Southend Ornithological Group Bird News

Records submitted in the last 14 days, most recent first. Amber indicates scarce, red indicates rare (Essex requires notes or a description), magenta indicates non-native.

Monday 20 October 2025

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 00:35 to 01:30
2 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Sunday 19 October 2025

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 13:55 to 15:00
4 Cormorant (south), 1 Grey Wagtail [Paul Griggs]

Wakering Stairs, 12:10 to 13:10
2 Gannet, 8000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c. +), 2 Marsh Harrier, GreatSkua_WakeringStairs1_19_10_2025 (Marc Outten) (128819 bytes) Great Skua_WakeringStairs_19_10_2025 (Marc Outten) (196830 bytes) 1 Great Skua (Moribund bird on the shore by the slipway. Potentially avian influenza. ), 2 Rock Pipit [Marc Outten]

Gunners Park, 12:05 to 13:50, High tide, SSE wind
20 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet (2 ad + juv), 4 Common Scoter (flew west), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (redhead), 1 Arctic Skua (pale ad chasing gulls distantly), 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Arctic Tern (juv), 1 Razorbill, 1 Kingfisher (usual spot), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Wakering Common, 11:10 to 11:35
5 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Redpoll (circling calling) [Marc Outten]

Gunners Park, 10:45 to 12:55
4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 skua sp. (MC), 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Skylark, 4 Swallow (+), 2 Stonechat (pr), 2 Cetti's Warbler (h), 4 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest (both had rings) [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Shoebury East Beach, 09:50 to 11:00
7 Great Crested Grebe, 48 Little Egret, 1 Woodlark (Over with a Skylark and one other unidentified Lark, potentially a second Woodlark. Became disappearing silhouettes too quickly. ), 1 Skylark, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Siskin [Marc Outten]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 11:00
1 Great White Egret, 2 Spoonbill, 1 Kestrel, 50 Avocet (plus), 1 Dunlin, 5 Ruff, 6 Snipe, 800 Black-tailed Godwit (plus), 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Skylark, 4 Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler (Graham Oakes) (53366 bytes) Cetti's Warbler (Graham Oakes) (61746 bytes) 8 Cetti's Warbler (2 seen), 4 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Saturday 18 October 2025

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 14:25 to 14:40
2 Greylag Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Paul Griggs]

South Fambridge, 14:00 to 14:00
1 Raven (flew south), 1 Red Admiral (on buddleia) [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 11:25 to 14:20
16 Little Grebe, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill (on Darwin Lagoon), 12 Pintail, 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail with damaged tip to right wing), 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin (juvenile / female type), 1 Peregrine Falcon (juvenile), 83 Golden Plover, 1 Little Stint (on Grass Farm Lagoon), 19 Greenshank, 92 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Stonechat [Steve Arlow]

Fleet Head, 11:20 to 12:40, To Barling creek seawall and back
1 Cattle Egret (with the cattle), 2 Marsh Harrier (male and female), 1 Kestrel, 1 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black Redstart (female/imm), 22 Fieldfare, 1 Rabbit [John Wright]

Gunners Park, 09:30 to 10:30
1 Kingfisher, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Stonechat (male), 1 Rabbit [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:25 to 12:45
1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Snipe, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Meadow Pipit, 12 Dunnock, 4 Stonechat, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Westcliff Seafront, 07:15 to 09:15, Cliffs, light overcast, light E wind
1 Red-breasted Merganser (redhead), 1 Sandwich Tern (juv feeding offshore), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Brambling (flew east calling), 1 Siskin [Neil Chambers, Lee Ebbs]

Friday 17 October 2025

Two Tree Island (West), 15:00 to 15:40
1 Kingfisher (on the lagoon) [John Wright]

Two Tree Island (East), 14:15 to 14:50
7000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c7000) [John Wright]

Leigh on Sea, 11:50 to 12:00
67 Little Egret (Leigh creek saltmarsh) [John Wright]

Benfleet Creek, 11:00 to 11:45
3 Stonechat [John Wright]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:30 to 09:35
4 Skylark (flying east) [John Wright]

Belton Hills, 07:35 to 07:35
1 Redpoll (Flew low north calling constantly ) [Vince Kinsler]

Thursday 16 October 2025

Rochford, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Brimstone (Flew garden ) [Steve Arlow]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 10:30 to 11:30
1 Cormorant, 3 Fieldfare (west) [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 12:15
2 Spoonbill, 4 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier (female ), 40 Avocet (plus), 1 Ringed Plover, 6 Ruff, 4 Snipe, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Canvey Point, 08:00 to 11:30
4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet, 1 Eider (adult drake, haven't seen an ad drake locally for many years), 2 Pomarine Skua (juvs, one lingered east of the point, the other flew up river ), 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Swallow, 1 Grey Seal [John Wright]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 00:30 to 02:00
4 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Wednesday 15 October 2025

Fleet Head, 13:40 to 15:30
43 Teal, 1 Kestrel, 2 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 4 Redwing [Bob Young]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 11:30 to 11:35
4 Common Frog (yearlings in the garden) [John Wright]

Wakering Common, 11:30 to 13:30
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 4 Skylark, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff (1 singing), 1 Goldcrest [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Gunners Park, 07:30 to 10:40
6 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel (pr), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 24 Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 1 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing (+), 2 Cetti's Warbler (h), 6 Goldcrest, 2 Siskin (over) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Tuesday 14 October 2025

Rochford, 18:20 to 18:20
2 Egyptian Goose (flew NE over garden in direction of Doggetts Pits) [Steve Arlow]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 16:30 to 17:15
1 Pink-footed Goose (north side of Manorway track with Greylags) [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 13:00
2 Spoonbill, 1 Water Rail (heard), 50 Avocet (plus), 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 8 Ruff, 4 Snipe, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Stonechat, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Monday 13 October 2025

Canvey Point, 17:30 to 18:20, High tide, light NE, overcast
60 Wigeon, 30 Common Scoter (Sat on the water fairly close in, c. 10 drakes), 5 Arctic Skua (+ 3 together plus a number of other singles chasing terns), 5 Sandwich Tern, 8 Common Tern (+20 distant ‘commic’), 2 Arctic Tern [Martin Cracknell]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 09:10 to 09:40
15 Redwing (west) [Paul Griggs]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 00:30 to 04:00
2 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Sunday 12 October 2025

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 16:30 to 18:20, Sunny, light NE wind
25 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill (imm), 2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (juv (probably male)), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Ringed Plover, 300 Golden Plover, 20 Dunlin, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Greenshank, 20 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat (pair) [Neil Chambers]

Wakering Stairs, 15:20 to 17:00
7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet, 7 Little Egret, 7320 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Tried to get a decent count on them. ), 6000 Wigeon (+ ), 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 800 Oystercatcher, 40 Grey Plover, 300 Sanderling, 50 Dunlin, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat [Marc Outten, Lee Ebbs]

Wakering Stairs, 13:45 to 16:00
4 Little Egret, 10000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 150 Oystercatcher, 50 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin [Graham Mee]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 11:45 to 16:30
25 Little Egret (+), 2 Great White Egret, 1 harrier sp. (distant ringtail, Tillets 15:15 from the hide), 4 Marsh Harrier (+), 1 Hen Harrier (12:40 close, at the south end of Stokes, adult male being mobbed by Merlin), 9 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 120 Golden Plover (c.), 4 Greenshank, 50 Mediterranean Gull (c.), 14 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, 5 Stonechat, 5 Linnet, 7 Reed Bunting [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Saturday 11 October 2025

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:00
1 Common Lizard (quite torpid) [Paul Baker]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 15:30 to 17:00
1 Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 1 Marsh Harrier (male), 1 Dunlin, 4 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:15 to 11:00
1 Cattle Egret (On main island on lagoon ), 1 Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 1 Pink-footed Goose (With Greylags in field north of lagoon), 3 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Stonechat, 3 Bearded Tit [Lee Ebbs]

Friday 10 October 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 21:00 to 21:00
2 Badger [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 13:00 to 17:15, WeBs count - some other stuff
15 Little Grebe (including 12 on Stokes lagoon), 2 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill, 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 8 Greenshank, 500 Mediterranean Gull (c500 on ploughed field north of entrance road), 2 Stonechat [John Wright]

Hadleigh, 09:10 to 09:10, on Lidl (A13)
1 Grey Wagtail [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 13:00
2 Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 1 Water Rail (seen), 1 Dunlin, 6 Ruff, 6 Snipe, 40 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat, 2 Cetti's Warbler (seen), 2 Goldcrest [Graham Oakes]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 02:00 to 03:30
3 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Thursday 09 October 2025

Gunners Park, 16:00 to 18:00, Light overcast, light SW wind, high tide c3.40pm
2 Red-throated Diver, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pomarine Skua (juvs chasing large gulls mid-river, drifted off SE), 4 Arctic Skua (chasing Kittiwakes), 55 Kittiwake (+, single flock upriver behind container ship), 10 Sterna sp. ('Commic'), 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Redpoll (flew over calling) [Neil Chambers]

Shoebury East Beach, 12:45 to 13:45
3 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet (juv on water), 3 Arctic Skua (following the Kittiwakes), 30 Kittiwake (following a ship), 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock Butterfly, 1 Wall Brown [Neil Chambers]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 01:00 to 03:00
3 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Wednesday 08 October 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:30
2 Great White Egret, 1 Kestrel, 2 Water Rail (1 seen.), 6 Ruff, 1 Red-necked Phalarope, 2 Stonechat, 8 Bearded Tit [Graham Ryland]

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