Bird Reports for May 2001
31/05/01
Wakering Stairs: 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, many Sanderling, pair of Cuckoo, Red-legged Partridge with chicks, 1 Green Woodpecker. Steve Sanford, Web Author.
30/05/01
Wakering Stairs: 19:00 - 20:15: 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer. Web Author.
Wakering Common 20:30: Pair of Turtle Dove. Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park: unconfirmed report of a 2nd-summer Glaucous Gull.
Benfleet: Hobby along Benfleet Creek and 10 Avocet on the lagoon. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.
29/05/01
Wakering Stairs 19:00 - 20:40: 3 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 2 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Barn Owl, 1 Yellowhammer. The first Barn Owl was hunting over the train carriages 50 yards from the end of the Stairs road. Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park: Second summer Glaucous Gull reported.
Other News: Female Red-Backed Shrike reported at Walton-on-the-Naze. Suffolk: Marmora's Warbler reported at Sizewell Power Station.
28/05/01
Hadleigh area: Hobby seen at 18.45hrs near junction of Belton Way West and Marine Parade. It stooped at a house Sparrow which dived in time into foliage of Ash tree south of Belton way West. Martin Johnson.
Marine Parade, Leigh-on-Sea: 20.20hrs female Sparrowhawk soaring and wheeling and hanging on breeze to east of me. 20.27hrs Male Sparrowhawk and female Sparrowhawk, they appeared to be a pair. 20.33hrs Female Kestrel appeared over Belton Gardens SE of me and south of the road Belton Way West. 20.35hrs Sparrowhawk appeared soaring above Kestrel about 200m distant and went away to east. 20.38hrs Sparrowhawk 200m to east wheeling on the SW breeze. Martin Johnson.
27/05/01
Stansted Airport area: Adult male Red-footed Falcon present over private land at Stansted Airport north of the A120 from 15:10 - 15:20. Gave very good views before flying low south over the A120 towards Hatfield Forest although there were no further sightings in the area. Stephen Patmore.
Airshow Special II: I was on Belton Gardens mainly to watch Southend Air Show and take photos of the planes. at 14.40hrs while ascending steps from Leigh Station directly overhead were Swifts; suddenly very fast flying bird - swiftlike flight with rapid wingbeats and glides but larger and faster than swifts and even more aerobatic - a Hobby - it disappeared to west. 14.53hrs Belton Gardens opposite junction of Salisbury Rd and Marine Parade a Hobby appeared again from over housing estate to the east of me, rapid wing beats gaining altitude heading south till hanging motionless in SW wind, then spectacular stoop towards low trees south of Belton Way East aborting stoop about 7m above trees, regained altitude and then disappeared to west. Martin Johnson.
26/05/01
Airshow Special: Large bird prey circling over Leigh at the same time as the Jaguar jet flew twice above the estuary at 5pm on Friday it looked like a Buzzard but with thinner wings and shallow glide and quicker climbing but it was too bright and was silhouetted in the sky. Steve Wood.
25/05/01
Commuter Special: Hobby in oak tree just by electricity sub station near A130 at 8:00 this morning. Jeff Delve.
23/05/01
Abberton Reservoir 18:20 : Reported drake Blue-winged Teal on Abberton Manor flood, along with the drake Garganey.
22/05/01
Pooles Lane, Hullbridge: 1 Pied Flycatcher reported.
Two Tree Island: 4 Avocet, 2 Shelduck, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Willow Warbler, several Skylarks, Whitethroat and Meadow Pipits, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Redshanks. Tony Leader
21/05/01
Abberton Area: Quail reported at Copt Hall, 3 miles SW of Abberton singing 7.30pm.
20/05/01
Near Wakering Stairs: 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cuckoo, Black Redstart, male Wheatear, Corn Bunting. Web Author. Also Honey Buzzard reported over-flying early morning. (per SOG).
East Tilbury: Two pairs of displaying Great Crested Grebes on the river. On the shoreline 13 Bar-tailed Godwits, a single Grey Plover, 14 Dunlin, and three Whimbrel flew towards the Kent shore. David Jobbins.
19/05/01
Wakering Stairs 07:30 - 11:00: 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Cuckoo (2 male, 1 female), at least 5 Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. Web Author
2nd White-spotted Bluethroat: We can now report a sighting of a second White-spotted Bluethroat on the 24th March on Two Tree Island by Steve Bunn of the Essex Ranger Service. The news of this bird was not made public at the time due to the closure of the Island.
17/05/01
Wat Tyler Country Park: Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper, Reed Warbler, Great Crested Grebe, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Harrier. Steve Hiscock.
13/05/01
Two Tree Island 09.15-10.15: western half of island, 5 Sedge Warblers singing and fighting from bushes, several Common Whitethroats, 1 pair Linnets by gorse clump, 3 soaring singing Skylarks, lagoon area: 1 pair Canada Geese, (no Avocets), 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Heron, Benfleet Creek to south of lagoon: 1 pair Shelduck. Eastern half EWT area: reed lined pool 1 Mallard duck with 3 ducklings; 1 male Cuckoo seen and heard; resting on saltings at high water (HW 16.01hrs) 17 Curlew, 15 Turnstones, several Redshank making trilling calls and display flight, 16.35hrs 1 Reed Bunting flying over saltings, 16.40 hrs 8 Whimbrel flew east over saltings calling frequently and continued east towards Southend, 17.15hrs 1 Whimbrel came from west and settled among Curlew on saltings. Also 5 Peacock butterflies close to Stinging Nettle beds. Martin Johnson.
Grays area: possible Rough-legged Buzzard over Grays (near Chalk Quarry) on Saturday and Sunday 12th & 13th May. I was soaring like a Common Buzzard, the wings looked narrower, there were white lozenge shaped marking on the upper wings. I'd be grateful for any confirmation. Please email .
12/05/01
Wakering Stairs: 4 Little Egret, Grey Heron, Shelduck, female Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover in summer plumage, Turnstone, Common Tern, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, pair of Stonechat, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinch 1 male 3 female, Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting. Web Author.
Two Tree Island (western half) 15.30-16.30: lagoon area 3 Avocets, 3 Shelduck, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 pair Oystercatchers. Martin Johnson.
Brentwood: Night Heron reported flying east over South Weald cricket pitch, 1 mile north of Brentwood at 09:45.
11/05/01
Wakering Stairs 18:30 - 20:10: 2 Barn Owl from Haven Point, Many Common Tern and many Grey Plover (looking magnificent in their full summer plumage, well worth going down to take a look), Bar-tailed Godwit (also in summer plumage), 3 Stonechat (2 male, 1 female), Yellowhammer in their usual place in the first line of bushes from entrance. Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park: Drake Red-crested Pochard. Paul Baker (SOG).
Note: Two Tree Island west side will reopen tomorrow.
10/05/01
Two Tree Island: Cock Pheasant, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Swallow, 1 Green Woodpecker, numerous Robins, 1 Greenfinch. 1 Goldfinch, large numbers of Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Male Blackcap, Reed Warblers, 1 Male Reed Bunting, 2 Pairs of Little Grebes, one pair with two chicks as previously reported. Nesting Coots and Moorhens and 2 Kestrels. Out on a sand-bar off Canvey Point were 7 Sunning Cormorants. Terry Strong.
Hanningfield Reservoir: 1 Dark morph blue goose.( seen swimming and flying with Greylag), 3 Common Tern, 2 Chiffchaff, 1male and 1female Red-crested Pochard, 2 Shelduck on flooded field, 5 Cormorant, 10 Great Crested Grebe. Tony Leader.
Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury: Avocets , Cuckoo and the beautiful sound of a Nightingale, also female Marsh Harrier which seemed to arrive from Kent side of the river before eventually heading towards Pitsea, possibly Wat Tyler. Terence Ross
Holland Haven: 2 Temminck's Stints reported.
09/05/01
Gunners Park, Shoebury am: Several Whitethroats, 1 Linnet, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Kestrel, 6 Greenfinch, 2 White Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Cuckoo being tended by whitethroat. Tony Leader.
Wat Tyler Country Park pm: 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Ruddy Duck, 3 Greenfinch, 1 Cuckoo, Still dozens of Swifts at Wat Tyler and several Sand Martins and one Swallow. Tony Leader.
From Steve Blackburn: For those who use the First Great Eastern network keep an eye out for a Hobby between Rayleigh and Wickford stations. When leaving Rayleigh, heading towards Wickford, the train soon crosses the A130. Just beyond is an electricity sub-station on the north side of the track which has a fenced off green area opposite. The Hobby regularly perches in the tallest tree in the near left corner of this area. I first spotted this bird on Friday 4th May at 6.20pm. I saw it again in the same spot on Tuesday 8th at 7.35am and again at 6.20pm. It was sitting there again this morning (Wednesday 9th) at 7.35am. This certainly helps to liven up commuting to and from London. Steve Blackburn
08/05/01
Gunners Park, Shoebury 19:30: 1 White Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Blue-headed Wagtail, Greenshank flew over. Cuckoo heard and Whimbrel heard calling offshore. Steve Arlow (SOG), Web Author.
Ekco Sports Ground: Sparrowhawk over the sports ground with a small bird in it's talons being mobbed by half a dozen Starlings. Steve Sanford
07/05/01
Wakering Stairs 08:00: 2 Little Egret, Dunlin, Grey Plover, 2 Kestrel, 2 Red-legged Partridge, Lapwing, 5 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Green Woodpecker, Stonechat (pair), 3 Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Goldfinch. Web Author. Also: 2 Gannet, 1 Red-necked Grebe. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Gunners park 13:00: male Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, male Kestrel, Mistle Thrush, 4 Common Tern off sea wall, Linnet, Common Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Shelduck. Steve Giles. Also at 15:00: 2 Spotted Flycatchers. Valerie Vine.
Two Tree Island: 3 Whimbrel. (per SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park: Red-crested Pochard, 2 Greenshanks reported.
Hanningfield Reservoir: Drake Red-crested Pochard from the causeway; second summer Mediterranean Gull on the tern raft (apparently paired with Black-headed Gull); plenty of Garden Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Swifts but few hirundines. The whole reserve is now open. The guys in Kent saw a ring-tail harrier fly over the Thames into Mucking Bay and then away over Langdon Hills yesterday - jizz indicated Hen but timing favoured Montys. David Jobbins.
Abberton Reservoir: drake Garganey from Layer Breton causeway, 3 Common Sandpiper. Also: 1 Little Gull, 4 Arctic Terns, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Hobby reported.
Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea: stunning pair of Garganey still. Nick Green, EBWS.
Fingringhoe: Pair of Black Swans. Probably escaped from a private collection, seen in the estuary at about 1600 as the tide was going out. Brian Coveney.
06/05/01
Wakering Stairs: Little Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting. Richard Wiseman.
Wat Tyler pm: Pair of Red-crested Pochard, 2 Greenshank. John Wright (SOG). Also: Ruddy Duck (1 male 2 female), pair Shoveler, Shelduck, Whitethroat (many), Blackcap and an incredible display of hundreds of Swifts over the reed beds. John Bronze.
Canvey Island: 1 pair Goldfinches feeding in my garden on seed feeder in the Leigh Beck area. Phil.
East Tilbury: 1 Little Egret, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 41 Dunlin, 7 Grey Plover (most in breeding plumage), three Yellow Wagtails.
Hanningfield Reservoir: drake Red-crested Pochard and Grey Wagtails from the causeway. David Jobbins.
Abberton Reservoir - causeways: Drake Garganey west of Layer Breton c/w, also 1 Little Gull, 4 Arctic Terns, 25 Common Terns, 2 Hobby, 1 Goldeneye, 8 Shelducks, 4 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Grebe, 300+ Swifts, 200+ Swallows, 100+ Sand Martins, 50+ House Martins, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Turtle Doves, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Buntings & 2 Red-legged Partridges.
Fingringhoe Wick: 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Little Egrets, 20+ Whimbrel, 400+ Dunlin, 150+ Grey Plovers, 1 Knot, 10 Curlew, 20+ Oystercatchers, 50+ Brent Geese, 50+ Shelduck, 6 Eider, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Ruddy Duck, 15+ singing Nightingales, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Sedge Warbler.
Cudmore Grove Country Park: 2 Garganey in flooded field also 1 Greenshank, 1 'Greenland' Wheatear, 1 Shoveler, 15 Shelduck, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 100+ Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers & 15 Sand Martins. Stephen Patmore.
Holland Haven: singing Grasshopper Warbler, Little Owl, 2 Avocet. Nick Green, EBWS.
Great Amwell: This location appears we have a resident pair of Grey Wagtails seen collecting nesting material. also: Redshank, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Common Terns and along the towpath at Ponders End Black Redstarts. Dave Messenger
05/05/01
Wakering Stairs (opened today) 08:10: 2 Little Egret, Grey Heron, Shelduck, female Kestrel, male Peregrine Falcon, 1 Turtle Dove, Swallow, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat (many), Lesser Whitethroat (others in bushes to the east, John Wright, SOG), Long-tailed Tit, Linnet. Web Author.
London Road, in trees by Arlington Rooms: 12 Waxwings from 08:30 - 15:10. Ben Lewis, Web Author.
Gunners Park 18:30: White Wagtail. Web Author.
Hanningfield Reservoir 13:00: Black Swan, Hobby reported. Web Author. Also: drake Red-crested Pochard from Fremnells Causeway.
Abberton Reservoir: Swifts, 1 Common Sandpiper.
Holland Haven: singing Grasshopper Warbler, Whimbrel.
Cudmore Grove Country Park: pair of Garganey. Nick Green, EBWS.
04/05/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 19:38: Beside flooded area on left 1 White Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail (3 male, 2 female). Web Author.
From Train 10:00: Common Buzzard in woodland beside the Wickford to Billericay stretch of the Southend Victoria - London line this morning.
Butts Hill Pond: Has had Cuckoo all week plus Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat and Corn Bunting. Little Owl regular on Scotts Hall Road in large oaks on east side. Jeff Delve.
Other Reported News: 1st year male Marsh Harrier at Fingringhoe Gravel Pits, also: 20 Whimbrel, 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Lesser Whitethroat.
03/05/01
Gunners Park, Shoebury: Nightingale heard singing between last two bridges, also White Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).
Fairlop waters, Barkingside, Small lake eastern end: 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Pied Wagtail, male and female Whitethroat, 1 Heron. Also seen by the warden: Yellow Wagtail and Siskin and heard that morning, Nightingale. Tony Leader
02/05/01
Gunners Park, Shoebury: 17:30: 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, Chiffchaff, Female Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Heron, 4 Shelduck, Long Tailed Tit, numerous Linnet, Swallow, Whitethroat and Pied Wagtail. Steve Giles.
Hornchurch Country Park: White Stork reported in Ingrebourne Valley, no sign late pm.
Wat Tyler Country Park 13:00: male and female Marsh Harriers. Steve Hiscock.