Thursday 14 November 2024

Canewdon, 09:00 to 09:40, Sunny periods, garden watching
5 Ring-necked Parakeet (On birch tree out the front, flew west towards church), 1 Grey Wagtail (again on garden pond), 6 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Red Admiral [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 07:30 to 11:30, NNE 1-4 Foggy start and bright sunshine later H.T 10:44 5.7 m
9 Red-throated Diver, 25 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet, 27 Common Scoter (groups of 17 and 10), 30 Ringed Plover, 20 Sanderling, 2 Purple Sandpiper (landed on revetment 15ft away from end bench at 9:45. then flew west at 10:02), 1000 Dunlin (+), 1 auk sp., 1 Guillemot, 3 Rock Pipit [Terry Blackwell]

Wednesday 13 November 2024

Shoebury East Beach, 08:20 to 09:30
17 Great Crested Grebe, 26 Little Egret, 1500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 12 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Woodcock (Surprised to flush one from the MOD boundary fence. First for me here. ), 97 Redshank, 1 Swallow (Heading east), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 House Sparrow, 2 Siskin [Marc Outten]

Canvey Point, 07:30 to 09:45, NE 2 Sunny intervals H.T 10:50 5.4 m
4 Red-throated Diver, 12 Shelduck, 6 Common Scoter (females), 6 Red-breasted Merganser (1 male and 5 red heads) [Terry Blackwell, Bob Young]

Tuesday 12 November 2024

Canvey Point, 07:30 to 14:30, NNE 3-6 Mainly bright and sunny ,with drizzle later H.T 8:48 5.4 m
6 Red-throated Diver, 40 Great Crested Grebe (+), 20 Gannet (+), 6 Pintail, 11 Common Scoter, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (red head landed off the Point), 1 Hen Harrier (male flew across from Kent ( great find Jeff ) ), 1 Kestrel (flew up river), 12 Ringed Plover, 50 Grey Plover (+), 1 Arctic Skua (pale form), 3 Mediterranean Gull, 140 Kittiwake (+including groups of 19,37, 39 and 45), 4 Guillemot, 1 Puffin (flew up river at10:12 and back out at 12:09), 1 Swallow (flying over the seawall) [Terry Blackwell, Jeff Delve, Bob Young]

Monday 11 November 2024

Rochford, 13:30 to 13:30
2 Green Sandpiper (flew north over The Drive just west of the junction with Somerset Avenue) [Steve Arlow]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 13:15 to 13:15
1 Buzzard [Paul Griggs]

Doggetts Pits, 13:00 to 13:30
2 Cormorant, 2 Buzzard, 2 Water Rail (calling from the reeds, back for another winter), 1 Cetti's Warbler [Steve Arlow]

River Roach, 08:55 to 13:25, Coombes Farm to Hampton Barns via Bartonhall Creek and return to Mill Lane
5 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 500 Golden Plover (c), 60 Grey Plover (c), 500 Lapwing (+), 70 Knot (c), 135 Black-tailed Godwit (c), 80 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 39 Herring Gull (incl ad with red ring on left leg,BC ), 1 Kingfisher (Stambridge Mills then flew to Broomhills Fishery ), 19 Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat (incl m at Waldens ), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush (CF), 1 Goldcrest (h,HB), 3 Red Admiral [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:30
2 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill, 3 Egyptian Goose, 12 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier (female.), 2 Kestrel, 2 Water Rail (1 seen), 16 Avocet, 17 Golden Plover, 5 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 13 Snipe, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 4 Stonechat, 3 Bearded Tit [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Sunday 10 November 2024

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 14:30 to 16:30, Very grey
1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Stonechat, 1 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 12 Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting, 5 Corn Bunting [Terry Blackwell]

Gunners Park, 13:55 to 15:10, Overcast, light SW wind
5 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Fieldfare (flew high SW), 3 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Park View Drive, Leigh, 13:00 to 15:00
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (male), 2 Robin, 2 Blackbird, 8 Long-tailed Tit (only third ever visit), 4 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch [Graham Mee]

Hullbridge, 11:30 to 14:30, West to Sewage works and east to Brandy Hole
1 Buzzard, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Larus sp. (An adult hybrid Herring x LBBGull (returning bird) and a 1st W LBBGull resembling a YLGull ), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (Adult with retained immature bill pattern still upriver past the Chalet Park), 4 Kingfisher (Two flew up Fenn Creek, one in borrowdyke at west end of seawall and one in river at Brandy Hole), 1 Song Thrush [Steve Arlow]

Friday 08 November 2024

South Fambridge, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Marsh Harrier (flew west through garden), 6 Golden Plover (flew west), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:30 to 16:30, Cold, still, dreary overcast. Short walk along north sea wall
3 Cattle Egret (On Marsh Flats still), 1 Great White Egret (With cattle on Marsh Flats), 6 Grey Heron (Inc 3 together with cattle on Marsh Flats), 5 Marsh Harrier (At least, 2 female/juv and 3 different males), 2 Hen Harrier (Ringtail reptile area and dark saddled 2cy male came in late on from north of river and over Pool Marsh ), 1 Snipe, 1 Dartford Warbler (Calling but elusive in small bush 100m west of Wheal family seat, then flitted around between nearby brambles ) [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 12:40 to 13:50, ESE 3 Very grey and murky
3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 2 Common Scoter (male and female), 1 Arctic Skua, 3 Mediterranean Gull [Terry Blackwell]

Rochford, 10:35 to 11:20
2 Ring-necked Parakeet (visiting the garden feeders ) [Steve Arlow]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 09:10
2 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Barnacle Goose, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Dunlin, 1 Bearded Tit (+ heard) [Marc Outten]

Thursday 07 November 2024

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 15:20 to 15:20
1 Grey Wagtail [Paul Griggs]

Canvey Point, 12:10 to 13:40
26 Great Crested Grebe, 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 20 Wigeon, 2 Eider (flew west), 1 Common Scoter, 3 Mediterranean Gull [Bob Young]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 09:30 to 14:30, Light ESE breeze, heavy overcast poor visibility.
3 Cattle Egret (With cattle south of Grass Farm), 20 Little Egret (+), 1 Great White Egret (On Stokes), 200 Shelduck (+, Jubilee), 1000 Wigeon (+, Jubilee), 300 Teal (+), 30 Pintail (+, Darwin), 6 Marsh Harrier (4 different males and 2 females), 2 Hen Harrier (2cy male seen 3 times Pool Marsh/trianhle/ Lytag plus ringtail Tillets), 1 Merlin (Male In hot pursuit of flock over north seawall and flew north over Burnham), 14 Avocet (Pool Marsh), 20 Ringed Plover (+, Pool Marsh), 1000 Golden Plover (+, Mostly roosting on Darwin but regularly in flight when spooked ), 200 Dunlin (+, Pool Marsh), 60 Black-tailed Godwit (+), 2 Greenshank (Pool Marsh) [Jeff Delve, Terry Blackwell]

Wednesday 06 November 2024

Canvey Point, 14:15 to 15:00, Flat calm, very misty
2 Red-throated Diver (Drifting in on the tide), 30 Great Crested Grebe (+), 80 Ringed Plover (+), 1 Rock Pipit [Terry Blackwell]

Gunners Park, 13:35 to 15:40, Grey and gloomy, negligible E breeze, misty offshore - high tide c3pm
40 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Gannet (ad), 1 Eider (female close in), 1 Kingfisher (caught a fish off of Gog's Berth before flying back to usual channel), 2 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 2 Goldcrest, 20 Goldfinch [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:45 to 12:30
2 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill, 2 Barnacle Goose, 3 Egyptian Goose, 8 Pintail, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 30 Snipe, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 4 Stonechat, 1 Yellowhammer [Graham Oakes]

Tuesday 05 November 2024

South Fambridge, 18:10 to 18:10
1 Chinese Muntjac (along Fambridge Road) [Paul Baker]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 11:10 to 11:45
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest [Paul Griggs]

River Roach, 08:55 to 13:55, Coombes Farm to Hampton Barns via Bartonhall Creek and return to Mill Lane
7 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier (m,BC), 2 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Stambridge Mills), 8 Avocet, 275 Golden Plover (c), 35 Grey Plover (c), 400 Lapwing (+), 60 Knot (c), 2 Snipe (BC), 55 Black-tailed Godwit (+), 72 Curlew, 2 Turnstone, 18 Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat (pair,Waldens), 1 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush (over,Rankins Cricket Club ), 1 Cetti's Warbler (h,BC), 1 Goldcrest (HB), 19 Corn Bunting, 1 Stoat [Jeff Kinnerman]

Gunners Park, 08:50 to 11:15
800 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Black Redstart (on and around heavy quick firing battery), 5 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin (flew over west) [Bob Young]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 08:30 to 16:30, Very calm, grey overcast day. Sun never broke through. Out to Schoolhouse and back but focused around Wheal family seat area
12 Little Grebe (Along borrowdyke ), 1 Cattle Egret (With cattle west of grass farm), 1 Great White Egret (On Stokes), 2 Grey Heron (With cattle west of grass farm presumably hunting voles), 1500 Wigeon (Massive flocks all along main Jubilee channel ), 300 Teal, 4 Marsh Harrier (2 females and 2 males ), 2 Hen Harrier (Male west past car park early on - not seen again, ringtail later Pool Marsh), 1 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Adult hunting Jubilee), 25 Avocet, 1000 Golden Plover (+), 500 Grey Plover, 2500 Knot (Murmurations over Jubilee), 2000 Dunlin (Roosted on Pool Marsh over high tide), 400 Black-tailed Godwit, 250 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 50 Skylark (+, Steady passage ), 20 Meadow Pipit (+), 4 Rock Pipit, 5 Wren, 7 Stonechat (Pair entry road, pair near offices, pair by seat, male towards Schoolhouse), 1 Dartford Warbler (Was seen well by others near Wheal family seat between my two spells of searching. Finally calling and showing for 10 minutes c. 14:45), 1 Chiffchaff (With Blue Tits), 5 Blue Tit (By ditch before car park first thing), 6 Goldfinch, 20 Linnet (+), 110 Reed Bunting (Combined count from west of carpark to Schoolhouse early on coming out of roost), 4 Corn Bunting (Singing ) [Jeff Delve]

Monday 04 November 2024

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 16:00 to 16:00
1 Grey Wagtail [Paul Griggs]

Canvey Point, 12:00 to 15:00, Overcast, grey and murky, fresh easterly. Very quiet.
20 Great Crested Grebe (+), 1 Gannet (4th cal yr bird in and back out ), 1 Common Scoter (Female drifting on tide and flying to reposition off the point), 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Blackbird (One flying north across river ditched twice and sat on surface before finally making landfall, ) [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 09:30 to 15:00, E 1-4-2 Very grey and murky H.T 13:55 5.6 m
20 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Leach's Petrel (Flew up river at 11:17), 4 Gannet, 3 Spoonbill (flying west on the Kent side), 6 Shelduck, 6 Common Scoter (4 male 2 female), 1 Velvet Scoter (Drake flew up river at10:45 and flew back out no more than 15m from the seawall, then landed in the bay at the Point at11:15.), 12 Grey Plover, 1000 Dunlin (+), 60 Curlew, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit [Terry Blackwell]

Sunday 03 November 2024

Gunners Park, 13:15 to 15:40, Overcast, E wind, high tide c13:20
1 Red-throated Diver, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Gannet (adult), 7 Common Scoter, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (redhead flew upriver), 2 Mediterranean Gull (adults), 1 Little Gull (1'w feeding offshore), 2 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 11:30 to 15:30, Light ENE heavy cloud, overcast but dry. High tide 13:15. Wader guesstimates with big flocks showing off over Jubilee on high tide.
12 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret (With cattle on Marsh flats), 6 Grey Heron, 200 Shelduck (+, Jubilee), 300 Wigeon (+, Jubilee), 2 Gadwall, 200 Teal (+), 4 Pintail, 30 Shoveler (+), 3 Marsh Harrier (All different males), 1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail Pool Marsh, it or another later over Tillets), 3 Kestrel, 50 Ringed Plover (+), 1000 Golden Plover, 1000 Grey Plover, 2500 Knot, 1700 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 600 Black-tailed Godwit (+), 100 Bar-tailed Godwit (+), 1 Spotted Redshank (On Fitzroy), 300 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper (From south pool trail), 10 Skylark (+), 1 Swallow (Heading south over Tillets), 8 Meadow Pipit, 10 Rock Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 2 Blue Tit (By car park), 400 Starling (Several sizeable groups across site), 20 Goldfinch (Flock over Tillets ), 8 Linnet, 15 Reed Bunting [Jeff Delve]

Canewdon, 10:30 to 11:15, Garden
1 Grey Wagtail (Dropped in to feed around garden pond), 4 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 10:30 to 11:45, ESE 4 Very grey H.T 13:20 5.7 m
1 diver sp. (heading up river), 20 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Shelduck, 2 Common Scoter (male and female), 10 Avocet, 300 Knot (+), 3000 Dunlin (+ big flocks flying in from up river), 1 Arctic Skua (flew up river then back out again), 1 Common Tern (close in feeding) [Terry Blackwell]

Gunners Park, 09:30 to 11:00
1 Fieldfare (High over resetve), 12 Redwing, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Brambling (Over reserve ), 30 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin (With goldfinch flock) [Lee Ebbs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:45
2 Great White Egret, 8 Pintail, 3 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (female.), 10 Avocet, 3 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 4 Snipe, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Stonechat [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Saturday 02 November 2024

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:50 to 16:20, Grey & gloomy
2 Great White Egret (with cattle), 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 1 Buzzard, 1 Greenshank, 1 Dartford Warbler (in seawall brambles almost as far as conveyor, (last bramble patch on landward side of seawall). Calling and showing occasionally.) [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:40 to 16:20, Overcast, light E wind
2 Great White Egret (with cattle on Marsh Flats), 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (ringtail), 7 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 1 Greenshank, 1 Dartford Warbler (elusive in brambles on landward side of seawall just west of old conveyor site) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 12:00 to 12:00
1 Marsh Harrier (ad female on BHF), 1 Sparrowhawk (female made an attempt at Sparrows on feeder), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing again from hedge close to my house) [Paul Baker]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 10:30 to 10:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [John Wright]

Canvey Point, 09:00 to 11:40, NE 2 with drizzle clearing to E 4, high tide c12.45
3 Red-throated Diver, 20 Great Crested Grebe (+), 5 Gannet (flew east), 9 Common Scoter, 1 Goldeneye (drake drifted in before flying upriver), 4 Red-breasted Merganser (all redheads), 1 Pomarine Skua (juv upriver and back out later), 2 Arctic Skua (1 upriver, one with the Pom), 1 Common Tern (juv feeding very close in), 7 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Small White [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 09:00 to 14:30
2 Great White Egret (With the cattle ), 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (Male (sub adult) and ringtail), 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Ruff (Darwin Lagoon ), 1 Spotted Redshank (Pool Marsh), 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Stonechat (Minimum ), 1 Dartford Warbler (In bramble and bushes along seawall east of office buildings) [Steve Arlow, Bob Young]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 09:00 to 14:30, Light NE, mist with drizzly showers early on clearing to dull overcast later. With guided walk group from 11:30
2 Great White Egret (With cattle on Marsh flats), 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (Male showing just limited brown edging on mantle over Pool Marsh early on and a ringtail ), 1 Buzzard (Very pale bird drying off on sluice south of Grass Farm lagoon), 1 Merlin (Low and fast along sea wall west ), 20 Oystercatcher (South stilling basin ), 1000 Golden Plover (+, Large flock over Darwin), 50 Grey Plover (+, Roosting on Stokes and south stilling basin ), 500 Lapwing (+, Multiple flocks ), 50 Knot (+, With mixed wader flocks on south stilling basin and Fitzroy), 60 Dunlin (+, Stokes, stilling basin and Pool Marsh), 300 Black-tailed Godwit (+, On south stilling basin and Pool Marsh), 20 Bar-tailed Godwit (+, South stilling basin providing nice comparison alongside Blackwits), 1 Spotted Redshank (Heard nr south stilling basin), 30 Redshank (+), 1 Dartford Warbler (In bramble 100m E of offices on North Sea.wall - very elusive. Thx Bob), 1 Common Lizard (Surprise in grass on sea wall) [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 08:00 to 13:30, NE-ESE 1-4 Very misty with drizzle H.T 12:50 5.7 m
5 Red-throated Diver, 26 Great Crested Grebe, 50 Gannet, 1 Black Swan (flying on Kent side with 2 mute swans), 10 Shelduck, 1500 Wigeon (+), 35 Common Scoter, 1 Goldeneye (drake drifting in on the tide), 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 1000 Dunlin (+), 1 Pomarine Skua (flew up river and then back out later), 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua (flew up river), 1 Little Gull (1st winter flying out close in), 3 Kittiwake (juvs heading in), 1 Common Tern (in very close), 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit (on revetment) [Terry Blackwell]

Friday 01 November 2024

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:30 to 16:20, Light easterly, overcast. Short stroll out to hide and back
4 Little Grebe (Borrowdyke by office), 3 Great White Egret (Marsh Flats), 10 Pintail (Darwin, also Shoveller, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal), 2 Marsh Harrier (Both sub adult males), 2 Hen Harrier (Ringtails ), 1 Sparrowhawk (Female south of hide), 3 Kestrel, 700 Golden Plover (+, Big flock over car park with most coming to roost on Darwin), 400 Lapwing (+), 100 Black-tailed Godwit (+, Pool Marsh) [Jeff Delve]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 14:30 to 16:20, Very grey
3 Marsh Harrier, 5 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl (seawall end), 1 Short-eared Owl (redhill area), 1 Green Woodpecker, 16 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 1 Goldcrest (flew into bushes north of redhill), 1 Bearded Tit (down by the seawall ditch), 18 Goldfinch, 30 Corn Bunting [Terry Blackwell]

Southend, 11:20 to 11:25
1 Sparrowhawk (Southchurch Rd), 1 Grey Wagtail (Southchurch Rd) [John Wright]

Hockley Woods, 08:00 to 10:40, Incl 2 hours viewing north from SE corner - overcast, brighter later, light W wind
1200 Wood Pigeon (+), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 80 Skylark (flying SW, incl one flock of 35-40), 4 Meadow Pipit (flew W), 1 Grey Wagtail, 18 Pied Wagtail (flew west, incl flock of 11 ), 1200 Redwing (+), 1 Nuthatch (calling from SE corner throughout), 25 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling (with Chaffinches near wood yard), 1 Greenfinch, 20 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin (+, flew W) [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:45
3 Great White Egret, 7 Pintail, 2 Marsh Harrier (male & female.), 3 Kestrel, 3 Water Rail (heard.), 1 Golden Plover, 20 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 31 Snipe, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Stonechat, 6 Cetti's Warbler (1 seen.), 6 Bearded Tit, 1 Corn Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]