• Home
• Event Calendar
• Latest Sightings
• Wildlife Gallery
• Trip Reports

 

Bird Reports for March 2008

Monday 31st March 2008

Southend, 09:00 to 12:00
2 Peregrine Falcon on and around Portcullis House through the morning. John Wright (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 14:00 to 14:10
2 Sparrowhawk (2 females in aerial combat high above the Victoria Avenue office blocks). Don Petrie (SOG).

David Lloyd Centre, Snakes Lane 14.20
2 Sparrowhawk soaring high above the sports centre. Terry Priest.

Priory Park, 16:45 to 18:40
1 Ring-necked Parakeet (seen in large trees near Priory at 18.25, then moved towards pond chasing Magpies at 18.30), 5 Brambling (at least, feeding in large tree behind rubble pile at Victoria Avenue park entrance and occasionally flying down to stream to drink. Possibly 7 birds present, plus another single in NE corner of park), 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Egret, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Bat sp. (pipistrelle flying around the Priory in broad daylight), 1 Green Woodpecker. Mike Bailey, Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island 17.00 - 18.45
1 male Kestrel (perched in tree), 8 Skylark, 2 Short-eared Owl (around model aeroplane airfield, approx 18.25), 1 male Stonechat, 1 female Peregrine Falcon, 4 Curlew, 8 Avocet, 2 Robin, 1 Wren. 1 weasel. Terry Priest.

Gunners Park, 19:00 to 19:45
2 Mistle Thrush (in the reserve), 1 Fieldfare (in the reserve), 3 Wheatear (all males in the reserve), 3 Song Thrush (singing). Don Petrie (SOG).

Sunday 30th March 2008

Hanningfield Reservoir 08.30 - 12.00
1 Swallow and 1 House Martin with c.35-40 Sand Martin at the Stock end of Fremnalls Causeway this morning, c.6 Brambling in Peninsular Wood (near the Point Hide), 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards. In my garden in Kelvedon Hatch, 1 male and 1 female Siskin on feeders and 1 Sparrowhawk over but no sign of recently present Brambling. David Jobbins.

Hadleigh Castle Road 09.00
Escaped Harris Hawk last two mornings overflying hedge bordering field in front of my house Castle Road Hadleigh. Roger Shinn.

Two Tree Island, 09:30 to 12:00
2 Wheatear, 17 Corn Bunting, 2 Kestrel (pair), 5 Little Egret, 4 Pheasant, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Great Crested Grebe. Two Tree Island Feeder 09:30 to 10:00: 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin (taking seed from feeder.), 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit. 1 Brown Rat, 1 Weasel. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Priory Park, 11:00 to 12:30
3 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 12 Brambling, 1 Firecrest (female between pond /house gardens). Dave Knight (SOG).

South Fambridge to the Brandy Hole 11.00 - 13.00
8 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 16 Little Egret, 14 Greylag Goose,(with 1 farmyard goose), 264 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 40 Shelduck, 6 Teal, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, many Black Headed Gull, 5 singing Skylark, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 11 Jackdaw, 30 Rook over Nth.Fambridge rookery, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Stoat. David Selley.

Hadleigh Country Park / Benfleet Creek 11.30 - 15.30
14 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear, 1 Cetti Warbler, 1 Stonechat. Anita Pickles.

RSPB Rainham Marshes 12.00pm
1 Stone Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Wheatear, 3 Water Pipit, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Sand Martin. 1 Weasel, 2 Northern Water Vole, Marsh Frogs. 1 Osprey (Reported 10.30am), 1 Iceland Gull (Reported). S Gerrard.

Canvey Point, 12:45 to 13:00
25 Great Crested Grebe, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Kestrel. 1 Harbour Porpoise. Don Petrie (SOG).

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek 13.10 - 13.40
1 Male wheatear on small rock pile near stables. Gordon Appleton, Stuart Bailey.

Rochford Golf Course, 13:30 to 17:15
3 Chiffchaff (singing), 2 Stock Dove, 4 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Pound Wood / Tile Wood, 13:45 to 16:45
8 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Redwing. Don Petrie (SOG).

Rochford, 14:00 to 14:10
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (male again at the feeders). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront 12.30 - 14.00
10 Brent Goose. 7 Common seal on Hadleigh Ray. Web Author.

RSPB Vange Marsh 14.20 - 15.10
3 Avocet, 3 Reed Bunting. Gordon Appleton, Stuart Bailey.

Ashingdon, 16:00 to 16:10
1 Siskin (male on the feeders). Steve Sanford (SOG).

Two Tree Island 16.00 - 18.00
1 Water rail, 1 Short-eared Owl. Gordon Appleton, Stuart Bailey.

Two Tree Island (West) 17.00
37 Avocet, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Knot, 20+ Grey Plover, 40+ Ringed Plover, 20+ Dunlin, 20+ Oystercatcher, 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Egret, 1 Heron, 1 Reed Bunting, 12 Linnet, 1 Skylark, 1 Short-eared Owl. Richard Shepherd.

Rochford, 17:25
1 Sparrowhawk (male flew over Manners Way near Warners Bridge roundabout). Neil Chambers (SOG).

Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 17:30 to 18:00
1 Chiffchaff (singing), 4 Green Woodpecker, 7 Jackdaw, 4 Rook (in a new, very small rookery with just two nests). Steve Sanford (SOG).

Gunners Park, 17:45 to 18:45
5 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Egret, 2 Mistle Thrush (in reserve), 1 Wheatear (male in reserve). 1 Red Fox (in reserve) Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West) 18:30 to 19:40
1 Short-eared Owl hunting over the west end of the lagoon / sea wall to the North, 20+ Avocet in the lagoon along with Shoveler, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Shelduck. 20+ Avocet immediately outside the Creek hide, on rising tide, a huge flock of Knot 2-3,000 strong in the entrance to Tewkes Creek, gathering prior to high tide. Tim Bennett.

Saturday 29th March 2008

Benfleet Creek, 08:30 to 10:30
1 Little Egret, 110 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe (Hadleigh marsh), 3 Pochard (1 male, 2 females in Borrowdyke), 3 Tufted Duck, 30 Teal, 4 Reed Bunting, 8 Knot. John Wright (SOG).

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 08:40 to 12:00
1 Cetti's Warbler (brief snatch of song), 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter and 3 2nd winters), 4 Mediterranean Gull (3 adults, a pair+1, and a 2nd year). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island (East), 10:45 to 11:15
2 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Shoveler, 8 Teal. John Wright (SOG).

Wakering, Fleet Head, 12:00 to 12:40
Just the Potton road: 2 Little Egret, 5 Canada Goose, 1 Kestrel (male), 250 Golden Plover (approx), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Skylark (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing). Don Petrie (SOG).

Rochford, 14:50 to 15:25
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (male on feeders), 2 Siskin (male visited feeders at 2.50 and 3.24 with a female at 3.15). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Priory Park, 17:30 to 18:15
2 Little Egret (roosting on island), 19 Brambling, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (female, flew to the island at 17:15), 250 Collared Dove (approx). 2 Northern Water Vole, 1 Brown Rat. John Wright (SOG).

Friday 28th March 2008

Hanningfield Reservoir 08.00 - 08.20
4 Common Scoter, 25 Sand Martin. Neil Chambers.

Coombe Wood, 10:00 to 17:00
1 summer plumaged male Brambling in my garden all day. Jeff Saward (SOG).

Leigh on Sea, 10:30 to 10:40
1 Chiffchaff singing in my garden in Nelson Road. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Priory Park 15.15 - 17.00
1 Little Egret, 3 Green Woodpecker, Wren, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 Brambling in prunus trees north west corner of lakes. 8 Brown Rat, 1 Water Vole sitting on stick out of water by bridge over brook in wildlife area. Web Author. K.F.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole
535 Brent Goose, Wheatear (year first here), 11 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, Corn Bunting, 2 Wigeon, 3 Curlew, 4 Shelduck, Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Thursday 27th March 2008 (first report of Swallow)

Hanningfield Reservoir 07.55 - 08.10
25+ Common Scoter from fishing lodge, 1 White Wagtail with Pied Wagtails in field by visitor car park. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Gunners Park, 08:15 to 09:15
1 Little Egret, 1 female Marsh Harrier flew west just off the point, 1 male Sparrowhawk low through the reserve, 2 Mistle Thrush in the reserve, 1 Rook. Don Petrie (SOG).

Rayleigh Car Park. 10:20
A female blackbird feeding a fully fledged young. The young bird, although still in it's spotty plumage was almost as big as the adult and was begging for food which the adult was feeding to it. Alan Curry.

Retendon, 11.00
1 Little Egret on field alongside A130. Russ Payne.

Barling Marsh, 13:00 to 14:15
2 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Long-tailed Tit. Web Author.

Gunners Park, 14:00 to 16:00
2 Swallow, 1 Wheatear, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 50 Turnstone, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 4 Little Egret. Dave Knight (SOG).

River Crouch between Wallasea & Fambridge 14.00 - 16.30
Short-eared Owl hunting over Stow Marsh from Fambridge Yacht Haven, within 20 yards from us and showing superbly for two minutes plus, totally undisturbed by boat! 9 Great Crested Grebe, 3 little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 5 Wigeon, Brent Geese, Shelduck, Curlew, Oystercatcher, 2 Red-breasted Merganser on North side of river 400 yards upstream of the western end of Bridgemarsh creek. Hundreds at least of Black-headed Gulls on Bridgemarsh Island pairing & squabbling, 1 pair courting & 2 pairs mating. 1 Common seal hauled out. Gary Dunn.

Hadleigh Downs, 14:25 to 15:30
4 Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Benfleet, Villa Road 16.00
1 Barn Owl flying over above houses, heading south. Terry Priest.

Priory Park, 16:15 to 18:10
20 Brambling, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (seen at 18.00), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 100 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Little Egret, 1 Chiffchaff. Dave Knight (SOG).

Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 16.20
2 Carrion Crow - one all black, one with a pale grey belly and black wings and head. Possibly a Hooded Crow cross. David Selley.

Rayleigh, 19:30
40 White / Pied Wagtail roosting in tree outside Woolworths. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Wednesday 26th March 2008

Leigh on Sea, 06:40 to 06:45
4 Jackdaw (2 Pall Mall, 2 The Broadway). John Wright (SOG).

Benfleet Creek, 06:55
2 Little Egret by the Canvey Road bridge (usual place). John Wright (SOG).

Ashingdon, 07:55 to 08:00
2 Siskin in the garden. Steve Sanford (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 09:30
1 Woodcock. squashed remains at the side of Portcullis House, killed and part eaten by a peregrine and then run-over. This strongly suggests the peregrines are hunting at night. Don Petrie (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 17:30 to 18:20
1 Peregrine Falcon flew in with prey to Portcullis House at 17:30 and fed. A search around the base of the building turned up remains of 3 Feral Pigeons, 2 Golden Plover (one untouched apart from neck damage) and a Woodcock. Don Petrie (SOG).

Tuesday 25th March 2008

Hockley Woods, 09:00 to 10:00
2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch. Dave Knight (SOG).

Hadleigh Downs, 10:30 to 12:15
16 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Harris's Hawk (mobbed by crow). Dave Knight (SOG).

Two Tree Island (East), 13:00 to 13:45
1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch, 1 House Sparrow (all seen at feeders). Dave Knight (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 13:30 to 17:00
2 Peregrine Falcon. Male flew in to perch up on Portcullis House at 13:30, and female flew in with prey at 17:00. Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 14:00 to 15:15
500 Knot, 20 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egret, 20 Redshank, 1 Greenshank. Dave Knight (SOG).

Rochford, 15:25 to 15:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (female on peanut feeders - a pair of Great Spots are making regular visits now). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Fishers Green Lea Valley 15.30 - 19.00
1 female Goosander, 20+ Sand Martin, 4 Goldeneye, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 female Reed Bunting, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Grebe, mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing. 2 Fallow Deer. M.Jameson, M.Howell.

Langdon Hills Country Park 16.10 - 17.45
2 Common Buzzard (pair), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel (both female), 1 male Sparrowhawk chasing Chaffinch flock, 1 Yellowhammer. 1 Weasel, 2 Red Fox. Terry Priest.

Priory Park, 17:20 to 18:05
1 Ring-necked Parakeet (fairly vocal and mobile before settling on the west side of the island at c17.50 and showing very well - I hadn't managed to see it up until this point), 11 Brambling (2 flocks of 8 and 3 including 2 nice males), 1 Little Egret (in brook and then roosting on island), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 300 Collared Dove (approx.). 1 Brown Rat. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront, 18:10 to 18:15
2 Great Crested Grebe. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 18:20 to 18:35
2 Corn Bunting, 4 Little Egret flying east to roost. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Southchurch Park East
The two resident Park Mute Swans have built a nest on the left hand reed bank from where we feed them. It looks like the height of the nest is adequate, but its marginal. She should be laying her eggs in the next 2-3 days. Bob Dobinson.

Monday 24th March 2008

Hadleigh Country Park, Sea Wall 08.50
1 male Wheatear. Gordon Appleton.

Leigh on Sea, 09:15
3 Sparrowhawk at A127/Progress Road junction. John Wright (SOG).

Hockley Woods, 09:35 to 10:45
4 Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Chiffchaff. John Wright (SOG).

Hanningfield (In Field) 10.30
1 Pink-footed Goose. S.Gerrard.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:00 to 12:00
3 White-fronted Goose (Bowers Marsh), 20 Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose. John Wright (SOG).

Wakering Stairs, 11:40 to 13:00
2 Red-throated Diver, 4 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel (male and female), 2 Rock Pipit. Don Petrie (SOG).

Hadleigh Castle Country Park 12.00
Harris Hawk. Caught a rabbit and was feeding on it. Was being bothered by 2 crows. Eventually it took off carrying the rabbit. Mark Duncan.

Heybridge Basin 12.00 - 14.30
large flocks of Black-tailed Godwit, flocks of Brent Geese, Large numbers of Redshank, 20+ Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, 1 Curlew, 10 Oystercatcher, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan. Sue Haffenden.

Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 12:00 to 12:30
1 Chiffchaff (singing), 9 Jackdaw, 2 Green Woodpecker. Steve Sanford (SOG).

Canvey, Coastguards, 12.40 - 15.00
1 Great Northern Diver, 10 Great-Crested Grebe, 3 adult Mediterranean Gull, c.100 Brent Geese, c.100 Grey Plover, c.250 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling. Paul Hawkins.

Shoebury East Beach, 13:15 to 13:45
1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 37 Great Crested Grebe. Don Petrie (SOG).

Gunners Park, 14:00 to 16:00
1 Great Northern Diver, 15 Great Crested Grebe. Don Petrie (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 14:30
1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 14:30 to 15:00
15 Curlew, 35 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank (all roosting on south side of Vange Creek at junction of Wat Tyler Creek). Neil Chambers (SOG).

RSPB Vange Marsh, 15:05 to 15:35
1 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 5 Meadow Pipit. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Two Tree Island West 16.30
1 Avocet, 1 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Short-eared Owl, 20+ Avocet on Benfleet Creek. Richard Shepherd.

Southend Airport, 16:40 to 17:10
1 Grey Wagtail from Aviation Way bridge, 3 Song Thrush. No sign of Green Sandpiper for a few days from Western Approaches. Paul Baker (SOG).

Abberton Reservoir 17.00
Bittern in reed bed by causeway. Ben and Denise Matz.

South Ockendon 17:15 - 13:00
1 Ring-necked Parakeet, feeding on sun flower seeds via bird feeder. Steve Bright.

Two Tree Island, West End 18:15 to 19:00
2 Short-eared Owl. First seen to the south of the aircraft field (probably roosting in the salt marsh on the south side of the Island). 1 flew along south side of the Island, in the direction of the hides, hunting - eventually lost this one in a snow storm. Found the 2nd owl later, hunting along elevated ridge on the North side of the island. Also 12 to 15 Little Egret flying W to E to roost on the East end of the Island, and 5 / 6 male pheasants calling. Tim Bennett.

Wallasea Wetlands
Large adult female Peregrine central island, Goosander and Little Stint still present plus usual waders of which 40 Avocet of note. On Friday also had Adder on the sea wall just below the tower, Weasel by the second gate and the Peregrine. Brambling still present in garden in Canewdon. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Southchurch Hall Gardens
Grey Wagtail seen around the moat on the north side of the hall.

Sunday 23rd March 2008

Hadleigh, Woodfield Road 13.00
Siskin on nut feeder in garden. Mark Duncan.

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 13:00 to 16:00
1 male Blackcap in and around the garden most of afternoon. John Wright (SOG).

Wakering Stairs, 13:50 to 14:35
3 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard picked up at 14:15 over seawall just south of Haven Point, presumably in off the sea. Watched for 15 minutes low over the bushes on the stairs. Struggled to head inland against the wind, then turned and crossed over to Foulness instead. Missing inner primary on right wing, 1 male Kestrel Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island, West and Country Park Sea Wall, 13.50 - 15.30
1 Short-eared Owl seen roosting on salt marsh between sea wall and two tree island west end. Then flew off and seen several times hunting over west end of two tree island. Gordon Appleton, Stuart Bailey.

Saturday 22nd March 2008

Westcliff, Rossi's Ice Cream, 09:20 to 10:45
1 Ring-billed Gull (showing very well), 1 Mediterranean Gull (1st winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Shoebury Coastguards, 11:35 to 12:10
1 Great Northern Diver, 6 Gannet (4 adults & 2 brown ones). Neil Chambers (SOG).

Southend Pier, 11:45 to 13:15
1 Great Northern Diver (distantly off Shoebury), 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Purple Sandpiper (roosting with the Turnstone flock), 10 Mediterranean Gull (approx), 10 Great Crested Grebe. Paul Baker, Don Petrie (SOG).

Shoebury East Beach, 12:15 to 12:25
3 Great Crested Grebe. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Two Tree Island 13:00 - 17:00
1 Water Rail, 2 Snipe, (both from east hide over looking reeds). 14 Avocet, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover, 20 Knot, 5 Turnstone (from west hide over lagoon), 1 Short-eared Owl (unting first around west car park - showing again on west side of island around 17:00. Noel Barnes.

Rochford Golf Course, 13:10 to 16:30
2 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Thundersley (My Garden) 13.30 - 14.00
1 Brambling feeding with a flock of 6 Chaffinches beneath bird table. John Bennett.

Thundersley (My Garden) 13.30 - 14.00
1 Brambling feeding with a flock of 6 Chaffinch beneath bird table. John Bennett.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 14:00 to 15:00
1 female Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Skylark. Paul Baker, Don Petrie (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 15:00 to 17:00
3 White-fronted Goose with the Greylags and Canada Geese, 2 Greenshank in creek, 2 Spotted Redshank in creek. Don Petrie (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole
26 Corn Bunting, 60 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Little Egret, 2 Curlew, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Shelduck, 2 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Friday 21st March 2008 (first report of local Sand Martin)

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 09:55 to 10:45
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi still on foreshore), 2 Mediterranean Gull (both first-winters). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 10:00 to 11:45
2 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Water Rail (heard), 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Reed Bunting, 12 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler. John Wright (SOG).

Hadleigh Downs, 11:00 to 11:30
1 Chiffchaff. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Gunners Park, Shoebury 11.00 - 12.15
1 Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, 4 Great Crested Grebe all offshore, 1 Little Egret, 2 Mistle Thursh in EWT. Web Author.

Gunners Park, 11:30 to 13:30
2 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver (west), 2 Common Scoter (east). Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).

Wallasea Wetlands, 11:55 to 14:15
1 Goosander (drake still with Shelducks on eastern breach), 1,100 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (most on Foulness), 100 Shelduck, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Rock Pipit, 4 Little Egret. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Cherry Orchard Country Park 15.30
1 Sand Martin feeding over lake in Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park Male Brambling still feeding in garden Hullbridge. Hilary Knight.

Thursday 20th March 2008

Rivers Crouch & Roach Aboard Lady Essex III 06:30 to 09:00
30+ Oystercatcher mostly in pairs, 6 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 80+ brent Geese 27 Canada Geese, 12 Avocet, 50+ Teal, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Shelduck, 2 Merlin, 1 in pursuit of Knot from Potton Island towards Wallasea, one on post opposite Paglesham. 8 Curlew and 11 Common Seals in usual place. Gary Dunn.

Westcliff Seafront, 12:35 to 12:50
1 Ring-billed Gull still opposite Rossi's, 1 Great Crested Grebe. John Wright (SOG).

Rettendon Common
1 male Brambling in garden at Rettendon Common feeding on sunflower heart scraps fallen from the feeder. The first ever seen in this small garden in 28 years. Ken Ulrich.

Canewdon
Brambling and Siskin in garden still today. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Wednesday 19th March 2008 (first report of House Martin)

Leigh on Sea, 06:40 to 06:45
At least 4 Jackdaw calling from trees by petrol station on The Fairway. Web Author.

Ashingdon, Hyde Wood Lane 07.55 - 08.05
13 Jackdaw, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 posing on telegraph pole), 3 Brambling in small finch flock. David Selley.

Southend, 09:00 to 16:00
2 Peregrine Falcon (male & female on and around usual building most of day). John Wright (SOG).

Hockley Woods, 09:30 to 10:30
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Nuthatch (car park and glade), 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 1 Sparrowhawk (female). Don Petrie (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 09.30 to 12.30
2 White-fronted Geese, 5 Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Kestrel. M.Jameson, M.Howell.

Thundersley (My Garden) 11.00 - 11.45
2 Siskin feeding in collection trays beneath Sunflower feeders, on particles dropped by Greenfinches. John Bennett.

East Mersea 14.30 - 16.30
Mixed flock of Ringed Plover, Redshank, Knot and Golden Plover, 1 Little Egret, 16 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe. M.Jameson, M.Howell.

Hanningfield Reservoir 15.00
c.30 House Martin. Richard Shepherd.

Road By Abberton Reserve, Abberton Reservoir 16.45
Fantastic experience! Barn Owl flying above the road verge level with the top of my windscreen. I had to slow down for about 300 metres to follow the owl as it flew slowly along the road, felt I could reach out and touch it! David Flack.

Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet 17.40
3 very large birds low above garden heading north. Silent, not swans or geese. The brief glimpse I had suggested Crane, but did anyone else see them? Tim Smith RSPB.

RSPB Rainham Marshes
1 Little Ringed Plover on Purfleet Pools, 5 Wheatear, 4 Mistle Thrush, 1 Water Rail and 31 Curlew flew onto Purfleet Pools but only stayed briefly at around lunchtime. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Hullbridge
Male Brambling on feeders in garden. Colin Knight.

Tuesday 18th March 2008

Rochford, 13:20
1 Siskin on my garden feeders. Steve Arlow (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 13.50 - 14.50
Merlin, 800 + Brent Goose, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 5 Curlew, 2 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 6 Grey Plover, Avocet, 2 Bar Tailed Godwit. Ray Fuller.

Greensward School, 14:45
55 Jackdaw in one flock flying over Hockley village. Mike Bailey (SOG).

Wallasea Island
1 Wheatear. Chris Tyas RSPB.

Monday 17th March 2008

Gunners Park 07.00 - 07.45
3 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 3 Redshank, 2 Shelduck. Matt Bruty.

Canewdon 07.30
3 Siskin. Chris Bent.

Richmond Park, Benfleet (Behind Fish Market Restaurant) 07.30
1 Water Rail. Andrew Bridge.

Leigh on Sea, Between 09.00 and 11.00
Large bird flying high over my garden - possible Crane. Mike Bowles.

Sunday 16th March 2008

Hullbridge Road, Near Golf Course 07.15
1 Chiffchaff heard. David Chivers.

Hockley Woods, 09:40 to 10:25
2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper (between glade and car park), 1 Stock Dove (singing). Paul Baker, Neil Chambers (SOG).

Riverside Caravan Park, Wallasea 10.22
Male Hen Harrier above caravan park (flew South towards Paglesham creek) 1 Green Woodpecker on grass. Gary Dunn.

Hockley Woods, 09:40 to 10:25
2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper (between glade and car park), 2 Stock Dove (singing), 12 Jay. Paul Baker, Neil Chambers (SOG).

Saturday 15th March 2008 (first report of Wheatear)

Ferndale Road, Rayleigh 07.45
1 Chiffchaff (singing), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay. Robin Peppiatt.

Priory Park, 08:45 to 09:25
8 Brambling seen near pond/play area, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret. Dave Knight, Brian Baldock (SOG).

RSPB Vange Marsh, 09:00 to 10:10
1 Yellowhammer, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Reed Bunting, 2 Little Egret. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Priory Park, 09:30 to 09:35
1 Sparrowhawk. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Two Tree Island (East), 09:45 to 11:00
2 Chiffchaff, 10 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Kestrel. Dave Knight, Brian Baldock (SOG).

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 10:00 to 10:30
1 female Wheatear in horse paddocks at the end of Haven Road, 1 Sparrowhawk. Martin Cracknell (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 10:45 to 12:00
1 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting. John Wright (SOG).

Barling Marsh, 12:00 to 14:30
8 Great Crested Grebe (on the Roach), 9 Little Grebe (on Barling Creek), 2 Greylag Goose (on Fleet Head), 2 Canada Goose (on Potton), 4 Red-breasted Merganser (2 drakes and 2 ducks on the Roach), 3 Ruff (in Barling Crek), 1 Stonechat (male), 1 Kestrel (male), 19 Rook (with crows on the tip), 7 Jackdaw (with crows on tip), 1 Reed Bunting, 7 Skylark (singing), 2 Green Woodpecker. Don Petrie (SOG).

Rochford Golf Course, 11:30 to 15:00
2 Chiffchaff (singing), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stock Dove. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:30 to 13:15
1 Marsh Harrier (female still present and showing well), 1 Water Rail, 2 Bearded Tit, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff (Singing along approach road). Martin Cracknell (SOG).

Paglesham Lagoon, 13:00 to 13:30
1 Chiffchaff (singing), 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer (a pair), 46 Rook in a newly formed rookery with some 30 nests 100 yards to the east of the lagoon. Steve Sanford (SOG).

Hyde Hall, Rettendon 13.30 - 14.00
3 male, 2 female Brambling on feeders in wildlife garden. Web Author.

Priory Park, 14:15 to 18:15
2 Little Egret, 4 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 21 Brambling (party of 6 for most of the afternoon but at 16:00 a flock of 21 appeared), 4 Goldfinch, 2 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 10 Chaffinch, 30 Greenfinch, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Long-tailed Tit. 5 Common Pipistrelle, 10 Brown Rat, 1 Northern Water Vole. John Wright (SOG).

Billericay, Lake Meadows 15:00
3 Red-crested Pochard 2 males + 1 female. Marion Burch.

Gunners Park, Shoebury 15.00 - 16.00
2 Chiffchaff by pond near Ness Road, 1 male Wheatear on Shoebury Old Ranges SSSI. Carol O'Leary.

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 15:45
1 Green Sandpiper (usual place). Paul Baker (SOG).

Prittle Close, Thundersley 16:40
1 Grey Wagtail. Don Wildish.

Friday 14th March 2008

Gunners Park 07.00 - 07.45
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Little Egret, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Chaffinch and 10+ Greenfinch. Matt Bruty.

Hanningfield Reservoir 08.15
5 Long-tailed Duck, pair Red-crested Pochard from causeway. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Belfairs Wood, Hadleigh 09:30 to 11:00
1 Firecrest (eastern corner of Dodds Grove), 1 Woodcock (flying low over wood), 1 Lesser Redpoll (appeared to be alone), Chiffchaff briefly heard. Richard Gray.

Priory Park, 10:45 to 11:00
1 Brambling, 2 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 11:45 to 12:00
1 female Blackcap in garden, 2 Goldfinch on nyjer seed, 1 Little Egret. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Two Tree Island East 14.30
1 Spoonbill circled east end 3-4 times then flew off south. Pete & Sue Jackson.

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 15:00
1 Green Sandpiper west of Western Approaches. Paul Baker (SOG).

Small Reservoir Near Beeches Road, Battlesbridge 15.00
1 Green Sandpiper. 1 Stock Dove. David Chivers.

Wallasea Wetlands, 15:00 to 18:00
c.2,500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 12 Greylag Goose flying over, 1 drake Goosander on shingle island in eastern lagoon, 1 female Merlin, 1 adult male Hen Harrier, 1 Little Stint on mud at front of lagoon at far eastern end, 1 Anthus sp. (a bird showing features of water pipit or scandinavian rock pipit was seen several times along the borrow-dyke by the car park), 50 Linnet, 20 Corn Bunting. Don Petrie, Paul Baker (SOG).

Leigh on Sea, Southsea Avenue 16:30 to 16:40
2 Song Thrush in garden. Web Author.

Canewdon, 18:00
1 Common Pipistrelle at Loftmans Corner. Paul Baker (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park
Lunchtime there were 4 Snipe on the scrape, a Water Rail showed briefly in the NE corner of the scrape and 2 Cetti's Warbler were singing. 5pm the female Marsh Harrier was perched on bushes near the reedbed on Pitsea Marsh, she then took off, gained height and flew into the distance over Veolia landfill site and Hole Haven Creek. Interestingly she did exactly the same last Friday, which was the only other time I had stayed in the hide until almost dusk recently. Male Sparrowhawk showed well in a bush on one of the scrape islands during the afternoon. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Thursday 13th March 2008

Priory Park 07:15
2 Little Egret roosting on island, Ring-necked Parakeet very vocal by lakes then moving across park towards ECKO works. Don Wildish.

Gunners Park 07.15 - 07.45
1 Little Grebe, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Little Egret, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Greenfinch and 1 Linnet. Matt Bruty.

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 09:30 to 11:00
2 Peregrine Falcon (female flew in to Portcullis House with prey and fed while male occasionally flew around the building). Don Petrie (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 09:45 - 12:00
From Rawl Hide: 5 Long-tailed Duck, 7 Goosander (1 drake & 3 redheads in close group, plus 1 drake & 2 redheads in distant group), 2 Grey Wagtail (m&f), 20+ Goldeneye. Ian White.

Priory Park, 10:30
1 Little Egret standing on the grass near the swampy area, viewed from my car on Priory Crescent. Paul Baker (SOG).

Hockley Road, Basildon 14.30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Goldfinch on garden feeders. Also 1 Peacock Butterfly - first of the year I've seen. Darren Chaplin.

Rochford, 17:25 to 17:30
1 female Sparrowhawk perched in tree for 5 minutes or so. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 17:00 to 18:00
1 female Peregrine Falcon on Portcullis House to roost. Don Petrie (SOG).

Wednesday 12th March 2008

Gunners Park 07.15 - 07.45
2 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret and 1 Meadow Pipit. Matt Bruty.

Rayleigh, 07:45
1 Little Egret in ditch by A129 between old and new A130's. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 07.50 - 08.05
5 Long-tailed Duck and 25 Goldeneye again from causeway. Neil Chambers. (SOG).

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 16:00
1 Little Egret in brook. Paul Baker (SOG).

Tuesday 11th March 2008

Ferndale Road, Rayleigh 07.00
1 male Bullfinch calling for 10 minutes from treetops. Robin Peppiatt.

Hanningfield Reservoir 08.00 - 08.15
5 Long-tailed Duck, 25 Goldeneye from causeway. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Pound Wood, Daws Heath 09:30 to 10:30
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Richard Gray.

Billericay, Lake Meadows 11:00
30-40 Redwing on golfing green. Marion Burch.

Wat Tyler Country Park 12.00
2 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank on the creek from middle hide. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Wallasea Wetlands, 13:30 to 16:20
3,500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (between 3,500 and 4,000 in a single flock feeding on the winter wheat), 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose (adult in the large brent goose flock), 1 Goosander (drake roosting on the most eastern shingle covered island). Don Petrie (SOG).

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 16:00 to 16:10
1 Blackcap. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Priory Park, 16:40 to 17:30
3 Little Egret roosting on the island, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet in trees just north of the lake, 3 Brambling (perhaps 5. Pair seen first to east of walled garden, then flew to trees between priory and lake. Later 3 birds (2 male and 1 female) flew in to rest in tree top by lake). Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 17:30 to 18:00
15 Linnet roosting in bush just past swing gate, 4 Little Egret flying east at 60mph in the high winds to roost! Paul Baker (SOG).

Wakering, 17:45 (from car on Wakering Road)
1 female Merlin chasing a passerine, probably a Corn Bunting. Don Petrie (SOG).

Monday 10th March 2008

Southend Pier, 12:45 to 13:45
1 Red-throated Diver (plus 2 other divers further out which were possibly Black-throated), 15 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer plus first winter). Don Petrie (SOG).

Priory Park, 16:20 to 17:20
1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Brambling (pair), 1 Little Egret. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Southchurch Park East
1 Water Rail. Steve Wood.

Sunday 09th March 2008

Wallasea Wetlands (Eastern Section) 08.00 - 14.00
Goosander - drake still in eastern most section with Shelduck (roosted on shingle island at high tide). Little Stint, 300 Dunlin, 150 Ringed Plover, 100+ Redshank, 50+ Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 3 Avocet, 3 Turnstone, 3 Snipe, 7 Oystercatcher, 5 Little Egret, 1600 Brent Geese commuting between wetland and adjacent winter wheat. Yesterday pair of Brambling at feeders in garden in Canewdon, pair of Little Owls still Scotts Hall Lane. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:20 to 08:30
4 Jackdaw, 1 Goldfinch. John Wright (SOG).

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, Canvey 09.45 - 12.30
2 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 217 Shelduck, 51 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 2 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 1 Moorhen, 19 Oystercatcher, 23 Avocet, 1 Grey Plover, 138 Lapwing, 1 Knot, 27 Dunlin, 964 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 158 Curlew, 496 Redshank, 2,062 Black-headed Gull, 82 Common Gull, 29 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 73 Herring Gull and 284 Great Black-backed Gull. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Southend Pier, 10:25 to 13:50
2 Black-throated Diver (both 1st winters), 1 Red-throated Diver (5 seen earlier by G. Ekins), 1 Guillemot, 11 Mediterranean Gull (7 first-winters, 3 adults and 1 second-winter), 3 Purple Sandpiper. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Rayleigh Sewage Works & Hockley Woods 11.00 - 14.00
1 Chiffchaff, 70+ Redwing, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest. Anita Pickles.

Wakering Stairs, 13:00 to 15:30
4 Red-throated Diver, 51 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Rock Pipit, 1 Stonechat. Don Petrie (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 15:00
1 Kestrel. John Wright (SOG).

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 16:15
1 Green Sandpiper west of Western Approaches, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).

Wakering, Oxenham Farm, 16:15 to 17:00
1 Barn Owl flying over old sewage works and Oxenham in bright sunshine at 16:30, 1 Green Sandpiper, 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Don Petrie (SOG).

Priory Park, 17:00 to 17:25
1 Ring-necked Parakeet in tree tops 15m north of lake, 7 Brambling (in tree tops, favouring single poplar), 1 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch (in treetops), 7 Greenfinch in treetops. 2 Northern Water Vole (an excellent surprise in the reedy 'canal' stretch that runs parallel to the brook, just to the east). Paul Baker (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 17:30 to 17:45
1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Little Egret, 21 Corn Bunting. John Wright (SOG).

Shoebury, Friars Park
2 Mute Swan, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Baker (SOG).

Saturday 08th March 2008

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 07:30 to 13:00
1 Caspian Gull (3rd winter), 4 Yellow-legged Gull (2nd winter and 3 1st winters), 6 Mediterranean Gull (5 adults at least and a 2nd winter). Steve Arlow, Pete Livermore (SOG).

Ashingdon, 08:50 to 09:00
1 male Siskin in the garden. Steve Sanford (SOG).

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 09:45
1 Green Sandpiper west of Western Approaches. Paul Baker (SOG).

Shoebury, Friars Park, 10:00 to 10:45
2 Mandarin Duck (pair on first pond), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Mute Swan (pair). Don Petrie (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 11:30 to 11:35
1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 11:45 to 11:50
2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Southend Pier, 12:00 to 13:30
3 Purple Sandpiper, c.1000 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 6 Mediterranean Gull (5 1st-w, 1 ad), 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 8 Great Crested Grebe. 1 Common Seal. Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).

Hyde Hall, Rettendon 15:00
Bramblings (males and female) with Chaffinch and Goldfinch on feeder. Marion Burch (SOG).

Wallasea Wetlands, 15:15 to 16:00
4 Little Egret, 20 Linnet (by farmhouse), 1000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (circa, just inside seawall in south east corner distantly), 45 Dunlin. Paul Baker (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 17:00 to 18:00
1 Greenshank. John Wright (SOG).

Southend, 17:50
100 White / Pied Wagtail seen by the Bell Pub, Prince Avenue. Birds going to roost. Dave Knight (SOG).

Shoebury, Friars Park
2 Mandarin Duck (pair), 1 Chiffchaff. Lee Ebbs

Friday 07th March 2008

Priory Park 07:15
2 Little Egret. Don Wildish.

Wat Tyler Country park 12.00
Female Marsh Harrier showing very well from motorboat museum hide. On the scrape - Shelduck pair, Curlew 9 and Oystercatcher 1. Also Cetti's Warbler 3 singing around the hide area. Alan Shearman RSPB.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 13.55 - 16.00
8 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 4 Curlew, 2 Little Egret, 24 Mute Swan, 2 Red-breasted Merganser (1m 1f), 20 Teal, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Shelduck, 2 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 15:25 to 16:00
1 Peregrine Falcon flew around Alexander House. John Wright (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 16:00 to 18:10
10 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank, 1 Water Rail, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Stonechat, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting. Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 17:00 to 17:15
23 Corn Bunting. John Wright (SOG).

Wickham Bishops
4 Siskin feeding on sunflower hearts. Ken Ulrich.

Thursday 06th March 2008

Hockley Woods, 08:30 to 09:40
22 Redwing in play area, 9 Jackdaw around car park, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch. Don Petrie (SOG).

Southend Pier 10.00 - 12.00
1 Shag, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Black Throated Diver. Trevor Bufton, Bob Vanderhoven.

Wallasea Wetlands, 10:00 to 12:15
59 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 120 Shelduck, 1 Greenshank (1st lagoon at back), 1 Little Stint (winter plumage. With approx 100 Dunlin on dry mud at front of 2nd lagoon), 250 Dunlin (approx), 200 Ringed Plover (approx), 14 Chaffinch (at start of track by farm), 12 Corn Bunting (at start of track by farm). Don Petrie (SOG).

Tewkes Creek, Canvey Island 10:40 - 12:20
1 Spotted Redshank (on edge of marsh opposite boating jetty), 3+ Little Egret, c.80 Avocet, 1 Sparrowhawk, several hundred Knot and Grey Plover roosting on saltmarsh. Ian White.

Two Tree Island 12.30 - 13.30
2 Greenshank, 2 or 3 Water Rail, 8 Knot, 50 Avocet, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Grey Plover. Trevor Bufton, Bob Vanderhoven.

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 13:00 to 15:45
1 Peregrine Falcon, adult male perched on 12th floor ledge of Portcullis House, occasionally feeding on an old prey item. Don Petrie (SOG).

Wednesday 05th March 2008

Hockley Woods, 08:00
1 Woodcock, 2 Green Woodpecker, 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk (male hunting through the play area). Don Petrie (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 11:00
1 Peregrine Falcon. John Wright (SOG).

Belfairs Woods 13.00
Nuthatch in tree, Greater Spotted Woodpecker calling and drumming. Mark Duncan.

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 13:30 to 13:45
1 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 1st winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Westcliff Casino, 14:00 to 14:30
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer), 1 Ring-billed Gull on the mud by the casino, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Don Petrie (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 15.00
1 Sand Martin cruising around meadow bordering main path. Stephen Burt.

Hockley Woods, 15:00 to 17:00
1 Woodcock, 2 Green Woodpecker, 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk (male hunting through the play area). Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island, 17:00 to 18:00
1 Short-eared Owl visible from first car park after crossing the bridge. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Priory Park, 17:15 to 17:45
406 Collared Dove (at roost around ponds), 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (went to roost on islands with the doves), 1 Sparrowhawk (took a dove from the roost), 1 Brambling (male flew in from west to roost north of the ponds). Don Petrie (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park
Female Marsh Harrier showed briefly at lunchtime and a water vole showed really well on the pallet in front of the motorboat museum hide at 5pm. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Tuesday 04th March 2008

Wakering, 00:20
1 Little Owl calling, heard from house in Lee Lotts. Don Petrie (SOG).

Hockley Woods, 08:30 to 09:15
2 Sparrowhawk (pair displaying over car park), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (calling and drumming), 1 Nuthatch (around car park), 3 Goldcrest, 2 Stock Dove (in clearing). Don Petrie (SOG).

Benfleet, St Marys Churchyard 08.45
Female Sparrowhawk, flew through churchyard scattering Collared Doves / Blackbirds. Superb views as it banked about 15 feet above my head. Tim Bennett.

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 09:00 to 14:45
1 Glaucous Gull (the 'usual' juvenile was present in the creek for nearly an hour in the morning and then present again throughout much of the afternoon), 3 Caspian Gull (a 4th winter, which was a bird here a week ago, and 2 1st winters), 3 Yellow-legged Gull (2nd winter and 2 first-winters), 6 Mediterranean Gull (3 adults, 2 2nd winters and 1st winter). Steve Arlow, Pete Livermore (SOG).

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 10:00 to 10:05
1 adult female Peregrine Falcon flying around Portcullis House. Don Petrie (SOG).

Rayleigh Mount, 13:00
1 Peacock Butterfly. Paul Baker (SOG).

Rayleigh Mount, 14:15 to 14:20
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (and frog spawn!). Paul Baker (SOG).

Two Tree Island (West), 16:20 to 17:50
11 Little Egret (heading for roost), 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 8 Corn Bunting in flock around central path. Don Petrie (SOG).

Bishopsteignton Estate 17.30
Male Sparrowhawk sitting on car roof in driveway. Usually perched on roof tops surveying area. In the last few weeks very confident favouring the Blackbirds and Collared Doves in the area. John Meredith.

Monday 03rd March 2008

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 10:20
1 adult female Peregrine Falcon flying along Victoria Avenue. Don Petrie (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.20 - 12.10
2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 4 Curlew, Red Throated Diver, Green Sandpiper, Red-breasted Merganser (m), 9 Teal, 1000+ Brent Goose, 2 Little Egret, 4 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Two Tree Island (West), 16:50 to 18:20
1 Little Egret, 3 Water Rail, 3 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, 1 Robin (in the hide), 1 Reed Bunting. Don Petrie (SOG).

RSPB Vange Marsh, 17:30 to 18:00
1 Barn Owl (very showy in NE corner), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing in NE corner by railway). Vince Kinsler (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park
A single chiffchaff along the hedgerow on the right after entering gates, this was reported in the same area in February, so had probably over wintered. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Sunday 02nd March 2008

Benfleet, Garden 08:15
Male Blackcap - this is now the third time sighting this winter. Tim Bennett.

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:00 to 09:05
4 Jackdaw. John Wright (SOG).

West Wood, Hadleigh 09:00 - 10.30
1 Nuthatch, 2 Grey Wagtail (pair), c.30 Redwing, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Richard Gray.

Ferndale Road, Rayleigh 10:00
2 Bullfinch. Robin Peppiatt.

South Fambridge Towards Raypits 10.00 - 12.00
6 Skylark, 6 Great-crested Grebe, 210 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 42 Shelduck on north bank, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Cormorant. David Selley.

Priory Park 11:00
Little Egret. Mark, Annousha and Bethany.

Two Tree Island (West), 11:00 to 12:30
1 Avocet, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Egret. Web Author.

Eastwood Sewage Works, 14:00 to 15:30
14 Moorhen, 1 Snipe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 46 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 33 Redwing, 192 Carrion Crow, 1 Jackdaw. Don Petrie (SOG).

Leigh on Sea, 15:00 to 15:10
1 Song Thrush in garden Southsea Avenue. Web Author.

Two Tree Island 16:00 - 17:00
2 Short-eared Owl hunting around hides, 1 Water Rail (lagoon), 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 6 Wigeon on adjacent creek to hide, 3 Curlew, 27 Avocet (all counted from hide), 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Redshank, 35 Teal, 2 Kestrel, 2 Pheasant. Noel Barnes.

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 16:20 to 17:00
3 Mediterranean Gull (1x 1st winter, 2x 2nd winter), 6 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Common Seal. Don Petrie (SOG).

Saturday 01st March 2008

Priory Park 07:15
1 Grey Wagtail in brook, 1 Little Egret. Don Wildish.

Benfleet Creek, 08:10 to 08:15
1 Cetti's Warbler heard in reedbed along seawall between Benfleet and Leigh. Simon Watson (SOG).

RSPB Vange Marsh 09.00
1 female Yellow Wagtail. Alison.

Paglesham Lagoon, 09:00 to 11:30
1 female Long-tailed Duck, 60 Shoveler, 50 Pochard, 25 Little Grebe, 10 Pintail, 50 Tufted Duck, 20 Shoveler, 6 Goldeneye, 21 Mute Swan in fields. Dave Knight (SOG).

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 09:25
1 Green Sandpiper in brook to the east of Western Approaches. Paul Baker (SOG).

Pound Wood, 09:30 to 10:30
3 Goldcrest, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker. John Wright (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 09:45 to 10:00
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi still), 4 Mediterranean Gull (adult summer, 2nd winter and 2 first-winters). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island West 10.10 - 11.30
From the lagoon hide: 145 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 6 Pochard, 12 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Grey Plover, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler heard, 1 Robin keeping us company in the hide. On Hadleigh Ray: 90 Curlew, 22 Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin. David Selley.

Hadleigh Downs, 12:00 to 12:30
2 Woodcock, 6 Siskin feeding on catkins in trees on north side of Chapel lane fishing lake. Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island 17:25
1 Short Eared Owl over 1st car park just after bridge - hunting at dusk, 2 Snipe from the hide. Noel Barnes.

Back to Latest Sightings