South East Essex RSPB Wildlife Reports for June 2016
Thursday 30th June 2016south westerly, partly cloudy, max20°c
Southchurch Park East 08:45
1 Cormorant flying off pond towards the estuary. Robert Dobinson.
Thorpe Hall Golf Course 11:50
2 Wren, an adult calling to a juvenile. Alec Beanse.
Priory Park 16:02
2 Grey Wagtail flew over calling. Jeff Kinnerman.
Wednesday 29th June 2016south south westerly, mostly cloudy, max18°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:15 to 10:55
2 Marsh Harrier singles, 1 Common Tern, 1 Oystercatcher flew northeast over Coryton calling, pair and 4 juvenile Swallow Coryton, a few House Martin and 2 Swift (think both migrants), 4 Little Egret, a very few Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 1 singing Corn Bunting. Richard Fahey.
Tuesday 28th June 2016east south east, partly cloudy, max21°c
River Roach Seal Trip 14:00 to 16:45
2 Little Egret, 2 female Shelduck with a crèche of 8 ducklings, 48 Common Seal with 20 pups. Web Author.
Two Tree Island 14:30 to 17:00
1 Avocet, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Curlew, 11 Moorhen +3 chicks, 20 Mallard + 9 ducklings, 4 Little Grebe, 9 Lapwing, 15 Oystercatcher, 191 Redshank, 2 Common Tern, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, 2 Coot, 171 Black-headed Gull, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 226 Starling, 5 Wren, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch, 12 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 3 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 5 Wren, 3 Swift, 15 Swallow, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Jay, 6 Magpie, 37 Woodpigeon, 21 Carrion Crow, 2 Pheasant. 2 Red Admirals, 4 Large White. 1 Common spotted Orchid. Denis Warren.
RSPB Wallasea Island 17:00 to 17:35
5 Common Pheasant, 4 Skylark, 7 Carrion Crow, 2 Magpie, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Corn Bunting, 3 Linnet, 4 House Sparrow, 70+ Starling, 1 Shelduck, 9 Mallard, 2 Coot, 5 Swallow, 4 Swift, 8 Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull 100+ Woodpigeon. Rob Harris.
Meadows Between Cherry Orchard Park and Green Lane 17:30 to 18:15
1 Barn Owl hunting around meadows and hedges. Timothy A. James.
Monday 27th June 2016south west to north west, mostly cloudy, max21°c
No reports received for this day
Sunday 26th June 2016westerly, mostly cloudy, max21°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:20 to 11:47
2 Sand Martin, 10+ House Martin and 10+ Swift moving northward, 2 Avocet, pair of Oystercatcher, 2 Marsh Harrier singles, 3 Cuckoo Coryton, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker Coryton, 1 Little Egret, a very few Cetti's Warbler singing, 2 Chiffchaff singing Coryton, 1 Corn Bunting singing. Richard Fahey.
Hockley Woods 10:47
2 Ringlet flying together. Jeff Kinnerman.
EWT Lion Creek 11:00 to 12:00
5 Stock Dove - 2 adults and 3 juveniles on the lagoon hide roof where they seem to have occupied the owl nest box, we saw exactly the same a couple of weeks ago at Cudmore Grove with a pair of Stock Doves in an owl box. 3 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Corn Bunting. Several Large Skipper feeding on Salsify flowers, 4 Meadow Brown, 2 Brown Hare. David Selley.
River Roach Seal Trip 13:00 to 15:30
40+ Common Seal with 15 new born pups. Steve Barker.
Southchurch Park East 17:30
1 female Mallard with 9 ducklings on water at west end of pond. Robert Dobinson.
Saturday 25th June 2016westerly, rain showers, max20°c
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 07:45 to 10:00
1 Hobby, 2 Cuckoo (male chasing female), 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Avocet, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier (male), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 18 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (heard only), 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 3 Common Tern, 14 Skylark, 1 Kestrel, 6 Reed Warbler, 13 Reed Bunting. Chris Wakeling.
Southchurch Park East 08:20 to 12:55
2 Egyptian Geese on grass bank in morning being mildly harassed by 2 Mute Swan in water. 3 sets of Reed Warbler flying between Reed stem tops near the brook mouth. Robert Dobinson.
Southchurch Park East 09:00
2 Egyptian Geese. Viv Carbines.
Southchurch Park East 09:00 to 10:00
2 Egyptian Geese, a few Reed Warbler. Brett Andrews.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 09:00 to 09:30
5 Robin - 2 adults feeding 2 young and 1 juvenile from a previous brood still around. David Selley.
Two Tree Island 15:10 to 15:20
13 Little Egret and 2 Grey Heron on the roost, (viewed from the skateboard area car park). David Selley.
EWT Abberton Reservoir 15:30
4 Cuckoo. J. Howell.
Friday 24th June 2016south south westerly, scattered clouds, max22°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:44 to 11:13
1 Green Sandpiper, Curlew heard, 3 Oystercatcher (pair at creek and 1 calling as it flew northeast over Coryton), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Lesser Whitethroat singing, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 3 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler seen by ditch in sub-song (few more singing), 1 House Martin, 2 Corn Bunting singing, 1 Little Grebe on Manorway Fleet. Richard Fahey.
River Roach Seal Trip, 10:30 to 13:00
102 Canada Goose, 6 Oystercatcher, 6 Common Tern, 37 Common Seal + 9 new born pups. Web Author.
Leigh-on-Sea, Tattersall Gardens 10:45 to 11.00
1 male House Sparrow feeding 4 very recently fledged young. Martin Johnson.
M11 Stansted 12:30 to 12:32
1 Common Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. Rob Harris.
Langdon Hills 14:00 to 14:30
2 Buzzard over Hall Wood. David Shepherd.
Foulness Island 16:00 to 19:00
Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, c.10 Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail also in garden Turtle Dove, Song Thrush, adult and juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Steve Giles.
Thursday 23rd June 2016variable, thunderstorms, max22°c
Southend Location 10:00
Little Owl parents and juveniles. Nest has been under observation for eight weeks. Two juveniles are branching. Judy and Neil.
Barling Millenium Wildlife Park 12:15 to 13:40
1 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Stock Dove, 5 Swallow, 1 Nightingale collecting food from thick vegetation on the small island in the meadow pond - thought I'd heard one here a couple of weeks ago but song too brief to be sure then, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat including 4 juveniles, 1 Blackcap, flock of c.50 juvenile Starling, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Corn Bunting singing from wires in Mucking Hall Road. 1 Large Skipper, 4 Meadow Brown butterflies, several Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies. David Selley.
Wednesday 22nd June 2016south south west, mostly cloudy, max22°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:50 to 11:10
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Gadwall, 2 Little Egret, a few Cetti's Warbler singing, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff singing Coryton, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Corn Bunting, pair of Swallow, pair of Redshank. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 13:00 to 16:00
16 Canada Geese + 22 goslings, 18 Greylag Geese + 5 gosling, 38 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 6 Oystercatcher, 5 Redshank, 7 Mute Swan + 6 cygnets, 3 Little Egret, 9 Pochard, 8 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 2 Moorhen, 55 Coot + 4 chicks, 21 Reed Bunting, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 22 Swift, 5 Blackbird, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch, 15 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 55 Starling, 47 Wood Pigeon, 7 Magpie, 37 Carrion Crow, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Kestrel, 4 Collared Dove. Denis Warren.
Hanningfield Reservoir 14:30 to 14:50
36 Cormorant, 11 Lapwing, 2 Magpie, 5 Carrion Crow, 14 Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe 23 Mallard, 30 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 3 Swallow, 200+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 1 Common Tern. Rob Harris.
Foulness Island 16:50
Turtle Dove. Steve Giles.
Tuesday 21st June 2016south westerly, mostly cloudy, max21°c
RSPB Vange Marsh 15:30 to 16:45
Saline lagoon only: 1 pair of Oystercatcher with two small chicks, 8 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common Tern, 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Reed Bunting, 20+ swift, 2 Swallow. David Shepherd.
Monday 20th June 2016west south west, scattered clouds, max21°c
Rochford, Sutton Road 14:10 to 14:20
50+ Swift low over fields either side of road, 1 Hobby over the Anne Boleyn roundabout. David Selley.
Great Bardfield 16:20
1 Red Kite. Clive Gillingham.
Sunday 19th June 2016south westerly, partly cloudy, max21°c
Southchurch Park East 08:30
1 Whitethroat singing from top of bramble thicket NW footbridge, then melting into cover. Robert Dobinson.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:35 to 11:10
1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Avocet, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler singing, 2 Lesser Whitethroat singing, 2 Chiffchaff singing, 1 Cuckoo, a few Corn Bunting, pair of Swallow, juvenile Stock Dove on barns. Richard Fahey.
Shoebury Park 09:48
5 Egyptian Geese (2 adult, 3 Goslings). Terry Strong.
Wakering Stairs 10:00 to 12:40
Cupid's Corner to seawall: 2 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatcher, 34 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Moorhen, 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kestrel carrying prey, 2 Cuckoo (calling males), 1 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 4 Nightingale, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Turtle Dove, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit. 1 Speckled Wood, 5 Small Skipper and 6 Common Blue Butterflies, 1 Cinnabar Moth. David Selley.
North Shoebury 10:32
1 Common Buzzard over Asda. Terry Strong.
A132 Rettendon 13:00 to 13:02
1 Common Buzzard. Rob Harris.
RSPB Wallasea Island 14:00 to 14:30
5 Common Pheasant, 8 Skylark, 2 Oystercatcher, 100+ Starling, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 House Sparrow, 6 Swallow, 2 Swift, 5 Mallard, 3 Magpie, 8 Carrion Crow, 3 Herring Gull, 9 Black-headed Gull, 4 Corn Bunting. Rob Harris.
River Roach Seal Trip, 15:00 to 17:30
1 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Common Tern, 23 Common Seal including 5 new born pups. Web Author.
Saturday 18th June 2016north westerly, mostly cloudy, max15°c
RSPB West Canvey Marsh 11:15 to 12:50
2 Cuckoo (male and female), 2 Hobby - one chasing a Skylark, 3 Grey Heron, 12 Skylark, 9 Reed Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warbler (1 seen), 13 Reed Bunting, 3 Pochard, 2 Redshank, 4 Common Tern. 7 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat. 1 Slow Worm. Chris Wakeling.
Hullbridge, River Crouch 12:00 to 16:00
c.15 Black-headed Gull, male Kestrel, 2 Common Tern, Little Egret, Blackbird, c.20 Starling. Ellis.
RSPB Wallasea Island 17:00 to 17:30
1 Kestrel, 3 Linnet, 6 Skylark, 4 Corn Bunting, 3 Magpie, 6 Common Pheasant, 6 Carrion Crow, 60+ Woodpigeon, 5 Swift, 3 Starling. 2 Mallard, 2 House Martin, 1 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatcher. Rob Harris.
Friday 17th June 2016variable, mostly cloudy, max16°c
Runwell 08:15
2 Turtle Dove in garden. Sue Braham.
Priory Park 08:20
1 Coal Tit singing from mature conifers west side/Victoria Avenue. Jeff Kinnerman.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:20 to 10:45
1 female/juvenile Teal landed over near Manorway Fleet, 3 Little Egret, 1 Oystercatcher on creek (maybe as calling 1 northeast over Coryton earlier), c.10 House Martin on passage (included a few around lagoon), pair of Swallow, c.5 pairs of Cuckoo seen/present, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff singing Coryton, a few Cetti's Warbler singing, a few Corn Bunting, 1 Mute Swan and 4 cygnets at Coryton, pair of Canada Goose with 3 goslings at on creek. Richard Fahey.
Hanningfield Reservoir 17:00 to 17:40
34 Cormorant, 200+ Canada Geese, 200+ Greylag Geese, 5 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard, 5 Carrion Crow, 2 Magpie, 16 Mute Swan, 30 Black-headed Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Herring Gull. Rob Harris.
Thursday 16th June 2016south easterly, partly cloudy, max21°c
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 06:30 to 07:00
Great Spotted Woodpecker (adult pair with juvenile), 7 Blue Tit (2 adults, 5 juveniles) in garden. Web Author.
Westcliff on Sea, St George's Drive 09:27
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult circling/calling over garden). Jeff Kinnerman.
Hadleigh, New Road 11:45 to 12:15
1 Common Buzzard circling fairly low being mobbed by Crow, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker on fat balls, 1 Mistle Thrush (nesting in neighbour's pear tree), 3 Goldfinch, 1 Pied Wagtail. Chris Wakeling.
Shoebury, Gunners Park, 12:40 to 13:50
20+ House Sparrow, Robin, 3 Blackbird, 30 Starling, 24 Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, 50+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Wren, Chaffinch, 10 Great Tit, 9 Blue Tit, 4 Collared Dove, 32 Carrion Crow, 2 Jackdaw, 8 Whitethroat, 6 Magpie, 4 Herring Gull, Pied Wagtail, 3 Moorhen, Mute Swan + 7 Cygnets, 8 Turnstone, 6 Mallard, 2 Coot, Kingfisher, Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, Kestrel, 4 Dunnock, Sedge Warbler. Spencer Jackson.
Wakering, Morleys Garden Centre 13:30
Common Buzzard soaring high overhead, also Kestrel much lower. Jackie Bliss.
Stanford le Hope (A13) 16:00
2 Common Buzzard soaring over field alongside A13. Steve Day.
Wednesday 15th June 2016south westerly, partly cloudy, max19°c
Hullbridge, Kendal Park and River Crouch 15:00 to 17:00
5 Blackbird, c.20 Black-headed Gull, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Buzzard (towards Battlesbridge), 1 Carrion Crow, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Cormorant, 1 Cuckoo (heard distantly), 1 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 1 Hobby (male - first I've seen around here), 1 Kestrel, 5 Linnet, 4 Little Egret, 1 Magpie, 2 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 51 Mute Swan, 1 Pheasant, 4 Robin, 2 Shelduck, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Woodpigeon, 4 Wren. Steve RJ.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 20:40
1 Hobby over going south. David Selley.
Tuesday 14th June 2016south westerly, rain showers, max18°c
Southend, North Avenue 07:45
15+ Swift flying overhead. Spencer Jackson.
Wakering, Mill Barn Fishery, 08:00
Good views of male Cuckoo. Goldfinch family, many Mallard and a juvenile Cormorant for a while before it flew off towards Shoebury. Phil Lusher.
Stanford-Le-Hope c.09:00
1 Hobby flew low north. Richard Fahey.
Wat Tyler Country Park 14:15 to 15:00
1 Cuckoo on the wire close to hide then flew by, 2 Bearded Tit, Reed Warbler, Pochard, Common Tern. Mick Roe.
North Shoebury 19:00
Our female Sparrowhawk proving to be an accomplished predator. Watched her flush a sparrow from a small tree in our garden this evening which she flew straight back to her nest (we assume). Feeling very privileged to be able to witness this within 15 feet of our conservatory window. She follows a bird into the tree, forces it to fly out and then grabs it. Took her 3 or 4 attempts, but successful within 5 minutes of persevering. Jackie and Mike Bliss.
Monday 13th June 2016westerly, cloud, rain, max18°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 18:05 to 18:20
83 Swift all going north-west in what looked like a weather related feeding movement. David Selley.
Sunday 12th June 2016south westerly, thunderstorms, max19°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:40 to 11:15
1 Short-eared Owl flying around over west fence, 5 Oystercatcher, 5 Little Egret, a few Cetti's Warbler singing, 4 Cuckoo seen/present, 2 Lesser Whitethroat singing, 3 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff singing Coryton, 1 Swallow, 1 House Martin, a few Corn Bunting. Richard Fahey.
Saturday 11th June 2016variable, partly cloudy, heavy rain, max21°c
Stambridge 08:00 to 08:15
25+ House Martin around care home nests, 2 Skylark singing. David Selley.
Hockley 08:30 to 09:30
Baby Great Tits and baby Blue Tits all over the bird feeders this morning. single parent Greater Spotted Woodpecker with her single baby also back in the garden. The father was killed when it flew into the our neighbours window. George Kempen.
RSPB Vange Marsh 09:00 to 11:00
Reed Warbler, Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Shoveler, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Carrion Crow, Bearded Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard, Gadwall, Little Egret, Shelduck, Magpie, Goldfinch, Avocet, Lapwing, Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Blackbird, House Sparrow. Kevin Taylor.
Leigh on Sea, Park View Drive 09:30
Newly fledged Great Tit being fed by parents. 2 Red-tailed Bumble Bee in garden. Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:30 to 13:30
Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Pochard, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Egyption Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Woodpigeon, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Avocet, Common Tern, Mute Swan, Bearded Tit, Carrion Crow, Magpie. Kevin Taylor.
Rayleigh, Wellington Road 12:00
1 Stock Dove, 4 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cuckoo. Russ Payne.
Daws Heath, North of A127 13:15
Sparrowhawk over my allotment, being pestered by two Swallows. Peter Bowden.
North Shoebury 19:30
Female Sparrowhawk returning to her favoured perch in our buddleia every evening now - rewarded by a kill tonight (which she flew off with, presumably to a nest). When she used to visit as a juvenile she would always eat her prey next to her favoured perch, on our bird table. Fledglings feeding in our garden this week have included House Sparrow, Starling, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch and Magpie. Jackie and Mike Bliss.
Friday 10th June 2016easterly, clear, max20°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 05:45
1 Cuckoo calling. David Selley.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 08:05 to 10:28
Pair of Mediterranean Gull on lagoon (flew off west), pair of Egyptian Goose flew west from lagoon/seawall, 4 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Egret, a few Cetti's Warbler singing, a few Cuckoo seen/present, 1 Chiffchaff singing, 3 Pochard on Manorway Fleet, 1 Swallow near horse paddock, 1 House Martin, 3 Corn Bunting. Richard Fahey.
Thursday 09th June 2016variable, overcast, max17°c
Chelmsford, Baddow Meads 10:30 to 12:30
Sightings: 1 Common Tern, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Skylark, 4 Song Thrush, 5 Blackbird, 2 Magpie, 3 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 1 Mute Swan, 3 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 1 Linnet, 6 House Sparrow, 50+ Carrion Crow, 6 Chaffinch, 10+ Goldfinch, 1 Swallow, 15+ Swift, 2 House Martin, 3 Reed Warbler, 10+ Whitethroat, 1 Collared Dove, 10+ Woodpigeon, 1 Great Tit, 4 Chiffchaff (1 adult, 3 fledglings), 2 Pheasant, 2 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 50+ Starling. Invertebrate species identified: Longhorn moths (Nemophora degeerella, possibly Adela reaumurella, a third brown winged similar species unidentified), Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae), 2 Spot Ladybird, 7 Spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird, 24 Spot Ladybird, Crane Fly (Nephrotoma flavescens, ), Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis; in large numbers!), Dark Bush Cricket, Speckled Bush Cricket, Wolf Spider (Pardosa amentata), Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga carnaria), Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), Honey Bee. Many more unidentified Bumblebees, Mirid bugs, beetles, spiders, hoverflies, Froghoppers (cuckoospit), parasitic/gall wasps (both small and very large) and soldier beetles (more than one species seen). Paul Forsdick.
RSPB Canvey Wick 11:15 to 13:00
4 Cuckoo (3m, 1f bubbling as she flew), 6 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling (top end of main path to sea wall after last concrete bridge right side) listened for 20 minutes, 2 Blackcap, 7 Common Whitethroat, lots of Goldfinch and Wren, 1 jay fly over, Common Tern, mediterranean Gull. 1 Red Fox. Tim Hurdley.
RHS Hyde Hall Gardens 12:20 to 12:25
Red Kite circling over gardens. Norman Oliver.
Danbury, EWT Backwarden Reserve, 14:00 to 16:00
3 Buzzard (circling over Danbury Ridge area), 2 Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Blackcap (heard). 6x 4 Spot. 2 Broad Bodied, 1 Hairy, 4 White-legged, 25+ Azure Damsel, 1 Green Hairstreak, 2 Brimstone, 4 Speckled Wood. Steve RJ.
RSPB Wallasea Island 20:00 to 20:25
1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Linnet, 4 Skylark, 5 Corn Bunting, 2 Magpie, 7 Common Pheasant, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Mallard, 30 + Woodpigeon, 5 Starling, 1 Reed Bunting, 12 Herring Gull, 8 Black-headed Gull, 7 House Sparrow. Rob Harris.
Paglesham 20:35 to 21:10
1 Kestrel, 6 Linnet, 1 Skylark, 4 Corn Bunting, 5 Magpie, 6 Blackbird, 12 Common Pheasant, 15 Carrion Crow, 60 + Woodpigeon, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 30+ Starling. 5 Rabbit. Rob Harris.
Wednesday 08th June 2016easterly, partly cloudy, max23°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:54 to 10:30
1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Little Egret (included Coryton pair), 1 Cetti's Warbler seen singing Coryton, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing, 1 Chiffchaff singing on wires by Manorway, 2 Corn Bunting singles. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Vange Marsh 10:00 to 12:30
6 Reed Bunting, 3 Reed Warbler, 4 adult Bearded Tit, 5 Avocet, 8 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 3 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher. David Shepherd.
Tuesday 07th June 2016easterly, clear, max21°c
RSPB Bowers Marsh 07:32 to 11:09
St Margaret's Churchyard, Church Road: 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow Wagtail. RSPB Bowers Marsh: 2 Marsh Harrier (two individuals, male hunting, female mobbed by 6 Avocet), 10 Common Whitethroat, 6 Stock Dove, Skylark, 1 Cuckoo (viewed three times, possibly same male), c.35 Avocet (with juveniles), 2 Corn Bunting, 6+ Lapwing, Tufted Duck, 1 Short-eared Owl (distant view on South of reserve), 8+ Redshank (with juveniles), 3 Oystercatcher, Reed Bunting, 1 Song Thrush, Pochard, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Teal (3 drakes, 1 duck), Shelduck, Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Swift, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 26 Reed Warbler (all viewed, others present), 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Swallow, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Greenfinch, Linnet. 1 Broad Bodied Chaser (female on the bridleway), 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Jeff Kinnerman.
Shoebury Park 09:17
5 Egyptian Geese (2 adult 3 goslings). Terry Strong.
RSPB Bowers Marshes 10:00 to 13:30
Mute Swan with cygnets, Chaffinch, Little Egret, Whitethroat, Kestrel, Reed Warbler, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Linnet, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Greylag Geese, Coot. Cinnabar Moth, Gatekeeper, Broad Bodied Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly mating. Mick Holland.
Daws Heath, Garden 11:00 to 15:00
1 Common Buzzard over, pursued by the local nesting Crow, the Buzzard riding the thermals higher and higher until both birds disappeared from view, 1 male and 1 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. Mike Sagrott.
Hockley 11:30
2 female Newt and a number of baby Newt seen in our small nature pound in the garden. also a few Tadpole. George Kempen.
EWT Fingringhoe Wick 11:30 to 14:30
Many Nightingale, 3 Turtle Dove, Kestrel +4 chicks, Cetti's Warbler, 3+ Chiffchaff. Richard Shepherd.
North Shoebury 19:30
Delighted that "our" Sparrowhawk returned to its favoured perch in our back garden this evening, our first sighting of it for a couple of months. No longer a juvenile but now in full adult female plumage. Jackie and Mike Bliss.
Monday 06th June 2016easterly, partly cloudy, max17°c
River Roach Seal Trip 09:30 to 12:30
1 Little Egret, 8 Shelduck, 2 Marsh Harrier (young male and female flying together on Wallasea), 1 Kestrel (on Wallasea), 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Common Tern, 23 Common Seal. Web Author.
RSPB Vange Marsh 12:30 to 13:15
Saline area only: 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Redshank, 4 Shelduck, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Mute Swan +8 cygnet, 5 Lapwing, 1 Cuckoo on old tip. David Shepherd.
Daws Heath, Garden 14:00 to 17:30
2 Jackdaw (over), 1 Common Buzzard pursued by 3 Crows, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Mike Sagrott.
Upminster 16:30
Red kite being harried by Crow. Patricia.
Sunday 05th June 2016easterly, partly cloudy, max20°c
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 07:45 to 10:30
1 Green Sandpiper, 10+ House Martin on passage, 1 Avocet, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 single and 2 pairs of Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Blackcap singing at Coryton, 1 Chiffchaff seen and probably the same singing at Coryton, 1 Corn Bunting, 5 Little Egret, a few Cetti's Warbler singing. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 10:00 to 13:40
Kestrel, 15 Carrion Crow, 7 Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, 5 Collared Dove, 15 Mallard + ducklings, 50 Starling, 12 Herring Gull, Chaffinch, Linnet, 4 Blackbird, 25 Jackdaw, 2 Wren, 30 Black-headed Gull, 4 Skylark, Rook, 3 Whitethroat, 12 Shelduck, 3 Little Egret, 30 Avocet + chick's, Lesser Black backed Gull, 4 Lapwing, Cormorant, Coot, Reed Warbler, Bearded Tit, 25 Canada Goose + goslings, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Tufted Duck, 17 Greylag Goose + goslings, Great Crested Grebe, 8 Pochard, Redshank, Marsh Harrier, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo, Little Grebe, Corn Bunting, Grey Heron, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, Great Tit. M. Hill & S. Jackson.
Hadleigh Downs 12:00
1 Corn Bunting singing from railway line almost opposite Hadleigh Castle. My first record here for ten years or more! Ross Gardner.
Southend, Brettenham Drive 16:05
Painted Lady. Alec Beanse.
Saturday 04th June 2016north westerly, mostly cloudy, max20°c
Rochford 07:20 to 07:30
9 Swift back over usual nest sites - not surprisingly given the weather I didn't see any here last week. David Selley.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 11:20 to 13:25
On the estuary: 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 30 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, c.20 Brent Goose, 1 Cormorant, 1 Common Tern. Park: 2 Linnet, 4 Common Whitethroat, 3+ Greenfinch, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Mute Swan (pair with 7 cygnet), 4 Swallow, 1 Green Woodpecker, c.15 House Martin (collecting mud for nest building), 1 Jay, 2 Stock Dove (pair), 1 Little Egret. 2 Painted Lady. Jeff Kinnerman.
Southend, Wyatts Drive 11:35
Around 8 Long-tailed Tit moving from tree to tree, apparently feeding. Alec Beanse.
Fobbing Marsh and Holehaven Creek/Coryton 12:15 to 15:27
1 Swallow on passage, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Avocet on lagoon, pair of Oystercatcher in territorial flight, pair of Gadwall on lagoon, 1 Cuckoo at Manorway Fleet (among a few others present), 3 Blackcap singing over area, 1 Chiffchaff singing at Coryton, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 6 Little Egret (including Coryton pair), a few Cetti's warbler singing. Richard Fahey.
South Ockendon 16:30
Male Golden Oriole. Disinvite vibrant bright yellow, around Jay size, black tail, black wings. "We often have green woodpeckers after the ants- The Oriole was clearly a very distinctive bright yellow (it looks completely yellow when wings and tail tucked away), so much so that when I first saw it I said to my Wife that it was someone’s Canary that had escaped but then it came closer and with its swooping flight and size (about Jay size) I knew it was not a canary. We then studied it for a few minutes and saw the black tail and wings". Tom.
Upminster 17:35
1 Red Kite. Ron.
Friday 03rd June 2016northerly, overcast, max13°c
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 11:00
Drake Eider still off barge pier, 2 Turnstone, 60 Sanderling, Shelduck, many Swallow and House Martin. Richard Mander.
RHS Hyde Hall Garden 11:10 to 14:15
55 Rook on grass either side of entrance road. From the garden reservoir hide: 2 Little Grebe (pair), 1 male Mute Swan, 3 Greylag Goose (2 adult with a single well grown gosling), Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck (3 pairs), 9 Coot (4 adult and 5 young), 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler. On the hide feeders: Blue Tit, Great Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch (pair). David Selley.
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 14:15
1 drake Eider still present. Just offshore near the end of a groyne. Matt and Katherine G.
Hockley 18:10 to 19:30
3 (male, female & juvenile) Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding/being feed in garden numerous times this evening. Tim Davis.
Thursday 02nd June 2016northerly, overcast, max13°c
Shoeburyness, Gunners Park 09:30 to 10:30
Drake Eider just off shore, Grey Heron, Swallow, Whitethroat. Colin Byford.
Fobbing Marsh/Coryton 13:13 to 15:55
110+ Swift, 10 House Martin and 2 Swallow on passage (this last one seemed late), 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Avocet on lagoon, 2 Oystercatcher, a few Cuckoo present, 2 Chiffchaff present at Coryton, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 1 Little Grebe Coryton, 5 Little Egret, a few Cetti's Warbler singing. Richard Fahey.
RSPB Bowers Marsh 14:30 to 17:00
40 Avocet, 30 Canada Geese + 20 goslings, 12 Coot + 4 chicks, 11 Mute Swan +6 cygnets, 17 Greylag Geese, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe, 9 Pochard, 6 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatcher, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Redshank, 20 Herring Gull, 1 Dunlin, 1 Cetti's Warbler (+6 heard), 40 Carrion Crow, 7 Magpie, 5 Reed Bunting (+10 heard), 14 Skylark, 110 Starling, 3 Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch, 9 Swallow, 3 Whitethroat (+2 heard), 200 Swift. Walking round the reserve I had counted about 40 Swift in singles and small groups, but 30 minutes, later in the walk they appeared all around in the sky, low flying skimming around me and over the water, it was a wonderful sight and there was probably a lot more than I have estimated. The Bar-tailed Godwit, were in full summer plumage on the east end marsh with 15 Avocet and also lovely to see. Denis Warren.
Daws heath, Pound Wood 15:00
1 female Sparrowhawk. 1 Red Fox (vixen) with 2 very lively cubs. Mike Sagrott.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 16:45
1 Red Kite over chased by 2 Jackdaw. David Selley.
Wednesday 01st June 2016north north west, overcast, max13°c
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 08:00 to 09:30
2 Wren - pair gathering insect food. Several weeks ago the male was building at least four nests simultaneously in ivy on an old tree stump. Knew they built several nests but imagined they did one at a time. David Selley.
Hockley 08:45
7 baby Great Tit being fed by parents on bird feeder, first young seen in the garden this year. George Kempen.
RSPB Vange Marsh 14:30 to 16:00
2 Mute Swan with 8 young, 2 Greylag Geese with 5 young, 4 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Shelduck, 3 Avocet, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Oystercatcher, large number of Swift and House Martin feeding low over the water. David Shepherd.
Hanningfield Reservoir 15:45 to 16:15
300+ Swift flying very low all over reservoir, 100 + Mallard, 20 Pochard, 35 Tufted, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 30+ Mute Swan, 1 Black Swan, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 5 Magpie, 2 Blackbird, 40+ Herring Gull, 60+ Canada Geese, 100+ Greylag Geese, 2 Pied Wagtail, 100+ Swallow, 50+ Coot, 12 Carrion Crow. Rob Harris.