JANUARY 2022
As expected, the year got off
to a good start with many birders eager to start their yearlists. Highlights on
the 1st were a Shag at
South Fambridge, two Jack Snipe and
three Water Pipits at Vange Marsh,
the returning adult Yellow-legged Gull
at Hullbridge, a Hawfinch at Pound
Wood, and three Bramblings at
Stambridge. Birds remaining from December included small groups of White-fronted Geese at three sites, Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Goose at South Fambridge, Red-crested Pochard at Southchurch, and three Spoonbills, a Hen Harrier,
and a Short-eared Owl on Wallasea.
Wintering waders included a Common
Sandpiper at South Fambridge, six Green
Sandpipers and six Spotted Redshanks
at four sites each, and four Greenshanks
at three sites. There was even a Small
Tortoiseshell logged on the 1st. A male Bullfinch noted at Wat Tyler CP on the 2nd and 13th
were the only sightings this month of this much reduced resident. There was an
influx of Guillemots into the
estuary on the 3rd with 32 birds counted off the Pier along with two
Razorbills. Last year’s wintering Black Redstart at Southend Business
Park was reported on the 4th but despite searching it was not seen
subsequently. A Glossy Ibis spent
the following day on Wallasea, but disappointingly did not linger. A drake Velvet Scoter flew past Canvey on the 6th
and was the only record of this species this winter. The Ring-necked Parakeets at Thorpe Bay remained around the golf course
all winter with four together there on the 6th. A Red Admiral made the most of the weak
sunshine on the 7th. One of the Dengie Red-breasted Geese dropped in on Wallasea on the 8th
before visiting South Fambridge on the 10th, after which it spent
most of the month across the Crouch on Blue House Farm and Marsh Farm. The three
Twite which spent mid-December on
Wallasea reappeared from the 8th until the 22nd although
only two were present after the 8th. The Hawfinch at Pound Wood was joined by two more on the 9th
and 10th with one remaining through to the 12th. The
finch flock at Hampton Barns, Stambridge, attracted two Lesser Redpolls from the 12th through to the end of the
month. With 100 Chaffinches, ten Reed Buntings and Corn Buntings, and a handful of Greenfinches, Bramblings
and now two Lesser Redpolls, it made
for quite a spectacle. Two Woodcock
were seen on Canvey Wick on the 15th, with singles reported from a
further three sites this month. A Snow
Bunting was an excellent find along the Roach seawall at Barling on the 16th;
it remained through to the 28th. Merlin were in short supply this month although males were seen at
Bowers Marsh on the 16th and Barling on the 18th, with
females reported from South Fambridge and Wallasea. A movement of Red-throated Divers into the estuary
was noted mid-month when there were 60 from the 16th to the 18th,
with a Little Gull also present on
the latter date. Four Barnacle Geese
arrived on Wallasea on the 18th and increased to six by early
February. What little chance they had of being deemed truly wild was scuppered
when the colour ring on one of the birds was traced back to a ringing scheme
from north Norfolk in July last year. The 21st and 22nd
saw some excellent birds recorded starting with a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Hockley Woods, which was totally
unexpected given that the last local sighting was here in 2015. Seven White-fronted Geese on Wallasea on the
21st constituted the highest local count this month, two Jack Snipe there the same day were a
good site record as was the Lapland
Bunting present on the 22nd and 23rd and which was
only the second local record in the last ten years. Whilst searching for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Hockley
Woods on the 22nd a male Hawfinch
was found and was joined by a female from the 23rd; these were the
first Hawfinch sightings in Hockley
Woods, a once regular wintering site, since 2013. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker remained for only a few short days
whereas the Hawfinches were seen
intermittently through to early March. Also present in Hockley Woods throughout
the month were up to six Nuthatches
and six Treecreepers. A flock of
twenty Siskins were found on the
edge of Hockley Woods on the 24th where they remained for a week.
Two Goosanders were photographed on
Wallasea on the 26th where they stayed through to the end of
February. Following a report of six Short-eared
Owls along the seawall at South Fambridge on the 26th, three
were found to be still present on the 27th. Although this was clearly
an influx, it was very localised as none were noted at any other sites at this
time. Meanwhile, up to three Long-eared
Owls were present all month at a traditional roost site in the south. In a predictably
quiet month for Red Kites, the only
one recorded was over Coombe Wood on the 30th. Good numbers of auks
were in the Thames once again on the 31st when 35 Guillemots and ten Razorbills were seen from Canvey Point.
FEBRUARY 2022
After
becoming fairly widespread last year, Raven reverted to its scarce
status this year with one seen over South Fambridge on the 1st and
one over Benfleet Downs on the 12th the only records this month,
following none in January. The only record of Woodcock this month was
the two seen at Canvey Wick on the 1st. Last month’s Goosander
duo was finally pinned down on Wallasea on the 1st where they
remained through to the 22nd. A sizeable flock of White-fronted
Geese visited Wallasea several times this month, with the first occasion
being on the 3rd; they appeared to be wintering on Foulness but made
the occasional sojourn to the east end of Wallasea. The first Great Northern
Diver of the year was seen intermittently from Canvey between the 1st
and the 9th and was briefly joined by a second bird on the latter
date. The first and only Black-throated Diver record of the first winter
was an individual that drifted past Canvey on the 3rd. The 800
strong Dark-bellied Brent Goose flock did the decent thing and settled
down at South Fambridge from the 4th through to early March. Within
the flock, the stand out highlight was the fine Red-breasted Goose
although a couple each of Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Goose
added extra variety. Auks were still present in the Thames during the first
half of the month, peaking at 15 Guillemots and four Razorbills
on the 4th; they had all departed for their breeding grounds from
the 15th with no more records in the first half of the year. Taking
a short break from South Fambridge, the Red-breasted Goose visited
Wallasea on the 5th for its second and final time this winter. The 9th
saw the first of three Blackcap records this month with a male in a
South Benfleet garden while Chiffchaff numbered just two this month.
Pleasingly, a flock of up to 21 Yellowhammers was noted inland at South
Fambridge from the 4th to the 17th; with no records from
other sites this month, this has sadly become their last stronghold. A flock of
ten Hawfinches was a great find in Hadleigh West Wood on the 13th.
With no previous records from here, they were entirely unexpected and a sign of
what can be found, as well as what probably goes undiscovered. The Hawfinches
showed through to the 26th albeit in smaller numbers, and the female
in Hockley Woods also put in an appearance mid-month. Canvey Point produced
some sawbill action mid-month, with four Red-breasted Mergansers on the
13th and a pair of Goosanders on the 20th. The
Wallasea Twite were reported again on the 14th but could not
be refound despite searching. Interestingly, South Fambridge experienced
another influx of Short-eared Owls on the 26th and 27th
with four on the former date and an impressive seven on the latter, the joint
highest ever count away from Wallasea. An early passage Brambling was a
welcome visitor to feeders in a Canewdon garden on the 26th and 27th,
and was surprisingly the only record all month. Towards the end of the month,
both Brimstone and Peacock were on the wing, bringing the number
of butterfly species up to four for the year.
MARCH 2022
A Great
Northern Diver past Canvey Point on the 2nd was the only record
this month and also the last of the winter. The hoped for spring arrival of Black-necked
Grebes at Bowers Marsh, which has become a feature of recent years, started
with one on the 2nd before being joined by a second bird from the 10th,
and rising to four from the 20th onwards. A Bullfinch or two
were present in Magnolia NR from the 3rd to the 11th;
historically this was a regular site for this species. On the 3rd the
Foulness flock of 57 White-fronted Geese visited Wallasea for the final
time this winter, whilst nearby at South Fambridge the Red-breasted Goose
was still to be found on the 5th. Seawatching on the 6th
at Canvey produced the only Great Skua sighting in the first half of the
year along with 16 Kittiwakes, the highest count during the same period.
Two male Red-crested Pochards dropped in on Bowers Marsh on the 7th,
whilst next day two Hawfinches at Hockley Woods were the last of a good
run for this species locally. Good numbers of Short-eared Owls remained
throughout the month with four still present near South Fambridge on the 10th
and a single at Bowers Marsh the same day. Chiffchaffs began arriving
from the 11th with Blackcaps following one week later from
the 18th. A spring passage of Jack Snipe has been evident at
Vange Marsh in most years recently and so it was no surprise that three were
found on the 11th with at least one remaining until the 18th.
The Red-breasted Goose was still favouring South Fambridge from the 12th
to the 14th, it will be interesting to see if it returns next
winter; meanwhile the Black Brant was also recorded here on the 13th,
19th and 20th. A small passage of Black Redstarts
was discernible during the second half of the month with birds noted at Little
Wakering on the 13th, Shoebury on the 20th, and Hockley
on the 24th. However, all were seen only by the finders as all were
in gardens. Water Pipits were recorded from Vange Marsh on two dates
mid-month with two on the 14th and 18th. Garganey
arrived back on the 15th with three at Bowers Marsh which remained
through to the end of April. The over-wintering trio of Spoonbills on
Wallasea were joined by a fourth bird on the 17th and 18th.
A Hen Harrier was also seen there on the 17th, with it or
another at South Fambridge on the 18th. In addition, an early Little
Ringed Plover was reported from Wallasea on the 18th. Nearby at
Canewdon, a light passage of Bramblings was apparent from the 18th
through to the 30th with six birds passing through one garden during
the period. A flock of six Lesser Redpolls at Cherry Orchard CP on the
20th were the only record this month, and the last of the winter. A Raven
at Haven Point on the 20th had most likely wandered across from
Foulness, likewise two at South Fambridge on the 27th were almost
certainly from across the Crouch. A Great White Egret took up residence
at Bowers Marsh from the 21st until the 16th April, and was
occasionally joined by a second individual. In what has been a good winter
locally for geese, three Tundra Bean Geese at Lower Raypits from the 23rd
until the 3rd April were probably the least expected. Seeing them in
the sunshine in the company of three Little Ringed Plovers and a White
Wagtail on the 24th was an interesting juxtaposition. A Glossy
Ibis dropped in on Wallasea on the 25th but frustratingly did
not linger. The first Sandwich Terns were logged off Gunners Park on the
26th, a day that saw four Emperor Moths attracted to a South
Fambridge garden. The last Hen Harrier sighting of the winter was a
ringtail at Lower Raypits on the 27th. Bowers Marsh hosted a pair of
Little Ringed Plovers from the 27th onwards and a typically
elusive Ring Ouzel on the 28th. Wheatears were
conspicuous by their absence this month with one photographed on Two Tree
Island on the 29th the sole record. The month finished with two Little
Gulls upriver past Canvey on the 31st, and the butterfly species
count rose to six with the addition of Small White and Comma this
month.
APRIL 2022
The first
half of the month was largely uneventful as the anticipated summer migrants and
passage migrants failed to appear. A Black
Redstart in Gunners Park on the 1st was the highlight of the
first two weeks but once again, just like the previous sightings this year, it
was only seen by the finder. A female Merlin at Canvey Point on the 4th
was the last record this winter of this delightfully diminutive falcon. The
trio of Spoonbills on Wallasea were seen together for the final time on
the 6th although a single was seen on a handful of dates over the
following week. Gunners Park held a White Wagtail on the 10th
which transpired to be the second and final sighting of the spring. The 11th
saw the first returning Whimbrels and Cuckoos with good numbers
of each recorded from many sites this month. The 12th saw a noticeable
arrival of Nightingales with six on Canvey Wick, swelling to nine a few
days later, five at Wakering Stairs, and two singles elsewhere. The Black-necked
Grebe gathering at Bowers Marsh peaked at six on the 12th, with
five reported on several dates subsequently. Just seven Dark-bellied Brent
Geese remained in the sunshine at South Fambridge, yet incredibly the Black
Brant was still to be found with them on the 13th and 14th;
two Cattle Egrets were seen flying to roost there on the 13th.
A fine male Pied Flycatcher photographed on Canvey Wick on the 14th
was an excellent spring record. The first of seven Wall Brown
butterflies sightings this month came from Fleet Head on the 15th,
and the first of two Green Hairstreaks this month was on Canvey Wick the
following day. There was a welcomed arrival of Grasshopper Warblers from
the 16th to the 19th with two at Bowers Marsh, one at West
Canvey Marsh, and one on Two Tree Island. The fields around South Fambridge
continued to attract Short-eared Owls with three still present on the 17th.
Totally unexpected was the report of a Hoopoe in a garden in Southchurch
on the 18th which was then photographed in another nearby garden the
following day. An early Hobby, the only one of the month, was hawking
near Battlesbridge on the 20th. Three Arctic Terns were off
Canvey on the 22nd, three others passed over Canvey Wick on the 24th
and a single was off the Point on the 1st May. With no Sandwich,
Little, or Black Terns this month, it was a poor tern passage
this spring. The first Small Copper of the year was seen on the 21st
in Gunners Park where the next day a Black-throated Diver flew past. A Broad-bodied
Chaser at South Fambridge on the 24th was particularly early; Large
Red Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, and Common Blue Damselfly
were all also seen in the latter half of the month. Two Siskins over
Hawkwell on the 24th were the last of the spring. The only
double-figure flock of Yellow Wagtails this month was 20 on Wallasea on
the 26th, the flock also hosted a smart ‘Channel Wagtail’. Two Wheatears at Oxenham Farm on the
26th was the only multiple count this month, eight singles were also
noted at several other sites. A near summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was
close inshore off Gunners Park on the 27th which, when coupled with
a Red-throated Diver off Canvey on the 1st and the Black-throated
Diver on the 22nd, meant that all three diver species were seen
this month on the Thames. A smart Black-necked Grebe was at Paglesham
Lagoon on the 27th and was a good record away from Bowers Marsh. The
first Swift of the year was at Vange Marsh on the 27th, with numbers
of all hirundines being considerably lower than usual this month. The month
closed with a report of five Cattle Egrets over Benfleet Downs on the 30th.
MAY 2022
The
flock of 20 Yellow Wagtails on Wallasea held a different ‘Channel Wagtail’ on the 1st.
On the 2nd, an immature Little Gull was found on the flood at
West Canvey Marsh where surprisingly it stayed for almost the entire month. The
Black-necked Grebes at Bowers Marsh reached an even higher peak this
month, with seven present on the 3rd and 9th reducing to
four by the month’s end. It was with some relief to have Turtle Doves
back at Wakering Stairs from the 3rd; they continue to maintain a
precarious foothold here with up to four present mid-month. Pleasingly, one or
two birds were also noted at three other sites this month although all were
likely to have been passage birds. A Long-eared Owl in the east afforded
good views most evenings from the 4th onwards. An Osprey on
Wallasea on the 8th and 9th predictably spent much of its
time sat on a post; two Wheatears there on the 8th was the only
multiple count this month, with four singles noted elsewhere in the first half
of the month. A Glossy Ibis on Wallasea on the 9th once again
eluded most of the locals as it promptly departed overnight just like the
previous two records this year. A Great White Egret was present at South
Fambridge on the 12th and 13th where an Osprey was
also present on the latter date. A female Whinchat was present along the
Roach near Stambridge on the 13th, the same day that up to three Spotted
Flycatchers arrived on Canvey Wick. Three Black-winged Stilts spent
the day on Vange Marsh, but as is often the way, they remained unsettled and
were gone the following morning. A count of 17 Wall Brown butterflies at
Wakering Stairs on the 14th was notable; smaller numbers were seen
at six other sites this month. Meanwhile, the first Painted Lady of the
year was recorded on the 18th in Gunners Park and a further 12 were
seen at several other coastal sites over the next few days including six on
Wallasea. The female Red-crested Pochard in Southchurch, which proved
popular at the start of the winter, was reportedly back again on the 18th.
Two Spoonbills were new in at Bowers Marsh on the 19th, with
another two visiting Wallasea on the 23rd. Surprise of the month,
although not entirely unexpected, was the return of the wintering Black
Guillemot, now in summer plumage, off Gunners Park again on the 20th
and 21st. A single Black-winged Stilt visited Wallasea on the
21st, however much like the previous week’s trio it was not present
the following day. A Little Tern off Gunners Park on the 21st
was the first of the year and the only sighting all month. A female Goldeneye
which unusually had wintered on the shallow flood at Bowers Marsh extended her
stay through to the 26th. In what looks to be a good year for Long-eared
Owls, two were seen hunting in the south-west on the 28th.
Remarkably, another Hoopoe was seen and photographed on the 28th
when one was seen from the seawall at Wakering Stairs. By the 29th,
the first Heath Fritillaries of the year had emerged with 11 counted in
Hockley Woods.