Saturday 13 June 2026

South Fambridge, 19:00 to 19:00
1 Reed Warbler (singing ), 1 Slow-worm (this year's youngster), 1 Grass Snake (sadly deceased) [Paul Baker]

Benfleet Downs, 15:25 to 17:35, Mostly sunny, SW wind
19 Cattle Egret (2 flew towards WCM, 17 flew up from the marshes as one flock and all landed in the egret trees), 1 Buzzard, 2 Blackcap (singing), 1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing), 9 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 6 Marsh Frog, 1 Slow-worm, 10 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 2 Southern Migrant Hawker (tenerals), 1 Broad-bodied Chaser, 4 Common Darter, 15 skippers, 6 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 1 Large White, 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Comma, 1 Marbled White, 15 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Heath [Neil Chambers]

Benfleet Downs, 12:50 to 16:30
11 Cattle Egret, 2 Buzzard, 4 Scarce Emerald Damselfly, 1 Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 2 Southern Migrant Hawker (tenerals), 1 Emperor Dragonfly (female), 1 Hairy Dragonfly, 3 Broad-bodied Chaser (2 females and 1 male ), 3 Common Darter (tenerals), 3 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Marbled White [Steve Arlow]

Edwards Hall Park, 10:00 to 12:30
6 Banded Demoiselle, 59 White-legged Damselfly, 10 Blue-tailed Damselfly [Steve Arlow]

Friday 12 June 2026

Rochford Golf Course, 18:40 to 20:40
9 Stock Dove (single flock), 3 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (ad + 2 juvs), 1 Skylark (singing over airport), 2 House Martin, 6 Mistle Thrush (seemed to be a family party), 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 11:15 to 13:30
1 Cattle Egret (ad), 2 Little Egret, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad), 2 Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warbler (h), 8 Small Skipper (+), 2 Essex Skipper (+), 10 Meadow Brown (+) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Hadleigh Marshes, 11:00 to 11:50, Eastern end only
15 Cattle Egret (with a couple visiting the Little Egret breeding colony) [John Wright]

Canvey Point, 07:55 to 10:05
4 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad), 7 Kittiwake (ads), 4 Sandwich Tern [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:00
1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cattle Egret, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Wigeon, 1 Kestrel, 1 Knot, 73 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Cuckoo, 20 Swift, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Bearded Tit, 1 Corn Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Thursday 11 June 2026

Canvey Point, 17:20 to 18:10, Rising tide, SW wind
6 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Common Tern [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 10:00 to 10:00, Rain
1 Cuckoo, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Paul Baker]

Wednesday 10 June 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 23:55 to 23:55
1 Tawny Owl (female calling) [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:15 to 10:15
1 Spoonbill, 2 Wigeon, 1 Ruff (m. In breeding plumage), 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo, 20 Swift (plus), 4 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Bearded Tit (5 juveniles), 1 Marbled White [Graham Oakes]

Tuesday 09 June 2026

Belfairs Golf Course, 21:00 to 21:50
5 Common Pipistrelle, 1 Noctule Bat, 3 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Hadleigh Downs, 12:30 to 13:00, Hadleigh Castle area only
1 Buzzard, 1 Hobby [John Wright]

Sunday 07 June 2026

Hadleigh Marshes, 19:45 to 21:15
16 Cattle Egret (6 initially with cattle, flew to roost. A further 10 flew to roost from the west.), 1 Sparrowhawk (fem), 2 Buzzard, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl [Tim Bourne]

Gunners Park, 17:40 to 18:50
2 Gannet (adults), 5 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Little Tern, 2 House Martin [Bob Young]

Gunners Park, 16:45 to 18:00
1 Marsh Harrier (f, crossing to Kent), 4 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kittiwake (adult), 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Tern (+), 5 Little Tern, 3 House Martin [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Rochford Golf Course, 11:50 to 16:00, Sunny spells, brisk SSW wind
1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (ad with 2 juvs), 1 House Martin, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 1 Meadow Brown [Neil Chambers]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:30 to 11:00
3 Cattle Egret (quite mobile, eventually flew over to Hadleigh marsh), 1 Buzzard, 3 Cuckoo, 1 Corn Bunting (singing male) [John Wright]

Shoebury East Beach, 08:30 to 08:30
1 House Martin, 1 Greenfinch (display flight), 1 Marbled White [Paul Baker]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 08:00
1 Ruff (m. In full breeding plumage), 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Tern, 20 Swift (plus), 6 House Martin, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Corn Bunting [Graham Oakes]

Saturday 06 June 2026

Gunners Park, 17:05 to 18:35, Heavy overcast, SSW6, high tide c5pm
2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 1 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, 7 Little Tern (fantastic sight watching these zipping up and down throughout), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 08:30 to 08:40, Heavy rain
1 Cuckoo (Male sitting in tree by feeders, close to the house, getting soaked) [Paul Baker]

Friday 05 June 2026

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 20:30 to 21:45
1 Little Egret (flew over west), 2 Common Pipistrelle, 1 Wood Mouse [John Wright]

Edwards Hall Park, 14:10 to 14:50
1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 22 White-legged Damselfly, 2 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1 Red Admiral, 10 Meadow Brown, 4 Small Heath [Neil Chambers]

Doggetts Pits, 12:25 to 13:50, Sunny spells, SW wind
5 Great Crested Grebe (pair with 3 juvs), 6 Pochard (pr + fem with 3 ducklings), 5 Tufted Duck (2 prs + a drake), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 15 Red-eyed Damselfly, 10 Azure Damselfly, 5 Common Blue Damselfly, 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 9 Norfolk Hawker (8 holding territory, another in woodland just north of parking area), 3 Emperor Dragonfly, 30 Four-spotted Chaser, 3 Scarce Chaser (males), 2 Black-tailed Skimmer, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Meadow Brown [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 11:30 to 11:30
1 Cattle Egret (on BHF with cows and sheep) [Paul Baker]

Hadleigh Marshes, 09:00 to 10:30
6 Cattle Egret, 10 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Painted Lady, 8 Meadow Brown [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:20 to 10:45
1 Cattle Egret, 51 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo (Male & female.), 20 Swift, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Bearded Tit, 2 Corn Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 01:00 to 03:00
6 Red Fox (3 ads, 3 cubs) [John Wright]

Thursday 04 June 2026

South Fambridge, 19:30 to 19:30
1 Little Egret (the putative Western Reef Heron hybrid flew across BHF heading towards egret colony), 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo (male) [Paul Baker]

Belfairs N.R., 10:30 to 12:00, cloudy, some sunny spells, windy
2 Nuthatch (2+ vocal family party), 2 Slow-worm (one dead), 1 Red Fox (cub), 1 Wood Mouse, 1 Painted Lady, 8 Heath Fritillary, 1 Meadow Brown [John Wright]

Tuesday 02 June 2026

Benfleet Downs, 18:40 to 18:40
1 Cattle Egret (From Train) [Mike Clarke]

Rochford Reservoir, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Banded Demoiselle (female), 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth (in nearby garden) [Paul Baker]

Doggetts Pits, 12:45 to 13:00
2 Great Crested Grebe (both juveniles), 2 Egyptian Goose (pair), 11 Pochard (including female with 3 ducklings), 2 Tufted Duck (pair ), 1 Red-eyed Damselfly (present), 1 Azure Damselfly (present), 1 Common Blue Damselfly (present), 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly (present), 4 Norfolk Hawker, 1 Emperor Dragonfly, 2 Hairy Dragonfly, 1 Downy Emerald (first SOG record), 4 Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Scarce Chaser (male), 1 Black-tailed Skimmer (male) [Steve Arlow]

Monday 01 June 2026

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 09:55 to 15:45
14 Little Egret, 1 Glossy Ibis (Seen to fly in from the north and descend, but lost behind vegetation and not seen to land but looked like around the west end of Grass Farm Lagoon. Spent the next four hours looking for it without success. ), 2 Marsh Harrier (pair), 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 200 Mediterranean Gull (++, many breeding), 4 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Corn Bunting, 1 Essex Skipper (+) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]