greylag Geese, 4 Egyptian Geese, 3 Magpie, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 200+ Mallard, 200+ Tufted Duck, 80+ Pochard, 300+ Coot, 4 Red Crested Pochard, 1 Ruddy Shelduck, 60+ Herring Gull, 70+ Black-headed Gull, 40+ Woodpigeon, 7 Carrion Crow, 40+ Mute Swan, 34 Cormorant, 7 Pied Wagtail. Rob Harris.
Foulness Island 17:45
Turtle Dove heard in garden, 1st this year. Steve and Fran Giles.
RSPB Wallasea Island 20:20 to 20:50
8 Corn Bunting, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Skylark, 8 Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 50+ Woodpigeon, 1 Swallow, 8 Black-headed Gull, 16 Herring Gull, 9 Carrion Crow, 3 Magpie, 1 Common Pheasant. Rob Harris.
Friday 03rd July 2015easterly, clear, max22°c
Great Wakering 11:00
1 Common Buzzard being mobbed by three Crows. John Harwood.
Leigh on Sea, Park View drive 11:05
Peregrine falcon over garden. Web Author.
Westcliff 12:05
20 Swift over garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Vange Area c.12:15
1 Common Buzzard mobbed by Crow near the railway and the Premier Inn. Richard Fahey.
Thursday 02nd July 2015south westerly, few clouds, max25°c
Hullbridge 07:40
1 Barn Owl hunting fields from Keswick Ave footpath. Colin Knight.
RSPB Wallasea Island 13:45 to 14:10
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Moorhen, 6 Corn Bunting, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Skylark, 12 Linnet, 1 Blackbird, 50+ Woodpigeon, 3 Swift, 30+ Black-headed Gull. 21 Herring Gull, 14 Carrion Crow, 2 Magpie. Rob Harris.
Paglesham 14:20 to 14:45
1 Moorhen, 8 Corn Bunting, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Linnet, 5 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, 60+ Woodpigeon, 3 Swallow, 2 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Blue Tit, 12 Herring Gull, 8 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Pheasant, 1 Stoat. Rob Harris.
Ashingdon 15:00 to 15:05
1 Common Buzzard. Rob Harris.
Wat Tyler Country Park 15:30 to 16:00
2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, pair of Common Tern on nest, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Bearded Tit. Richard Shepherd.
Westcliff 16.30
Bumblebee, Honey Bee, Red tailed Bumblebee (all feeding on Common and Greater Knapweed), 2 Small Tortoiseshell all in garden. Jeff Kinnerman.
Wednesday 01st July 2015easterly, clear, max30°c
RSPB Rainham Marshes 09:30
1 Green Sandpiper on Purfleet scrape, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull over the reserve and River Thames, Lapwing, Redshank and Shelduck all with young chicks/fledged chicks on the Purfleet scrape. Andrew Gouldstone.
Barling Magna Millennium Wildlife Park 10:30 to 14:15
Swift, House Martin, House Sparrow, Swallow, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Common Gull, Great Tit, Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Greenfinch, Dunnock, lesser Whitethroat, Magpie, Goldfinch, Starling, Wren, Mallard. S. Jackson & M. Hill.
RSPB Rainham Marshes 13:30
1 Greenshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover - all on Purfleet scrape, Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor Dragonfly on trails near visitor centre. Andrew Gouldstone.