Bird Reports for November 2009
Monday 30th November 2009
Canvey Seafront, 08:30 to 13:00
1 Gannet (juv), 1 Great Northern Diver, 19 Red-throated Diver (inc. a flock of 12), 62 Kittiwake, 7 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Franklin's Gull (2nd winter, flying west at 11:30 hrs, in a mixed flock of gulls behind a ship), 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 7 Great Skua, 2 Guillemot, 1 Long-tailed Duck (female), 38 Common Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 4 Scaup (2 male, 2 female), 5 Eider (3 male, 2 female), 2 Sanderling, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk. Jeff Saward
Gloucester Park, Basildon 13.00 - 14.25
4 Cormorant, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Blue Tit, 8 Great Tit, 12 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 12 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing (1st this autumn in park), 10 Black-headed Gull, 18 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Jay, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Moorhen, 10 Coot, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Geylag Goose with large flock Canada Goose, many Mallard, 15 Wood Pigeon, 2 Collared Dove. No sign of Drake Mandarin. Jane Hale.
RSPB Vange Marsh, 13:45 to 14:30
1 Egyptian Goose of unknown origin, no rings and flew strongly west at 14.00, 100 Wigeon, 350 Teal, 32 Shoveler, 4 Snipe, 8 Reed Bunting, 4 Linnet, 120 Stock Dove. Marc Outten (RSPB, SOG).
Sunday 29th November 2009
Canvey Seafront, 08:15 to 12:45
1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Pink-footed Goose (flying south), 3 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Little Gull (first winter), 32 Kittiwake (up river), 6 Mediterranean Gull (3 adults, 2 2nd W, 1 1st W), 1 Franklin's Gull (09:28-09;30. Adult or 2nd winter, picked up towards Canvey Point, flew south to mid-channel where went down on water with BH Gulls and lost to view), 1 Grey Wagtail. Don Petrie, Mike Bailey (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 09:30 to 12:00
1 Spotted Redshank, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 male Kestrel, 150 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 530 Knot, 59 Dunlin, 160 Ringed Plover, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 72 Wigeon, 64 Teal, 1 Rock Pipit, 10 Meadow Pipit, 12 Skylark, 1 Stonechat, 9 Reed Bunting, 1 Redwing, 17 Chaffinch, 3 Little Egret. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Saturday 28th November 2009
Rochford, Southend Road, 09.00
1 Little Egret and about 80 Common Gull and 50 Lapwing on flooded field by the Vulcan bomber. David Selley.
Two Tree Island 10:00 to 12:00
Water Rail, Little Egret, Curlew, male Pheasant, 20 Redshank, 26 Dunlin, Teal, 10 Avocet, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Kestrel, 700+ Wigeon, Brent Goose, 20+ Redshank, Knot, Moorhen, Coot, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Lapwing, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, 3 Little Grebe, Shelduck, Corn Bunting, 40 Starling in small flocks, Cormorant. Noel Barnes.
Friday 27th November 2009
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 11:00 to 12:00
4 Little Egret in brook together, record count! Paul Baker (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 11:00 to 13:30
1 Sparrowhawk, flock Greylag Geese, 1 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 1 Avocet, numerous Coot and Moorhen, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 10 Black-headed Gull, small flock Blue Tit with Great Tit, 5 Long-Tailed Tit, large flock Starling, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Lapwing, 8 Cormorant, 1 drake Pochard, Mallard. Jane Hale.
Gloucester Park 14.30 - 15.25
4 Cormorant, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Robin, 7 Long-Tailed Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 5 Jay, 9 Magpie, 6 Carrion Crow, 10 Black-headed Gull, 4 Blackbird, 1 drake Mandarin, 2 Fieldfare (1st for this Autumn), 1 Greylag Goose with large flock Canada Geese. Jane Hale.
Thursday 26th November 2009
Southend, Prittle Brook 11:25
1 Grey Wagtail near Priory Park. Brian Baldock (SOG).
Hatfield Peverel (along River Ter) 13.00 - 14.30
1 Woodcock, 1 Buzzard, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Redwing, many Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit and Blue Tits. Alec Martin.
Wednesday 25th November 2009
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 09:00
13 Skylark in one loose flock flew SSW calling, 2 Little Egret in brook. Paul Baker (SOG).
South Fambridge/Brandy Hole 12.50 - 14.45
19 Yellowhammer, 2 Stonechat (1m, 1f), 4 Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, 5 Shelduck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 4 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 4 Curlew. Ray Fuller.
RSPB Vange Marsh 13.00 to 15.30
70+ Wigeon, 150+ Teal, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Shoveler, 3 Curlew, 4 Cormorant, 6 Mallard, 4 Kestrel (3 birds up at once). David Shepherd.
Tuesday 24th November 2009
Abberton Reservoir 09.30 - 12.15
1 Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Egyptian Goose. John Wilson.
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Rayleigh, Ferndale Road (Garden) 09:00
3 Redpoll in birches. Robin Peppaitt.
Saturday 21st November 2009
Wat Tyler Country Park 10:00 to 14:30
1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Redshank, Shoveler, Teal, 4 Fieldfare. Andrew Cox.
Leigh, Park View Drive 11:30 to 11:42
1 Stock Dove - 1st garden visit. Web Author, Kris Mee.
Southend Pier, 11:30 to 13:30
1 Purple Sandpiper 
, 10+ Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Crested Grebe. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Two Tree Island 14:00
Corn Bunting, Dunnock, 800+ Dunlin, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Lapwing, 42 Avocet, Teal, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Little Egret, Curlew, 3 Shelduck, 3 Little Grebe, Herring Gull, Robin, Wren, 23 Redshank, 4 Shoveler, Water Rail, 600+ Knot, 15 Oystercatcher on main inlet, Brent Goose, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Cormorant, 2 Shag. Noel Barnes.
Southchurch Park East, 14:15 to 14:55
1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Friday 20th November 2009
Battlesbridge, 08:20
1 Little Egret feeding east of bridge. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Hockley Woods, 09:20 to 12:00
3 Redwing, 11 Chaffinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tit. Matt Bruty (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:15 to 12:35
Scrape only: 2 Snipe, 1 adult Mediterranean, 70 Black-headed Gull, 8 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret. Marc Outten (RSPB, SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 12:25
1 Green Sandpiper flew west along brook, presumably last winter's bird returning 2 days earlier than last November. Paul Baker (SOG).
Harlow 14.00
1 female Sparrowhawk tried to snatch a Blue Tit from peanut feeder in my garden but missed then sat on fence 2/3 minutes before moving off. Michael Howell.
Two Tree Island, 16:00 to 16:45
1 Woodcock. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Thursday 19th November 2009
Canvey West End, 14:15 to 15:00
From the public footpath along the northern boundary of the RSPB reserve: 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Corn Bunting, 12 Curlew, 21 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 1 Snipe, 7 Goldfinch. Marc Outten (RSPB, SOG).
Wednesday 18th November 2009
Abberton Reservoir, Peldon Bay Area (permit required from visitors centre) 13.40
1 Spotted Sandpiper , 1 Drake Pintail, 2 Drake Goldeneye, 2 Grey Wagtail, 100+ Wigeon, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 100+ Teal, numerous Mallard and Coot. S.Cook.
Tuesday 17th November 2009
River Roach Wildlife Trip Aboard Lady Essex II 10.00 - 15.20
1 male Hen Harrier, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, 35 Avocet, c200 Grey Plover all over Foulness Island. 10 Common Seal. Chris Tyas, Web Author.
Boreham Lake 11.10 to 11.15
1 Whooper Swan , 10 Little Grebe, 3 White-fronted Geese. John Wilson.
Abberton Reservoir 11.50 to 15.00
5 Bewick Swan (3 species of Swan in Essex in one day!), 20 Mute Swan, 2 Spoonbill, 1 drake Goldeneye, 10 Goosander, 400 Golden Plover. John Wilson.
Paglesham, East Hall Lane 15.00
100+ Fieldfare. Pat Dandridge.
Monday 16th November 2009
Gloucester Park Basildon 10.00 to 11.00
1 Greylag Goose,2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, many Blue and Great Tit, Blackbird, small flock Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, several Jay, Magpie and Carrion Crow. 1 drake Mandarin Duck on fishing lake, the first time have seen one in the park. Jane Hale.
Two Tree Island (East) 11.10 to 12.35
23 Little Egret, 567 Dark-bellied Brent Goose bobbing about on a choppy sea, Wigeon, Teal, 26 Skylark including a single flock of 20 apparently in off the sea. On the feeding station: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. David Selley.
Ulting Church (Nr Maldon) 13.00 to 14.30
100+ Fieldfare, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, 50+ Red-legged Partridge. Alec Martin.
Sunday 15th November 2009
Rayleigh, Ferndale Road Area 08:00 to 08:50
2 Blackcap (m+f), 1 Goldcrest, 17 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 9 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff. Martin Cracknell (SOG).
Hockley Woods, 09:00 to 09:45
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Firecrest along boundary with gardens by main clearing. Martin Cracknell (SOG).
Two Tree Island 10:00 to 11:45
Water Rail, 100+ Avocet, 100+ Ringed Plover, 50+ Golden Plover, 50+ Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, 80+ Lapwing, 60+ Redshank, 20+ Shoveler, 500+ Dunlin, Little Egret, Wigeon, Teal, Cormorant, Shag, Curlew, 2 Little Grebe, Skylark (heard), 10 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Starling, Grey Heron, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20+ Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Robin, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Pheasant, Coot, Moorhen, Great Tit, Rook, Crow, Black-headed Gull, Starling, Dunnock, Spotted Woodpecker near sewage works, Great Crested Grebe, 300+ Brent Goose, Shelduck, flocks of Goldfinch. Noel Barnes.
Two Tree Island (West), 10:30 to 10:45
c400 Knot, c125 Ringed Plover, c200 Black-tailed Godwit. John Wright (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 10:45 to 12:15
8 Little Egret, 5 Stonechat, 15 Reed Bunting, 11 Corn Bunting, 70 Lapwing, 55 Wigeon, 25 Teal, 6 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel. John Wright (SOG).
Roper's farm, 10:50 to 12:10
6 Yellowhammer, 1 Corn Bunting, 11 Curlew, 5 Little Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Fieldfare, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebe. Marc Outten (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 12:30 to 15:30
1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Mistle Thrush, 28 Moorhen, 2 Skylark (Flew NW), 1 Meadow Pipit (flew NW). Neil Chambers (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront 15.30
Adult Mediterranean Gull, 6+ Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Brent Geese very close in, within 15-20 feet of pavement. Jon Clark.
Saturday 14th November 2009
Two Tree Island (East), 08:30 to 09:45
45 Little Egret. John Wright (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 14:15 to 15:15
700 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Stonechat. Don Petrie (SOG).
Wednesday 11th November 2009
Boreham Lake 12.30 to 13.00
1 Whooper Swan still present, 10 Little Grebe, 1 White-fronted Goose, 400 Greylag Goose, 40 Wigeon. John Wilson.
Southend, 15:45
1 Sparrowhawk 'interfering' with the gathering Starling flock over Warrior Square. Paul Baker (SOG).
Tuesday 10th November 2009
Southend Pier 09:00
1 Mediterranean Gull 1st winter on posts near end of Pier. See photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/4095413246/. Paul Forsdick.
Hadleigh Downs, 12:00 to 12:30
2 Bullfinch. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Hockley Woods 13.00 to 13.30
2 Firecrest in and around large Holly bush about 50m down left side track, very close views. Ian Douch.
Two Tree Island 14:30
1 Water Rail from south-facing hide at west end of island. see photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/4093139379/. Paul Forsdick.
Sunday 08th November 2009
Coombe Wood, 08:00 to 09:00
2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grey Wagtail in garden. Jeff Saward (SOG).
Canewdon, 09:30 to 10:00
c100 Skylark over fields behind Butts Hill Pond, c20 Corn Bunting at Butts Hill, 6 Siskin on alders at Butts Hill Pond. Jeff Delve (SOG).
Canvey Point, 11:15 to 13:00
450 Wigeon, 44 Shelduck, 400 Knot, 2 Red-throated Diver, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mediterranean Gull. Jeff Saward (SOG).
Saturday 07th November 2009
Coombe Wood, 08:00 to 09:00
4 Siskin, 2 Goldcrest. Jeff Saward (SOG).
Basildon, Luncies Road 10:00
2 Redpoll. Gary Clinton.
Belfairs, Poors Lane 10:30
1 Grey Wagtail. John Wright (SOG).
Belfairs Nature Reserve 12:00
1 Firecrest. Ross Gardner.
Rayleigh, 13:05
1 Grey Wagtail flew NE over High Street. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island (East), 13:15 to 14:30
21 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat, 1 Water Rail, 3001 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 200 Wigeon, 56 Teal. John Wright (SOG).
East Tilbury, Coalhouse Fort 15.00 to 16.30
Little Owl, 70+ Avocet, 6 Meadow Pipit, Shelduck. Mark D and Jim.
Friday 06th November 2009
Benfleet 08.00
1 Grey Wagtail around edge of wildlife pond in garden. Jennifer French.
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 08:00
1 male Sparrowhawk sitting on the bird table! Paul Baker (SOG).
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 10.00 and 15.10
1 Sparrowhawk. This quite large female is a regular visitor now and is very successful at catching Collared Doves, which she can carry off whole if disturbed. David Selley.
Two Tree Island (from Car Park by Slipway) 13.00
1 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret. On first day we saw it it just 'looked' bigger than the other egrets. On Friday it was close to 2 Little Egret and the size difference was obvious. The head and beak were more heron like. It was the edge of the incoming tide and then was on the end of the boat launch slipway. Unfortunately a boat coming in to land disturbed it before we could get close enough to get a decent picture. Maggie & Dave Davis.
Two Tree Island 13.00 to 16.15
On Scrape: c300 Knot, c250 Oystercatcher, 150 Ringed Plover, 60 Dunlin, 60 Golden Plover, 25 Grey Plover, 5 Redshank. Also seen around Island: 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhark, 65 Little Egret, c3000 Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, 6 Shelduck. David Shepherd.
Hatfield Peverel 16:00
4 Redpoll in my Silver Birch tree in my garden. Alec Martin.
Thursday 05th November 2009
Rayleigh, 08:00
1 Grey Wagtail flew over garden. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wednesday 04th November 2009
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 08:50
3 Skylark together heading low north west calling. Paul Baker (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 08:50 to 09:40
32 Little Egret, 5 Mediterranean Gull (4 ad-w, 1 2nd-w), 1 Ring-billed Gull (adult - opposite Rossi's), 1 Grey Wagtail (heard). 13 Common Seal. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Tuesday 03rd November 2009
Victoria Avenue, Southend, 16:30 to 16:40
1 adult Peregrine Falcon perched on top window ledge on leeward (east) side of Portcullis House, presumably to roost. Don Petrie, Paul Griggs (SOG).
Monday 02nd November 2009
Boreham Lake 13.30 to 14.00
1 Whooper swan, 1 White-fronted Goose, 500 Greylag Geese, 6 Gadwall, 50 Wigeon, 6 Little Grebe, 10 Pochard. John Wilson.
Chelmsford, Springfield Lock (Humpback Bridge) 16:00
Pair of Grey Wagtail. Sue Haffenden.
Wallasea Wetlands 16.00
1 female/juvenile Wheatear Mike Sagrott.
Sunday 01st November 2009
Canvey Seafront, 08:00 to 12:00
3 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Tern along the seafront much of the morning, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Common Scoter, 9 Mediterranean Gull (7 adults, 2 x 1st winter). Jeff Saward (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 09.50 to 12.00
1 Great White Egret for 10 minutes on exposed mud on the West Bank, viewable from the EWT reserve hides. Also 1 Peregrine, 12 Dunlin and c7 Goldeneye. David Jobbins.
Leigh on Sea, 11:00 to 11:00
1 Grey Wagtail along the Prittle brook near Bonchurch Park. Dudley Shayler (SOG).
Southend, Tesco/RBS Roundabout 13:30
1 male Merlin heading west to the annoyance of local starlings. Vince Kinsler (SOG).