01/03/00 - 1736. Nine Common Scoter were observed close in to
shore along the seafront by Westcliff. The Starling roost on the Cliffs
by Royal terrace was quite breathtaking this evening and must be approaching
100,000 birds. This is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Not related
to local sightings but of some interest, House Martins were observed in
Cornwall yesterday.
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04/03/00 - 1530. Our Barn Owl Gets a mate! The Gunners Park Barn Owl was again showing
itself superbly tonight from 1530 onwards. The owl at times was less than six
feet away from your author. Leaving the park at 1730 your author was presented
with the wonderful sight of not one, but two Barn Owls hunting together.
This will be fantastic if we have a male and a female in the same park.
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05/03/00 - Two Slavonian Grebes
and Red-Headed Smew observed at Hanningfield
Reservoir.
05/03/00 - Two Short Eared Owls observed at Two Tree Island. Also eight Avocet.
11/03/00 - A single colourful male Wheatear ( the first observed
this year by your author ) was observed in the Essex Wildlife Trust nature
reserve at the back of Gunners Park,
Shoebury. Our resident Barn Owl was again putting on its usual accommodating
show in the same place. Two Little Egret and Three Heron
together in field on Wakering Common. Also observed was a single Hen
Harrier towards Potton Island.
12/03/00 - One Long Eared Owl was observed hunting at 1500
from M.O.D. road by Potton Island bridge. Large flock of Reed Buntings
by Wakering Stairs at 1130. Wheatear
still on Gunners Park Nature Reserve and, of course, Barn Owl. Our
resident Forster's Tern is still being observed regularly at Shingle
Head, Tollesbury.
14/03/00 - Two Short-eared Owls have been seen quite
regularly near to the bridge at Two Tree Island
in the last four days. They can be seen most evenings from 1700 onwards
16/03/00 - (from feedback) Green
Sandpiper, Red Crested Pochard and two Slavonian Grebe
observed at Hanningfield Reservoir.
18/03/00 - 0745. A circuit of Gunners Park produced the following
species: Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion
Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Curlew (in EWT
reserve),Dunnock, Eider (x11 through fence by sea wall), Great
Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Grey
Heron, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Long-Tailed Tit, Meadow
Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Oystercatcher, Robin, Skylark,
Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Twite (x7), Wood
Pigeon, Wren. Barn Owl still resident in evening.
18/03/00 - (from feedback): Full adult Ring-billed
Gull at Westcliff alongside Westcliff Casino also, Glaucous Gull at
East Tilbury and Sand Martin Hanningfield Reservoir.
20/03/00 - A trip to Stebbing near Gt Dunmow this afternoon
confirmed that there is indeed an Eagle Owl in the area. The owl has
been roosting in a large pine for the last week behind the Quaker house. The
owl is confirmed as an escape as leathers were visible on the leg.
20/03/00 - Guillemot and Eider both reported from end
of pier.
24/03/00 - There still does not appear to be any great number of our
summer migrants arriving - no doubt due to the predominantly northerly
winds being experienced at the moment. A Cetti's Warbler is reported
singing in Wat Tyler Park close to the
second hide. Your author heard at least two Chiffchaff's calling in Gunners Park at 1710 this evening and we have
had reports of single Wheatears at various locations in and around Southend..
Fifteen Avocets were counted from the train tonight between Benfleet
and Leigh stations. Three Little Egrets have also been observed in the
same location. The adult Ring-billed Gull was observed at 1400 this
afternoon close to the Westcliff Leisure Centre, the gull is quiet easy to
attract with cold chips we have been informed!
25/03/00 - Your authors first Speckled Wood Butterfly of the
year was observed today at Hadleigh Castle
Country Park. Just for interest, a Hoopoe was observed today at
Dungeness.
If anyone has taken a good photograph of the Gunners
Park Barn Owl and could convert it to electronic form, would they be
willing to send to it the email address above, we would dearly love to have
this on our website. You would, of course, receive full credit for the
photograph. Thank you.
