Bird Reports for November 2005

Wednesday 30th November 2005

Canvey Island 11:25 - 13:15
Tewkes Creek: 1 Kingfisher (on & around boating jetty), 2 Little Egrets, c.20 Avocets. Benfleet Creek: 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe. Canvey Heights CP: 2 Stonechat, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Reed Bunting. Canvey Point: 1 Peregrine (flew off west with prey item). Ian White.

Tuesday 29th November 2005

Eastwood, 09:25
8 Fieldfare flew NW over Eastwood church. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Monday 28th November 2005

Canvey Island 10:20 - 11:10
1 Water Rail (Canvey Lake), 1 Stonechat, 1 Little Egret, 1 Reed Bunting (golf course ponds). Ian White.

Hockley 14:10
1 Green Woodpecker rooting in garden in new housing development close to Plumberow Mount. Bill & Toni Neobard.

Sunday 27th November 2005 (First Report of Snow Bunting)

Westcliff Seafront, 12:10 to 12:15
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi still present on the beach), 4 Mediterranean Gull (3 adults and a 2nd winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Shoebury, Friars Park, 12:30 to 12:45
3 Mandarin Duck (all drakes). Steve Arlow (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.45 11.15
3 Snow Bunting Click here for more information on the Snow Bunting - Opens in new window mobile along seawall, 2 Little Egret, Turnstone, 5 Grey Plover, 7 Fieldfare, 120 Brent Goose, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Reed Bunting, 4 Curlew, 2 Teal. Ray Fuller.

Westwood Gardens, Benfleet Area
Over the weekend there has been a juvenile Merlin not 10 feet from our landing window. Steve Brown.

Saturday 26th November 2005

Paglesham Lagoon, 08:40 to 15:45
1 White-fronted Goose (juvenile still in the brent flock), 10 Goldeneye, 3 Yellow-legged Gull (all 1st winters), 2 Caspian Gull (both 1st winters, possibly as many as 3 different birds present), 1 Little Egret, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Larus sp. (a Leucistic bird, probably a Herring Gull, was almost entirely white with buff markings in the tail, outer primaries and upper wing covets. Beware any reported Iceland or Glaucous Gulls). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Shenfield 10:00
1 Common Buzzard,  1 pair Bullfinch. Trevor Bufton.

Rochford Golf Course, 10:30 to 14:15
1 Little Egret (flew north), 10 Redwing, 2 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:30 to 14:30
4 Little Egret, 4 Gadwall, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine Falcon (male and female on pylon and in air), 1 Water Rail (heard), 16 Fieldfare, 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard). Web Author.

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 12:00
1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).

Shoebury, Friars Park, 14:30 to 14:45
2 drake Mandarin Duck, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Mute Swan including 3 first-winter cygnets. Paul Baker (SOG).

Wakering Rubbish Tip, 15:00 to 16:00
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail hunting on Potton at 3:15 & 3.55), 15 Corn Bunting (on roadside wires), 500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (flock of 200 on Fleet Head, and 300 on Potton), 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Little Egret. Paul Baker (SOG).

Friday 25th November 2005

Rochford, Sutton Ford Bridge 12:00
1 Little Egret. Ron Millard.

Thursday 24th November 2005

Hadleigh Downs, 10:00 to 12:00
2 Woodcock Click here for more information on the Woodcock - Opens in new window. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Wednesday 23rd November 2005

Southend, Navestock Gardens 13.40
1 Grey Wagtail in waterfall in back garden. John Pitts.

Monday 21st November 2005

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 08:15
1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Baker (SOG).

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 08:25
1 Grey Wagtail. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Southchurch Avenue 08.30
Peregrine Falcon landing on the very high building on the corner of Southchurch Avenue and Southchurch Road. Steve Wood.

Hanningfield Reservoir 08:45 - 08:55
11 Pintail (5 drake), 525 Wigeon, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, pr Red-crested Pochard. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Benfleet Creek, 14:30 to 15:00
3 Short-eared Owl hunting on sea wall opposite the lagoon. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Sunday 20th November 2005

Northlands Park, Basildon, 07.30 - 9.45
1 Water Rail on small pond, Flocks of Long Tailed Tits, Various numbers of Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Robin, 3 Coal Tit, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Various numbers of Magpie and Jays. Small mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare (12-15), Coot, Moorhen 20+, 1 Greylag Goose, 12 Canada Geese, 20+ Mallard. Darren Chaplin.

East Tilbury 09.00 - 12.30
1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Sandpiper, 9 Common Scoter, 1 Goldeneye, 8 Knot, 1 Little Egret, 300 Avocet, 20 Corn Bunting, 3 pairs Stonechat. David Jobbins (Birds of East Tilbury) Birds of East Tilbury.

Blue House Farm nature Reserve, N. Fambridge 10.30 - 13.00
Brent Geese and Canada Geese in large numbers, Shelduck group, Teal group, Black-tailed Godwit group, Lapwings, Widgeon, Pintail, Shovelers, Starlings, Stonechat, Cormorant, Moorhen, various gulls, crows etc. Adam Firth.

Westcliff Seafront 12.30 to 12.40
Ring-Billed Gull on lamp post near Rossi ice cream. Shaun Harvey.

Wakering Stairs, 14:00 to 15:30
2 Marsh Harrier (on the island), 1 Barn Owl, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Rock Pipit. Dudley Shayler (SOG).

Two Tree Island 15:00 to 16:00
1 Short-eared Owl. First seen flying over the lagoon and sea wall. Later seen over the island south-west of the flying field. David Lee.

Two Tree Island (West), 16:00 to 16:55
11 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat. John Wright (SOG).

Wakering, Rushley Island (p.m.)
Female Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl. Pat Dandridge.

Wallasea Island, a.m.
50+ Corn Bunting, 50+ Skylark, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3+1 Golden Plover (but 2 flocks of 400 or so en route), 1 Peregrine, 1 Red-throated Diver on Roach, 30+ Twite (SE corner), 1 Merlin, 3 Red-breasted Merganser on Roach, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Little Egret, 1500 Brent (about 30% juvs), 3 Fieldfare only, despite loads around Essex during the week, 3 Snipe, pair of Stonechat. Jeff Delve and Glyn Evans (EBS).

Wakering Stairs, out to Haven Point
2+ Marsh Harrier , Hen Harrier male + ringtail, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, 2 Barn Owl Jeff Delve and Glyn Evans (EBS).

Saturday 19th November 2005

Paglesham Lagoon, 08:50 to 15:50
1 White-fronted Goose Click here for more information on the White-fronted Goose - Opens in new window (juvenile associating with 1000+ Brent Geese on the fields to west of the lagoon), 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose (adult with brent geese to the west of the lagoon), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter), 14 Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (on the nearby river), 1 Lesser Redpoll Click here for more information on the Lesser Redpoll - Opens in new window flew over, 14 Pintail, 2 Stonechat, 229 Shoveler (a good count), 1 Larus sp. (a 1st winter bird that showed strong characters of Caspian Gull). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Friday 18th November 2005

Fanes Wood, Thundersley, 07:30 to 08:00
1 Woodcock flushed along Fane Lane. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Thursday 17th November 2005

Thundersley, Bradley Close 07.15  
1 Woodcock Click here for more information on the Woodcock - Opens in new window probing back garden lawn. Barry Jackson.

Fanes Wood, Thundersley, 07:20 to 08:05
1 male Bullfinch Click here for more information on the Bullfinch - Opens in new window, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Redwing flew over. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Southend Seafront, 14:00 to 16:00
2 Mediterranean Gull (Adults Seen By Michael Werndly), 1 Ring-billed Gull. Simon Buckell (SOG).

Leigh Marsh, 15:45 to 15:50
 2 Short-eared Owl hawking together along marshes. Simon Watson (SOG).

Chalkwell Station, 16:10
2 Whooper Swan Click here for more information on the Whooper Swan - Opens in new window. Adults flew in off the sea calling and heading north, also seen by Michael Werndly. Simon Buckell (SOG).

Wednesday 16th November 2005

Two Tree Island 14.30 - 15.10
45+ Teal, 6 Wigeon, 3 Curlew, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Redshank. John Pitts. 

Wat Tyler Country Park 15.00 - 16.15
2 Peregrine Falcon, 1 male, 1 female both perched on the same pylon in front of the hide, also 2 Avocet and 2 Black-Tailed Godwit on the scrape. Mike Sagrott.

Tuesday 15th November 2005

Eastwood, 09:00
1 Sparrowhawk spiralling over Progress Rd traffic lights being mobbed by 3 Black-headed Gulls. Paul Baker (SOG).

Monday 14th November 2005

Bowers Gifford 07.45
Peregrine Falcon on fence in garden. Jill Ellis.

Paglesham Lagoon, 08:40 to 12:00
1 Barn Owl (fine bird close to the metal bridge near the road), 6 Goldeneye (4 females, 1 adult drake and a 1st year drake - first of the winter), 1 Siskin (over), 700 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpecker. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Castle Lane, Leigh 13:00
 2 Kestrels in conflict. A female was perched in some dead elm trees near Leigh station. A male repeatedly subjected her to aerial bombardment, at least twice knocking her off her perch and sending her sprawling. After some 10 minutes or so she got fed up and flew off toward Two Tree Island. Peter Walker.

Benfleet Creek, 15:00 to 16:30
8 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat, 1 Short-eared Owl, 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Hadleigh Country Park 15.00 - 17.00
1 male Sparrowhawk hunting low over the fields then perched in bush for 5 minutes, 1 male Kestrel, 2 Short- Eared Owl hunting over Two Tree Island West. Mike Sagrott.

Two Tree Island (East), 16:40 to 16:45
30 Little Egret at least, roosting in the trees. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Sunday 13th November 2005

Wat Tyler Country Park 08:30 - 13:10
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (good views for seven minutes), 1 Water Rail, 1 Avocet, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Stonechat, 3 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 3 Bearded Tit, Carrion Crow observed with very pale upper wings and almost white lower wings, Reed Bunting. Keith Crees, John Atfield, Web Author.

Vange Marsh, 09:30 to 17:30
2 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Short-eared Owl (flew over tip at 10:00hrs.), 40 Stonechat (At least 40 birds in a tight flock, near Ozedamn, Fobbing), 2 Spotted Redshank in creek at Fobbing, 2 Golden Plover, 100 Dunlin. Simon Buckell (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.40 11.10
8 Little Egret (3 on north side of Crouch), 8 Teal, 5 Curlew, 5 Reed Bunting, 25 Brent Goose, 10 Shelduck, 2 Stonechat, 5 Widgeon,  23 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Shoebury, Friars Park 09.50
3 male Mandarin Duck Click here for more information on the Mandarin Duck - Opens in new window on footpath near to main pond. Mal Watson.

Shoebury East Beach, 10:55 to 11:30
1 Mediterranean Gull (a very confiding 2nd winter bird that readily came to bread). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Westcliff Casino, 11:50 to 12:00
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult on roof of casino), 3 Mediterranean Gull (all adults). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Wakering, Fleet Head, 12:30 to 15:00
2 Stonechat including a very pale individual, probably a continental bird, 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Ruff, 5 Little Egret, 1 Hen Harrier ringtail on Potton Island, 10 Corn Bunting on the roadside wires. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island West 16:00
Short-eared Owl being mobbed by Little Egret, 100 Knot, 8 Snipe. Phil Anderson.

Saturday 12th November 2005

Two Tree Island (West), 08:30 to 11:30
4 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 27 Avocet, 3 Snipe, 18 Golden Plover, 1 Twite, 3 Reed Bunting. Web Author.

Benfleet Creek (Where Canvey Way Crosses) 09.40
5 Little Egret. Bob Sheridan.

Benfleet Creek, 09:45 to 12:15
7 Little Egret, 5 Stonechat, 2 Bearded Tit (male & female), 2 Greenshank, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Corn Bunting, 15 Goldfinch, 120 Ringed Plover, 100 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 10 Snipe. John Wright (SOG).

Weald Country Park 11.30
2 Redpoll (male & female), 2 Siskin. Tim & Viv Connett.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 14:45 to 15:00
1 Marsh Harrier (male), 1 Sparrowhawk. Web Author.

Southend, 16:20 to 16:25
1 Sparrowhawk over B&Q store, 40 White / Pied Wagtail (Roosting birds disturbed by the sparrowhawk). John Wright (SOG).

Thursday 10th November 2005

Wat Tyler Country Park 11:30 - 13:15
4 Black-tailed Godwit in creek, Water Rail, 9 Gadwall, Bearded Tit. Gary Clinton.

Wat Tyler Country Park, 08:00 to 08:15
2 Cetti's Warbler (1 singing either side of the hide). Neil Chambers (SOG).

Wednesday 09th November 2005

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 06:45
10 Redwing Click here for more information on the Redwing - Opens in new window (Small flock over, calling). John Wright (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 15:30 to 17:00
1 Hooded Crow Click here for more information on the Hooded Crow - Opens in new window in flight over marsh with Carrion crows, 1 Marsh Harrier (adult male came into roost 16.20). Simon Buckell (SOG).

Monday 07th November 2005

Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch 10:00
1 Green Woodpecker. Clare.

Westcliff Casino, 13:25 to 13:30
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi on the casino roof), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult on the roof of the casino). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Hadleigh Downs, 09:30 to 13:30
1 Ring Ouzel (Chapel Lane car park), 1 Brambling (on the peanut feeder in car park). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Sunday 06th November 2005

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.35 11.00
31 Curlew, 7 Little Egret , 2 Reed Bunting , 2 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Shelduck , Widgeon , Grey Plover, 2 Brent Goose, 3 Teal, 28 Canada Goose, 4 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Southend Seafront, 11:15 to 11:25
15 Mediterranean Gull (10 adults and 5 2nd winters), 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Benfleet Station, 11:45
2 Little Egret by bridge onto Canvey Island. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island, 11:50 to 15:15
2,052 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1,374 Wigeon, 42 Little Egret, 10 Snipe, 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 1,930 Dunlin, 325 Curlew, 293 Redshank, 332 Grey Plover. Graham Ryland  (SOG).

Canvey Seafront, 12:10 to 12:45
1 Mediterranean Gull (1st winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Westcliff High Schools, 14:05 to 14:10
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult viewed from Prittlewell Chase). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Saturday 05th November 2005

Westcliff Seafront, 08:05 to 08:05
2 Siskin (flew south). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:20 to 09:00
600 Wood Pigeon in smallish flocks going over, South West. John Wright (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront, 08:30 to 10:30
17 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk after pigeons on flats behind arches cafs, 1 Ring-billed Gull, c.5,000 Wood Pigeon - wave after wave of birds with some groups of 200 or more flew over high south west towards Canvey Point all the time that I was at Westcliff , 5 Siskin heading south west, c.40 Goldfinch heading south west in small groups. 14 common seals on Hadleigh Ray. Also at Wakering Stairs at 11:30 large groups of Wood Pigeon constantly passing through heading South West. (Wheatear reported at haven Point by another birdwatcher). Web Author.

Wakering Stairs, 09:30 to 11:10
1 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2,000 Wood Pigeon heading south in flocks of 100. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Vange Marsh, 11:00 to 11:30
1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Bearded Tit (1 seen other heard), 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 1 Sparrowhawk, 30 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 2 Golden Plover, 10 Snipe, 50 Black-tailed Godwit. John Wright (SOG).

Vange Marsh, 11:30 to 12:00
5 Reed Bunting, 80 Teal, 25 Shoveler, 300 Lapwing. John Wright (SOG).

East Tilbury 11:30 - 16:30
A female Hen Harrier hunting over the fields, c.250 Avocet, 2 Little Egret, 10 Twite, 17 Corn Bunting and usual waders, etc. Fraser Simpson (www.fssbirding.org.uk).

Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:00 to 12:45
1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Water Rail, 1 Stonechat. John Wright (SOG).

Barling, 12:45 to 13:00
3 Siskin (feeding in silver birch in front of farmhouse), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 250 Golden Plover (in a flock across the creek at Fleet Head), 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (over creek at Fleet Head), 2 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk (female chasing Collared Dove). Paul Baker (SOG).

Southchurch, 14:00
1 Sparrowhawk (soaring above Boulevard). Paul Baker (SOG).

Salisbury Avenue, Southend, 14:55 to 15:05
1 male Sparrowhawk playing with Starlings on top of Brecon flats. Groups of Wood Pigeon still passing by. Web Author.

Westcliff Seafront, 15:00 to 16:00
 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Wallasea Island
Nr Grapnell's Farm: Golden Plover 700+ Lapwing 500+ including last year's creamy coloured leucistic bird - incredible that it has survived. Huge numbers of Lapwing and Plover were also distantly over Foulness along with other wader flocks around high tide. Green Sandpiper on new borrow dyke. 50+ Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Grey Plover on Roach saltmarsh, 500+ Redshank including 2 flocks of 100+ birds more obvious with the high tide over the saltmarsh, 1 Corn bunting (where have they all gone this winter?) 40 Linnet, numerous Skylark following the influx many of you noted a couple of weeks back which also involved 100+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Merlin (immatures, male and 2 females on south side near Paglesham creek). Marsh Harrier, adult male Kestrel - usual pair. Jeff Delve. (EBS).

Thursday 03rd November 2005

Wat Tyler Country Park 12:00 - 14:20
Museum Hide: 75 Teal, 12 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 4 Grey Heron, 13 Moorhen, 127 Coot, 7 Magpie, 11 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 3 Dabchick, 31 Woodpigeon, 10 Cormorant, 12 Avocet, Pochard (drake), Cetti's Warbler, Peregrine (stooping over Church), Gary Clinton.

Wednesday 02nd November 2005

Wat Tyler Country Park 15.00-15.30
1 Peregrine on pylon. Mike Sagrott.

Tuesday 01st November 2005

Basildon 16:30
Female Merlin flew across Nethermayne road Basildon into open fields . Shaun Harvey.

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