30/04/01
Rutland Avenue, Southend 17:30: Lesser Whitethroat
feeding in gardens, observed for about 20 minutes. Dave Goddard.
Two Tree Island, from boat ramp 13:40: 1 Whimbrel,
c.40 Ringed Plover, male Kestrel. Web Author. Also: Cuckoo,
Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Whinchat, Linnet,
Little Grebe and young, Sedge Warbler, 40+ Whitethroat. Steve Giles.
Heybridge Basin from caf (still no access to footpaths): 3 Common Tern,
Bar-tailed & Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, 1 Greenshank
a few Dunlin, Swallows and a Sparrowhawk being chased by Crows
Hanningfield Reservoir, from causeway: 1 male Red-crested
Pochard, just a few feet away from the fishing lodge area Swifts
Swallows and Martins and a few Goldfinch. Dave Messenger.
29/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park 13:50: 1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh
Harrier, male seen briefly before flying off to the west, female is
the park's resident bird and was seen for most of the afternoon over on the
reeds to the north. Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, 3 Bearded Tit.
Very many Swifts, Swallows and House Martins with the occasional
Sand Martin observed at 09:45. Web Author. Spotted Redshank seen on Timbermans creek.
Martin Itter.
Grove Hall Nature Reserve Stanford-le-Hope: Nightingale singing 10.15pm. Jim Cockram.
28/04/01
Star Lane, Wakering 08:00: 2 Mute Swan, male Kestrel, Sand
Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Sedge Warbler, Reed
Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed
Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch. Web Author.
Two Tree Island 11:40: 2 Little Grebe, Ringed Plover, Curlew,
Dunlin, Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Whitethroat,
Goldfinch. Web Author. Also observed were Peacock and Common Blue
butterflies.
Wat Tyler Country Park: male Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo, 3 Swift,
Swallow, House Martin, Reed Warbler. Web Author. Two
of the Herring Gulls on the scrape had large plastic rings on their right
legs, one had a yellow ring with a capital 'AA' on it and the other, a red ring
with a small letter 'c' visible. Female Marsh Harrier observed yesterday
evening.
26/04/01
Star Lane, Wakering: Cetti's Warbler (no ring), Cuckoo, Reed
Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff. John Bronze.
Gunners Park, Shoebury 11:00: A number of Linnet, Whitethroat, and a hunting
Kestrel. Tony Leader. At lunch time: White and Yellow Wagtail. (per
SOG). Also at 19:30: 4 Shelduck, Green Woodpecker,
Pied Wagtail. Web Author.
Leigh on Sea: Hobby seen overflying very fast towards Benfleet 2pm. Steve Wood.
Victoria Avenue: 3 House Martins overflying. (per SOG).
25/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoebury 15.00: Turtle Dove, Tree Pipit, Mistle
Thrush, numerous Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Whitethroat, pair
Shelduck. Steve Giles.
Benfleet Creek area: Cuckoo. (per SOG).
Barling 07:00: Cuckoo. (report received from Mrs J Puttock).
24/04/01
Leigh on Sea 20:00: 2 Swifts. Paul Griggs, SOG.
Chapel Lane, Hadleigh: 1 Hobby. Also;
Benfleet Church near station: Swift.
Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
22/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoebury 08:00: Sparrowhawk,
pair of Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail. Web Author.
Star Lane, Wakering: Cetti's
Warbler. Steve Arlow, SOG.
Wat Tyler Country Park am: Hobby observed harrassing a crow on a pylon and
then taking a small prey from it. Steve Wood. Also, Peregrine Falcon reported.
Southend Pier pm: 2 adult Mediterranean Gull.
Web Author.
East Tilbury: Three Common Terns on the rising tide plus other specifically unidentifiable terns on the Kent side.
Eleven Whimbrel, 5 Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, 150+
Oystercatchers and a female Eider.
Also Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Sand Martin. David
Jobbins.
21/04/01
Star Lane, Wakering: 1 Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow
Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap.
Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
Gunners Park, Shoebury: White Wagtail, Pied
Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail Pair Shelduck, Greylag Goose plus
Stonechat (male), Whitethroats,Blackcaps, Chiffchaff. Offshore: 10 Arctic Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern. per SOG.
18/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness: 2 Blackcaps. Don Wildish.
Doggets fishing lake, Rochford: House Martins and
Swallows. Don Wildish.
16/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park 09:55: Rough-legged
Buzzard overflew heading north west towards Vange. John Wright (SOG).
Also: drake Slavonian Grebe and Nightingale Heard. Web Author
15/04/01
Gunners Park 16:12: Green Woodpecker, male Stonechat,
Linnets. Web Author.
Star Lane Brickworks, Wakering: Two Cetti's Warbler reported.
Chalkwell 17:45 - 18:00: Four Waxwings at the junction of Kings Road and Old Leigh Road, Near Chalkwell Park. (per SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 08.30-11.30: 1 Slavonian
Grebe, 1 male Red-crested Pochard, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff,
Blackcap,
Sand Martin, Swallow. Colin Sparkes.
East Tilbury: Six Sand Martins, one Swallow, singing Blackcap and
Sedge Warbler. At least one pair of
Stonechats and two singing Corn Buntings. David Jobbins, Birds
of East Tilbury Website.
A tour around Essex produced:
Hanningfield Reservoir 09:30: Red-crested
Pochard (1male, 1 female.)
Rye Marsh RSPB Reserve 11:00: Green sandpiper,
Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler. Cuckoo seen flying over by the
warden.
Fishers Green 13:40: 1 male Slavonian Grebe,
Kingfisher. Bittern and Water Rail reported yesterday. Web
Author, Steve Sanford.
14/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park 14:30 - 16:00: Slavonian Grebe,
Dabchick and Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, Shoveler,
Ruddy Duck, Tufted Duck and Pochard and drake Red-crested
Pochard. 26 Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff,
Willow Warbler. Jeff Delve.
13/04/01
Star Lane Brickworks, Wakering: Firecrest, Cetti's Warbler,
Whitethroat. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island: Two Tree opened at 09:35 your Web
Author being the first through the gate! 22 Avocet, 1 male, 1
female Stonechat, Sedge Warbler, 2 Swallow, 2 House
Martin, 1 male Sparrowhawk, Skylark. Web Author
Wat Tyler Country Park: 1 summer plumage Slavonian Grebe, Gadwall, Swallow, Willow
Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler. Web Author. Grasshopper
warbler reported as being heard by screen hide yesterday.
Gunners Park: Blackcap. Don Wildish.
Hanningfield Reservoir: 8 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 2 Sand
Martins from Lyster Hide. Also 1 White Wagtail on the causeway and male and
female Red-crested Pochard. The board in the centre noted a fly-over Marsh
Harrier that morning. Note: Only the centre, the Lyster hide and a short section of pathway
through the reserve is open. The main part of the reserve, the RAWL, Point
and Oak hides, and the walk from the centre to Hawkswood, remain closed. David
Jobbins, Birds
of East Tilbury Website.
12/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park pm: 2 Bearded Tits.
Don Wildish. Also: Slavonian Grebe present 1730-1900 seen from main hide. Steve Hiscock
A single Goshawk was reported in the area but could be a possible escape.
Two Tree Island: All fairly quiet, 23 Avocet, 1 female Stonechat, 1
Corn Bunting, 25 Linnet and 2 Whitethroat.
Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
11/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park: 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Swallows.
Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 18:05: 2 Willow
Warbler on mound, Long-tailed Tit. Web Author.
10/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park 13:30: 1 Slavonian
Grebe on main lagoon in front of hide, 1 Marsh Harrier
quartering over to the north near railway line, also: Little Grebe, 2 Ruddy
Duck, Shoveler and Swallow. Steve Hiscock, Web
Author.
Hockley Woods: Great & Blue
Tits, Green & Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch,
Chaffinch. Nick.
Hylands Park, Chelmsford: Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker reported at 07:30 on dead trees at end of car park.
09/04/01
Wat Tyler Country Park (now open): First visitors
were rewarded with a full plumage Slavonian Grebe.
also Swallows and Sand Martins observed. Mark Wickens (SOG).
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness: 1 Firecrest.
Dave Knight (SOG).
08/04/01
Star Lane Brickworks, Wakering 9:14: Male and female Tufted Duck, 1
Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler,
Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs. (see our new page on
this area - click here) Web Author, Steve Sanford, Nick Green, Jeff Delve.
(EBWS)
Friars Park - Shoeburyness 10:14: 1 Firecrest showing very well, also Willow Warblers,
Chiffchaffs. Web Author, Steve Arlow (SOG).
Gunners Park - Shoeburyness 11:14: 1 Common Buzzard overflying,
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker,
1 Swallow, 1 White Wagtail, Wheatear, 6 Blackcap
(4m,2f around pond) Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs,1 Common Whitethroat. Also 1 Nightingale by pond to the north
of the park. Paul Griggs (Southend Ornithological Group), Web Author (South East Essex RSPB), Nick Green
(Essex Birdwatching Society).
An immature Red-tailed Hawk with jesses attached
to both legs was also observed flying high over Gunners Park being mobbed
incessantly by crows. the raptor was chased off North East.
Leigh area: Pair of Kestrels mating on Leigh Church Tower and a House Martin flying by. Terry Strong.
Butts Hill Pond, Canewdon 15:30: Brief glimpse of Nightingale - back view as flew away along hedge line. Jeff Delve.
Southend Pier: 2 1st Summer Mediterranean Gulls A00 and E02, 150 Turnstone, 1
Dunlin. Jeff Delve, Nick Green
(EBWS).
07/04/01
Stanford Warren 12:00: 2 Swallows plus several Chiffchaff. Jim Cockram.
06/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 1735: 1 male Green
Woodpecker, 1 male Great-spotted Woodpecker. Web Author.
05/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 17:50: 1 male Green
Woodpecker, 2 Long-tailed Tit rain stopped play! Web
Author.
Maldon, Limebrook Way: 7 Waxwings reported at east end of Mariners Way.
04/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 18:15: 1 Kittiwake
flew over MOD land, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Willow Warbler,
1 male Blackcap. Web Author. Also: 2 Firecrest,
Chiffchaff. Paul Baker (SOG).
03/04/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 17:55: 2 Firecrest, 2 Willow Warbler, female Siskin.
Steve Arlow (SOG), John Wright, Web Author. Also:
4 male Blackcap, 2 male Stonechat and 2 Common Tern offshore. Paul Baker (SOG).
02/04/01
Friars Park 13:00: Pair of Sparrowhawks and a Sedge Warbler. John Wright (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir: two Red-crested Pochard. Paul Baker (SOG).
Newport, Essex 10:30: White Stork reported
circling village then flying East plus 4 Swallow and Yellow Wagtail.
01/04/01
Priory Park 08:30 - 09:15: Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff,
Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit,
Great Tit. Web Author, Steve Sanford.
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 09:45 - 15:00: (no sign of Serin
today) Black-throated Diver (offshore), 40+
Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kestrel (observed
mating in MOD ground), 3 Red-legged Partridge (also in MOD ground), 2 adult
Mediterranean Gull, male Wheatear, Stonechat (male and female), Goldcrest,
Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Siskin, Linnet, Reed Bunting. Web Author, Steve Sanford, Steve Arlow (SOG), Ian
Douch. Also reported in park today were: 1 Tree Sparrow and Yellow
Wagtail.
Friars Park, Shoeburyness 15:05 - 16:10: Two Firecrest. Web Author, Paul Griggs (SOG), Steve Arlow (SOG), Ian Douch, Lee Ebbs.
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 16:15 - 18:25: 1 Common Scoter, 1 Sandwich
Tern, 1 Guillemot. Web Author, Paul Griggs (SOG), Steve Arlow
(SOG). Ian Douch reports two Barn Owl over MOD ground in Gunners Park at 18:00 yesterday.
Star Lane Brickworks, Wakering: Cetti's Warbler singing. Don Wildish.
Rochford Golf Club: 1 Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.
per SOG.
Two Tree Island: Three Little Egrets on the roost on the Sewerage Farm and from
the slipway 1 Great Crested Grebe diving in close proximity to a Red Breasted
Merganser. Terry Strong.
Canvey Island: Hobby reported flying over.
Maldon: 7 Waxwing
reported.
Hanningfield Reservoir 12:30: Good close up views from the causeway of Red Crested Pochard 1 male and 1 female.
Dave Doo.
Abberton Reservoir: Resplendent male Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper and 12
Sand Martins. Chiffchaff singing in
woods near Centre. Nick Green EBWS.
Southend Pier Mediterranean Gulls - Information: With reference to the two
silver ringed Gulls marked PRAHA 35054 and 35055 (see
March 2001 Sightings), we have received the
following from the Czech Republic: Both Med Gulls were ringed as adults, in May 2000, inside a new colony of 15 pairs close to
Karvina (North Moravia, 49.52 N, 18.30 E). The birds were ringed by Marek
Haluzik. The birds seen at Southend Pier (Praha EX 35054, EX 35055) WERE NOT relatives (better: they were not paired), but they bred
very closed one to other - their nests were about one meter in distance. Best wishes, Josef
Chytil.
