Tuesday 31st August 2004
Gunners Park 16.30 - 17.15: 1 Sand Martin,
1 Yellow wagtail, 8 Turnstone (through the hole in the fence, on
the beach to the left). Iain Henderson.
Leigh on Sea, 18:00: 8 Swift. Andrew
Woodhouse
Central Southend 19.40: 3 Swift. Web
Author.
Monday 30th August 2004 (Return of Rossi!)
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 09:30: 1 Hobby.
Paul Griggs (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront, 10:00 to 10:20: 1
Ring-billed Gull (He's back! Adult again
opposite Rossi's Ice Cream Parlour), 3 Mediterranean Gull (adults). Steve
Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.05 - 12.30: 18
Little Egret (9 on north side of Crouch), 2 Wheatear, 100 +
Curlew, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 150 + Dunlin
in field, Yellow Wagtail. Ray Fuller.
Two Tree Island (West), 10:45 to 12:55: 910
Black-tailed Godwit (in three groups in Benfleet creek (336, 289 + 285)), 48
Golden Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper (on lagoon), 66 Greenshank
(on lagoon and nearby creek. One bird was colour ringed left leg light green
above yellow: right leg light green above red), 6 Little Egret, 40
Grey Plover (at least), 28 Canada Goose, 14 Avocet. Steve
Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island (West), 13:30 to 15:00: 14
Avocet, 4 Common Sandpiper, 50 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel,
1 Hobby. Andrew
Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.
Gunners Park, 14:00 to 15:55: 5
Spotted Flycatcher near the NE corner. 3
Wheatear on the EWT reserve. About 15 Swallow over the wet areas in
the northern half. David Lee.
Billericay (East of High Street) 15.00:
1 Goshawk (Mobbed by Sparrowhawk),
1 Coal Tit, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker. Russell
Clark. The Goshawk drifted east over my nans back garden and was being mobbed by
a male Sparrowhawk. I am familiar with both species and have compared the birds
at Mayday Farm before. The difference in size was immense and both birds were
male by grey colouration and very pale in the sun. The Goshawk drifted over with
the occasional heavy wingbeat and was direct in its path. The Sparrowhawk was
flapping a lot more and was attacking the Goshawk. It was upset by its presence,
and I don't know that it would be attacking a female Sparrowhawk in the same
way. The wings were longer and very broad giving the bird a more powerful and
bulky appearance. It was quite low to the ground and I was able to see the broad
obvious eyestripe, not so conspicuous on Sparrowhawk. The bird had no jessies
which discounted an escape.
Wakering Stairs, 15:00 to 16:30: 1
Curlew Sandpiper (a fine juvenile on the run
off), 17 Greenshank, 181 Sanderling, 9 Little Egret, 2
Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel,
1 Knot (juvenile). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Tattersall Gardens, Leigh 17.50: 26
House Sparrow sunning themselves on top of 10ft flat topped conifer hedge -
no shortage in this neighbourhood! Martin Johnson.
Belfairs N.R., 19:00: 1 Swift. Paul
Griggs (SOG).
Fleet Head, Wakering: 1 Grey Heron, 2
Greenshank, 2 Kestrel. Iain Henderson.
Sunday 29th August 2004
Fobbing Marshes 07.30: One Common Redstart
on the track to the scrape (in bushes between barn and scrape), 3
Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret. David Jobbins.
Gunners Park, 08:30 to 10:15: 2 Yellow
Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap,
2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker. Brian Baldock
(SOG).
East Tilbury 09.15 - 13.00: 8 Black Tern
down river late morning, 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Stint, 150+
Avocet, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4
Turnstone. David Jobbins.
Benfleet Downs 12.00 - 12.30: 3 Stonechat
(M, F + Juv), 2 Wheatear, 10+ Whitethroat. Andrew Bridge.
Fleet Head, Wakering 15.00 - 16.00: 50 - 60
Goldfinch, 3 Swallow. 7 Little Egret, 5 Golden Plover,
1 Kestrel, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5
Whimbrel, 6 Red-legged Partridge. Iain Henderson.
Saturday 28th August 2004
Gunners Park, 08:25 to 11:30: 150 Sand Martin (at least, steady early morning
passage), 2 Swift, 5 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 5
Spotted Flycatcher (3 north of the
reserve fence and two at the pond), 1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd year over), 1
Hobby, 1 Reed Warbler (at the pond), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1
Willow Warbler.
Steve Arlow, Dave Knight, John Wright (SOG).
Benfleet Downs, 09:30 to 11:00: 22 Yellow Wagtail, 2
Sparrowhawk, 1
Chiffchaff, 1 Common Lizard. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Old Hall Marshes 10.00 - 13.00:
Black Stork (elusive as ever), juv
Red-necked
Phalarope, 2-3 Wood Sandpiper, 2 cracking adult
Curlew Sandpiper in moulting fsp,
2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, 1 Peregrine. Nick Green (EBS).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 10.10 - 12.15: 22
Little Egret (11 on north side of Crouch), Green Woodpecker, 3
Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail, Sparrowhawk,
Wheatear, 6 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 4 Curlew. Ray
Fuller.
Eastwood Park, 13:00 to 19:00: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker, 100
Swift (moving through ahead of a front), 30 Swallow, 1 Grey Wagtail. Vince Kinsler (SOG).
Gunners Park 13.30 - 14.00: 4 Wheatear, 2
Goldfinch, 1 Grey Heron all in EWT
reserve. Iain Henderson.
Tattersall Gardens, Leigh 14.40: 6
Swift heading SW. Martin Johnson.
Fleet Head, 15:30 to 17:20: 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier (female on Potton
Island), 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ruff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1
Swift, 2
Wheatear, 9 Whimbrel, 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Turtle Dove (juveniles), 1
Greenshank, 9 Little Egret, 4 Snipe, 9 Golden Plover, 1
Sparrowhawk. Steve Arlow
(SOG).
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 17:00: 2 Swift. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Abberton Reservoir: 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 1
Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 2
Red-crested Pochard. Nick Green (EBS).
Hanningfield Reservoir, Fremnalls Causeway: Red-crested Pochard. Nick Green (EBS).
Friday 27th August 2004
Canvey Seafront, 07:10 to 08:30: 17 Black Tern (in 1's and 2's passing
upriver), 30 Sandwich Tern (approx), 50 Common Tern (approx), 1 Great Crested
Grebe, 8 Turnstone. Paul Baker (SOG).
Shoebury Coastguards, 12:20 to 13:00: 1
Arctic Skua (dk. phase), 6 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little Tern. Web
Author.
Old Hall Marshes 15:50 - 18:30:
Black Stork (juvenile on saltings), 1 Little Owl
(heard), 1 Red-necked Phalarope, 2
Wood Sandpiper, 2
Curlew Sandpiper, 1
Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 5 Whinchat, 6 Little Egret, 2
Greenshank,
11 Snipe, 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Turtle Dove, 2 Marsh harrier, 1
Green
Woodpecker, 15 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Swift, 1 Barnacle Goose, 1
Cape Shelduck, 7
Ruff. Paul Baker (SOG).
Gunners Park, 17:10 to 18:00: 8 Swallow,
1 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat. Web Author.
Oxenham Farm, 18:10 to 18:50: 1 Marsh Harrier
(juvenile), 1 Kestrel, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 1 Turtle
Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 27 Linnet,
47 Curlew. Web Author.
Thursday 26th August 2004
Gunners Park, 08:00 to 09:00: 1 Grey Heron,
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Whinchat (seems to favour area of exposed
sand at bottom centre of old firing butts), 1 Wheatear, 7 Yellow
Wagtail (in EWT reserve), 1 Kestrel, 2 Goldfinch, 5
Long-tailed Tit (in compound). Web Author. Note: all of the birds in the EWT
reserve are seeming to favour the far fence along from the coast guard station).
Hanningfield Reservoir 10:10 to 14:45: Several
Long-tailed Tit in mixed tit flock near the centre, 3 Red-crested
Pochard from the Causeway, 2 Common Sandpiper (1 from RAWL Hide and 1
from Oak Hide), 1 Barnacle Goose amongst many Canada Geese on the
island seen from the Point Hide, 1 Dunlin and 1 Greenshank from
the Oak Hide, 1 Ruff and 1 Little Stint on the island seen from
the RAWL Hide. David Lee.
Basildon, Pipps Hill 12:30 - 14:20: 1
Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 16:45: 1 Grey
Wagtail. Brian Baldock (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 17:15 to 18:15: 19
Mediterranean Gull (9 adults, 4 2nd years and 6 1st year/juvenile types).
Steve Arlow (SOG).
Gunners Park, 18:25 to 19:20: 2 Wheatear,
1 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wednesday 25th August 2004
Thorpe Bay, Willingale Way 06.10 and 07.25: 1
Sparrowhawk (Flying South at 6.10 and returned going west at 7.25) I presume
its the same one. John Pitts.
Benfleet Downs, 08:00: 3 Swift. Andrew
Woodhouse, Steve Bunn Essex Ranger Service.
Canvey Island, Hole Haven Seawall 08:20 - 10:30:
1 Whinchat, 14 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 1
Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Red-legged Partridge,
2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Little Egret. Ian White.
Wat Tyler Country Park, 13:40 to 14:20: 1
Ruff, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bearded Tit (heard). Paul
Griggs (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 17:15 to 19:20: 12 Little
Egret (including what is presumably the egret sp. Seen in far better
conditions this evening it appears to be an unusually large juvenile Little
Egret with especially pale greenish-yellow bare part colouration), 1 Wheatear
(still along seawall), 29 Greenshank, 1 Marsh Harrier (female flew
from Havengore Island directly past Haven point flushing the waders as it went),
6 Black Tern, 200 Sanderling (at least). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Tuesday 24th August 2004
Gunners Park 07.45 - 08.30: 1 Grey Heron,
6 Swallow, 2 Swift, 1 Common Redstart
in compound by play area, 1 Wheatear in EWT reserve, 6 Swallow.
Web Author.
Hanningfield Reservoir (from caf)
12.40: 1 Barnacle Goose, 1 Black Tern, 2 Common
Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper. Web Author.
Woodside Park, Thundersley, 17:00 to 18:30: 1
Sparrowhawk, 27 Goldfinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Swallow, 1
Green Woodpecker (Juv.male.), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Graham
Ryland (SOG).
Central Southend 17.40: 23 Swift ahead of
thunderstorm. Web Author.
Monday 23rd August 2004
Leigh on Sea, 10:00: 3 Swift. Andrew
Woodhouse (SOG).
Benfleet Creek, 13:00 to 13:30: 2 Wheatear.
Simon Watson (SOG).
Sunday 22nd August 2004
Benfleet Creek, 09:30 to 11:30: 1 Avocet,
3 Little Egret, 6 Greenshank, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 4
Yellow-legged Gull (Adults.), 1 Wheatear,
5 Stonechat (Pair with 3 juvs.), 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Turtle
Dove, 2 Yellow Wagtail. John Wright (SOG).
Barling, Mucking Hall Farm 11.00-11.30: 20
Black-headed Gull, 2 Little Gull, 75 Swallow. Richard Mander.
Abberton Reservoir 15.00: 1 Turtle Dove,
2 Stock Dove. R Shepherd.
Wat Tyler Country Park 16.00-17.30: 10
Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 1 Kestrel, 2
Hobby, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Sparrowhawk (female). Steve
Hiscock.
Gunners Park 18.40 - 18.50: 3 Wheatear, 1
Whinchat. Web Author.
Benfleet Creek (on my boat): 2 Little Egret,
7 Greenshank, 2 Avocet, 1 Yellow-legged
Gull, 1 Little Tern, 1 Kestrel. Andrew Bridge.
Saturday 21st August 2004
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.30 - 11.50: 12
Little Egret (7 on north side of Crouch), 8 Curlew, Wheatear,
7 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Tern, 4 Common Whitethroat, 5
Reed Bunting, 2 Sedge Warbler. Ray Fuller.
Hanningfield EWT 10.30: 1 female Common
Redstart present in the clearing in Chestnut Wood (Oak Glade). David Jobbins.
Wakering Stairs and Haven Point, 12:45 to 15:30:
22 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 16 Eider off shore, 1
Marsh Harrier (adult female), 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Tern in Potton Creek, 1 Sandwich Tern,
700 Grey Plover (circa), 300 Golden Plover (circa), 5 Knot
(1 in full summer plumage), 42 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel. 1 Green
Woodpecker, 1 Wheatear on sea wall. Web Author.
Gunners Park, 16:00 to 17:00: 4 Wheatear
(1 male still with grey head), 2 Whinchat (juveniles in EWT reserve). Web
Author.
Friday 20th August 2004
Cupids Chase Sea Wall, Gt. Wakering 16.00:
Cormorant dived into the sea and was submerged for about three minutes
before coming to the surface and flying off towards Shoeburyness boom. Doreen
Mercer.
Priory Park, 16:30 to 16:45: 3
Spotted Flycatcher (possibly more, c20 yards
past Museum as path goes through dip), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul
Baker (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 17:20 to 19:00: 3 Marsh
Harrier (adult male, immature male and a female), 2 Common Sandpiper,
1 Wheatear, 234 Sanderling, 1 Kittiwake (juvenile
offshore), 82 Greenshank, 10 Little Egret, 10 Little Tern.
Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir, Fremnalls Causeway: 1
Black-necked Grebe plus 4 mobile Black Tern.
Steve Gill. Also Black Stork still in the
Fingringhoe Wick EWT/Geedon Saltings area.
On the 15th August, Steve Arlow of the Southend Ornithological group
reported:
"Wakering Stairs, 15:15 to 17:30: 6 Little Egret (plus an unusual bird that was
larger than the Little but with orange/yellow bill and pale greenish yellow legs
that at range initially resembled Great White Egret but on better views and
later review was very close in appearance and behaviour to the 'Stanpit' egret
from 1998). Steve Arlow (SOG)".
Photos of this bird are available on the SOG website. For more information and a discussion on this bird see: http://www.birdingworld.freeserve.co.uk/StanpitEgretArticle.htm
Please report any sightings of this bird.
Thursday 19th August 2004
Fleet Head, Wakering 09.00- 10.00: 2 Common Tern, 1
Greenfinch, 1 Moorhen, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear (juvenile), 30+
Goldfinch, 3 Common Whitethroat, 3 Little Egret, 3 Lapwing, 20
Black-headed Gull, 1 Robin, 8 Starling, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1
Turtle Dove and 1 Weasel ran past me on the road. Richard Mander.
Priory Park 10.30- 11.00: 3
Spotted Flycatcher (2 Adult 1 juvenile), 4
Robin, 4 Blue Tit, 3 Blackbird, 5 Wood Pigeon, 3 Carrion Crow. Richard Mander.
Hanningfield Reservoir 16:40 - 17:00: 4 Black
Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper, 30+ Sand Martin and a Black
Swan. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 18:00 to 19:15: 86
Mediterranean Gull (32 adults (including regular colour ringed birds), 19
2nd years and 35 juveniles/1st years. Many of the the juveniles have now
attained many grey feathers of the 1st year plumage whilst at least half are
still fully juvenile.),
1 Black Tern (adult),
1 Little Gull (a very fine juvenile). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wednesday 18th August 2004
Priory Park, 08:35 to 08:45: 2 Swift, 5
Spotted Flycatcher (2 adults and 3
near-fledged young). Don Petrie (SOG).
Canvey Island, Benfleet Creek 08:50 - 10:40: 1
Lesser Whitethroat (male; scrub behind Benfleet Yacht Club), 6 Wheatear
(Tewkes Creek), 6 Common Whitethroat, 1 Swift, 4 Little Egret,
1 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel. Ian White.
Battlesbridge, 09:15: 1 Little Egret (in
the pool again where the new A130 crosses the Crouch). Paul Baker (SOG).
Pipps Hill, Basildon 11:45: 1 Hobby (flew
north) and a yellow Budgerigar. Paul Griggs
Southend Seafront, 17:40 to 19:20: 56
Mediterranean Gull (26 adults (included Green A00 + P20, White 0R9, Yellow
57P), 14 2nd years, 3 1st years and 13 juveniles. There probably was many more
than this present but gull flock was flush by the Coastguard Hovercraft.), 2
Black Tern (juveniles). Steve Arlow
Hanningfield Reservoir 18.30 - 18.50: 6 Black
Tern - 1 adult & 5 juveniles, 5 Common Tern. Neil Chambers
Fleet Head, Wakering: 4 Avocet near the
bridge, 1 Kestrel, 35-40 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 5
Little Egret near the bridge. Iain Henderson.
Tuesday 17th August 2004
Westcliff Seafront 19:45: 3 Seals on Hadleigh
Ray mud flats. Web Author.
Along A127 near A130 Junction: Hobby
flying south. Ross Gardner.
Monday 16th August 2004
Priory Park, 09:55 to 10:05: 2
Spotted Flycatcher (at least 2, probably 3 -
but I had no binoculars to check properly). Don Petrie (SOG).
Gunners Park, 17:45 to 18:15: 1 Willow
Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 18:20 to 19:00: 1
Barnacle Goose (feral), 5 Sand Martin (including a 95% leucistic
individual, pure white apart from dusky axillaries and a few dark feathers on
the head), 1 Snipe, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper,
1 Green Woodpecker. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Fleet Head, Wakering 18.40 - 19.10: 2 Avocet
near the bridge, 1 Grey Heron on the scrape, 1 Sparrowhawk flying
down the lane near the car park. Iain Henderson.
Sunday 15th August 2004
Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 07:45 to 08:00: 2
Willow Warbler (seen feeding and subsong heard from both of them). Paul
Griggs (SOG).
Canvey, Sea Reach 09:30: 1 Arctic Skua
(ad. dark morph). Chris Cook.
Gunners Park, 09:30 to 11:45: 1 Green
Woodpecker, 6 Yellow Wagtail (3 ad's, 3 juv's), 2 Wheatear, 1
Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sandwich
Tern, 20 Swift (moving through), 30 Swallow (moving through.
Also smaller numbers of House and Sand Martins). Neil Chambers,
Brian Baldock (SOG).
Two Tree Island (West), 10:00 to 11:00: 1
Wheatear, 12 Avocet, 8 Little Egret, 4 Greenshank, 1
Whimbrel. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.
Canvey Point 11.20 - 12.45: 2 Black Tern,
48 Sandwich Tern, 5 Little Tern, 3 adult Mediterranean Gull, 3
Arctic Skua (down river at 11.55), 82 Common Tern and 42 House
Sparrow washing and dusting in the approach road. David Morrison.
Fobbing Marshes 13.30: 1
Wood Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper. Russell Clark.
Fleet Head, Wakering 15.00 - 16.00: 50-60
Goldfinch on the thistles. Two coveys of Red-legged Partridge (4 and
12). 1 Grey Heron and 2 Little Egret. Iain Henderson
Wakering Stairs, 15:15 to 17:30: 164 Sand
Martin (passing through though a flock of around 60 lingered by the old
block houses), 4 Swift, 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 73
Greenshank, 6 Knot (juveniles), 124 Sanderling, 554 Curlew,
18 Golden Plover, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 470 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 6 Little Egret (plus an unusual bird that was larger than the
Little but with orange/yellow bill and pale greenish yellow legs that at range
initially resembled Great White Egret but on better views and later review was
very close in appearance and behaviour to the 'Stanpit' egret from 1998). Steve
Arlow (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 16:30 to 20:30: 2 Green
Woodpecker, 11 Mistle Thrush, 1 Northern Water Vole. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Saturday 14th August 2004
Southend Seafront, 08:10 to 09:35: 73
Mediterranean Gull (30 adults including green A00 and P20, 20 2nd years
including Green C5N, 2 1st years and 20 juveniles). Steve Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.25 - 11.55: 20
Little Egret (12 on North side of Crouch), 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2
Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker, 5 Sedge Warbler, 100 +
Golden Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Whitethroat, 33
Curlew, 3 Greenshank. Ray Fuller.
Shoebury East Beach, 09:50 to 10:00: 3
Mediterranean Gull (adults), 7 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 10:20 to 12:00: 95
Greenshank, 64 Golden Plover, 24 Little Egret, 1
Mediterranean Gull (adult), 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler.
Steve Arlow (SOG).
Canvey, Sea Reach 15:30: 1 Arctic Skua
(ad. pale morph). Chris Cook.
Fobbing Marsh 17:00 - 18:00: 1 Whinchat,
4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 1
Sparrowhawk. John Bronze, Mark Outen.
Friday 13th August 2004
Hole Haven Creek, 10:00 to 14:30: 1
Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean
Gull (adult), 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Little Egret, 1
Wheatear. Paul Baker (SOG).
Thursday 12th August 2004
Canvey Seafront 07:25 - 08:30: 2 Arctic Skua
(prob juvs), 11 Black Tern (going up river in parties of 2 - 4 birds).
Ian White.
Canvey Seafront, 10:00 to 11:00: 2 Arctic
Skua, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Mute Swan, 4 Little Tern, 8
Sandwich Tern, 40 Common Tern. Paul Baker (SOG).
Priory Park, 13:25 to 13:40: 1
Spotted Flycatcher. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Vange Marsh, 18:10 to 19:00: 3 Ruff, 6
Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 19:00 to 20:00: 1
Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 20
Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 115 Canada Goose, 28
Greylag Goose, 1 Barnacle Goose (escape), 1
Garganey, 4 Turtle Dove. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wednesday 11th August 2004
Gunners Park, 10:00 to 11:00: 1 Green
Woodpecker, 1 Wheatear. Paul Baker (SOG).
Hanningfield Reservoir 11:00 - 12:15: From Rawl
Hide: 1 Black-necked Grebe (juv) - showed
well just in front of hide, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16+ Common Sandpiper,
5 Greenshank, 1 Redshank. Ian White.
Fleet Head, 11:15 to 12:15: Due to recent rain,
the Fleet had no exposed mud and held no waders at all. 1 Little Owl, 10
Little Egret, 3 Turtle Dove, 2 Wheatear (along farm track
just past fishing ponds), 3 Sedge Warbler (on top of the tip), 1 Ruff,
2 Spotted Redshank, 17 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Greenshank, 12
Avocet (inc 7 juv's). Paul Baker (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 17:10 to 17:25: Although the
tide was ideal the many people out on the mudflats hindered a good count 19
Mediterranean Gull (12 adults (including green A00 and P20), 7 2nd years and
a juvenile). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Fleet Head, 17:45 to 20:40: 1 Hobby, 1
Sparrowhawk (female), 1 Marsh Harrier (female on Potton Island), 2
Turtle Dove, 2 Wheatear, 45 Yellow Wagtail (at least), 40
Goldfinch, 32 Whimbrel, 8 Greenshank, 12 Ruff, 4
Avocet, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 17
Black-tailed Godwit, 140 Little Egret (were 'counted' from Potton
Bridge going to roost). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Butterflies
Hadleigh Downs, 14:30 to 15:30: 2 Clouded
Yellow. Andrew Woodhouse
Essex Ranger Service.
Hadleigh Downs, 17:30 to 17:30: 1 Clouded Yellow
(In top field near Chapel Lane car park). Andrew Woodhouse, Steve Bunn
Essex Ranger Service.
Tuesday 10th August 2004
Canvey Island, 08:00 to 09:00: 1 albino House
Sparrow (adult bird reported in a garden). Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 09:20: 1 Hobby (over
Chapel Lane car park). Andrew Woodhouse, Steve Bunn
Essex Ranger Service.
Canvey Seafront 10:00 - 12:30: Sandwich &
Common Terns - numerous, 4 Little Tern, 3 Arctic Skua (all
dark phase) - from 11:50 onwards Harbour Porpoise - group of at least 3 feeding
near Chapman Buoy at noon. Ian White.
Leigh-on-Sea, Tattersall Gardens 12.27: 1
Sparrowhawk, immature male captured House Sparrow on ground in my
garden. Martin Johnson.
Gunners Park, 15:00 to 15:30: 2
Pied Flycatcher (1 between last bridge and
culvert, the other between last bridge and 2nd from last bridge), 1 Sedge
Warbler (along stream between last bridge and culvert). Paul Baker (SOG).
Gunners Park, 17:05 to 18:20: 6 Common
Sandpiper (along foreshore), 3 Mediterranean Gull (adult, 2nd year
and juvenile hawking over park with several hundred other gulls), 1 Willow
Warbler, 1 Black Tern. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Westcliff, 17:45: 1 Mediterranean Gull
(an adult in a large "anting" flock of Black-headed gulls). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 18:40 to 19:25: 3 Lesser
Whitethroat (along the road), 7 Whitethroat (along the road), 1
Willow Warbler (along the road), 20 Eider (at least). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Gunners Park, 19:05 to 19:45: 1 Green
Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Monday 09th August 2004
Canvey Seafront, 07:15 to 08:40: 8 Black Tern
(inc a flock of 7 in the estuary), 8 Little Tern, 20 Sandwich Tern,
30 Common Tern. Paul Baker (SOG).
Barling Pits, 13:30 to 13:45: 2 Green
Sandpiper (in creek), 2 Common Sandpiper (on main gravel pit), 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Little Egret (in creek), 1 Greenshank
(in creek), 7 Yellow Wagtail (along entrance track). Paul Baker (SOG).
Gunners Park, 17:20 to 17:50: 1 Black Tern
(adult summer ), 1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd year). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hockley 19.00: Sparrowhawk catching
collared doves in garden for the second day running! S Mitchell.
Sunday 08th August 2004
Hockley 07.00: Sparrowhawk catching
collared doves in garden. S Mitchell.
Hampton Barns 08.00 - 08.20: 1 Grey Heron,
1 Turtle Dove. Barton Hall Creek 08.30 - 09.45: 4 Spotted Redshank,
1 Whimbrel, 10 Reed Bunting (mostly juveniles), 14 Little Egret,
6 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Grey Plover (1 bird in stunning text book
summer plumage), 1 Dunlin, Barton Hall Farm 10.00 - 11.00: 1
Sparrowhawk, 14 Yellow Wagtail (mostly juveniles), 1 Yellowhammer.
Steve Sanford, Web Author.
Canvey, Holehaven Creek 09:00 - 10:00: 2
Little Tern (1ad, 1juv), 1 Little Egret, 280 Curlew. Chris
Cook.
Paglesham Lagoon 10.00: 6 Little Egret, 3
Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Plover, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 1 Little Gull, 2
Sparrowhawk. Russell Clark.
Fleet Head (around MOD road) 11.45 - 12.30: 1
female Wheatear, 20+ Goldfinch, 10+ Lapwing, 6
Red-legged Partridge, 4 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 5
Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail. Karen Gordon.
Paglesham (west from boatyard) 16.00: 2
Marsh Harrier. Adult was training youngster in the art of diving on prey!
Ray Fuller.
Two Tree Island, 16:20 to 19:00: 1
Yellow-legged Gull (3rd year bird), 3
Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 2 Avocet, 50 Black-tailed Godwit,
10 Little Tern, 1 Golden Plover, 17 Little Egret. Paul
Griggs (SOG).
Canewdon, 20:40 to 21:20: 1 Sparrowhawk. 1
Common Pipistrelle. Paul Baker, Graham Ryland (SOG).
Saturday 07th August 2004
Southend Seafront, 07:00 to 08:30: 9
Mediterranean Gull (3 adults, 3 2nd summers, 2 1st summers and a juvenile
roosting on beach opposite the Halfway House over high tide). Steve Arlow (SOG).
South Fambridge / Brandy Hole 09.40 - 11.40: 5
Little Egret, 9 Common Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warbler, Reed
Bunting, 9 Shelduck (3 young), 7 Curlew, 5 Yellow Wagtail,
2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, Little
Grebe. Ray Fuller.
Heybridge Basin (Old gravel pits) 13:30: 1
Black Swan. D L Morgan.
River Roach, 14:00 to 16:20: 2 Common
Sandpiper (1 along the roach, 1 Barton Hall Creek), 4 Spotted Redshank,
4 Yellow-legged Gull (3 different adults and
a near adult on mud bank at Barton Hall Creek), 1 Mediterranean Gull
(adult), 1 Greenshank, 5 Little Egret. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs (end ramp only) 15.00 - 16.45: 1
Kestrel, 27 Ringed Plover, 24 Dunlin, c.1300
Oystercatcher, 13 Turnstone, c.340 Curlew came in to roost on
field behind trains, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit. I had a huge shock as I sat
down on the sea wall beside the last bush on the right from the ramp to watch
the high tide roost, I became aware of a movement very near me and saw a huge
green lizard. About eight inches long from head to tail. Dark and lime green
head and body with a very long tail that was fawn with dark brown spots. From
looking on the Internet it would appear to be a Sand Lizard, as they are extinct
in Essex it is probably an escape.
Paglesham Lagoon, 16:20 to 18:10: 2
Yellow-legged Gull (an adult and a possible
juvenile), 5 Yellow Wagtail, 39 Little Grebe, 1 Cuckoo, 5
Black-headed Gull (chicks fledged). (no sign of the adult summer
Red-necked Grebe this afternoon). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Woodside Park, Thundersley, 17:00 to 18:30: 1
Hobby, 3 Chiffchaff. Also Painted Lady. Purple Hairstreak. Glow worms
around the perimeter fencing 22.30. Graham Ryland (SOG).
Thursday 05th August 2004
Two Tree Island (West) 06:20 to 07:50: 6
Golden Plover and 2 Little Egret on the lagoon. 20 Black-tailed
Godwit, 2 Grey Plover and 8 Greenshank on the creek. David
Lee.
Ashingdon, 07:30 to 07:40: 1 Green Woodpecker,
30 House Sparrow (Including about 10 juv's both in the garden).
Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:20 to 13:45: 1
Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bearded Tit (heard). Paul
Griggs (SOG).
Two Tree Island 15.00-18.50 (Eastern half, roosting at
high tide): 4 Grey Heron, 23 Little Egret, c. 560 Curlew,
1 Bar-tailed Godwit. Martin Johnson.
Paglesham Lagoon, 17:30 to 19:20:
1 Red-necked Grebe adult summer still
present. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Fleet Head, Wakering 18.30: A " charm " of
approximately 30-35 Goldfinch feeding on the flowering thistles. 3
Whimbrel flying overhead. Iain Henderson.
Wednesday 04th August 2004
Paglesham Lagoon, 17:40 to 20:10:
1 full summer plumage Red-necked Grebe, 20
Little Grebe (minimum). Lee Ebbs (finder of bird), Steve Arlow, Paul Griggs (SOG). Also 2
Yellowhammer. Web Author.
Tuesday 03rd August 2004
Hole Haven Creek, 16:50 to 17:35: 2
Mediterranean Gull (adults). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 17:30 to 19:30: 10 Little
Egret, 8 Greenshank, 22 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Tern,
6 Whimbrel, 1 Avocet. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 18:20 to 19:10: 66
Mediterranean Gull (31 adults that includes the annually returning bird
Green A00 + P20 and white 09R, 20 1st summers, 7 2nd summers and 8 juveniles.
Note nearly all of these birds were on the mussel and cockle beds to east of the
Old Gasworks Pier). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Hockley/Hawkwell, 19:00 to 20:00: 1 Green
Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (both heard only). Neil
Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).
Canewdon, 21:00 to 21:20: 1 Tawny Owl
(same place as Saturday). Neil Chambers, Paul Baker (SOG).
Monday 02nd August 2004
Belfairs Golf Course, 07:30 to 11:15: 12
Green Woodpecker (incl. 1 ad with 2 fledged young), 1 Sparrowhawk
(male), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest (singing). Vince
Kinsler (SOG).
Barling Jetty, 12:00 to 12:30: 2 Marsh
Harrier (hunting Fleet Head), 1 Hobby (very low over my head mobbed
by hirundines), 1 Sparrowhawk (low and mobbed by hirundines), 1 Corn
Bunting (singing male), 1 Greenshank (in creek), 1 Common Tern
(in creek). The last pit down the lane which was always good for waders is dry
and vegetated. Paul Baker (SOG).
Sunday 01st August 2004
Vange Marsh, 07:30 to 08:55: 1 juvenile
Little Ringed Plover, 15 Green
Sandpiper, 25 Common Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, 7 Common Tern, 1 Aythya sp.
(hybrid still present), 15 Teal, 2 Avocet, 1 Reed Bunting,
1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 09:05 to 09:25: 1
Ruff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Bearded Tit,
3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Yellow Wagtail. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Southend Seafront, 10:00 to 10:25: 27
Mediterranean Gull (adult 13, 1st summer 8, 2nd summer 5, juvenile 1). Steve
Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs, 11:15 to 12:30: All of the
waders in Havengore were flushed by several low flying microlites. 36
Greenshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 8 Golden Plover, 6
Whimbrel, 6 Little Tern. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Fleet Head, 12:35 to 13:40: 14 Little Egret,
18 Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Green
Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier (adult male on Potton Island), 1 Ruff.
Steve Arlow (SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 15:40 to 19:30: 3 Green
Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Two Tree Island, 15:50 to 16:50: 3
Yellow-legged Gull (adults), 30 Golden
Plover, 23 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret. Steve Arlow, Paul
Griggs (SOG).
South Fambridge 20.10: Wheatear on
seawall path, appeared to be missing some tail and wing feathers. Ray Fuller.
