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Bird Reports for November 2007

Friday 30th November 2007

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:05
1 Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).

Billericay, Lake Meadows, 11.00
Siskins with Goldfinches on Alder. Marion Burch.

Thursday 29th November 2007

Baxter Avenue Southend, 09:40
1 Sparrowhawk. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Rayleigh Mount, 12:40 to 12:50
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest (by entrance by Mill Hall), 2 Blackcap (both males by Mill Hall entrance), 2 Redwing. Paul Baker (SOG).

Wednesday 28th November 2007

Abberton Reservoir 10.00 - 13.00
1 Red-necked Grebe, 9 Bewick's Swan, 1 Shag, 5 Goosander, 2 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Grey Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit. Trevor Bufton, Brian Holwell.

Southchurch Park East
2 Little Egret, 2 Resident Mute Swan, 1 Cormorant.

Tuesday 27th November 2007

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 11:10 to 16:00
2 Peregrine Falcon. Both male and female present for much of this time. Male flew in with prey. Female perched on Portcullis House eastern side from midday until nightfall. Don Petrie (SOG).

Two Tree Island, Benfleet Creek, Hadleigh Downs 12:00 - 15:00
Large numbers of birds put up from the creek by the rising tide, including: c.45 Avocet, 300+ Golden Plover, many hundreds of Knot and good numbers also of Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and Brent Goose. Many birds crowding onto the Two Tree Island lagoon (west), including: Ringed Plover, Knot, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Grey Plover. Other sightings included: 5 Corn Bunting near eastern edge of grazing marsh, Shoveler (borrow dyke and lagoon), 3 Bullfinch and numerous winter Thrushes, including Blackbird, Redwing and Fieldfare in scrub. Ross Gardner.

Southend Pier, 12:17 to 14.30
1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 10+ Mediterranean Gull - 3 with coloured rings on tarsus - adult white ring black letters 3E72, adult red ring PAJ1 and 1st winter green ring white letters AEYE, 1 adult Kittiwake. Martin Johnson.

Monday 26th November 2007

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 07:20 to 15:45
2 Caspian Gull (both cracking birds in the creek though the first bird was an absolute stunner, which was also found later in the afternoon on nearby Pitsea Tip), 5 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter x1, 2nd winter x3 and 4th winter x1), 7 Mediterranean Gull (at least, 5+ adults and 2 2nd winters, most of which were on Pitsea Tip), 1 Stonechat (male), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Larus sp. (1st winter hybrid, presumbed HerringxGlaucous Gull). Steve Arlow, Neil Morris.

Paglesham Lagoon 11.00 to 2.30
Long-tailed Duck still present along with 2 drake Goldeneye plus several females. A female Tufted Duck with a nasal saddle (yellow LD) seen. Andrew Toms.

Church Road, Hockley 12:00
c.12 Siskin near railway line. Ross Gardner.

Victoria Avenue, Southend, 15:55 to 16:30
2 Peregrine Falcon, male and female settled on eastern side of Portcullis House at dusk, and remained until dark. Don Petrie (SOG).

Sunday 25th November 2007

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 09:40 to 10:30
5 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults and a 2nd winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Southend Pier 12.00 to 13.10
Little Auk going out at 12.25, 5 Purple Sandpiper, Red Throated Diver, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 9 Brent Geese. Dave Morrison.

Paglesham Lagoon, 12:20 to 14:20
4 Corn Bunting, 3 Reed Bunting (2 male, 1 female), 1 Stonechat (male), 6 Redwing (in mixed thrush flock), 55 Fieldfare, 2 Little Egret, 45 Skylark, 1 Green Woodpecker, 30 Stock Dove, 1 Long-tailed Duck (imm, and quite confiding, rarely diving), 1 Scaup (imm male), 1 Red-necked Grebe (on Roach, very wary, diving repeatedly, headed upriver against the ebbing tide), 7 Goldeneye (no drakes - all on lagoon), 9 Pintail (inc 3 drakes), 10 Gadwall, , 6 Great Crested Grebe (on Roach), 1 Meadow Pipit. Paul Baker (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 12:30 to 12:35
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Goldfinch. John Wright (SOG).

Two Tree Island (East), 14:00 to 15:30
1 Water Rail seen very well on the old sewage tanks, 1 Kingfisher at the back of the sewage tanks. Dudley Shayler (SOG).

Two Tree Island West Lagoon 14.30
2 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher by the sluice gate. Lloyd John Walker.

Canvey Island. The Creek Around the Back of the Rugby Club and the Country Park 14.30 - 15.00
1 Little Egret, 1 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 30+ Dunlin. 20+ Goldfinch. Bob Sheridan.

Saturday 24th November 2007

Thundersley (My Garden) 07.30 - 08.00
3 Brambling (1M & 2F) feeding with other Finches in my garden. John Bennett.

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 07:30 to 13:00
5 Caspian Gull (first-winter x2, second-winter x2 and fourth-winter x1), 5 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter x3, 3rd winter x1 and 4th winter x 1), 3 Mediterranean Gull (adult winters), 3 Rock Pipit. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Canvey West End 08.50 - 10.30
30+ Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, flock 37 Goldfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, 9 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel. 41 Avocet, good numbers of Shelduck (at least 200) on Holehaven Creek. Martin Cracknell.

Southend, 09:45
1 Grey Wagtail between multi-storey and university building. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 09:50 to 10:00
1 Ring-billed Gull (showing well), 4 Mediterranean Gull (2 adults, 1st w, & 2nd w. ), 1 Little Egret, 6 Sanderling. John Wright (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.00 - 11.50
2 Stonechat (1m 1f), 59 Brent Goose, 30 Shelduck, 5 Little Egret, 7 Avocet, 6 Little Grebe, 3 Reed Bunting, 20 Teal, Green Sandpiper, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Wigeon, Fieldfare, 10 Curlew, Skylark, Common Seal. Ray Fuller.

Wallasea Wetlands 10.00 - 12.00
Stunning male Sparrowhawk to 10 feet by roadside on way in by timber yard entrance. c.450 Dunlin, 270 Ringed Plover, 120+ Grey Plover, c400 Golden Plover, 600 Lapwing, 130+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 106 Avocet, 1 Knot, 4 Turnstone, 35 Curlew, 110+ Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 15 Little Egret, 9 Cormorant, 70+ Shelduck, Goosander - adult drake associating with the Shelduck! Jeff Delve (EBS).

Two Tree Island (East), 10:20 to 11:25
34 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 14 Shoveler, 6 Teal, 2 Water Rail (heard), 350 Wigeon, 2,000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Common Scoter (offshore), 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 3 Reed Bunting, 12 Chaffinch. John Wright (SOG).

Westcliff Seafront 22.35
Flock of about 200 Sanderling roosting on the beach on the incoming tideline. David Selley.

Cherry Orchard Lane, 00:30 to 00:45
3 Redwing (heard). Paul Griggs, Paul Baker, Don Petrie (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir
Lesser Scaup. Kris, Greenman Bushcraft Ltd

Friday 23rd November 2007

Hockley/Hawkwell, 07:25
1 Woodcock flew SW over Hall Road (B1013) from cemetary towards 'The Lawns'. Mike Bailey (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:10
3 Jackdaw. John Wright (SOG).

Southchurch Park East 09.00 and 13.00
1 Little Egret all day, 2 Cormorant fishing, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Heron, Resident Mute Swans, Robin. Robert Dobinson.

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 09:30
1 Little Egret in brook. Paul Baker (SOG).

Thundersley 10.00 - 10.15
1 male Brambling eating Sunflower seeds on bird table in my garden. Re-appeared several times during the day. John Bennett.

Benfleet Creek, 10:30 to 12:00
8 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 10 Linnet, 1 Kestrel. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Southend, 11:40
1 Little Egret flew east close past 12th floor window of Alexander House, south side. John Wright (SOG).

Southend, 12:00
1 Peregrine Falcon flew past 12th floor window of south side of Alexander House. John Wright (SOG).

Wakering, Fleet Head 12.00 - 16.00
50+ Golden Plover with Lapwings, 2 Kestrel, 2 adult Mute Swan and 2 Cygnets taking off from Potton Island. Between 14.00 and 14.15 a party of 19 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Heron assembled alongside a small ditch, stayed together for 20 minutes before dispersing. Mike Sagrott.

Thursday 22nd November 2007

Coombe Wood, 07:30 to 08:15
1 Brambling again in my garden, present for a week now and looking settled! Jeff Saward (SOG).

Hanningfield Reservoir 08:40 - 08:55
Probable 1st winter Iceland Gull, 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 2 drake Red-crested Pochard. Neil Chambers.

Baxter Avenue, Southend, 09:30 to 15:30
64 Fieldfare flew west at 09:45, 2 Peregrine Falcon (pair present for most of the day). Paul Griggs (SOG).

Baxter Avenue Southend, 09:45
64 Fieldfare flew west. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Southend Pier 10.00 - 11.00
1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Purple Sandpiper. Trevor Bufton.

Two Tree Island 11.30
150 Knot, 1 Greenshank, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Golden Plover, several Avocet, 4 Stonechat. Trevor Bufton.

Southchurch Park East
4 Little Egret, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan. Robert Dobinson.

Wednesday 21st November 2007

Baxter Avenue Southend, 09:20 to 15:00
1 Peregrine Falcon (on and off during the day). Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).

Southend Pier 10:00 to 12:30
11 roosting Mediterranean Gull, three with rings: 3E72, White ring, black letters, left tarsus; 3L10 White ring, black letters, left tarsus, 6P2 Red ring, white letters, left tarsus. David Lee.

Gunners Park 11.00 - 12.00
2 Curlew flew over, 1 Little Egret, male and female Sparrowhawk, 2 Redshank on lake. Signs of Great Tit nesting at the entrance to the park! Steve Wood.

East Tilbury, Coalhouse Fort
Peregrine - Stunning display hunting pigeons over farmland just West of the fort, 546 Avocet, 91 Black-tailed Godwit, 110 Stock Dove feeding with feral pigeons and wood pigeons on farmland just west of the fort, 3 Stonechat, 90+ Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 22 Corn Bunting. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Tuesday 20th November 2007

Canvey Coastguards 07.30 to 08.30
1 Arctic Skua, 2 Kittiwake, 1 Black-throated Diver, female Sparrowhawk, Great Crested Grebe and a very distant Tern sp. David Morrison.

Southchurch Park East 09.00
4 Little Egret, 1 Cormorant back at last, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Resident Mute Swans. Robert Dobinson.

Baxter Avenue Southend, 11:00 to 16:00
2 Peregrine Falcon (female present all day, the male visited a couple of times), 1 Sparrowhawk. Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).

Monday 19th November 2007

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 08:45 to 08:50
1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd-winter). Paul Griggs (SOG).

Paglesham, 08:50 to 09:00
200 Meadow Pipit at least in stubble fields opposite the gate to Stambridge Sewage works. Many dozens out on the road, 30 Skylark at least in stubble fields opposite the gate to Stambridge Sewage works. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Paglesham Lagoon, 09:40 to 14:30
1 Caspian Gull (2nd winter - was flushed by farmer shooting in nearby field before I could get the camera out), 1 Long-tailed Duck (juvenile/female type), 2 Whooper Swan (flew high north at 11.32 before turning around and heading in a south west direction when losing height), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter), 2 Goldeneye (pair but flushed by farmer shooting), 2 Stonechat (pair on the west side), 2 Pintail (pair but flushed by farmer shooting). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Coombe Wood, 13:30 to 14:00
1 female Brambling in garden. Jeff Saward (SOG).

Sunday 18th November 2007

Hadleigh Downs, 11:00 to 12:30
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Bullfinch. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Southchurch Park East 14.30
2 Little Egret feeding near reed beds, Southchurch East Park wildlife copse now all cleared and back to nature. If anyone sees 2-4 Cygnets maybe at Potton island pond area (inside sea wall), there are many who would like to know where S.East Park cygnets have gone. Injured Cygnet at Sue Schwar's is doing well. Robert Dobinson.

Saturday 17th November 2007

Canvey West End 08.10 - 09.25
17+ Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 7 Reed Bunting, 6 Linnet, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Stonechat, 7 Meadow Pipit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 2 Snipe. Martin Cracknell.

Coombe Wood, 08:30 to 08:40
1 Brambling (the same female, seen yesterday, again in my garden). Jeff Saward (SOG).

Wakering Stairs, 08:45 to 10:00
10 Little Egret, 4 Stonechat, 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 1000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Kestrel, 4 Stock Dove, 6 Long-tailed Tit . John Wright (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.45 - 11.45
5 Curlew, 4 Avocet, 8 Grey Plover, 2 Stonechat (1m 1f), Great Crested Grebe, 2 Shelduck, 5 Little Egret, Snipe, 2 Reed Bunting, Green Sandpiper, 35 Brent Goose, Mute Swan, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit. Ray Fuller.

Hadleigh Downs, 11:00 to 13:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest, 6 Goldfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare. John Wright (SOG).

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 11:00 to 15:00
1 Caspian Gull (1st winter), 1 Larus sp. (1st winter hybrid - presumed GlaucousXHerring Gull. probably same as here on 27th October). Richard Bonser.

Southend Pier, 11:45 to 15:25
5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Guillemot, 20 Mediterranean Gull. Dudley Shayler (SOG).

Friday 16th November 2007

Two Tree Island (West), 13:50 to 15:00
1 Accipitridae sp. (large raptor - buzzard sized, with a single jesse, flew over the lagoon causing panic and headed off over Canvey persued by Black-tailed Godwits), 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Stonechat, 2 Corn Bunting, 3 Little Egret, 4 Greenshank, 1 Oystercatcher (with a large orange and black growth at the base of its upper mandible), 4 Snipe, 2000 Knot (+), 50 Black-tailed Godwit. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Coombe Wood, 14:00 to 16:00
1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Brambling (female) feeding on lawn. Jeff Saward (SOG).

Two Tree Island (East), 15:00 to 16:25
1 Kingfisher (on the old sewage works), 1 Water Rail (on the old sewage works), 46 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Kestrel (pair), 1 Sparrowhawk (female), 929 Wigeon, 440 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Short-eared Owl (16:20 over the first car park). Paul Griggs (SOG).

Southend, 16:00 to 16:20
1 Peregrine Falcon roosting on Portcullis House. John Wright (SOG).

Thursday 15th November 2007

Two Tree Island, 10:30 to 12:00
1 Kingfisher (on scrape, on sluice wall. probably the same bird on small lagoon at east end), 1 Sparrowhawk (female), 1 Water Rail (showed well briefly on reed pool), 2 Kestrel (pair). Graham Ryland (SOG).

Wallasea Wetlands 11.00 - 12.00
Over 1,000 Brent Goose Far East end on fields, 3 Marsh Harrier seen over 20mins all heading North. Cleve Bull.

Wat Tyler Country Park 13:10
1 female Marsh Harrier flying south. Dave Gonning, David Lee.

Benfleet Creek 14.35 - 15.55
1 Green Woodpecker, 6 Stonechat (4m 2f), 2 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egret, 25 Brent Geese, 40+ Avocet, 20+ Redshank, 1 Curlew, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 60+ Lapwing, 15 Ringed Plover, 1 female Peregrine, 4 Robin, 12 Moorhen. Terence Priest.

Wednesday 14th November 2007

Wallasea Wetlands 10.00 - 11.45
1 female Merlin hunting low along seawall, 1 Little Auk in flock of Starling. Cleve Bull.

Southend Pier 10:30 to 14:00
6 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Guillemot, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Mediterranean Gulls; PAJ1 Red ring, white letters, Right Tarsus; 3E72 White ring, Black letters, Left Tarsus, 3K89,; White ring, Black letters, Left Tarsus. David Lee.

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 13.00 - 15.30
2 Peregrine pursuing Teal flock ,the Peregrines were in turn being hassled by corvids, an interesting sight! 2 Stonechat (1m 1f), Green Sandpiper, 7 Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Reed Bunting, Little Grebe, 60+ Teal, 6 Curlew, Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Canvey Point, 14:45 to 15:45
4 Red-throated Diver (incl. 1 just 10 metres off the seawall), 1 Black-throated Diver (mid-channel), 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Kittiwake (2 adults, 1 juv), 12 Common Scoter (flew upriver then downriver later on), 1 Guillemot (came out on the tide mid-channel). 1 Grey Seal. Paul Baker (SOG).

Tuesday 13th November 2007

Two Tree Island (West), 10:15 to 12:00
1 Merlin (male hunting over saltmarsh west of creek hide), 2 Rock Pipit, 10 Reed Bunting, 7 Little Egret (One with extensive yellow on legs?), 87 Bar-tailed Godwit. Graham Ryland (SOG).

Leighbeck, Canvey Island 11:35 - 12:40
1 Guillemot (drifting up on tide), 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Egret, 3+ Red-throated Diver, 5 Little Auk (2 up river at 12 o'clock, 3 out into estuary ten minutes later). Ian White.

Stanley Road, Canvey Island 13:05
1 Grey Wagtail (1w) in garden on gravel around pond! Ian White.

Monday 12th November 2007

Gunners Park 11.15 - 12.15
Common Buzzard mobbed by Corvids eventually drifted west, 15 Little Egret, 30 Sanderling, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 Lapwing on reserve. Ray Fuller.

Two Tree Island 14.10
Short Eared Owl flushed from undergrowth behind Lagoon Hide. Ray Fuller.

Leighbeck, Canvey Island 12:05 - 13:40
2 Goldeneye, 4+ Red-throated Diver, 18 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Peregine (stooping on wader flocks over Canvey Point), 12 Little Egret (Canvey Point), 12 Shelduck, 1 auk sp. (up river) Ian White.

Sunday 11th November 2007

Paglesham Lagoon, 07:45 to 10:00
1 Scaup, 1 Pintail, 190 Shoveler, 50 Pochard, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 30 Wigeon, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter, on lagoon), 150 Great Black-backed Gull (Most large gulls in field to SW of lagoon), 320 Herring Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 300 Golden Plover (in field SW of lagoon), 350 Lapwing, 4 Fieldfare, 15 Skylark, 3 Goldeneye. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 08:00 to 08:05
1 female Sparrowhawk. John Wright (SOG).

River Roach, 08:30 to 09:00
15 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 400 Wigeon. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 08:50 to 08:55
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi), 2 Mediterranean Gull (adults). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Southend Pier, 09:00 to 15:20
7 Red-throated Diver, 2 Little Auk (1 or 2, possibly the same bird ), 3 Guillemot, 1 Shag, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Gannet, 1 Kittiwake (adult), 3 Linnet, 20 Mediterranean Gull (8 first-winters (including red ring PHY2), 5 second-winters and 7 adults (including red ring PAJ1 and white ring 3E72)), 10 Common Scoter (at least) 6 Purple Sandpiper. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island, 09:40 to 12:15
1 Black Brant, 2,000 Brent Geese, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Red throated Diver 9 Great Crested Grebe, 91 Curlew, 203 Grey Plover, 265 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 25 Little Egret, 13 Avocet, 70 Lapwing, 9 Ringed Plover, 17 Teal, 2 Rock Pipit, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Bar-tailed Godwit, 158 Shelduck (record count). Graham Ryland (SOG).

Canvey Point, 09:40 to 14:00
1 Little Auk (20m from the seawall!), 4 Gannet, 5 Kittiwake, 6 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Velvet Scoter, 9 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Short-eared Owl (flying along the seafront!) Jeff Saward (SOG).

Gunners Park, 09:45 to 11:45
1 Arctic Skua (excellent close views on the water - watched for approx 1 hour), 9 Little Egret, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Lapwing, 35 Sanderling, 12 Great Crested Grebe. Brian Baldock (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 10:00 to 10:15
1 Ring-billed Gull (adult), 6 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults, 2 2nd-winter) Paul Griggs, Mike Bailey (SOG).

South Fambridge, 10:30 to 11:30
3 Little Egret, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Southend Pier, 10:40 to 13:45
6 Purple Sandpiper, 19 Mediterranean Gull (11 adults (1 French colour ring and 1 Polish), 3 2nd-winter, 5 1st-winter), 5 Red-throated Diver, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Long-tailed Duck (female), 1 Kittiwake (adult), 1 Arctic Skua (or Pomarine), 7 Gannet (adults), 11 Common Scoter, 1 Little Auk, 4 Guillemot. Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow, Mike Bailey, Ian Douch, Lee Ebbs (SOG).

Southend Pier 11:15 - 12:35
6 Purple Sandpiper, 26 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kittiwake, 3 Red-throated diver, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, 1 Skua sp distant Arctic/Pom. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Two Tree Island West 12.30
2 Short-eared Owl. Stuart Bailey, Gordon Appleton.

Gunners Park 14.00 - 15.05
5 Gannet, 1 Common scoter, 2 Little Auk (one bird no more than 20m from the seawall), 3 Red-throated diver, 6 Great crested grebe, 1 Red-breasted Merganser. Marc Outten RSPB.

Hadleigh Downs, 14:30 to 16:00
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Little Egret (Benfleet Creek), 1 Stonechat. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 15:20
1 Ring-billed Gull (Rossi on lamp posts then flew towards Chalkwell). Jan Hein van Steenis.

Canvey, Holehaven Creek
Shelduck 223, Wigeon 25, Teal 31, Mallard 117, Shoveler 15, Little Grebe 1, Cormorant 9, Little Egret 3, Grey Heron 2, Oystercatcher 6, Avocet 18, Grey Plover 28, Lapwing 198, Dunlin 810, Black-tailed Godwit 482, Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Curlew 189, Redshank 376, Black-headed Gull 1130, Common Gull 32, Herring Gull 102, Great Black-backed Gull 859, Skylark 4, Stonechat a pair. Alan Shearman RSPB.

Paglesham Churchend 16.00 - 16.30
3,000 starlings at roost - truly spectacular! Jeff Delve (EBS).

Saturday 10th November 2007

Canvey, Coastguards 07.00 - 09.00
Female Long-Tailed Duck, upriver pair Goldeneye,3 Common Scoter, 3 Artic Tern (juvs), several Mediterranean Gull, and Kittiwake, 3 Rock Pipit. Paul Hawkins.

Canvey, Hole Haven Creek, 07:30 to 13:00
4 Caspian Gull (adult x2 and first-winter x2), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 8 Yellow-legged Gull (adult x1, 1st winter x3, 2nd winter x2 and 3rd winter x2), 20 Herring Gull (at least of the larger, darker northern race, argentatus), 28 Black-tailed Godwit. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Southend Pier, 08:25 to 14:00
3 Little Auk (all flybys), 2 Guillemot, 25 Red-throated Diver, 30 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Purple Sandpiper (together on the old lifeboat slipway with Turnstones, possibly the highest number recorded for the Pier and Southend area), 20 Kittiwake, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet, 1 Long-tailed Duck (female/1st year), 1 Gannet (immature), 2 Common Scoter (female type), 4 Common Seal. (1 at end of pier, 3 on sandbank off Westcliff). John Wright, Pat Dandridge (SOG).

Ashingdon, 08:40
1 female Sparrowhawk over Ashingdon Road near Victory pub. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Two Tree Island, 09:00 to 12:00
1 Pomarine Skua (with spoons, from creek hide). Graham Ryland (SOG).

Canvey Point 09.30 to 11.45
22 Sanderling, Rock Pipit, 2 Goldeneye, 2 adult and 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Kittiwake, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Red Throated Diver and 10 Shelduck. David Morrison.

Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 10:00
1 Little Egret. Paul Baker (SOG).

Gunners Park, 10:15
1 Velvet Scoter (drake fairly close inshore). Lee Ebbs (SOG).

Benfleet Station, 11:00
4 Little Egret. Paul Baker (SOG).

Canvey Point 11.45 - 12.45
1 Little Auk flying out of river at 12.05, 1 Gannet (1st Winter), 2 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Kittiwake. Martin Cracknell.

Eastwood, 13:00
1 Sparrowhawk (low over Progress Rd / A127 Junction). Paul Baker (SOG).

Canvey Point, 13:15 to 13:40
1 Little Auk, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 11 Little Egret (roosting on saltings). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 14:10 to 14:30
1 Ring-billed Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gull (2 ads, 1 2nd w.). John Wright (SOG).

Rossi's Ice Cream, Westcliff, 14:30 to 14:20
1 Ring-billed Gull (still going strong), 3 Mediterranean Gull (adults). Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).

Roots Hall Stadium 15:20
1 Peregrine chasing pigeons over West Stand roof! Ross Gardner.

Wallasea Wetlands
few hundred each of Ringed Plover and Dunlin, 23 Grey Plover, 25 Curlew, 2 Golden Plover, 35 Black-tailed Godwit, 60+ Redshank, female Red-breasted Merganser. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Canewdon, Butts Hill Pond
2 Siskin in alders. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Friday 09th November 2007

Gusted Hall Lane, Hawkwell 08:00
1 Peregrine Falcon. Ross Gardner.

Benfleet, 09:00 to 09:15
1 Coal Tit on a garden feeder - Thundersley Park Road. Jeff Saward (SOG).

Barnston, Gannetts Wood 10.40 - 11.30
1 Marsh tit (singing furiously). John Wilson.

Canvey Point, 11:00 to 12:30
4 Gannet, 7 Kittiwake, 1 Sanderling, 12 Little Egret (roosting on the Point). Jeff Saward (SOG).

Gunners Park, 11.30 - 12.00
1 dark Stonechat, 7 Little Egret, distant Peregrine, 1 Kingfisher. Steve Wood.

Rochford Reservoir, 12:45
2 Little Egret (flew over). Steve Arlow (SOG).

Baxter Avenue Southend, 14:00 to 14:10
1 Peregrine Falcon. Paul Griggs, John Wright (SOG).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 14.00 - 16.05
3 Stonechat (1m 2 f), 10 Little Egret, 6 Grey Plover, 80 Teal, Little Grebe, 6 Curlew, Rock Pipit, 35 Brent Goose, Greensandpiper, Greenshank, Shelduck. Ray Fuller.

Southend, 14:40 to 14:45
1 Peregrine Falcon (Alexander House - flew past 12th floor window of south side of building.), 1 Sparrowhawk (high over Victoria Ave.). John Wright (SOG).

Leigh on Sea, 15:45
1 female Sparrowhawk over Leigh Road. John Wright (SOG).

Thursday 08th November 2007

Southchurch Park East 09.00
2 Little Egret and 1 Heron sitting together in the Sun, south of Pond on reed bed edge. Robert Dobinson.

Baxter Avenue Southend, 11:05 to 11:20
1 Peregrine Falcon on Portcullis House. Paul Griggs (SOG).

Wednesday 07th November 2007

Hanningfield Reservoir 09:00 - 12:30
Numerous Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Lapwing, 8 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Wheatear (confirmed by E.W.T helper). Chris Henry.

Hadleigh Country Park 16.25
Probable Harris Hawk trying to roost while being mobbed by Crows and Magpies. Eventually driven off towards Hadleigh. Too gloomy to make out chestnut plumage or any jesses, but white rump with black band on tail, and slightly larger than Crow size suggested Harris. Mike Sagrott.

Tuesday 06th November 2007

Southchurch Park East 09.00
3 Little Egret sitting in Sun NW of Pond. Robert Dobinson.

South Benfleet 09.30
10 Magpies in tree in Cumberland Avenue. 7 flew off together, great sight, leaving 3 in tree. Therese Montague.

Southend Pier 10:30 to 13:45
2 Purple Sandpiper among over 100 Turnstone on the ramp. 1 Black-throated Diver off the pier towards Kent. Several Mediterranean Gulls among hundreds of Black-headed Gulls all feeding frenziedly off the burnt out old pier head. Some had rings and settled long enough to read them: PAJ1 Red ring, white letters on right tarsus, 3K94 White ring, black letters on left tarsus and 3E72 White ring, black letters on left tarsus. David Lee.

Thundersley 11.00 - 11.10
1 Partially leucistic Greenfinch on Sunflower Hearts feeder. John Bennett.

Gunners Park 12.00 - 13.30
Ring Ouzel flying around EWT reserve, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail in brook. Steve Wood.

Southchurch Park East 16.30
Heron,landing and being harassed by male Swan across north of Pond. Kingfisher flying east to west across Pond. Robert Dobinson.

Monday 05th November 2007

Belton Hills, 06:40
7 Redwing flew over calling. John Wright (SOG).

Leighbeck, Canvey Island 08:35 - 10:20
1 Velvet Scoter (fem/1w?) flew in from estuary with 2 Little Grebe and joined 6 other Little Grebe; all then began diving & drifted away. 3 Great Crested Grebe (down river on falling tide). 4 Little Egret. Ian White.

Southchurch Park East 09.00
2 Little Egret sitting in Sun NW of Pond. Robert Dobinson.

Sunday 04th November 2007

Wakering Stairs 08.30 - 09.30
c.400 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 adult Peregrine (catching 2 Knots within 1/2 hour, taking the last one into the MOD site), 6 Rock Pipit, c.1000 Oystercatcher, c.1000 Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Grey Plover, 1 Fieldfare, Sparrowhawk. Tony Kennelly.

Shoeburyness 09.00
Female Greater Spotted Woodpecker taking monkey nuts from squirrel table hung up in ash tree also up to 6 Goldfinch feeding on niger feeders in back garden. Robin Guppy.

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 10:00 to 10:05
3 Goldfinch in garden. John Wright (SOG).

Southend Pier 10.00 - 12.00
c.200 Black-headed Gull (in a loud non-feeding group), 2 kittiwake (adult & 1st winter), 12 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Turnstone, 2 Red-throated Diver, c.30 Common scoter (mid-river), c.20 Knot, 1 Skylark flying north, Great Skua. Tony Kennelly

Hadleigh Downs, 11:00 to 12:20
1 Sparrowhawk. 1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Speckled Wood. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).

Benfleet Creek, 11:45 to 13:45
7 Stonechat, 11 Little Egret, 6 Reed Bunting, 35 Teal, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 50 Lapwing. John Wright (SOG).

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

East Tilbury 13.00 - 15.00
9 Corn Bunting (in rough grass & fields to east of Coalhouse Fort), c.30 Fieldfare. Tony Kennelly.

Doggetts Pits, 14:45 to 15:15
1 Blackcap (female), 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Wallasea Wetlands
3 Stonechat, 2 Siskin flew over, Sparrowhawk hunting over mudflats. Usual waders - c.60 Curlew and a single Turnstone only highlights from my section of official count. 1 Red Admiral. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Paglesham Churchend
Starling roost - If anything numbers exceeded last night, I had at least 3,000 in the air at once but absolutely masses had already dropped into the trees. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Southchurch Park East
Iooks like the last two Cygnets have left the pond today, yesterday the parents were making life difficult for all three and two flew out to the estuary and one to Southchurch East Park. But this morning, all three were not in either Park and could not be seen on the estuary. That's five out of the six full size Cygnets off the pond this year. One of the five which is at the Orsett Wildlife Hospital is doing very well and will be released in the spring through Sue Morgan at Salcote in Essex. Also the Kingfishers are still around at Southchurch Park East. Bob Dobinson.

Saturday 03rd November 2007

Wallasea Wetlands 07:30 - 09.00
1 Curlew Sandpiper, c.50 Dunlin, c.50 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 300 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, female Sparrowhawk, 15 Corn Bunting - first ones for a month or two and several singing in the sunshine! Jeff Delve (EBS).

South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.15 - 12.20
10 Little Egret, Snipe, 2 Stonechat (1m 1f), 6 Curlew, 82 Brent Goose, 4 Grey Plover, Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting, Green Sandpiper, Great Crested Grebe, 120 Teal, 3 Skylark. Ray Fuller.

Rayleigh, 13:05
1 Siskin flew SW over garden, calling. Neil Chambers (SOG).

Paglesham Churchend 16.00 - 16.30
Fantastic Starling roost - we counted at least 3,500 before being overwhelmed by the flocks dropping into the huge Leylandi hedges - best guess would be at least 5,000 birds. Sparrowhawk - inevitable given the numbers of Starlings. 15 Corn Bunting. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Paglesham Lagoon
Female Scaup, c.100 Shoveler, 6 Pintail, 30 Gadwall, 12 Wigeon, Grey Wagtail, 17 Avocet, 7 Black-tailed Godwit. Jeff Delve (EBS).

Friday 02nd November 2007

Gunners Park 11.00 - 12.00
1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 2 large flocks of Goldfinch. Steve Wood.

Wallasea Marina 12.20
Rock Pipit on travel hoist pontoon. Gary Dunn.

Leigh-on-Sea, Victoria wharf 16:00
86 Little Egret brought in by the incoming tide. David Lee.

Southend, 16:25 to 17:00
1 Peregrine Falcon on Portcullis House window ledge. John Wright (SOG).

Thursday 01st November 2007

Rochford, 07:20
1 Siskin over the garden. Steve Arlow (SOG).

Two Tree Island 15.15 - 16.30
1 male Sparrowhawk (being mobbed by crows), 1 female Sparrowhawk, 4 Little Egret, 2 Greenshank, 1 Knot, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Skylark, 1 Reed Bunting (male), 8 Stonechat (4 male, 4 female), 1 Wren. Also saw a large brown/black bird of prey which had a leather tether attached to its right leg(escapee) flying over two tree heading towards Canvey. First impression I thought it was a harris hawk but possibly an eagle. Terence Priest.

Wat Tyler Country Park
A Water Rail showing well on the CCTV screen along with a couple of Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Wagtail on the roof of the Visitor Centre. 2 Cetti's Warblers singing in the office garden. Alan Shearman RSPB.

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