Bird Reports for March 2005

Thursday 31st March 2005

Marine Parade,  Leigh 11.00
1 male Sparrowhawk perched in tree next to the footpath on the seaward side of Marine Parade, at the junction with Theobalds Rd. It remained perched, un-noticed as 2/3 people walked past some 10 feet away, only flying off when a dog-walker came past. Mike Sagrott.

Benfleet, Rushbottom Lane 16:30 to 17:30
4 Yellowhammer (two pairs), 2 Shelduck, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Skylark. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Hockley/Hawkwell, 17:00
1 Swallow (flew north over Main Road, Hockley nr The Spa). Paul Baker (SOG).

Southend, School Field Next To Blackdown Flats, North Road 17.15
2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Redwing. Web Author.

Wednesday 30th March 2005

Basildon Hospital 09.45
1 female Lesser Redpoll, 5 Goldfinch all in birch tree. Shaun Harvey.

Gunners Park 16.00 - 17.15
Male Wheatear (EWT reserve), male and female Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest (around pond), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Meadow Pipit, Kestrel. Steve Giles.

Hanningfield Reservoir 16.30
Drake Long-tailed Duck on Middlemead (Fremnells) causeway, main reservoir side, furthest end from reserve. Garganey still reported but not seen. Steve Gill.

Tuesday 29th March 2005

Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 11.30
1 female Garganey (from Rawl hide), drake Long-tailed Duck (on western side with Goldeneye), c.20 Goldeneye, 4 Red-crested Pochard.. Web Author.

Wat Tyler Country Park 12.00 - 12.30
1 Little Egret, 1 male Marsh Harrier, Green Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler. Web Author.

Monday 28th March 2005 (First Report of Reed Warbler)

Gunners Park, 07:00 to 08:30
3 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Eastwood, 08:55
1 Corn Bunting (singing from field NE of Westcliff R.F.C.). Neil Chambers (SOG).

Benfleet Creek, 10:00
4 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).

Wakering Stairs, Haven Point, 10:30 to 12:00
1 Hen Harrier (distant ringtail), 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Kestrel, 1 Yellowhammer. Web Author.

Luncies Road, Basildon 11.00
6 Swallow over my garden, my first Hirundines this year! Gary Clinton.

Hadleigh Downs, 11:30 to 12:50
4 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.

Hadleigh Castle CP (Benfleet-Leigh Seawall walked) 14.00 - 16.30
2 Kestrel, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Short-eared Owl. (2 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank on Two Tree Island Lagoon). Martin Cracknell.

Two Tree Island (West), 14:15 to 16:15
1 Stonechat, 1 Short-eared Owl. Don Petrie (SOG).

West Wood 18:30
1 Woodcock. Ross Gardner.

Two Tree Island (West), 19:25
1 Short-eared Owl this evening at dusk. Also female Stonechat there on Friday afternoon. Chris Seaton.

Wat Tyler Country Park
Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, Wren, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, several Bearded Tits, 1 Reed Warbler, several Long-tailed Tits. All on the Fleet or the scrape. Martin Itter.

Sunday 27th March 2005 (First Report of Swallow)

Southend Seafront 09.25
Ring-billed Gull, very similar to the adult that was photographed on 13th March i.e. basically summer plumage but with a streaked head and less striking bill markings. Chris Seaton.

Lake Meadows, Billlericay 11.00
3 pairs of Red-crested Pochard. Marion Burch.

Wat Tyler Country Park 12.45 - 16.00
Male Merlin perched for 10 minutes in bush over road, mobbed by crows, flew off east. Male Sparrowhawk, 3 Gadwall, 3 Little Egret, 2 White-fronted Goose flew off toward Vange Marsh. Snipe (17 in flight) round and round over scrape for 2-3 minutes, really lovely. Male Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler (In swathe) several times very briefly. 2 pair Oystercatcher displaying on island, 1 Skylark. Two or three water vole in fleet. Gary Clinton.

Ashingdon, 14:15 to 14:20
1 Sparrowhawk (Male killed and plucked a Collared Dove in the garden). Neil Chambers (SOG).

Abberton Reservoir (Layer Breton Causeway) 15.30-16.00
16 Goldeneye, 30+ Sand Martin, Several Swallow. Martin Cracknell.

Southend 15.15
Buzzard sp. seen flying strongly north west from flats in Central Southend. (no binoculars with me!). Web Author

East wood Sewage Farm 15.20
Honey Buzzard. Myself and my father are 100% of ID and we have seen the bird many times before although this was our first for Essex. At first we thought it was a large accipiter as the bird was very high but then it circled lower and the size and shape of the bird was unmistakeable. The jizz and strange head shape of the bird was clearly visible and we ruled out common Buzzard by the more pointed wing shape and the fact that the wings were held flat and not in the V of the Common. The fingers of the wings were not spread as is quite often seen with the Common Buzzard. It came down very low over the sewage station before heading NE (maybe to roost in the area?). It was a very dark bird with just a white panel at the base of the wing suggesting a dark phase or possibly juvenile bird? As I say we are positive of ID but couldn't believe how early in the year it was here. Russell Clark.

Hanningfield Reservoir 16:30 - 17:00
1 female Scaup, (from Rawl Hide) 2 pair Red Crested Pochard (Causeway). Tim Adam and Ashley Bennett.

Shoebury 22.19
Little Owl heard calling from fields behind house. Web Author.

Boyce Hill Golf Course, Benfleet
1 Swallow. Tim Murphy. 27/03/05

Saturday 26th March 2005

Westcliff Seafront, 10:00 to 10:15
5 Mediterranean Gull (2 full adult summers, 2 2nd summers and a single 1st summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Fanes Wood, Thundersley, 10:00 to 11:00
2 Bullfinch (pair), 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel, 1 Long-tailed Tit (gathering nesting material). Graham Ryland (SOG).

Pound Wood 10:00
1 Firecrest near Church field. Ross Gardner.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.10 11.45
3 Little Egret, 66 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Corn Bunting, 3 Shelduck, Curlew, Red Breasted Merganser (Male), Green Woodpecker, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Teal, 4 Brent Goose, 12 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 11:00
1 Sparrowhawk (over the garden). John Wright (SOG).

Hadleigh Downs, 11:30 to 13:20
1 Accipiter sp. (a large bird seen circling over the valley with fluffed out under-tail coverts, long broad wings and short display flight stooped into the nearby wood scattering Wood Pigeons was probably a male Goshawk), 5 Chiffchaff. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Belton Hills (Country Park section) 12:00
2 Bullfinch (1 seen, at least 1 more heard). Ross Gardner.

Rochford Golf Course, 13:00 to 16:30
2 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Hanningfield, Crowsheath 17.45
40+ Waxwing south of reservoir causeway. Jerry Stock.

Friday 25th March 2005

Hockley Woods 08.00
1 Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 5 Goldcrest. R. Cannon.

Hadleigh Downs, 08:30 to 10:30
12 Chiffchaff, 1 Woodcock. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 09:00 to 10:30
1 Little Egret (scrape), 1 Peregrine Falcon (male on the pylon), 2 Cetti's Warbler (singing either side of hide), 1 Chiffchaff. John Wright (SOG).

Vange Marsh, 10:35 to 11:30
1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail. John Wright (SOG).

Benfleet, Nr Rushbottom Lane, 14:00 to 15:00
8 Yellowhammer, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Skylark, 1 Chiffchaff. 1 Comma. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Sutton Bridge Farm 14.00
A pair of Mediterranean Gulls initially flew over Homebase but were feeding on a field just east of the farm. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Gunners Park, 14:30 to 16:45
1 Kestrel, 1 Stonechat (male), 1 Wheatear (female), 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 11 Linnet. Web Author.

Paglesham Area 19.35
1 Little Owl. Web Author.

Upper Raypits Farm
Male Yellow Wagtail flew low overhead. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Thursday 24th March 2005

Leigh on Sea, 13:00
6 Jackdaw (Together on roof by Police Station). John Wright (SOG).

Seafront and Gunner's Park 13.00 - 16.00
1 Ring-billed Gull (at westcliff), 4 Mediterranean Gull, 40 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sandpiper (opposite Thorpe Bay Tennis Club), 1 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart (Both Essex Trust) 1 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest. R. Cannon.

Wat Tyler Country Park 15.00 - 17.45
1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Gadwall, Sparrowhawk (pair). Water Rail (good close view in LH swathe), Cetti's Warbler (Repeatedly in swathes), 1 Little Egret, 40+ Black-tailed Godwit. Gary Clinton.

Two Tree Island 15.45
1 Short-eared Owl,1 Little Egret,1 Water Rail. David Chivers.

Gunners Park, 16:00 to 16:30
1 Chiffchaff (By the pond), 1 Little Egret (On the flooded field). John Wright (SOG).

Wednesday 23rd March 2005

Hanningfield Reservoir (main causeway) 07.50 - 08.05
5 Red Crested Pochard (3 male 2 female), 1 Goldeneye, 1 Black Swan, 1 Chiffchaff (heard),1 Skylark (heard), 20+ Tufted Duck. John Wilson.

Westcliff Seafront, 08:20 to 08:30
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult again at Rossi). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Hockley Woods 08.30 - 09.30
1 Brambling (play area), 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper (nesting in the clearing), 3 Redwing, Stock Doves. David Hope.

Southend Pier, 09:30 to 12:00
1 Great Northern Diver (distant ), 13 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults, 5 2nd summer and 4 1st winters), 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Guillemot. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Wat Tyler (Main Hide) 09.30 - 13.45
6 Snipe, 3 Gadwall, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 20+ Black-tailed Godwit in flight, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron. Gary Clinton.

Laindon, Southfields Business park 10.00
Chiffchaff calling from trees in car park (first one this spring). web Author.

Shoebury east Beach 11.00
Male Wheatear by refreshment building. Graham Saunders.

Two Tree Island (West), 11:30 to 13:30
2 Avocet (back on the lagoon), 2 Snipe. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.

Hanningfield Reservoir 17.35 - 17.45
Slavonian Grebe from the causeway. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Thundersley
Blackcap, in garden. Tim Murphy.

Tuesday 22nd March 2005 (First Report of Black Redstart)

Shoebury, Waterford Road 11.05
1 Black Redstart. Sheila Hodgson.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:00 to 13:40
2 Mediterranean Gull (adult-summers, they looked like a pair, with a little display activity), 1 Marsh Harrier (female), 1 Water Rail. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir (Causeway) 12.00 - 12.30
2 pair of Red Crested Pochard, pair of Bullfinch (In trees east end of causeway), many Goldeneye, 2 pair of Great Crested Grebe (Displaying). Gary Clinton.

Monday 21st March 2005

Clifftown Parade, near Prittlewell Square 07.35
1 Woodcock. David Chivers.

Barling Rubbish Tip, 09:30 to 12:15
2 Mediterranean Gull (1st winters), 1 Green Sandpiper. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir (Causeway) 11.30 - 12.20
200+ Wigeon, 20 Goldeneye, Green Woodpecker (Flew across road and into field where it settled for ages). Gary Clinton.

Sunday 20th March 2005

Hockley Woods, 06:30 to 09:00
7 Great Spotted Woodpecker (4m, 3fem), 4 Green Woodpecker (minimum), 2 Nuthatch (in large clearing), 1 Treecreeper, 1 Long-tailed Tit. Mike Bailey (SOG).

East Tilbury 07.30
25 Corn Bunting single flock with at least 4 singing males, 1 Little Stint, 252 Avocet. Chris Cook.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 08:25 to 12:00
1 Goshawk (immature female flew down main reed bed, over the scrape, past the hide and continued south being mobbed by crows at 10.45am), 1 Marsh Harrier (female till 8.30am only when flew high to the south east), 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler (one in the reedbed either side of hide and the other at the southern end of the scrape), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer), 7 Snipe. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 10.30
2 Slavonian Grebe from the causeway. Neil Chambers.
(SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 11.10 12.25
8 Corn Bunting, 4 Reed Bunting, Little Egret, Avocet, 7 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Mute Swan, 80+ Fieldfare southbound, Curlew, 3 Shelduck, Green Woodpecker, 10 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Gunners Park, 12:30 to 13:00
2 Chiffchaff (around the pond). Paul Baker (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 15.00
20+ Goldeneye, 20+ Great Crested Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Red Crested Pochard. R Shepherd.

Hanningfield Reservoir 15.45 - 17.00
15 Goldeneye, 4 Red-Crested Pochard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 13 Snipe. Martin Cracknell.

Saturday 19th March 2005

Gunners Park, 07:50 to 09:00
2 Green Woodpecker, 20 Great Crested Grebe. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Fleet Head, 09:10 to 10:15
1 Marsh Harrier (on Potton Is.), 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Little Egret, 60 Shelduck. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park 10.00 - 12.00
1 Peregrine Falcon on pylon, 2 Bearded Tit. 1 Brimstone. Web Author. (I missed the Bittern by 5 minutes!!).

Wat Tyler Country Park 10.00 - 12.55
Bittern in flight for 30 seconds, left to right along reed bed across road in front of church and again 2 minutes later right to left for 20 seconds in same bed (Fantastic!!), 6 Snipe on island in scrape, male Sparrowhawk, Cetti's Warbler flitting back and forth across swathe Marco Johnston & Gary Clinton.

Westcliff Seafront, 10:25 to 10:40
1 Ring-billed Gull ('Rossi' again opposite Rossi's). Steve Arlow, Neil Chambers (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront, 10:30 to 10:45
1 Ring-billed Gull (showing well on the beach opp. Rossi's) [Neil Chambers, Steve Arlow (SOG).

Rayleigh Mount, 10:30 to 17:30
4 Sparrowhawk (2m, 1fem circling high at 11.08 and 1fem through garden at 17.25), 1 Blackcap (male moving through back garden briefly at 14.12), 1 Goldcrest (singing), 2 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Woodcock (flew through garden at 11.10am), 4 Comma, 3 Peacock Butterfly, 1 Green Woodpecker. Mike Bailey (SOG).

Two Tree Island East 12.30 - 13.30
2 Kestrel, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Reed Bunting. Martin Cracknell.

Rochford Golf Course, 13:30 to 16:30
1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Fieldfare. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 16:40 to 17:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Wren. G Bowles.

Southend Airport, 16:45 to 17:15
1 Sparrowhawk (male), 2 Chiffchaff (both singing at first then seen fly-catching), 1 Song Thrush, 1 Skylark (singing). Paul Baker (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 17:45 to 18:40
2 Skylark, 1 Stonechat (male), 23 Corn Bunting (flocks of 15 and 8), 1 Snipe, 10 Little Egret (flying to roost in one's and two's). Paul Baker (SOG).

Langdon Hills
Kestrel, Tawny Owl, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch. Andrew Cox.

Friday 18th March 2005

Westcliff Seafront, 08:15 to 08:30
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi again showing superbly on the beach). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island, 08:15 to 09:30
2 Wheatear (male & female, on the model flying field), 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel (female), 1 Green Woodpecker. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Thorpe Bay, Willingale Way 09.20
3 Jay 1 Redwing. John Pitts.

Shoebury Garrison 10:00
2 Chiffchaff - 1 seen and 1 heard. Ross Gardner.

Barling Rubbish Tip, 11:30 to 12:30
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult. This bird is new, being different to Rossi (clearly) and not the heavily head streaked winter adult from Westcliff on the 13th Mar. Three adults in a week is unprecedented), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Priory Park, 12:15 to 13:10
2 Little Egret (Feeding in the brook and adjacent wet area.), 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Jackdaw, 1 Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. John Wright (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir (Rawl Hide) 12:30 - 13:40
Pair of Red Crested Pochard close to Hide, 14 Teal, 27 Wigeon, 8 Goldeneye, 13 Tufted duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Gadwall, 11 Pochard, 1 Mute Swan. Dave Griffiths.

Gunners Park, 14:40 to 16:10
1 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel (pair), 1 Curlew (in EWT reserve), 1 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear (1m, 2f), 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush. Ray Fuller, Web Author.

Gunners Park 15.00 to 16.15
2 Wheatear in Reserve, Water Rail along ditch near pond, becoming rather elusive, disappeared into nearby back garden, Woodcock near mound. Flew over very low from direction of the old barracks, also 1 Goldcrest around pond. Les Costin (EBS).

Canvey Island 17.00
2 Wheatear (both males) in field 200 yards northwest of the Lobster Smack along sea wall. Jerry Stock.

Belfairs, 19:20
1 Little Owl (heard calling from Belfairs swimming pool car park, probably in/by Underwood Sq.). Paul Baker (SOG).

Thursday 17th March 2005 (First Report of Sandwich Tern)

Hockley Woods, 09:00 to 11:00
2 Treecreeper (a pair around the southern end of the clearing), 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male 50 yards south of southern end of the clearing beyond the compound), 2 Nuthatch, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker Steve Arlow (SOG).

Stanford, Nr.Warren 07.30
1 Chiffchaff. Jim Cockram.

Thundersley 11.00
1 Goldcrest feeding on climbing rose outside kitchen window. Mike Sagrott.

Southend Pier 13.00
2 Red-throated Diver, 12 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Guillemot, 8 Cormorant, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Brent Geese, 2 Kittiwake, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern (my first this year!). R. Cannon.

Gunners Park, 15:15 to 15:30
3 Wheatear (all males in the reserve). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island 15.30
1 Short-eared Owl gave excellent views for 3 minutes over west end of island, mobbed by crows. Steve Gill.

Gunners Park 16.00 - 16.30
1 Little Egret. Iain Henderson.

Eastwood Sewage Farm 17.00
1 Woodcock (silhouette only) and 1 Tawny Owl (both also firsts for the year!).R. Cannon.

Billericay, Queens Park Avenue 18:00
1 Red Kite over sports ground near Queens Park Country Park, being harassed by crows. Chris and Ross Gardner.

Wednesday 16th march 2005 (First Report of Wheatear)

Pound Wood 09:00 - 10:00
30 + Redwing. Ross Gardner.

Stock, Swan Wood 10:00 - 11:00
1 Nuthatch, Several Goldfinch feeding in alders along stream. Also 3 comma butterflies. Ross Gardner.

Gunners Park, 09:45 to 10:35
1 Wheatear (a female in the reserve was elusive, first of the year), 2 Stonechat (pair, the male is cracking summer plumage), 1 Kestrel (male regularly hunting over the reserve). Steve Arlow
(SOG).

Hadleigh Downs, 13:30 to 14:00
1 Chiffchaff. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.

Tuesday 15th March 2005

Hadleigh Downs, 08:00 to 08:30
1 Woodcock. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:00 to 11:30
1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd summer), 1 Bearded Tit (briefly from hide). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront, 12:00 to 14:00
1 Ring-billed Gull (the usual bird and again no sign of the second bird), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:40 to 14:20
1 Bearded Tit. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Southend, Holy Trinity Church, Southchurch Boulevard 14.00
Several sightings over last 3 weeks of a  pair of Sparrowhawk mainly round western end of church and tall trees often being mobbed and landing on small ledge above western windows- regularly seen over last 3 weeks. P Billson.

Monday 14th March 2005

Fanes Wood, Thundersley, 08:00 to 08:45
17 Redwing, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Sparrowhawk (male). Graham Ryland (SOG).

Southend, 08:50 to 08:55
3 Mediterranean Gull (all adults on Victory Sports Ground). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront, 09:10 to 12:30
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi only, no sign of the second adult bird from yesterday), 6 Mediterranean Gull (5 adults and a 2nd summer). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir (Causeway) 12.45 - 13.15
23 Pochard (9m 14f), 3 red-crested Pochard, Pair of Black Swan. 12 Goldeneye. Gary Clinton.

Gunners Park 15.00 - 15.15
1 Little Egret. Iain Henderson.

Sunday 13th March 2005

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:15 to 08:20
3 Jackdaw. John Wright (SOG).

Gunners Park 08.30 - 09.00
1 Little Egret, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush. Web Author.

Two-Tree Island West 08.30 - 09.30
1 Short-eared Owl (hunting on seawall surrounding lagoon) 1 Stonechat. Martin Cracknell.

Wakering, Fleet Head Approach Road 08.30 - 09.30
1 male Kestrel, 1 female Kestrel, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher . Mike Sagrott.

Hockley Woods, 09:00
2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. John Wright (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park 09.00 - 12.00
1st winter Glaucous Gull on the scrape. Martin Itter,

Wat Tyler Country Park 09.30 - 11.45
Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, 1w Glaucous Gull, 6 White-fronted Goose. Gary Clinton.

Wat Tyler Country Park 09:30 - 12:45
1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 male Bearded Tit, 1 1st or 2nd winter Glaucous Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, several Snipe, 10+ White-fronted Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 singing Cetti's Warbler, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 Black-tailed Godwit. At the Marina: Curlew, Redshank, Teal on creek. Andrew Cox.

Hockley Woods 10.00 -12.00
7 Lesser Redpoll including two stunning males and one bird that appeared to have pure white undertail coverts but was, in terms of size and structure, the same as the others. Unfortunately didn't get good views other than its underside. Also noted a large accipiter drifting away over the main clearing with fluffed out white undertail coverts, possibly a male Goshawk but back end views not conclusive. Jeff Delve (EBS). 4 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spot and Green. (Lesser-spot was seen by others drumming at NW corner of main clearing).

Two Tree Island, 11:45 to 15:15
4 Short-eared Owl (in the air together), 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (East end, in cleared channel South of path.), 190 Redshank, 370 Curlew, 1500 Dunlin, 262 Grey Plover, 1200 Knot, 56 Ringed Plover, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit. Also 20 Avocet, 58 Oystercatcher, 76 Turnstone, 1 Snipe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 216 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 72 Shelduck, 2 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit. Graham Ryland. (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 14.00
1 Green Sandpiper, 12 Snipe, 1 Redshank. All around small pool right of centre car park. Shaun Harvey.

Paglesham Lagoon, 14:00 to 16:00
17 Little Grebe, 21 Goldeneye, 7 Pintail (4 drakes), 6 Red-breasted Merganser (3 drakes) on the river), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 5 Goldcrest, 4 Corn Bunting (2 singing), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming). Steve Sanford (SOG).

Southend Pier 14:45 - 16:15
Great Northern Diver (half way down pier as we left), 3 Red-throated Diver, 7 Great-crested Grebe, 15 Mediterranean Gulls (5 ad, 3 2nd W, 7 1st W). Jeff Delve (EBS).

Priory Park 16:15 to 17:15
1 Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest (in trees above the stream, behind the Gardeners depot), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret (on the west side of the Museum, before moving into the brook ) plus the usual tits, thrushes etc. and what seemed an extremely large number of Wrens along the brook, probably 20+ in total. Tim, Adam and Ashley Bennett.

Hadleigh Downs, 15:00 to 15:10
1 Brambling (a male at the feeding station in Chapel Lane car park). Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.

Abberton Reservoir, Layer Breton Causeway 15.30
1 Male Ferruginous Duck,  10 Goldeneye. R Shepherd.

Two Tree Island 16.00 - 18.30
12 Little Egret (at roost), c.330 Brent Goose (on field in Hadleigh Marsh), Shelduck, Mallard, Shoveler, c.50 Wigeon (flushed from Smallgains Creek are by low hovering helicopter), Teal, 1 male Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, 34 Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, 1 Short-eared Owl. Martin Johnson.

Fingringhoe Wick
1 Kingfisher, Little Owl, Sparrowhawk, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Curlew, 6 Grey Plover,  1 Little Egret,  2 Reed Bunting, 20 Avocet, 50 Brent Geese,  50 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest. R Shepherd.

Westcliff Sea Front
2 Ring billed Gull Also 8 adult Mediterranean Gull and 2 1st summer Yellow legged Gulls. Josh Jones & Will Bowell.

Saturday 12th March 2005

Canvey Heights CP 08.00 - 08.30
1 Reed Bunting, 9 Skylark. Martin Cracknell.

Wat Tyler Country Park 09.30 - 12.30
White-fronted Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose (probably feral), 70+ Wigeon, 12 Teal, 3 Mediterranean Gull (1 with missing leg), 6 Pochard, Jackdaw. Gary Clinton.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.00 11.40
550 Brent Goose, 13 Shelduck, 70 Teal, 8 Curlew, 6 Reed Bunting, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret (one dead), 30 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Plover, 20 Corn Bunting, 7 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Gunners Park, 11:30 to 13:00
1 Great Northern Diver (Inshore, clear views. Adult, Tues. pier was sub-adult.), 19 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-throated Diver. Harry Carmichael, Lee Ebbs (SOG).

Gunners Park 14.20 - 15.00
11 Eider off shore, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush. Web Author.

Wakering Old Tip 15.20 - 16.00
3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, c.1200 Brent Geese, 153 Shelduck, 1 Hen Harrier (distant ringtail). Web Author.

Southend Pier 16.43 - 17.07
2 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Black-headed Gull, 5 Feral Pigeon & 12 Turnstone. Paul Levey & Felicity Gardiner.

Westcliff Sea Front
1 winter Ring-billed Gull. Paul Fisher. RSPB

Friday 11th march 2005

Southend, 08:15 to 08:20
1 Jackdaw (Loitering over Baxter Ave./Victoria Avenue). John Wright
(SOG).

Southend Seafront, 10:00 to 14:00
1 Snow Bunting (Uncle Toms Cabin (13:00) appears injured), 1 Purple Sandpiper (On beach East of Gasworks jetty), 1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi ), 1 Grey Wagtail (Crowstone). Chris Lewis
(SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:05 to 13:45
1 Water Rail (seen walking across the newly cut swathes), 60+ Wigeon, 1 Barnacle Goose (prob. feral, with Canada Geese). Paul Griggs (SOG).

Chafford Hundred Quarry, Drake Road, 14:10
6 Common Redpoll (feeding in trees on western edge of lake). G Bowles.

Gunners Park 15.15
1 Water Rail to the right of main gate (Campfield Rd) along ditch, next to field, showing well, also, 1 Kingfisher very briefly, flew along brook next to centre road. Les Costin.

Wickford, Shotgate, Basilica House 15.50 - 16.05
1 Female Sparrowhawk chasing male Blackbird, Gave up after 3 minute chase and glided off towards Shotgate Industrial Estate. Also seen, 3 Goldfinch, 5 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Wren, 2 Robin, 4 Mistle Thrush on adjacent field. Darren Chaplin.

Hanningfield Reservoir 17.15 - 17.30
Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Grey Wagtail - viewed from the causeway. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Thursday 10th March 2005

Battlesbridge, 07:00 to 07:05
1 Little Egret (Flew over the new A130 between the A127 and Rettendon Turnpike). Dudley Shayler, Andrew Woodhouse
(SOG).

Two Tree Island 09:00 - 13:00
6 Robin, 2 Skylark, 1 Short-eared Owl. Lagoon: Cormorant, 5 Snipe, 100+Ringed Plover, 250+ Lapwing, 70 Brent Goose (Over bank), 2 Grey Heron, 12 Oystercatcher, 50+ Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Shelduck, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 20 Teal. Gary Clinton.

Paglesham Lagoon, 10:00 to 14:00
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter ), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (a very probable 3rd summer CASPIAN GULL seen in haze before flying off high to the north), 28 Goldeneye, 103 Shoveler, 11 Pintail. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Thorpe Bay Navestock Gardens 13.45
1 Blackcap female in my garden. John Pitts.

Benfleet Creek, 15:30 to 16:30
3 Short-eared Owl (all hunting along the borrowdyke). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Southend, Pier Hill 17.57 - 18.17
Starling roost at Pier Hill, c.2500 Starlings roosted in the trees opposite the Royal Terrace. Excellent sight and sounds (beware of the droppings though, they got me twice). Paul Levey & Felicity Gardiner.

Wednesday 09th March 2005

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 08:00 to 08:05
1 Blackcap (singing male). Brian Baldock (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park 13.00
100+ Lapwing on island in scrape, 4 Shelduck, Pochard Drakes displaying in fleet. Gary Clinton.

Paglesham, Churchend 10.00
1 Common Buzzard,1 Green Woodpecker. Mick and George Potter.

Southend Pier
2 Mediterranean Gull, one with a yellow ring with black writing 57P, 2 Red-throated diver drifting eastwards south of the pier. 30 or so Great-crested Grebe in several flotillas. 3 Cormorant, Numerous Turnstone on the pier. David Lee.

Tuesday 08th March 2005

Southend Pier, 10:00 to 13:15
3 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver (Close in. Within 30m. of pierhead), 15 Great Crested Grebe, 16 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Guillemot. Harry Carmichael (SOG).

Gunners Park 13.15
2 Water Rail showing well along recently cleared ditch near pond. Les Costin.  (EBS).

Monday 07th march 2005

Gunners Park 08:15
2 Water Rail - very close to fence along Campfield Road, crossing open ground between ditch and pile of brash next to fence. Forced into the open by frozen ditch water no doubt. Ross Gardner.

Hadleigh Downs, 08:45 to 08:50
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Seen from Chapel Lane car park). Steve Bunn Essex Ranger Service.

Hanningfield Reservoir 09:45 to 14:30
7 Snipe, 4 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper on pool in flooded meadow. Several Goldeneye on the reservoir. 1 female Red-crested Pochard form the causeway. 1 Chiffchaff near the RAWL hide. David Lee.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:15 to 13:20
3 Mediterranean Gull (all adults), 11 White-fronted Goose. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Sunday 06th March 2005

Canvey Point 08.30 - 09.00
4 Red-Throated Diver, 15 Great Crested Grebe. Martin Cracknell.

Hockley Woods 08:55 - 09:00
A Hawfinch with a metallic blue-black bill showed at the far end of the playground feeding on the ground. Nuthatch calling close by. Nick Green & Jeff Delve (EBS).

Daws Heath, 09:25 to 10:30
4 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 4 Mistle Thrush (EWT Little Havens Reserve). John Wright
(SOG).

Gunners Park 09.30
2 Stonechat (by reserve), 1 Lapwing (male displaying in the reserve). John Pitts.

Fleet Head, 11:15 to 13:30
2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Black Brant (adult. This bird is the one seen at Paglesham in November 2002 and then Fleet Head in January 2004), 700 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Little Egret, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank. Steve Arlow
(SOG).

Two Tree Island 14.14 - 15.30
76 Brent Geese, 1 Short-eared Owl hunting west of airfield, 1 Woodcock, 2 reed Bunting. Web Author. I must have stepped right over the Woodcock but it took a dog walking just behind me to flush it out from the centre of the island!.

Wat Tyler Country Park 15:00 - 16:00
A few White-fronted Geese mixing with Greylag and Canada geese on grassland behind scrape. Also 1 Barnacle Goose - a feral bird? 1 Spotted Redshank (Vange Creek), 1 Water Vole (on fleet in front of scrape hide). Ross Gardner.

Saturday 05th March 2005

Gunners Park 10.00 - 10.30
18 Oystercatcher, 3 Golden Plover, 24 Lapwing, 32 Redshank all around frozen water by entrance. Web Author.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.10 11.50
170 Brent Goose, 3 Curlew, Stonechat, 20 Teal, 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Grey Plover, 2 Little Grebe, 35 Mute Swan, Little Egret, 2 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Westcliff-on-Sea, Westborough Road 10.00
1 male Blackcap. Shelley Woolley.

Hullbridge, Pooles Lane 10.00 - 12.00
15 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 14 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 30+ House Sparrow, 20 Dunlin, 8 Collared Dove, 4 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Wren, 3 Magpie, 1 Sparrowhawk (again sitting on fence) and 1 Green Woodpecker. David Flack.

St Clere's Golf Course, Stanford le Hope 11.00 - 15.00
2 Kestrel, 12 Skylark, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Male Stonechat, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush. Darren Chaplin.

Rochford Golf Course, 11:40 to 14:30
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Golden Plover (flew over south). Neil Chambers (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West) 13.00 - 14.30
1 Spotted Redshank (in creek between island and Hadleigh CP) 3 Black-Tailed Godwit, 6 Redshank feeding on lagoon. Martin Cracknell.

Vange Marsh
Pair of Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Teal, Wigeon, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Lots of Gull including 2 Mediterranean Gull. Gary Clinton.

Wallasea Island
1 Short-eared Owl in the south-eastern corner. Nick Green & Jeff Delve (EBS).

Friday 04th March 2005

Fleet Head, 11:00 to 13:00
150 Black-tailed Godwit (at least), 2 Pintail (a pair), 1 Little Egret, 4 Snipe. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Canvey Heights C.P. 12:10 - 12:55
1 Short-eared Owl (hunting), 4 Stonechat, 7 Reed Bunting. Ian White.

Potton Island, 12:50 to 13:00
1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose (adult with about 500+ Dark-bellied Brent visible distantly from the bridge). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Thursday 03rd March 2005

Hullbridge, 08:10
1 Sparrowhawk over The Dome. Neil Chambers

Two Tree Island 09.00 - 12.00
100+ Lapwing, 50+ Shelduck, Many Wigeon and Teal, Sparrowhawk, Common Snipe, Oystercatcher in abundance. 22 Curlew (Nr Slipway), 45 Avocet (Close to estuary hide & absolutely gorgeous!). Gary Clinton.

Shoebury Common and Foreshore 11:00-11:30
10 Snow Bunting. Also a scattering of Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone foraging along the beach. Ross Gardner.

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 16:45
1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail (together in brook by Tankerville Drive). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Wednesday 02nd March 2005

Benfleet 13.45
1 male Blackcap feeding from shrubs in garden. Last sighted here November 2003. Tim Smith.

Tuesday 01st March 2005

A127 / Tommykins Lane 03.00
Barn Owl by CHO farm. Don Wildish.

Wickford, Radwinter Avenue , 08.05 - 08.17
Kingfisher seen for 12 minutes . First sighted along the ditch nearest to the BP Safeway garage. A Kingfisher was sitting on concrete drainage wall and flew along south to various perches and I eventually lost sight of it. Darren Chaplin.

What Tyler Country Park 11.30
1 Water Rail, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Snipe. R Shepherd.

Westcliff Seafront, 13:30 to 13:40
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi sat on its favourite lamp post). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Southend Seafront 14.30
10 Snow Bunting by the high water mark in front of Halfway House Thorpe Bay. Roger Shinn.

Two Tree Island West 16.00 - 17.00
At road end by slipway just as tide ran off 200+ Dunlin, 50+ Ringed Plover, 40+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 10+ Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Grey Plover, 15 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher 5 Curlew, 20 Turnstone, 2 Mallard, 8 Teal,  2 Shelduck. 1 Short-eared Owl seen hunting over west end of island. R Shepherd.

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