Bird Reports for November 2003
Sunday 30th November 2003
Rochford Golf Course, 08:00 to 11:30: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Southend Pier, 09:00 to 12:00: 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Kittiwake, 8 Mediterranean Gull. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
East Tilbury 09.30 - 12.30: 1 Red-throated Diver, 460 Avocet, 104 Knot, 2 Brambling. David Jobbins.
Wakering Tip 14.00-16.00: Little Egret, c.200 Brent Goose, 1 Ring-tail Hen Harrier, c.50 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, Fieldfare. Stuart Bailey, Simon Buckell.
Saturday 29th November 2003
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.45 - 11.45: 5 Little Egret (all south side), 4 Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 11 Widgeon, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Reed Bunting. Ray Fuller.
Friday 28th November 2003
Two Tree Island (East), 15:45 to 16:30: 48 Little Egret. Andrew Woodhouse.
Thursday 27th November 2003
Southend Pier, 10:30 to 13:40: 12 Mediterranean Gull (4ad., 4 2nd w., 4 1st.), 2 Kittiwake, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 13 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Guillemot, 32 Common Scoter. Harry Carmichael (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 11:10: 1 Lesser Redpoll. Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
Benfleet Creek 13.39: 1 Little Egret, 3 Lapwing, and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Yasmine Hamid.
Wednesday 26th November 2003
Bell Area 10.50: Greenfinch with brilliant yellow forehead on seed feeder! Mick Power.
Tuesday 25th November 2003
Westcliff Seafront, 11:55 to 12:05: 1 Ring-billed Gull (on lamp post in front of Rossi's), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult on sea). Paul Baker (SOG).
Monday 24th November 2003
Thundersley 15.00: 6 Redwing in the trees at the bottom of my garden. John Bennett.
Sunday 23rd November 2003
Eastwood, 11:00 to 12:30: 1 Waxwing (1st winter at Safeways, Western Approaches. Mobile, but occasionally favouring the tallest poplar on the southern edge of the car park) Don Petrie, Paul Griggs, Mark Wickins (SOG).
Friday 21st November 2003
Coombe Wood Area, 08:00: 1 Nuthatch, 1 Blackcap (both in garden most of the day). Jeff Saward (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 14.30 - 16.15: 2 Kingfisher, 12 Grey Plover, 2 Shelduck, 2 Widgeon, 6 Little Egret (5 on south side,1 on north ), 60 Brent Goose, 39 Curlew, 7 Little Grebe, Snipe. Ray Fuller.
Belton Gardens 11.10: 2 Goldcrest in scrub at junction of Belton Way West and Castle Drive. Martin Johnson.
Abberton Reservoir 15.00 - 16.00: 10 Bewick's Swan, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Ruff, 6 Redshank, 13 Snipe, 20+ Black-tailed Godwit, 20+ Golden Plover, 20+ Dunlin, 2 Avocet, Pochard, Pintail, Goldeneye, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk. R Shepherd.
Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 11.00: (Water level very low) From the causeway:- Kingfisher, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Pintail, Great Crested Grebe + The usual huge numbers of Coot. From the visitors centre:- Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed-tit, Coal Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Dunnock & Wren. Also, appearing almost daily, a Grey Wagtail on a Flat Roof behind my car park in Leigh Broadway. This roof contains a very large puddle and the Wagtail seems to be using this as a substitute for its usual watery domain. Terry Strong.
Thursday 20th November 2003
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 13.25 - 15.45: 7 Little Grebe, 400 + Golden Plover in fields with Lapwings, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Shelduck, 14 Curlew, 7 Little Egret (all south side), 2 Snipe, 40 Brent Goose. Ray Fuller.
Wednesday 19th November 2003
Westcliff Casino, 13:20 to 13:45: 5 Mediterranean Gull (2 adult-winters, 3 2nd-winters). Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow (SOG).
Tuesday 18th November 2003
Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:05 to 08:10: 1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).
Gunners Park, Shoebury 10.00: 8 Long-tailed Tit. John Pitts.
Monday 17th November 2003
Westcliff Casino, 08:35 to 08:40: 4 Mediterranean Gull (2 Adult-winter, 2 2nd-winter (one with a green ring)). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Sunday 16th November 2003
Paglesham Churchend, 08:40 to 08:55: 5 Corn Bunting. Neil Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).
Paglesham Lagoon, 09:00 to 10:50: 4 Little Grebe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Black-headed Gull (1 leucistic adult with only a slight brown tinge to the primaries), 1 Pintail, 170 Shoveler, 280 Wigeon (with several hundred more on the river towards Stambridge), 2 Yellowhammer. Neil Chambers (SOG).
River Roach, 09:45 to 10:30: 9 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Long-tailed Duck (1st winter drake), 23 Goldeneye, 64 Avocet, 5 Little Egret, 1 Common Sandpiper. Paul Baker (SOG).
Roper's farm, 11:05 to 15:40: 64 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat (a pair), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker. Steve Arlow (SOG).
River Roach, 11:05 to 14:40: 1 Long-tailed Duck (immature drake), 19 Goldeneye, 1,536 Wigeon (a huge number spread along the river), 5 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher (in the borrowdyke at the end of the Ropers Farm track), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult at Barton Hall Creek), 70 Golden Plover, 40 Avocet, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Pintail (2 drakes and a female), 39 Stock Dove (on the Paglesham side of the river), 200 Black-tailed Godwit (on the upper reaches on the river at Stambridge). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Vange Marsh, 11:25 to 12:10: 5 Snipe, 3 Bearded Tit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank (reported to us, in the creek). Neil Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).
Leigh Marshes (opposite Peterboat PH) 12:00 - 12:30: 1 Kingfisher flying west along channel close to seawall (previously seen at same location flying east - 28/10/03). Ross Gardner.
Wat Tyler Country Park 12:00 - 14:00: 2 Sanderling. 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100+ Lapwing. 20+ Shoveler. 20+ Wigeon. 30+ Teal. Gadwalls. 4-5 Heron, 6-7 Cormorant. Carnivorous Coot feeding on Gull carcase! All on the Scrape. 50+ Greylag Geese on fields. 1 Coal Tit, 2 Greenfinch on the Bird Feeders. On Friday 14th a Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the bird feeders and 10+ Curlew and 3-4 Little Egret on Timmermans Creek. Martin Itter.
River Roach 13:15: 1 Long-tailed Duck in river opposite Barton Hall Creek. Web Author.
Westcliff to Southchurch Seafront 14.30 - 15.30: 2 Mediterranean Gulls near Westcliff Casino, several large mixed flocks of Sanderling, Ringed Plover, and Dunlin on Southchurch beach around derelict pier (very unsettled but determined to gather on the incoming tideline despite continuous disturbance from walkers). Also 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Pied Wagtail. Yasmine Hamid.
Hanningfield Reservoir 14.30 - 16.00: 3 Snipe, 3 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Grey Wagtail, Pintail, Widgeon, Goldeneye, Pochard, Great Spotted Woodpecker. R Shepherd.
Saturday 15th November 2003
Roper's farm, 09:00 to 10:00: 26 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 1 Stonechat (Male), 8 Reed Bunting. John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.40 - 12.10: 14 Little Egret (5 on south side of Crouch, 9 on north), 6 Widgeon, 11 Grey Plover, 47 Shelduck, 140 Brent Goose, 4 Curlew, 4 Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 28 Avocet opposite Brandy Hole on South side, Dunlin flock in excess of 500. Ray Fuller.
River Roach, 10:00 to 11:40: 8 Little Egret, 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Golden Plover, 62 Avocet, 1 Pintail (Drake), 9 Goldeneye (2 drakes, 7 duck), 1 Long-tailed Duck (Imm. drake. About 300 yards west (Stambridge direction) of where the Roper Farm track meets the sea wall), 12 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Wigeon (No count but hundreds, plus Teal, Shelduck, Mallard.), 1 Red Fox. John Wright (SOG).
Wakering 12:00: 2 Short-eared Owls on Potton Island, 1 Little Stint by scout hut on Potton Creek. Lee Ebbs.
Shoebury East Beach, 12:30 to 12:45: 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Seal. John Wright (SOG).
Roper's Farm / River Roach 13:00 - 15:00: 15 Little Egret, 11 Red-Breasted Merganser (5m, 6f), Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, c.30 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, Long-tailed Tit flock. Steve Sanford, Barry Chambers, Web Author.
Wat Tyler Country Park 15.30: 1 Long-eared Owl roosting in hawthorn in between perimeter path and creek, approx 50m west of pond at rear of minature railway station. Jim English.
Friday 14th November 2003
Southend, 13:00 to 13:05: 1 Grey Wagtail (Loitering near the Odeon!!!). John Wright (SOG).
Thursday 13th November 2003
Westcliff Seafront 07:50: 9 Common Seal on the Westcliff Ray haul-out point. Web Author.
Priory Park, 10:30 to 11:30: 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (m., f.), 1 Green Woodpecker (m.), 2 Sparrowhawk (Ad.,m; juv. Juv. regular p.m.), 1 Grey Wagtail. Harry Carmichael (SOG).
Wednesday 12th November 2003
Southchurch Hall Park, 12:20 to 12:30: 3 Mandarin Duck (all male). Harry Carmichael (SOG).
Two Tree Island 16.30: Barn Owl hunting over island. Terry Mitchell.
Tuesday 11th November 2003
Leigh 08:13: 2 Jackdaw over Westleigh School. Web Author.
Monday 10th November 2003
Southend Pier 10.00 - 12.15: 1 Great Northern Diver,1 Red Throated Diver,2 Kittiwake,10 Meditteranean Gull, 21 Common Scoter, 8 Great Crested Grebes. David Morrison.
Priory Park 13.00 - 13.30: 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest. Steve Sanford and Brian Allmark.
Two Tree Island (East) 14.10 - 15.15: 9 Little Egret roosting at high water on saltings, c.5,000 Brent Goose/Wigeon in rafts on tide off saltings, c.50 Teal, c.20 Mallard, c.2,000 Knot/Dunlin flighting in from direction of Canvey as tide receded from edge of saltings, c.100 Black-tailed Godwit roosting at high water on saltings. Martin Johnson.
Sunday 09th November 2003
East Tilbury 09.15 - 12.00: 172 Avocets, c.200 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Common Scoter, 1 Little Egret, 1 Brent Goose, many Fieldfares and Redwings, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker and 1 Green Woodpecker, and two male Bramblings with the Chaffinch flock around Coalhouse Fort. Also 2 Common Seals on the river. David Jobbins.
Two Tree Island (West), 09:30 to 10:15: 1 Little Egret, 4 Stonechat, 15 Corn Bunting, 8 Reed Bunting, 1 Green Woodpecker. John Wright (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 10:20 to 11:15: 1 Little Egret, 42 Avocet, 250 Golden Plover, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Bar-tailed Godwit (Plus usual Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank), 4 Stonechat, 1 Common Seal. John Wright (SOG).
Thorpe Bay, 11:45: 1 Sparrowhawk (Male landed in the garden). Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Saturday 08th November 2003
Southend Pier, 08:30 to 12:10: 1 Leach's Petrel (flew east distantly at 10.02am), 1 Arctic Skua (east), 2 Kittiwake (adults), 9 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe (distantly), 5 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver (flew towards Canvey Island), 1 Peregrine Falcon (immature female flew south along the pier), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (female), 1 Common Scoter, 12 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults, 5 2nd winters and 3 1st winters (amongst the adults was Green ring A00 and Yellow ringed 57P)), 20 Cormorant. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wallasea Island, 08:20 to 13:15: 1 Little Egret, 4 Avocet (flew downriver), 4 Corn Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Red-breasted Merganser (flew downriver), 13 Greylag Goose (flew east), 2 Rock Pipit. Paul Baker (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 09:30 to 09:40: 3 Mediterranean Gull (2nd winters). John Wright (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.55 - 11.45: 3 Shelduck, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 71 Grey Plover, 4 Little Egret (2 on south side of Crouch, 2 on North), 14 Curlew, 30 Widgeon, 2 Reed Bunting, 52 Brent Goose, 8 Long-tailed Tit. Ray Fuller.
Shoebury East Beach, 10:15 to 12:30: 3 Pomarine Skua (together), 2 Arctic Skua (together), 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 20 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Little Gull (Including 2 adults), 1 Peregrine Falcon (Female), 5 Common Scoter, 1 Grey Wagtail. John Wright (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, Haven Point 12:30 - 14:00: 12 Little Egret, 1 (ringtail) Hen harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit. Harry Carmichael, Web Author.
Rochford Golf Course, 12:30 to 16:10: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Siskin, 1 Lesser Redpoll (a flock of 9 birds of the latter two species incl at least 2 Siskins and at least 1 redpoll sp.). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hampton Barns - Paglesham Lagoon: 14.00 - 16.00: 2 Little Egret, 5 Goldeneye (2M), 1 Kestrel, 14 Fieldfare. Steve Sanford.
Thursday 06th November 2003
Belfairs Great Wood, 12:00 to 12:15: 1 Nuthatch Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Wednesday 05th November 2003
Benfleet Creek (from train station) 09:00: 2 Little Egret and a Kingfisher. Also seal in creek. Chris Tickle.
Tuesday 04th November 2003
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 07:00 to 07:30: 300 Fieldfare (at least, passed over, heading west in four groups in 1/2 hour), 1 Sparrowhawk. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Two Tree Island (from Leigh bridge) 08:00: 8 Little Egret, c.7,000 - 8,000 mixed Brent Goose and Wigeon on water. Web Author. N.B. judging by the amount of first year Brent observed it would seem that, unlike the last two years, our geese have had a really good breeding year. Hopefully we will get a better idea from the next WeBS count.
Vange Marsh, 08:00 to 10:30: 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Bearded Tit (2m1f), 4 Ruff, 43 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (adult). Chris Lewis (SOG).
Hadleigh Country Park 13:30: 2 Jackdaw over car park flying south, 11 Goldfinch, 12 Long-tailed Tit. Web Author.
Sunday 02nd November 2003
Wakering Stairs 07:15 - 08:45: 7 Little Egret, c.700 Brent Goose (incl. Pale-bellied), 1 Stonechat. Web Author.
Saturday 01st November 2003
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.50 - 11.35: 5 Little Egret (4 on south side of Crouch, 1 on north), 16 Curlew, 3 Reed Bunting, 10 Grey Plover, 250+ Golden Plover in fields with Lapwings. Ray Fuller.
Wakering Stairs, 14:30 to 16:10: 500 Brent Goose (and a single Pale-bellied Brent Goose), 1 Oystercatcher (The leucistic bird again in the roosting flock of about 1000+ birds), 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 4 Little Egret, 1 Curlew (A colour ringed bird: right tibia, red over yellow). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East) 14.30 - 16.30: 400 Dunlin, 250 Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, 8 Curlew, 6 Redshank, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Little Egret, 2 Turnstone, 1 Linnet, 1 Greenshank. G James.