Bird Reports for March 2000
01/03/00 - 1736. Nine Common Scoter were observed close in to shore along the seafront by Westcliff. The Starling roost on the Cliffs by Royal terrace was quite breathtaking this evening and must be approaching 100,000 birds. This is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Not related to local sightings but of some interest, House Martins were observed in Cornwall yesterday.
| 04/03/00 - 1530. Our Barn Owl Gets a mate! The Gunners Park Barn Owl was again showing itself superbly tonight from 1530 onwards. The owl at times was less than six feet away from your author. Leaving the park at 1730 your author was presented with the wonderful sight of not one, but two Barn Owls hunting together. This will be fantastic if we have a male and a female in the same park. |
05/03/00 - Two Slavonian Grebes and Red-Headed Smew observed at Hanningfield Reservoir.
05/03/00 - Two Short Eared Owls observed at Two Tree Island. Also eight Avocet.
11/03/00 - A single colourful male Wheatear ( the first observed this year by your author ) was observed in the Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve at the back of Gunners Park, Shoebury. Our resident Barn Owl was again putting on its usual accommodating show in the same place. Two Little Egret and Three Heron together in field on Wakering Common. Also observed was a single Hen Harrier towards Potton Island.
12/03/00 - One Long Eared Owl was observed hunting at 1500 from M.O.D. road by Potton Island bridge. Large flock of Reed Buntings by Wakering Stairs at 1130. Wheatear still on Gunners Park Nature Reserve and, of course, Barn Owl. Our resident Forster's Tern is still being observed regularly at Shingle Head, Tollesbury.
14/03/00 - Two Short-eared Owls have been seen quite regularly near to the bridge at Two Tree Island in the last four days. They can be seen most evenings from 1700 onwards
16/03/00 - (from feedback) Green Sandpiper, Red Crested Pochard and two Slavonian Grebe observed at Hanningfield Reservoir.
18/03/00 - 0745. A circuit of Gunners Park produced the following species: Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Curlew (in EWT reserve),Dunnock, Eider (x11 through fence by sea wall), Great Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Long-Tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Oystercatcher, Robin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Twite (x7), Wood Pigeon, Wren. Barn Owl still resident in evening.
18/03/00 - (from feedback): Full adult Ring-billed Gull at Westcliff alongside Westcliff Casino also, Glaucous Gull at East Tilbury and Sand Martin Hanningfield Reservoir.
20/03/00 - A trip to Stebbing near Gt Dunmow this afternoon confirmed that there is indeed an Eagle Owl in the area. The owl has been roosting in a large pine for the last week behind the Quaker house. The owl is confirmed as an escape as leathers were visible on the leg.
20/03/00 - Guillemot and Eider both reported from end of pier.
24/03/00 - There still does not appear to be any great number of our summer migrants arriving - no doubt due to the predominantly northerly winds being experienced at the moment. A Cetti's Warbler is reported singing in Wat Tyler Park close to the second hide. Your author heard at least two Chiffchaff's calling in Gunners Park at 1710 this evening and we have had reports of single Wheatears at various locations in and around Southend.. Fifteen Avocets were counted from the train tonight between Benfleet and Leigh stations. Three Little Egrets have also been observed in the same location. The adult Ring-billed Gull was observed at 1400 this afternoon close to the Westcliff Leisure Centre, the gull is quiet easy to attract with cold chips we have been informed!
25/03/00 - Your authors first Speckled Wood Butterfly of the year was observed today at Hadleigh Castle Country Park. Just for interest, a Hoopoe was observed today at Dungeness.
If anyone has taken a good photograph of the Gunners Park Barn Owl and could convert it to electronic form, would they be willing to send to it the email address above, we would dearly love to have this on our website. You would, of course, receive full credit for the photograph. Thank you.