Tuesday 24 February 2026

Fleet Head, 11:40 to 13:00
700 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 10 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Corn Bunting, 8 Rabbit [John Wright]

River Roach, 10:20 to 11:20, Via Ropers Farm footpath
1 Goldeneye (drake), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (female), 3 Marsh Harrier (Paglesham side of river), 3 Buzzard (2 Ropers Farm,1 Paglesham side of river), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat (female) [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 10:45
2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pink-footed Goose (from gate left of dismantled barn.), 80 Barnacle Goose (from gate left of dismantled barn.), 3 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier (female.), 2 Buzzard, 5 Avocet, 4 Snipe, 10 Mediterranean Gull [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Monday 23 February 2026

Canewdon, 14:00 to 16:00, Mostly just garden watching
1 Little Grebe (First for the spring on BHP, hope it sticks), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (On garden feeders), 1 Grey Wagtail (On garden pond again this afternoon), 1 Robin (Nest building in garden), 2 Song Thrush (Singing around BHP), 2 Long-tailed Tit (Very much paired up now), 11 Chaffinch (Still good numbers of finches around feeders - some song), 9 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Great Crested Newt (garden pond), 8 Smooth Newt, 0 Common Frog (Sadly no sign yet ) [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 14:00 to 14:00
4 Buzzard, 10 Linnet, 1 Reed Bunting, 12 Corn Bunting [Paul Baker]

Roper's farm, 12:00 to 14:00
15 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (Female on the Roach), 2 Marsh Harrier (Male and female ), 1 Buzzard, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Rock Pipit [Lee Ebbs]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 11:10 to 11:10
1 Peacock Butterfly [Paul Griggs]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:00 to 10:00
10 Smooth Newt, 15 Common Frog (at least 15 + frogspawn) [John Wright]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 08:10 to 08:20
2 Stock Dove (pair), 1 Goldcrest (singing), 1 Coal Tit (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Sunday 22 February 2026

Canvey Point, 14:15 to 15:30
1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Rochford Golf Course, 14:15 to 16:00, Sunny, mild, SW wind
1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 2 Skylark, 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

Benfleet Yacht Club, 14:05 to 14:05
1 Raven (flew over the car as we drove onto Canvey) [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 11:50 to 11:50
1 Peacock Butterfly [Paul Griggs]

Hockley/Hawkwell, 11:00 to 11:00
1 Buzzard (sitting in roadside oak along Lower Road) [Paul Baker]

West Wood, 11:00 to 11:10
4 Siskin (Plus flock of 20 or so finches seen lying off as I arrived not identified) [Mike Clarke]

South Fambridge, 10:30 to 10:30
1 Buzzard [Paul Baker]

Saturday 21 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 17:15 to 17:20
1 Tawny Owl (disturbed from neighbour's garden, flew into our garden and then back a few minutes later) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 17:00 to 17:00
1 Green Sandpiper (BHF), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Chaffinch, 1 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer (a pair including a singing male), 1 Reed Bunting, 106 Corn Bunting (same tree as previously - quite an impressive sight) [Paul Baker]

Wakering Stairs, 15:45 to 17:30
1 Little Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 9 Chinese Muntjac, 10 Rabbit [John Wright]

Airport Business Park, 15:20 to 16:45
4 Snipe, 1 Skylark (singing), 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 2 Greenfinch, 4 Linnet [Neil Chambers]

Paglesham Lagoon, 13:30 to 17:00, Walked in from Hampton Barns
4 Gadwall, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher (flew over the Roach towards Barling Magna Nature rersrve), 1 Rock Pipit, 30 Goldfinch (c) [Matt Bruty]

South Fambridge, 13:00 to 13:15
3 Red Kite (all raptors airborne at the same time to the north), 7 Buzzard [Paul Baker]

West Wood, 13:00 to 15:20
1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 1 Coal Tit, 8 Siskin (At Deans School seen from the woods) [Steve Arlow, Bob Young]

Friday 20 February 2026

South Fambridge, 12:00 to 12:00
3 Buzzard [Paul Baker]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:15
1 Pink-footed Goose (on Don's Marsh.), 55 Barnacle Goose, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (heard.), 30 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Red Fox [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 02:20 to 02:25
1 Tawny Owl (hooting loudly - woke me up!) [Neil Chambers]

Thursday 19 February 2026

Two Tree Island (West), 20:00 to 20:00
1 Barn Owl [Max Hellicar]

Wakering Common, 18:10 to 18:15
1 Little Owl (Heard calling on Wakering Common) [Lee Ebbs]

South Fambridge, 16:15 to 16:45, Finally stopped raining and visibility improved
1 Barn Owl (usual bird, usual place), 2 Stonechat (pair along borrowdyke), 10 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer (male in bunting flock), 2 Reed Bunting (a pair in bunting flock), 93 Corn Bunting (quite unexpected and exceptional. Flock included a partial leucistic bird), 1 Red Fox (on seawall) [Paul Baker]

Belton Hills, 14:30 to 14:30
1 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

Gunners Park, 11:45 to 14:30
2 Red-throated Diver, 50 Great Crested Grebe (circa), 6 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Scaup (on the lake), 2 Stonechat (pair), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Firecrest [Bob Young, John Wright]

Southend Pier, 10:40 to 13:15, Light NNE heavy overcast with some drizzle, hi tide 14:00
6 Red-throated Diver (3 flying east, 3 fishing east of pierhead), 40 Great Crested Grebe (+, Inc some close in ), 1 Shag (1st W flew in onto posts by ramp ), 60 Turnstone (circa, Very few on normal roost - none until tide really high), 3 Mediterranean Gull (All out in Estuary- surprisingly non on launch ramp), 1 Guillemot (On water east of pier), 1 Grey Seal [Jeff Delve]

Wednesday 18 February 2026

Thorpe Bay, 13:30 to 14:00, Golf Course
3 Ring-necked Parakeet (+), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Hullbridge, 12:45 to 13:15, Large weedy field S of Watery Lane
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 200 Stock Dove (circa), 50 Chaffinch (+, Very flighty around field edges ), 200 Linnet (circa) [Jeff Delve]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 12:10 to 12:30
10 White-fronted Goose (Probably more hidden away) [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 12:00 to 12:00
3 Marsh Harrier (females together on BHF), 1 Buzzard [Paul Baker]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 10:15 to 11:00, Very cold easterly wind 5c
1 Jack Snipe (Very difficult- left unflushed.), 1 Spotted Redshank (On saline lagoon), 2 Cetti's Warbler [Jeff Delve]

Tuesday 17 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 23:25 to 23:25
1 Tawny Owl (hooting) [Neil Chambers]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 19:25 to 19:25
1 Tawny Owl (male hooting and seen) [Paul Griggs]

Hole Haven Creek, 16:35 to 17:20
2 Egyptian Goose, 900 Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Larus sp. (far fewer large gulls than on previous visit), 1 Caspian Gull (1'w), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 16:30 to 17:45, Out to Pantile screen
20 White-fronted Goose (+, In to roost really late), 20 Pintail, 1 Snipe (H), 70 Fieldfare (+), 200 Starling (+) [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 15:35 to 16:20
3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Seal [Neil Chambers]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 15:00 to 16:00
0 Jack Snipe (No sign) [Jeff Delve]

Gunners Park, 14:30 to 16:00
1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Scaup (female still), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Firecrest [Max Hellicar]

Daws Heath, 14:10 to 14:30
16 Siskin (in Deanes School grounds) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 13:55 to 13:55
1 Red Kite (flew over my garden heading west) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Canvey Wick, 13:20 to 15:20
11 Woodcock, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Greenfinch (singing), 1 Linnet (singing), 7 Redpoll (eventually flew in to trees south of car park) [Neil Chambers]

Daws Heath, 12:50 to 13:10
10 Siskin (+, Singing in large Alders nr Deane’s school) [Jeff Delve]

Oxenham Farm, 12:50 to 13:50
280 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Snipe, 4 Rock Pipit [Max Hellicar]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 12:10 to 12:50
1 Water Rail (heard calling), 1 Jack Snipe (flushed from usual area. I'd scanned with the thermal and couldn't see anything, so must have been tucked in tightly), 2 Snipe, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Bearded Tit (heard only) [Neil Chambers]

Hullbridge, 11:20 to 12:00, Viewing from South Woodham side
200 Black-headed Gull (+), 5 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 15 Herring Gull [Jeff Delve]

Belfairs Woods, 11:15 to 11:35
1 Buzzard, 1 Coal Tit (singing and showing well above bridleway towards Dodd's Grove), 1 Nuthatch (singing) [John Wright]

South Fambridge, 10:40 to 17:00, a couple of periods looking out, including meeting up with PG & BY for a bit
30 Pintail (on BHF), 2 Red Kite, 1 Marsh Harrier (Female), 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 25 Avocet, 2 Stonechat (a pair), 1 Raven (BHF), 65 Linnet (in tall trees around setaside), 7 Reed Bunting, 33 Corn Bunting (around setaside field adjacent to garden), 5 Rabbit [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 10:20 to 12:50
1 Red Kite (maybe 2, at one time one was over Paul's garden), 4 Buzzard, 1 Short-eared Owl (1/2 mile east of S.Fambridge) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

West Wood, 09:30 to 11:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Firecrest, 11 Siskin (5 in the wood, 6 in trees at entrance to Deanes School), 3 Redpoll (with the Siskin in the wood) [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:50 to 12:35
60 Barnacle Goose (c ), 44 Pochard, 1 Marsh Harrier (f), 1 Kestrel, 8 Grey Plover, 300 Lapwing (c), 250 Knot (c ), 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Curlew, 9 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 26 Redwing (paddock), 7 Cetti's Warbler (h), 1 Chiffchaff (h), 1 Raven (S), 2 Greenfinch [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:15
1 Pink-footed Goose, 100 Barnacle Goose (+), 10 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin (in solar panel field.), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat, 5 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 16 Reed Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Monday 16 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 21:30 to 21:40
1 Tawny Owl (male hooting) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 17:00 to 17:15, Brief respite in the rain
1 Marsh Harrier (female on BHF), 2 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl (showing wonderfully well actually hunting in my field as well as the seawall.), 1 Corn Bunting [Paul Baker]

Canewdon, 16:30 to 16:35
1 Grey Wagtail (On gardening pond again ) [Jeff Delve]

West Wood, 14:30 to 15:30
1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Jay [Max Hellicar]

Doggetts Pits, 12:40 to 13:10
2 Great Crested Grebe (pair have returned for another year) [Steve Arlow]

West Wood, 11:55 to 13:15, Loop around main trail until rain stopped play
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Nuthatch (H), 2 Jay, 15 Goldfinch, 0 Siskin (Some promising looking large Alders nr Deane’s school but no finches evident) [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Wick, 10:45 to 11:40
2 Cetti's Warbler, 0 Redpoll (No sign along main track from Bee trail to crossroads) [Jeff Delve]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:15 to 10:35, Cold strong westerly. Just out to Pantile scrape.
28 White-fronted Goose (In flight ), 68 Barnacle Goose (On Pantile), 300 Wigeon (+), 400 Teal (+), 30 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 1 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Cetti's Warbler [Jeff Delve]

Sunday 15 February 2026

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:20, Finally stopped raining
4 White-fronted Goose (on BHF), 1 Marsh Harrier (ad female), 3 Buzzard (in the air together), 2 Avocet, 1 Barn Owl (showing well at bottom of the garden), 1 Raven (over east end of BHF being mobbed by 2 crows, then did some 'tumbling'), 2 Reed Bunting (males) [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 16:00 to 17:45, Just out to hide and back after rain stopped
5 Spoonbill, 40 Pintail (+), 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 50 Avocet (+), 1500 Golden Plover (+), 150 Black-tailed Godwit (+), 1 Greenshank, 2 Barn Owl (Reptile area and Tillets), 1 Rock Pipit [Jeff Delve]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 15:40 to 17:15
1 Jack Snipe (Picked out on the ground with TI to the right of Pantile Screen, several metres beyond elec fence in front of pool), 5 Snipe (+), 20 Fieldfare (+), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Wood Mouse [Tim Bourne]

Airport Business Park, 15:35 to 16:20
3 Snipe, 4 Skylark, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Shrew sp. [Neil Chambers]

Canvey Wick, 08:00 to 09:30
7 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Heard ), 7 Lesser Redpoll ( In trees south of crossroads) [Lee Ebbs]

Saturday 14 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 20:30 to 20:35
2 Badger (still visiting garden each evening) [Neil Chambers]

Shoeburyness Park, 16:50 to 16:50
3 Egyptian Goose [Max Hellicar]

Friars Park, 16:30 to 16:40
1 Cetti's Warbler [Max Hellicar]

Shoebury, 16:10 to 16:30, St. Mary's Churchyard
2 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:55
500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 1 Short-eared Owl [Matt Bruty]

Southchurch Park West, 14:20 to 14:40
1 Red-crested Pochard, 4 Stock Dove [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:00 to 17:00
2 Great White Egret (1 on Fitz lagoon, 1 on Foulness), 5 Spoonbill (Darwin lagoon), 9 White-fronted Goose (Tillets), 10 Barnacle Goose (Tillets), 2 Marsh Harrier (M & F), 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin (Pool Marsh), 2 Greenshank, 1 Barn Owl (Tillets & Pool Marsh), 1 Short-eared Owl (Pool Marsh) [John Wright]

West Wood, 13:00 to 16:30
1 Buzzard, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, 20 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 8 Firecrest (possibly 10 in Holly all around the wood), 1 Coal Tit (showing well, singing occasionally ), 1 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper (pair), 20 Chaffinch [Steve Arlow]

Westcliff Seafront, 13:00 to 14:00
18 Mediterranean Gull [Max Hellicar]

Canvey Point, 11:55 to 12:30
2 Mediterranean Gull (adults), 1 Little Gull (super adult east of the point) [Steve Arlow]

Canvey Wick, 10:30 to 11:20
7 Lesser Redpoll (just south of the crossroads in birches) [Steve Arlow]

Hadleigh Downs, 10:30 to 12:50
2 Buzzard [Paul Griggs]

Gunners Park, 08:50 to 09:50
1 Scaup (still present on the lake), 1 Water Rail (in the reserve), 14 Little Gull (a flock of 12 and then 2 stragglers flew west; mostly adults), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 0 Dartford Warbler (no sign), 0 Firecrest (no sign), 2 Raven (flew north over the reserve; appear to be coming in off the sea) [Steve Arlow]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 08:45 to 13:00
1 Great White Egret, 5 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk (female hunting east end), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Common Seal (up on the mud at Half Moon) [Matt Bruty]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 10:45
1 Pink-footed Goose, 100 Barnacle Goose (+), 10 Pintail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 60 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 3 Corn Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Gunners Park, 07:45 to 09:45, Cold 2C light NE overcast brightening later. Just sea watching from 9.2 inch gun battery.
10 Red-throated Diver (All flying east in one’s and two’s), 52 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Scaup (1st W still on lake), 30 Grey Plover (+, Flock heading E), 10 Sanderling, 16 Little Gull (Single adult feeding offshore and drifting E, then flock of 12 past east (thanks Steve) then 3 more feeding. ), 1 Rock Pipit [Jeff Delve]

Two Tree Island (East), 07:15 to 11:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Jay, 3 Greenfinch [Max Hellicar]

Friday 13 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 20:30 to 20:35
1 Tawny Owl (female calling) [Neil Chambers]

Hole Haven Creek, 16:05 to 17:05
1 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Avocet, 450 Larus sp. (large gulls in pre-roost gathering), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) [Neil Chambers]

Canvey Wick, 15:15 to 16:00
3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 13:00 to 13:00
4 Buzzard, 1 Reed Bunting (male), 1 Corn Bunting [Paul Baker]

Canvey Point, 09:30 to 11:30
1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet (adults flew up river), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Grey Seal [John Wright]

Leigh on Sea, 08:00 to 08:00
1 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

Thursday 12 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 19:35 to 19:40
2 Tawny Owl (pair duetting) [Neil Chambers]

Leigh on Sea, 17:00 to 17:00
1 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:15 to 16:15, Light S breeze, 11C overcast some light showers
1 Great White Egret (S Fitz), 4 Spoonbill (South Darwin), 46 Mute Swan (Across site), 6 White-fronted Goose (On Jubilee saltmarsh then flew out onto Foulness), 9 Barnacle Goose (On Jubilee saltmarsh with Greylags, Canadas and WfG), 168 Pintail (On Darwin alone, more on Fitz and Stokes, really good numbers ), 3 Marsh Harrier (2 males), 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Usual ad female on Jubilee), 2500 Golden Plover (+), 4 Greenshank (Pool M), 2 Stock Dove (Pair in display on white elephant), 3 Skylark (Great to hear them in full song ), 3 Reed Bunting [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 13:20 to 13:20
1 Barn Owl [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 13:15 to 13:15
1 Red Kite (over North Fambridge again, seemingly resident now), 1 Marsh Harrier (ad female), 2 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker [Paul Baker]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:45 to 11:15, Usual stuff around
1 Pink-footed Goose (on Don's marsh with Greylags), 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Fieldfare [John Wright]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 00:00 to 00:10
1 Tawny Owl (hooting distantly) [Neil Chambers]

Wednesday 11 February 2026

South Fambridge, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Marsh Harrier (the smart male on BHF), 5 Buzzard, 3 Redwing [Paul Baker]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 00:00 to 00:10
1 Tawny Owl (hooting male) [Neil Chambers]