01/09/00 - (from feedback):
Wat Tyler Country Park: 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 5 Ruff,
9 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Common
Sandpiper, 1 Ruddy Duck and a Terrapin(!)
Vange Marshes: Vange Marsh: 1
Little Stint, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper., 1 Common Sandpiper., 1 Ruff, 2 Ringed
Plover. Canvey Seafront: 1 Razorbill, 4 Arctic
Skua, 6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Arctic Tern. Observer: Paul Baker (SOG).
02/09/00 - Montague's Harrier reported from
Vange Marshes. Canvey Seafront: Arctic Skua, 4 Black Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Mediterranean
Gull and a Seal. (from feedback):
Snow Goose at Fairlop Waters, Hainault, Essex. Just outside
Barkingside. There was just the one in with some 50 Canada Geese. Observer: Tony
Leader.
03/09/00 - 17:24 The Fleet - Wakering: 6 Mute Swan,
Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, 7 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 21 Curlew Sandpiper, 9
Common Snipe, Ruff, Turtle Dove, Wheatear
(female), Corn Bunting. Westcliff Seafront: 4 Mediterranean Gulls.
04/09/00 - 8:52 Gunners Park - Shoebury: Grey Heron,
House Martin, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear (1 female), Song Thrush,
Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Goldfinch. 11:26 The Fleet - Wakering:
Little Egret (2, 1 juvenile), Grey Heron, 6 Avocet , Green Sandpiper,
Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Wheatear. (from feedback):
1.00pm Wat Tyler CP Main Hide: 1 Hobby, 1 Greenshank, 2 Snipe,
3 Godwits, 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 Ruff, 1 female Blackcap
Observer: Jeff Elliot.
06/09/00 - (from feedback):
Wat Tyler Country Park: 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1
Spotted Redshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Ruff, 2 Ruddy
Duck. Observer: Paul Baker (SOG).
07/09/00 - (from feedback):
Gunners Park: 9 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Mistle Thrush, 2 Whitethroat,
1 Blackcap. Observer: Paul Baker (SOG).
08/09/00 - (from feedback):
Wat Tyler Country Park: 6 Snipe, 5 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwits,
1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Hobby,
6 Ruddy Duck. Observer: Paul Baker (SOG).
09/09/00 - 17:45 The Fleet - Wakering: Marsh Harrier (1 male, 1
female), 1 Goshawk, (seen eating prey,
confirmed by Paul Baker, SOG member), 3 Kestrel, 1 Hobby.
10/09/00 - 11:30 Hadleigh Country Park:
Common Buzzard over-flew park heading south while on the Essex Ranger
Service 'Birds of Autumn' guided walk. (from feedback):
Two Tree Island early evening: Greenshank 5+, Whimbrel 4, Curlew
Sandpiper 1, Yellow legged Gull 2 adults, Little Egret 2, Black
tailed Godwit 183, Whinchat 7.Observer: Paul Griggs (SOG). (from feedback):
16.30 Gunners Park: 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Spotted
Flycatcher, 19:00 Two Tree Island Nature Reserve. 5
Little Egrets. Observer: Jeff Elliott. (from feedback):
3 Porpoises viewed about 1/2 a mile off the end of Southend Pier at
11.00am. Observers: Steve Blackburn & Sarah Costeloe. On the subject of
other wildlife, a grass snake was seen swimming across Benfleet Creek while on
the Essex Ranger bird walk. Also, Marsh Frog nearby. Pectoral Sandpiper
and 2 Temminck's Stint reported at Old Hall
Marshes.
11/09/00 - 12:06 Barling Gravel Pits: 5 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe,
1 Red-necked Grebe, Sparrowhawk observed being mobbed by three Kestrel,
2 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Jay.
(from feedback):
Gunners Park midday: 1 Wheatear, 13 Swallow flying East 10 Yellow Wagtail
. Observer: Paul Griggs (SOG).
12/09/00 - 13.00 Barling Gravel Pits: 12 Little
Grebe, Kingfisher (heard), Sparrowhawk observed catching prey.
3 Clouded Yellow Butterflies. No sign of Red-necked Grebe. Old Hall Marshes: Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint reported. 4 Gannets
reported from the Pier.
13/09/00 - (from feedback): 12.00 Gunner's Park: 2 Whinchat,
3 Whitethroat. Observer: Paul Griggs (SOG). Wat Tyler Country
Park: 6
Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spotted
Redshank, 1 Hobby, 2
Bearded Tits, 1 Ruddy Duck. Paul Baker (SOG). (from feedback): Update on
the Lea Valley, Cornhill Meadows area: 2 Grey Heron, 6 Wigeon,
6 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Common
Snipe, 10+ Lapwing, 20+ Black-headed Gull. Also on
Hook Marsh scrape in the lea valley park were 40+ Canada
Goose, 6 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 1 Snipe, 50+ Lapwing, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Grey Heron, 40+ Black-headed Gull. also in the area were Coot,
Moorhen, Mallards, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swan.
Observer: D. Messenger.
14/09/00 - (from feedback): Fleethead 12.00: 3
Marsh Harriers, a male Sparrowhawk, 13 Corn Buntings,
2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones a Chiffchaff and a Weasel.
Observer: Paul Baker (SOG). Wakering Common 12.00: 3 Sparrowhawk,
2 Little Egret. Gunners Park: 10.30: 1 male Sparrowhawk, 2 Green
Woodpecker, female Stonechat. (from feedback):
Barn Owl in Prittle Brook flood meadow 11th September at Sutton Bridge, Rochford
and again Thursday 14th September in meadow alongside Purdeys Industrial Estate,
Sutton Road, Rochford at 6:45 am on both occasions. Observer: Vi Walker.
Fleethead, Great Wakering 17.55: Two Marsh Harrier sitting in field
together, 1 male, 1 female also 37 Corn Bunting on wires. (from feedback):
Fairlop Waters: 1 Black Swan, Common Gull,
2 Great Crested Grebe, many Canada
Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Pied
Wagtail, There were also 4 male Kestrels hunting around the lake, reed beds, and back
fields. One just sat on a sign some 30 feet from me and preened itself.
Observer: Tony Leader. Red-necked Grebe reported at Abberton Reservoir, west end. Gunner's Park: 2 Spotted Flycatcher and Clouded
Yellow Butterfly. Observer: ( per.
SOG).
15/09/00 - 10:06 Wat Tyler Country Park: 4 Grey Heron,
Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, 12 Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper,
Ruff, 2 Blackcap (1 male, 1 female). Basildon Bird Ringing club reports 41
Bearded Tit in nets earlier this year. (from feedback):
Canvey Seafront: 1200-1400 hrs: 4 Gannets, 4
Little Egret, 9 Arctic Skuas, 1 Pomarine Skua, 30+ Sandwich
Terns, 2 Black Terns. Observer: Jeff Saward (SOG).
16/09/00 - (from feedback):
Two Tree Island: 150 Brent Geese off of Island. Observer: Steve Brown.
17/09/00 - 12.30 Wakering
Stairs: 2 Marsh Harrier observed soaring over Haven Point, 1,740 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 700 Oystercatcher, 21 Shelduck, 134 Grey Plover
all observed at wader roost. (from feedback):
Two Tree Island: 1 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 4
Greenshank and 2 Whimbrel. Benfleet Downs 2 Clouded
Yellow butterflies. Observer: Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
Wat Tyler Country Park: 1 Hobby, 1 Little Egret, 3 Spotted
Redshank, 2 Ruddy Duck (yesterday there was a female
with a very young chick), 8 Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Green
Sandpipers, 6 Ruff, 6+ Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk,
Observer: Mike Clarke (SOG).
Cliffs Pavilion Seafront:
Ring billed Gull adult. Refound by Steve Arlow .
Mediterranean Gull 2 adults in winter plumage. Star Lane Brickworks:
Recently fledged Great crested Grebe with parents,
Sparrowhawk. Wakering Stairs:
Little Gull 2 (1st winters),
Pintail,
Gannet 1 immature,
Brent Geese 5,
female and immature Marsh Harrier,
Whitethroat,
Lesser Whitethroat (also observed by Pat Dandridge at Wakering Stairs),
Knot 3,
Reed Warbler.
Fleet Head:
Snipe 12,
Green Sandpiper ,
Golden Plover 67, Greenshank,
Wigeon 16,
Little Egret 2,
Corn Bunting 27,
Marsh Harrier 2 females,
Yellow Wagtail 5,
Grey Wagtail 2,
Merlin (Steve Arlow only).
Barling Gravel Pits:
Greenshank,
Little Grebe 10,
Green Woodpecker 2,
Kingfisher,
Sparrowhawk. Observers: Don Petrie, Steve Arlow, Paul Griggs (SOG). Also at Barling Gravel Pits: male Redstart and 6 Green Woodpeckers (presumably
2 adults and 4 young). (per. SOG).
18/09/00 - The Brent are
coming back! 692 Brent Geese were observed from Two Tree Island. For more
information about our Southend's 'own' bird click here.
Numbers will steadily build up now before the majority of the birds move on.
The coming few weeks will be an excellent time to see these wonderful geese. Also were 4 Little Egret. Observer Paul Griggs (SOG).
19/09/00 - 13:00 Westcliff Seafront (Rossi's):
3 Mediterranean Gulls w.p. adults Observers: Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).
Canvey Seafront 1400-1630: 4
Arctic Skuas, 5 Little Egrets (on Kent Shore!), 20 Common
Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, plenty of Wigeon, Teal and Brent
Geese. Also a small Skua sp., almost certainly a dark phase juv. Long-tailed, watched on and off for 15 minutes (1600-1615hrs.),
but always distant and often difficult to see in poor weather conditions. Observer: Jeff Saward (SOG).
20/09/00 - Fleet Head, Great Wakering 1840: 1 female (or juvenile) Montagu's Harrier, 5 Common Snipe. 65 Brent
Geese. Two Tree Island 0840: Brent Geese 1,660, Wigeon
1,100, Teal 320, Little Egret 8, Westcliff
(Rossi's): Mediterranean Gull ad. winter. Observer Paul Griggs (SOG).
(from feedback): My nine year old grandson reported the sighting of a male Merlin
in Shoebury Park. This was at 10am. (Stephen has the benefit of home
tuition and is around and about at unusual times). He is an astute and accurate
bird spotter. The Merlin was perched openly on the branch of a tree when he
spotted it and then it flew off and went behind some other trees. Canvey Point, late afternoon: 1st winter Mediterranean
Gull, 20+ Common Tern, Little Egret, 6 Pintail & a Seal. Observer: Jeff
Saward (SOG).
21/09/00 - Two
Tree Island 07.35: 2,330 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret. 237 Turnstone,
17 Sandwich Tern, 2 Gannet. Also observed off of the Island was
one Common Seal. Fleet Head 18.35: 3 Marsh Harrier.
Westcliff seafront (Rossi's): 08:20 - 08-30
Ring-billed Gull, adult, Mediterranean Gull 2 w.p. adults, 1 2nd winter. Observer: Paul
Griggs (SOG). Information From the Pagers: Essex 4
Dotterels 2mls N of Safron Walden SE of
Little Walden late am from track leading SE off B1052 opp the Crown pub. Honey Buzzards continue to be seen all
down the east coast, now as far south as Colchester (x3 over the city centre late am).
(from feedback): Great Amwell Gravel pits near Ware: A Good morning for
birds of prey, 2 Kestrel then 2 Hobby and then a Merlin chasing a small bird noted by 5 watchers.
there was also the usual ducks; Coots, Moorhen, Mallard, a few
Gadwall and Wigeon. Also Lapwings
about 40 Cormorants, 12 Canada Goose, 4 Great Crested Grebe,
Heron, Greenshank and 2 Egyptian Geese. Also spotted by
another observer was Redshank and Green Sandpiper. After I left there was a report of 17
Spotted Redshank that
stayed for about half hour. Observer: D Messenger. Wakering Tip, pm: Male
Montagu's Harrier, quartering low over Potton 1500 hrs.,
Merlin, 5+ Marsh Harriers, 5+ Little Egret, a Swift and plenty of hirundines, various waders inc. 35
Golden Plover.
Plenty of Red-legged Partridges, Linnets, Goldfinches and
Corn Buntings up on the tip. Observers: Jeff and Mark (SOG).
22/09/00 - Fleet Head, Wakering 17.30 - 1930:
14 Grey Heron, 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel and 1 Merlin.
Gunner's Park: Whinchat,
Spotted Flycatcher,
Blackcap 2,
Whitethroat 2,
Lesser Whitethroat,
Chiffchaff, also
Clouded Yellow Butterfly. Observer Paul Griggs (SOG). Wakering Tip
14:25 - 1800:
Don Petrie,
Mark Wickens and Paul Griggs (SOG) Honey Buzzard and a Hobby flying off toward
Southend also Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk,
Little Egret, c.8
Hen Harrier, a superb adult male
Kingfisher, 11 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank,
10 Avocet. Honey
Buzzard Migration movements in the area:
25 Honey
Buzzards flew over Abberton Reservoir, John Wright observed 8 from Leigh Bridge,
Jeff Saward had 5 and an
Osprey over his Thundersley garden.
Tim had a probable from the
train near Benfleet Station on the way to work and Paul Baker had one fly west over
his garden (SOG). Between 15 and 25
Osprey have been reported throughout Essex.
Wat Tyler:
1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff, 1 Snipe, Saddlers Farm Roundabout: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Garden in Eastwood: 1 Honey
Buzzard, juv dark morph, 2 Sparrowhawk. Observer: Paul baker (SOG).
23/09/00 - Two
Tree Island: 13 Little
Egret, 2 Grey Heron, c.3,700 Brent Geese, 1,400 Wigeon,
4 Honey-buzzard (2 over Hadleigh Castle, 1 central Southend, 1 Canvey Island), 2 Sparrowhawk,
1 Osprey (off of Canvey Point), Kestrel, Hobby. Black-tailed
Godwit, Swallow. 2 Jays. Also there were reports of two
more Honey Buzzards over Southend and one over Leigh. Observers: SOG Group.
Report
from EBWS: Abberton Reservoir on Friday 22nd (11.00 to 17.30pm) and 23rd (0800-15.30) the following unprecedented
raptor passage was observed: 42 Honey Buzzards (all those close enough were aged as juveniles). To put this in context
- over the last 50 years in Essex there have been 40 records of Honey
Buzzards.
24/09/00 -
Fleet Head, Great Wakering 16:20 - 18:10:
42(!) Little Egrets observed after being disturbed by wildfowlers guns.
3 Kestrel, 3 Marsh Harrier and Kingfisher perched on piece
of wood in stream by Potton bridge. (from feedback): Canvey Island 07:30 - 0900 Very quiet with one
Honey Buzzard (juvenile), 4 Arctic Skuas, 6 Common Terns and 2
Arctic Terns all flying West plus large
numbers of adult Great Black-backed Gulls flying high and moving upriver (migrating?). Also a few
Brent
flocks upriver-probably local movements but you never know. Observer: Graham
Ekins.
25/09/00 - Leigh 07:30: Honey Buzzard at
rooftop height being pursued by Carrion Crows, Jays, Magpies
and Starlings. It headed off South toward Canvey Point. Westcliff
Seafront (Rossi's) 08:10: Ring-billed Gull with 3 adult Mediterranean
Gulls on the beach. Observer: Paul Griggs. Gunners Park, Midday:
Whinchat 2, 13:15, Honey
Buzzard south, 13:30, 2
Honey Buzzard,
Kestrel and Buteo sp. (probably Common Buzzard) all heading south 14:00,
Honey Buzzard
in from the north, almost over our heads and drifted off west toward Southend, followed by
Starlings. Observers: Paul
Griggs, John Wright (SOG). Steve Bunn, Essex
Ranger Service reports that there are many Goldcrest in Hadleigh
Country Park at this time. Also observed were two Redwing early morning.
Canvey Seafront, 1400 - 1630:
1
Honey Buzzard
at 1455 hrs - heading south to Kent, also 5 Gannets, 7 Arctic Skuas, a few
Common and Sandwich Terns. Jeff Saward (SOG).
26/09/00 -
Gunners Park 12:15 - 14:15:
Buteo sp. 1, Clouded Yellow Butterfly. Paul Griggs, Don Petrie,
John Wright, Peter Collins (SOG).
From Canvey Island:
2 Common Buzzard, 3
Honey Buzzards, Osprey,
Peregrine Falcon, 2 Hobby, 14 Eider, 12 Arctic Tern,
4 Arctic Skuas and a pale phase juvenile Long-tailed Skua. Jeff Saward,
Mark Wickens (SOG).
27/09/00 -
Canvey Point 13:00:
Five
Honey Buzzard. At 13:45 they were flying
over the Isle of Grain around the power station. 1st w. Mediterranean Gulls,
Great Skua, a
Manx
Shearwater and 14
Little Egrets. on the other side of the river.
Also Honey Buzzard over
Greensward College Hockley at 15:45. Jeff Saward, Mark
Wright and Mike Bailey (SOG). Wakering
Tip 11:45: Honey
Buzzard (possibly two), 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 7 Snipe,
1 Green Woodpecker, and adult male Peregrine Falcon over my car at
the southern end of Royal Artillery Way just before Bournes Green roundabout,
flew fast West at a height of 30 feet at 10:35. Observer Paul Baker (SOG).
28/09/00 - Baxter Avenue, Central Southend 15:05: (from
my desk at work) Honey Buzzard, flew SW toward Canvey. c.400 high. Paul Griggs (SOG). Canvey Point early morning:
2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua, 7 Black Terns, a Hobby and a
Sparrowhawk. Lunch time: 1 Honey Buzzard (1335) heading over
to Allhallows, 2 Arctic Terns and 16 Little Egrets on the far side roost with one flying over from the Point to join them.
Jeff Saward (SOG). Brook Road Industrial Estate, Rayleigh Weir about
15:00: 2 Honey Buzzard's over
, drifted S.E. toward Vange? Vince Kinsler (SOG).
29/09/00 - Single Honey Buzzard reported at Fingringhoe 09:50 and also two
at Hanningfield Reservoir late afternoon. Canvey Point: 1 adult Honey Buzzard flew over at 1310 hrs, low.
Also 27 Eider and an Arctic Tern. Jeff Saward (SOG). Gunners
Park: 4 Spotted
Flycatchers, 8 Goldcrests, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Green
Woodpeckers. and a fine adult Hobby. Wakering
Tip: 6 Marsh
Harriers, 5 Little Egret, 1 Snipe, 1 Ruff, and 12 Corn
Buntings plus a Painted Lady. Paul baker (SOG).
30/09/00 -
Gunners Park - Shoebury: 2
Honey Buzzard, circling low 08.37 headed off
SW, 2 Sparrowhawk 3 Song Thrush,
2 Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch,
Linnet. Abberton Reservoir: 3
Black-necked Grebe, 3 Little Egret, Pintail, 1 Honey
Buzzard, 10.45, Flying South-east,
8 further Honey
Buzzard
late afternoon. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, Sitting on pylon
south-west of Layer Breton Causeway. The Fleet - Wakering 16:35:
Common Teal, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (female), 3 Common
Snipe. Web Author.
Canvey Island, afternoon:
3
Honey Buzzards
and a flock of six Sooty Shearwaters hanging around for 30
minutes. Jeff Saward (SOG).
