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Bird Reports for November 2006

Thursday 30th November 2006

Hanningfield Reservoir 08:00
Green Sandpiper. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Tollsbury Wick 10.00 - 13.00
1 Barn Owl Hunting over Tollsbury marsh, 1 Great Northern Diver Opposite Bradwell power station, 2 Common Scoter, 20 Red-breasted Merganser, 1500 Brent Geese, 130 Avocet, 400 Golden Plover, 1 Pair Goldeneye. Trevor Bufton.

Wat Tyler Country Park (RSPB guide in the hide event) 10.00 - 15.00
From the hide opposite the Motor Boat Museum over looking Cleanaway's scrape: Mallard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Starling, Carrion Crow, Black-headed, Herring, Common and Lesser black-backed Gulls, Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier (female all day over and in the reeds on Pitsea Marsh), 3 Snipe, Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Green Sandpipers, Redshank, Magpie, Blue Tit, Grey Heron, Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, 2 Shelduck, Wood Pigeon, 2 Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Rook, Pied Wagtail. 34 species in total. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Thundersley, Pound Wood 11.00 - 11.30
2 Woodcock. Marc Outten.

Coombe Wood, 22:30
1 Tawny Owl flying low over gardens on edge of the wood. Jeff Saward (SOG).

Wednesday 29th November 2006

Bishopsteignton Estate 14.40
Pair of Sparrowhawk circling high across estate. John Meredith.

Leigh on Sea, 15:30 to 15:35
1 Sparrowhawk flew south past the Woodcutters pub. Dudley Shayler (SOG).

Monday 27th November 2006

Southend, Boots and Laces / Jones Park 07:15
1 Little Owl in usual tree. Don Wildish.

Hanningfield Reservoir 14.0 - 15.30
1 Common Sandpiper, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, lots of Lapwing and Gulls mostly Black-headed with a couple of Great Black-backed and Herring Gull. 2 Green Woodpecker and a number of Jay in wood. M.Jameson, M.Howell.

Sunday 26th November 2006

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.10 - 11.35
54 Shelduck, 10 Curlew, 32 Brent Goose, Reed Bunting, 4 Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Egret, 12 Wigeon, 5 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Wakering, Haven Point 13.00 - 13.30
1 Merlin. Stuart Bailey, Gordon Appleton.

Wakering, The Fleet 14.45 - 15.45
1 male Marsh Harrier (on Rushley), 3 Short-eared Owl (1 on Potton, 2 on Rushley). Stuart Bailey, Gordon Appleton.

Saturday 25th November 2006

Thorpe Bay, 11:00 to 11:30
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 male Sparrowhawk (both birds in my mother in-laws garden Maplin Way North). Dudley Shayler.

Friday 24th November 2006

Wat Tyler Country Park 12.00 - 14.40
Many Gulls and Lapwing, 7 Shelduck, 8 Teal, 2 Egrets, 7 Cormorants, 2 Mute Swans, 3 male Gadwell, 11 Wigeon, 1 Canada Goose, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit (1 had a Green ring on one leg and a Red ring on the other leg), Sparrowhawk, Snipe, 2 Pied Wagtail and the Fox casually strolling across the scrape. Chris Henry.

Thorpe Bay Esplanade, Opposite Roslin Hotel 13.05
Peregrine Falcon in pursuit of two waders, close inshore and just above level of esplanade. The Peregrine suddenly banked, inland, and disappeared over the Hotel. John Bennett.

Shenfield, Officers Meadow 14.00
1 Little Egret. Trevor Bufton.

Thursday 23rd November 2006

Pitsea Cemetery 0920 - 0930
Female Marsh Harrier flew W-E over site then SE toward marshes. Gary Clinton.

Abbotts Hall Farm 13.00
1 male Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier at Old Hall viewed from Abbotts Hall Farm 10.00, Golden Plover, 30 Pintail, 1 Little Egret. Trevor Bufton.

Wednesday 22nd November 2006

Gunners Park 07.45 - 07.55
1 Kingfisher, 1 Stonechat (male), 1 Little Egret. Matt Bruty.

East Mersea 11.30 - 15.00
3 Little Egret, hundreds of Brent Geese and Golden Plover on field, also Wigeon, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone. 3 Skylark, 5 Reed Bunting, 1 male Stonechat. 1 red fox seen from hide at Cudmore Park. M. Howell.

Tuesday 21st November 2006

Wat Tyler Country Park (RSPB Guide in the hide event) 10.00 - 15.00
From the hide opposite the Motor Boat Museum, overlooking Cleanaway's Scrape: 4 Little Egret, 22 wigeon, Shoveler, Mallard, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Teal, Wood Pigeon, 3 Stonechat, Water Rail, 3 Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Greenfinch, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, Stock Dove, 1 Curlew flew over, Collared Dove, Greylag and Canada Geese, Pheasant, Kestrel, 2 Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, Pochard and Sparrowhawk. (Total species seen 41). Alan Shearman RSPB.

Sunday 19th November 2006

Two Tree Island, 08:00 to 12:00
1 Rock Pipit, 21 Little Egret, 19 Meadow Pipit, 7 Skylark, 2 Kestrel (Male & Female), 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 22 Lapwing, 56 Turnstone, 67 Black-tailed Godwit, 96 Curlew, 1,548 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 988 Dunlin, 234 Redshank, 165 Ringed Plover, 222 Knot, 8 Wigeon, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Green Woodpecker. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Southchurch Park 11.00 - 13.30
4 Little Grebe on Lake, Female Sparrowhawk hunting a small group of Mediterranean Gull on Football field and a mass of Black-headed Gull on lake. Steve Wood.

Paglesham Lagoon, 11:00 to 11:05
1 Peregrine Falcon over lagoon. Web Author.

Hanningfield Reservoir 11.30 - 13.30
2 Goldcrest, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Brambling (in Hawkwood). Stephen Burt.

Wakering, The Fleet, 13.15 - 15.45
1 female Marsh Harrier (on Rushley), 3 Short-eared Owl (on Potton), 2 Stonechat, 8 Corn Bunting. Stuart Bailey, Gordon Appleton.

Saturday 18th November 2006

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.55 11.40
Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, 10 Teal, 9 Little Egret, 2 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Plover, 172 Golden Plover, 12 Curlew, 4 Shelduck, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Skylark. Common Seal. Ray Fuller.

Hullbridge, Anchor to Battlesbridge 14.00 - 16.30
32 Mute Swan (1 Cygnet), 16 Little Egret, 8 Grey Heron, 6 Black-backed Gull, 40+ Godwit, 2-300 Ringed Plover, 26 Redshank. David Flack.

Coombe Wood, 19:00
1 Tawny Owl flying over my garden. 1 Red Admiral also in the garden today. Jeff Saward (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront (Opposite Arches) 22.35
Many small flocks each of about 20 or 30 Sanderling running & flying along the tide-line. Fascinating to watch from a few feet away by the lights on Western Esplanade. David Selley.

Friday 17th November 2006

Pitsea, 08:00
1 Sparrowhawk flew south over A13 just east of flyover. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir from Rawl Hide 10.20 - 12.45
Hundreds of Teal, Tufted Ducks & Lapwing, 17 Greylag and 35 Canada Geese, 1 male Pheasant, 3 male Goldeneye, 2 male Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 1 male Gadwall, 3 male Pintail, 5 Wigeon, 11 Pochard, 4 Grey Heron. Chris Henry.

Wakering, Fleet Head 11.00
300+ Golden Plover, in with Lapwings. 1 pair of Stonechat. Mike Sagrott, John Harwood.

Eastern Esplanade, Thorpe Bay 12.00
1 Adult Peregrine hunting the shoreline on a falling tide, flushing a small flock of Turnstones and Sanderlings. Mike Sagrott , John Harwood.

Southend (Beach, edge of tide opposite junction with Shorefield Road and Western Esplanade) 22.00
Large flock of Dunlin. There are at least 200 each night crowded together at the edge of the tide at high tide. Cecile Low.

Wednesday 15th November 2006

Abberton Reservoir 10:30 - 15:00
Hundreds of Pochards, 1 Slavonian Grebe , 9 Bewick's Swan , hundreds of Lapwing, 14 female Goldeneye and only 1 male, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 hunting Sparrowhawk. M Jameson & M Howell.

Benfleet Creek, 11:455
1 Mediterranean Gull (adult, eating scraps outside the station). Jeff Saward (SOG).

Stanford Le Hope 21.00
A Barn Owl seen in the headlights flying south over the A13 at the Stanford le Hope flyover. Andrew Toms.

Tuesday 14th November 2006

Crays Hill (Behind Shepherd & Dog) 10.30 - 12.00
Common Buzzard high overhead and circling. Sparrowhawk, Green woodpecker, Lesser Spotted woodpecker, Moorhen, 3 Jays and 2 Magpies. Gary Dunn.

Monday 13th November 2006

Hullbridge, Pooles Lane 07.10
1 Sparrowhawk, close view perched in tree on Tower Park in Pooles Lane, Hullbridge. David Chivers.

Southend Airport, 08:10 to 08:20
2 Little Egret flew east along the stream, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Kestrel. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Burrow Sands (Low Tide Sightings)
5 Atlantic Grey Seals including 2 white pups. Gary Dunn on behalf of Stuart Olley.

Sunday 12th November 2006

East Tilbury 09.00 - 12.00
1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Knot, many Dunlin and Grey Plover (including bird with distinctive white feathering presumed returning for at least its third year), 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 male Brambling with Chaffinch flock in Coalhouse Fort grounds. David Jobbins.

Wakering Stairs, 11:00 to 12:00
3 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Green Sandpiper. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Rochford Golf Course, 12:00 to 16:15
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Two Tree Island East End 12.30
1 Dartford Warbler and 1 Corn Bunting in bushes with 1 Kestrel on fence post all close together near locked reserve gate. Kathryn Gran.

Southchurch Park & East 09.00 & 16.00
2 New Adult Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebe, PiedWwagtails feeding on football pitch. Southchurch Park East: Green Woodpecker, seems resident now, down to S. East ground feeding north of Swan island on mound, early most mornings and over many weeks. Robert Dobinson.

Two Tree Island West 16.00
large flocks of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Knot, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 5 Little Egret, 6 Heron, 4 Shoveler, 3 Widgeon, 6 Teal, 12 Brent Geese, 1 Greenshank, 12 Great Crested Grebe. Richard Shepherd.

Wallasea Island 18:00
Fantastic view of a Barn Owl perched on fence just past marina (towards Grapnells Farm on the left hand side). Samantha Richardson.

Saturday 11th November 2006

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.20 - 11.15
5 Little Grebe, 8 Little Egret, 12 Curlew, 102 Brent Goose, 200+ Teal, 150+ Wigeon, 2 Grey Plover, 44 Shelduck, 11 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Southend, 10:30
1 Sparrowhawk flew west over North Road. Dudley Shayler (SOG).

Hadleigh, Thames View Court, 11:30
1 male Sparrowhawk flying low (15-20 feet above ground level) in a westerly direction at back of flats. 1 Red Admiral. Dave Perry.

Southchurch Park 11.30 - 13.30
Two adult Mediterranean Gulls on football field and two Little Grebes on lake, Heard Kingfisher but didn't see it. Steve Wood.

Southchurch, 15:15
1 Sparrowhawk flew over Southend East station. Paul Baker (SOG).

Friday 10th November 2006

Stambridge Mills, 07:00
1 Woodcock flying over Purdeys Industrial Estate. Lee Ebbs (SOG).

Rochford, Golden Cross (Garden) 09.15
1 Wren yesterday, Grey Heron is now seen almost daily, always tracking north-south or vice versa, presumably between its roost and well-stocked ponds. We have also seen small flocks of Goldfinches and smaller groups of Chaffinches from time to time. Richard Goring.

Wat Tyler Country Park 10.30
Marsh Harrier flew over. Name: Jim Cockram.

Southend, Avenue Road 11:45
1 Red Admiral. Steve Sanford (SOG).

Shell Haven Marshes 14:00 - 14:45
1 female Merlin sitting on post preening itself, before flying off fast in pursuit of a Skylark. Nick Argent.

Southchurch Road 15.10
1 Female Sparrowhawk with prey flying low over Thorpe Bay school. Large group of Redwing heading north. Steve Wood.

Thursday 09th November 20066

Wakering, Fleet Head Time: 10.30 - 12 .30
Male and Female Stonechat, 1 Male Kestrel, 8 Golden Plover, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 17 Little Egret together in a field in a flock which took off every few minutes, landing in the same place almost immediately. No sign of feeding activity. Mike Sagrott.

Hadleigh Marshes, 13:00 to 15:00
3 Snipe, 1 Mute Swan. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Tuesday 07th November 2006

Southend Pier 10.30 - 12.45
Many Turnstone, 2 Black-throated Diver, Cormorant, 12 Great Black-backed Gulls, many Mediterranean Gulls. 2 possible distant Little Auk. Chris Henry.

Mersea 10:30 to 16:00
Flock Avocet, 1 Marsh Harrier, large flock of Brent Geese, 7 Little Egret, Golden Plovers, female Stonechat, Wigeon, Gadwall and Teal seen from hide, Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 male Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. M Howell, M Jameson.

Monday 06th November 2006

Shell Haven Marshes 11.00
1 male Black Redstart. Nick Argent.

Tewkes Creek, Canvey Island 11:20 - 12:55
59 Avocet, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Mute Swan, 4 little Grebe, 7 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron. Ian White.

Southend Pier, 14:00 to 16:00
1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Little Auk. Pat Dandridge.

Wat Tyler Country Park 17.15
Barn Owl flew across the road just before Pitsea station, it headed down towards RSPB Vange Marsh. Also 2 Greenshank on the scrape. Alan Shearman and Fiona Hazelton RSPB

Gunners Park
1 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe 1 Kingfisher. Carole Singleton.

Sunday 05th November 2006

Hadleigh Downs 07.40
1 Peregrine Falcon west of Hadleigh castle, sitting atop bare tree, I was able to get within 15 feet and it didn't fly away. Beautiful bird! Ellen.

Ashingdon Princess Gardens 08.35
While watching 1 Sparrowhawk circling high a Grey Heron flew over at bungalow roof height, then 5 Jackdaw,1 Jay,8 Goldfinch with 3 Greenfinch. David Selley.

Wakering Stairs 09.30 - 10.30
Male and Female Stonechat, 3 Redwing, Green Woodpecker, 7 Long-Tailed Tit, and 1 male Sparrowhawk sat in low bush at edge of saltings watching the wader roost west of the slipway as the tide rose - flew off as dogwalker approached. Mike Sagrott.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.30 - 11.40
Snow Bunting still present on seawall. Ray Fuller.

Canvey Point, 10:45 to 12:30
5 Red-throated Diver, 1 Common Scoter, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Clouded Yellow, 5 Red Admiral, 8 Little Egret. Neil Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).

Canvey Point 13.15 - 13.45
1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Mediterranean Gull. Martin Cracknell.

Two Tree Island 15.00 - 15.30
1 Avocet, 1 Little Egret, 1 Shoveler, 2 Stonechat, 2 Green Woodpecker plus large numbers of Teal (40+) Widgeon (20+) and Lapwings (40+). John Pitts.

Saturday 04th November 2006 (first winter report of Purple Sandpiper and Snow Bunting)

Canvey Point 07.40 - 08.40
1 Little Auk swimming just off the seawall, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet, 2 Common Scoter. Martin Cracknell.

Southend Pier, 09:00 to 11:00
2 Black-throated Diver, 1 Purple Sandpiper roosting at pier head, 22 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Guillemot, 2 Shore Lark flew West (ID not totally certain as facial features not seen well, but they were larks and they did not have a white trailing edge). Chris Lewis (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.30 - 11.40
Snow Bunting on seawall, Kingfisher, 12 Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, 15 Curlew, 24 Shelduck, 100+ Teal, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Brent Goose, 2 Grey Plover, 9 Golden Plover, Little Grebe, 12 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Hanningfield Reservoir 10.00 - 12.00
12 Goldeneye, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, 2 Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, 1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank. Plus at least 1 Hornet. David Jobbins.

Paglesham Lagoon, 11:20
1 Glaucous Gull (1st winter), 2 Caspian Gull (1st and 2nd winters). Neil Morris.

Wallasea Island, 13:30 to 14:15
2 Little Egret, 35 Golden Plover, 40 Lapwing, 1 Rock Pipit. Paul Baker (SOG).

Paglesham Lagoon, 14:00 to 14:30
1 Black Swan, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Little Egret. Steve Sanford (SOG).

Wat Tyler Country Park 15.00
1 Common Buzzard over heading North being mobbed by Crows and Jackdaws. Also 2 Grey Wagtails, one Sparrowhawk, 2 Stonechat, 6 Snipe, 2 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper. Kevin Rees

Friday 03rd November 2006

Hanningfield Reservoir Causeway 08:00 - 08:15
2 Bewick's Swans, Green Sandpiper. Neil Chambers (SOG).

River Crouch 11.38
Little Auk swimming around Essex Marina, appears to be hiding under pontoons away from Gulls. Gary Dunn.

Canvey Seafront, 14:40 to 15:10
1 Red-throated Diver fishing near the Chapman Bouy, 1 Grey Wagtail by the concrete sided stream through car park. Dudley Shayler (SOG).

Canvey, Stanley Road  15:28 - 15:32
1 Harris's Hawk (with jesses) in conifers of a garden before flying off north west. Bird was attended by a noisy mob of 2 Carrion Crows & 14+ Magpies. Ian White.

Hanningfield Reservoir 15.45
5+ Goldeneye. Kevin Rees.

Thursday 02nd November 2006

Leigh on Sea, 06:15 to 06:35
Many Redwing heard flying over before dawn. John Wright (SOG).

North Crescent  07:00 - 07:15
7 Redwing feeding on berries in garden until disturbed by Magpies and flew N.W. over airport towards Rochford. David Griffiths.

Leigh on Sea, 07:20 to 07:30
At least 100 Redwing flying west. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Pound Wood, Thundersley 08.30 - 09.30
1 Sparrowhawk, 15 Fieldfare, 25 Jackdaw, 30 Redwing (all birds seen flying overhead). Marc Outten.

Leighbeck, Canvey Island 08:40 - 10:55
16 Little Auk (14 west; 2 east), 2 Guillemot, 1 Black-throated Diver (west), 2+ Red-throated Diver, 1 Arctic Skua (dark phase), 1 Gannet (juv.), 7 Common Scoter (west). Also, 22 Skylark northwest in small groups. Ian White

Chadwell St Mary 10:00
1 Woodcock on the lawn in my garden being stalked by my cat! Managed to scare cat away before it pounced, never seen a Woodcock in my garden before, thought it might be injured so approached it with a large fishing landing net, when I was about a meter away it took off very fast and appeared to be uninjured. Watched it land in adjacent allotments to which I have no access. Mike Pountney.

Southend Pier 10.50
Little Auk Swimming and diving under the pier then towards two trawlers anchored about 300 Yards out attracting the attention of the odd Black Back Gull. Graham Saunders and David Galloway.

Hanningfield Reservoir 11:40 - 12:25
From Rawl Hide: 5 Bewick's Swan (1 with white band on left leg; 1 with yellow band on left leg, but neither could be read); 110 Pintail. Ian White

Fobbing Vineyards 16.00
1 Fieldfare. Jim Cockram.

Basildon, Junction Timberlog Lane/Luncies Road,  19.30
c.20 Canada Geese whooshed quite low, honking overhead, really quite atmospheric in the dark! Gary Clinton.

Wednesday 01st November 2006

Rushley Park, Pitsea 09.00
Mistle Thrush, really confiding bird, hopping all around feet and following me through park. Gary Clinton.

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