Bird Reports for June 2005
Thursday 30th June 2005
Battlesbridge, 08:45
1 Hobby (flew west over A130 just north of A127). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.00
1 male Marsh Harrier. Adrian Mann.
Monday 27th June 2005
Basildon, Luncies Road 12:30
11 House Sparrow (I put a spray of millet up in my garden and got all these sparrows on the spray at one time!). Gary Clinton.
Rochford Golf Course, 13:00 to 20:30
5 Whitethroat (singing), 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Neil Chambers, Steve Sanford (SOG).
Woodside Park, Thundersley, 18:00 to 19:30
1 Turtle Dove. 1 Marbled White, 30+ Purple Hairstreak. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 19.45
2 Hobby. Adrian Mann.
Lake Behind David Lloyd, Basildon 20.30 - 21.15
6 Common Tern fishing. Adrian Mann.
Sunday 26th June 2005
Wakering, Potton Road 08.15 - 08.50
8 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank (summer plumage), 3 Green Sandpiper, 12 Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Sedge & Reed Warblers singing, Common Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Corn Bunting, 10 Shelduck many Whitethroat, Swifts, 2 House Martin, Swallows, 1 Kestrel, 4 Redshank. Barry Chambers.
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 10:00
1 Hobby (seemed to be chasing a starling in the garden!). Paul Baker (SOG).
Blackmore Road/Meadow Farm 12.00
Common Buzzard over fields. Cleve Bull.
Southend Seafront, 12:00 to 14:00
14 Mediterranean Gull (8 stunning adult summers and 6 1st summers including a green ringed bird 5TV4 or JTV4?), 3 Black-headed Gull (all juveniles are early ), 3 Common Gull (1st summers are uncommon at this time of year). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hadleigh Castle 16.45
1 Green Woodpecker. Mark Hardman & Julie Macauley.
Saturday 25th June 2005
Benfleet Creek, 10:00 to 11:00
2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Greenshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100 Redshank, 6 Oystercatcher. John Wright (SOG).
Hadleigh Marshes, 11:00 to 11:50
2 Stonechat (pair). John Wright (SOG).
Southchurch Park 12.30
2 Common Tern flying and circling the park and calling all the time eventually heading for the lake. two minutes later a Hobby scared the life out of a slow House Martin over the houses to the north. Steve Wood.
Southminster 19.30
Hobby swooping down on a flock of circling Swifts. Unsuccessful - flew off towards Dengie Marshes. Heather Brown.
Friday 24th June 2005
Woodside Park, Thundersley, 08:30 to 09:30
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 White / Pied Wagtail (2 juvs.), 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 8 Swift, 9 Swallow, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Turtle Dove (Large Skippers on the wing). Graham Ryland (SOG).
South Benfleet, St Mary's Churchyard, 09:00
1 male Sparrowhawk, dispersing the usual collection of starlings, sparrows and blackbirds etc. Tim Bennett.
Thursday 23rd June 2005
Priory Park, 13:20 to 13:30
3 Spotted Flycatcher. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Leigh Marsh, 13:50 to 14:30
1 Hobby (also 1 Four Spotted Chaser, 3 Emperors, 5 Black Tailed Skimmers including 1 female). Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Wednesday 22nd June 2005
Hanningfield Reservoir 09:00 - 11.00
1 Greenshank, 30 Lapwing,100+ Tufted Duck,100+ Pochard, 30 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 20+ Shelduck, 1 Red-crested Pochard, 20 Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 3 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat,1 Reed Warbler, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker. Robin Peppiatt.
Hockley Woods 13:00 - 14:30
2 Green woodpecker,1 Treecreeper,1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap. 2-300 Heath Fritillary. Robin Peppiatt.
Lake behind David Lloyd, Festival Leisure, Basildon 21.00
Common Tern fishing on lake. Adrian Mann.
Tuesday 21st June 2005
Boyce Hill Golf Club 15.50
1 Hobby, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Black Cap (singing), Green Woodpecker. R Shepherd.
Rochford Golf Course, 18:35 to 20:30
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Whitethroat (singing). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Monday 20th June 2005
Basildon Crematorium 08:00
Little Owl (Immature). Gary Clinton.
Sunday 19th June 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park 09.30
10 Avocet, 8 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Ringed Plover. Adrian Mann.
Wickford, Shotgate Area 12.15
Hen Harrier - "ring tailed" From my back garden suddenly in a great commotion all the Starlings and Sparrows took off and started to circle with the screaming swifts. I spotted the Harrier, rushed in to get my bins, it circled then climbed and drifted north. David Hope.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:00
1 Little Egret, 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Water Rail (heard). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Saturday 18th June 2005
Heybridge Gravel Pits 08.00 - 11.00
Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Kestrel, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler (family), Stock Dove, Turtle Dove, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Linnet, Sparrowhawk. Tim & Viv Connett.
Rayleigh, 16:40 to 16:40
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult-summer flew over Rayleigh Wier). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Friday 17th June 2005
Battlesbridge, 08:20
1 Little Egret (still on pool by A130, but not there this evening). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Thursday 16th June 2005
Hanningfield Reservoir 12.30 to 15.00
2 Red Crested Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 2 (resident) Barnacle Geese, 1 Bar Headed Goose, 1 Little Ring Plover, 2 Redshank, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 to 5 Chiffchaffs (heard only), Very many Ducklings and Goslings everywhere. Water level very high. Les Costin (EBS).
Battlesbridge, 18:00
1 Little Egret (on pool west of A130 by R. Crouch). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wednesday 15th June 2005
Basildon Golf Course (16th Green) 12.00
Common Buzzard (mobbed by crows, to the south heading south east). Gary Clinton.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:15 to 12:50
1 Little Ringed Plover (adult), 3 Bearded Tit. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Canewdon 21:45 - 22:00
Barn Owl hunting along footpath running North from Lark hill Road. Paul Levey.
Leigh on Sea, Undercliff Gardens
Hobby, observed from Grand Parade going west at great speed. It was odd to look down on it from our height. Eric and Patsy Major.
Monday 13th June 2005
Great Prestons / Hanningfield Reservoir 10:00
Common Buzzard, Cuckoo. Peter Walker.
Kiln Road Thundersley, Garden 16.15
1 Adult Great Spotted Woodpecker, feeding 2 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker in and around garden. Mike Sagrott.
Wakering, Common Road 19.35
Hobby carrying prey flew over road. Web Author.
Sunday 12th June 2005
Priory Park 07:00
Family of Goldcrest, all fledged, in & around yew tree on N side of lake. 2 adults & at least 7 young. Peter Walker.
Rochford Golf Course, 08:00 to 12:00
2 Blackcap (singing), 3 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Coot (2 prs with 3+4 young). Neil Chambers (SOG).
RSPB Old Hall Marshes 09:00 - 13:00
Note that access to the site is by permit only, although visual access can be obtained from the sea wall.
3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Little Stint, 30+ Greylag Geese, 2 Turtle Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker on road leaving reserve, 6 Reed Bunting, 10 Grey Heron, 8 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier showing very nicely. Tim & Viv Connett.
Fanes Wood, Thundersley, 11:00 to 12:30
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (3 Juvs. fledged.), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 1 female Sparrowhawk. Meadow Browns on the Wing. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Gunners Park, 15:00 to 15:20
1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat (singing). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Priory Park 15:00 -15:30
2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Song Thrush (parent feeding fledgling), 13 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit. Richard Mander.
River Chelmer, Paper Mill Lock 15.15 - 16.00
2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Wren, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Mute Swan, numerous Mallard and 8 Swallow. Up further just past Hoe Lock 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Bullfinch. Graham Saunders.
Wakering Stairs, 15:30 to 16:00
1 Cuckoo (singing), 1 Sedge Warbler (singing), 3 Whitethroat (singing). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hullbridge Anchor Pub 17.20
40 Mute Swan and one Black Swan. Graham Saunders.
Wallasea Island
An hour on Wallasea this morning produced 2 Green Sandpipers (going or coming?), 2 Avocet, 8 Little Egret, 10+ Yellow Wagtail plus a cracking Blue-headed which unfortunately headed far out into a bean field, 20+ Corn Bunting, 3 Reed Bunting and myriad Skylarks. Also 2 Brown Hares and a Cream-spotted Tiger, a real beauty. For those interested the work on the extended new sea wall is progressing rapidly although it is hard to get a good feel of where all the islands, bunds and creeks will be as yet. Also: Butts Hill Pond produced Turtle Dove, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat. Jeff Delve (EBS).
Saturday 11th June 2005
Chigborough Lakes 10.00 - 11.00
1 Little Ringed Plover. Fishing Lake: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Juv), 6 Long Tailed Tit (Juv), 4 Willow Warbler (Juv), 1 Kingfisher, 12 Little Egret. Tim & Viv Connett.
Priory Park, 11:20 to 11:45
4 Spotted Flycatcher. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Eastwood, A127 near Progress Road 11.45
1 Hobby, very high up, going Southend direction, flying at tremendous speed...., maybe 60 to 70 mph .Soon disappeared!!. Les Costin (EBS).
Cherry Orchard Way 12.15
Little Owl flew on to the Southend bound road sign and then across to a tree in the centre of the Cherry Orchard Way/Hall Road (Stroud Green) roundabout. Paul Levey (EBS).
Thundersley, Kiln Road, Garden 12.30
Adult and Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at nut feeder and around the garden. Mike Sagrott.
Southchurch Park East 14.40 - 15.15
1 Little Grebe, 5 Coot (2 adult and 3 chicks), 2 Sedge Warbler (1 fledgling), 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Chaffinch. Web Author.
Wakering Stairs and Haven Point 15.30 - 16.50
4 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Curlew, 5 Common Tern, 1 Black Tern 
(in full summer plumage with Common tern), 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 32 Swift, 5 House Martin. Note that the house at the top of New Road has three active House Martins nests this year. Web Author.
Priory Park, 18:45 to 19:10
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Web Author.
Friday 10th June 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:15 to 14:00
1 Hobby, 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult-summer, 2nd-summer), 2 Bearded Tit (heard), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southend, Priory Park 15.15
1 Spotted Flycatcher. Les Costin (EBS).
Boyce Hill Golf Club 16.00
1 Fulmar heading east. R Shepherd.
Rochford Golf Course, 18:10 to 20:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Blackcap (singing). Neil Chambers (SOG).
South Fambridge 20.26
Corn Bunting singing on wires on road to South Fambridge by South Fambridge Hall road junction. Paul Levy (EBS).
Thursday 09th June 2005
Leigh on Sea 10:12
Buzzard seen soaring (climbing higher) NW from Fleming Avenue (by Westleigh Mazda), Leigh-on-Sea - Bird possibly circling somewhere over Belfairs Park. Paul Levey.
Wednesday 08th June 2005
Wakering, Fleet Head 08.00 - 11.30
2 Avocet, Redshank, Oystercatcher, 5 Little Egret,1 Grey Heron, 4 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Reed Warbler, 10+ Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Corn Bunting territories , 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Meadow Pipit, 20+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer, 4 Turtle Dove, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 20+ Swallow. Robin Peppiatt.
Tuesday 07th June 2005
Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:00 to 14:00
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer), 1 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron. Peter Collins (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 17.00
9 Avocet, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 10+ House Martin, 8 Swallow, 2 Swift. Adrian Mann.
Wat Tyler Country Park 20.00 - 20.30
1 Turtle Dove (singing), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Hobby. Martin Cracknell.
Monday 06th June 2005
Chelmer Canal 10.00 to 17.00
Along a 13 Mile walk from Chelmsford to Heybridge Basin 25 Adult Mute Swan of which 3 pair had a total of 14 cygnets and a further 3 pair were on nests. Graham Saunders and David Galloway.
Sunday 05th June 2005
Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 12:00 to 13:00
4 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Turtle Dove (singing), 4 Whitethroat (singing), 3 Blackcap (singing), 2 Chiffchaff (singing), 12 Jackdaw (in a nearby field and trees). Steve Sanford (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 15:00 - 17:30
18 Avocet, 2 Oystercatchers with a chick, 2 Lapwings with chick, Meadow Pipit, 12 Herons & 5 youngsters, Gadwall with 3 chicks, Great Crested Grebe, House Martins, 3 Cetti's Warblers, many Reed Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Hobby, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Martin Itter.
Saturday 04th June 2005
Priory Park, 14:30 to 14:45
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Blue Tit (feeding young at entrance to nest hole). Paul Baker (SOG).
Aquatels Fishing Lake Basildon 17.00
1 Cetti's Warbler (heard briefly, a first for me at this location). Andrew Bridge & Lee Ebbs.
Thursday 02nd June 2005
Canvey Sea Front (nr restaurant) 2020 - 2030
Common Tern, diving repeatedly in pool. At least one dive successful-small fish caught! Tim Smith.
Wednesday 01st June 2005
Southchurch Park Swans - Update
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of all four of the mute swan cygnets raised at Southchurch Park last week. From eyewitness accounts, helpers and concerned members of the public we have been able to piece together the most likely explanation of their deaths:
- Cygnet 1 died last Sunday night and it appears that it was crushed to death, most likely accidentally by one of the parents.
- Cygnet 2 died on Bank Holiday Monday, cause unknown but possibly due to the heavy rain and/or the subsequent run off in to the pond of polluted rain water from the surrounding roads.
- Cygnet 3 & 4 died on the Tuesday. The birds were found together in the north west part of the island in a hole. It would appear that a 12 inch deep hole was formed by subsidence and this filled with water at the bottom. The chicks entered this and, due to the mud sides, were unable to extricate themselves. A parent was observed in some distress at the top of the hole at this time.
The death of these young birds has raised a number of questions from members of the public that have been in contact with us:
- Was a test of the water and a feasibility study carried out before the construction of the island.
- What happened to any plants that were cultivated and planted in the pond and were there any lessons learned from this.
- Has there been any study of food available to wildlife in the pond
- As the island was constructed to enhance wildlife was any thought given to maintenance and sustainability and who is ultimately responsible for the maintenance of the island
- What funds are allocated for the future maintenance of the island.
- If the island is proved to actually be detrimental to wildlife what measures will be taken.
- Are there any planned salinity and pollutants tests of the water to be carried our by the council or the relevant water board.
- Is it planned to construct a wooden ramp to enable young birds easy access to the island.
We will try to find out the answers and work with the Council to hopefully prevent a reoccurrence.
Graham Mee
Group Leader South East Essex RSPB
We gratefully acknowledge the help and concern of Robert Dobinson in the preparation of this item.
Wat Tyler Country Park 12.00
Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Grey Heron (There was some excitement as a couple of guys came into the hide having followed a Purple Heron from Fobbing but I didn't see it and had to return to work). Gary Clinton.
Priory Park 14.30
2 Spotted Flycatcher. Simon Webb.
Belfairs N.R., 08:00
1 Crossbill. Tony Mead (SOG).