September 2001

30/09/01
Two Tree Island: Seen through 8x40 binoculars while walking up Belton Way at 11:35. Six Little Egret visible on the very eastern tip of the Two Tree Island marshes. David Lee.

29/09/01
Two Tree island (west): 3 Whinchat, 3 Stonechat. T.T.Is.(east): About 2,500 Brent Geese. Benfleet Creek (a brief look): 3 Little Egrets, 2 Avocets, 1 Stonechat, plus lots of Black-tailed Godwits and a few Greenshank. John Wright (SOG).
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness am: 12 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, a female Stonechat, 2 Green and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12+ Song Thrush, 3 Whinchat and a Willow Warbler. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs: 120+ Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 3 Siskin, a pair of Stonechats and a Whinchat while at the Landwick clump there was a 1st winter Pied Flycatcher. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront: The adult Ring Billed Gull was still present at 2.55pm showing down to just a few feet when it was coming to bread. Also an adult Mediterranean Gull. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 15:20: 57 Brent Geese overflew heading west. Web Author.
Wakering Stairs: 16:00: c.4,000 Brent Geese off shore. Web Author.
Leigh Area 13:20: 2 Swifts flew over garden (A very late record). Paul Griggs (SOG).
Newport (NW Essex): 1 female Common Redstart. Also over in 2 hours, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Brambling, 51 Siskins, 60 Redwings, 2 Turtle Doves, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Grey Wagtails, 22 Pied Wagtails, 67 Meadow Pipits, 21 Skylarks, 34 Goldfinches, 5 Yellowhammers, 161 House Martins, 51 Swallows, 173 Linnets, 138 Chaffinches, 26 Greenfinches and 3 Song Thrushes. Stephen Patmore.

28/09/01
Gunners Park: 13:00 - 14:00: Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap 4 males, Lesser Whitethroat (Paul Griggs, Don Petie, Peter Collins (SOG).
The Fleet, Wakering 18:00: 4 Little Egret, 1 female Marsh harrier, c.30 Corn Bunting on wires. Web Author.
The Fleet, Wakering: 15.15 - 17.05hrs: Fleet almost deserted, Teal 5, Moorhen 3. Havengore Creek: 5 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, ca.70 Golden Plover,  ca.80 Lapwing. To the NE: ca.300 Canada Goose in flocks of 25 to 90, ca60 Wigeon, 1 Marsh Harrier mainly dark brown, dark blackish primaries contrasting with light whitish secondaries on underwing, possible immature male, 2 Kestrel. Martin Johnson.
Canvey Island: Long-tailed Skua reported past Canvey Point this morning.

27/09/01
Two Tree Island (east) 08:00: 2,000+ mixed flock of Brent Geese and Wigeon. Web Author.

26/09/01
Maldon Area: Juvenile Honey Buzzard reported circling Heybridge Gravel Pits at 12.50.
Newport (NW Essex) - sewage works area 16:00-17:30: Long-eared Owl flushed from hawthorn thicket and then landed again out of sight, Firecrest in mobile tit flock, male Ring Ouzel, 43 Siskins, 8 Redwings, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Grey Wagtails, 25 Goldfinches, 21 Meadow Pipits, 12 Linnets, 2 Yellowhammers, 40 Swallows, 30 House Martins, 4 Song Thrushes, 30+ Blackbirds, 25+ Goldcrests, 50+ Long-tailed Tits, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Jays, 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron. Stephen Patmore:

25/09/01
Westcliff Seafront: 4 Mediterranean Gulls  (Adult, 2 2nd Winters & a 1st Winter). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Gunners Park: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Chiffchaffs and a Yellow Browed Warbler that called 3 times in the trees next to the small compound but not seen. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Benfleet Creek immediately south of the A130 viaduct: 1 Little Egret feeding on water's edge at 08:10. Ron Galliers.
East Tilbury: Very little on the afternoon rising tide today so concentrated on waders - 26 Little Stint, 18 Curlew Sandpiper, 109 Bar-tailed Godwit, 200 Avocet. Then at 16.45 we had a Guillemot up river 80-100m from the shoreline - it looped round by Coalhouse Fort and then continued up river. It did not appear to return, at least by dusk at 18.15 when I left. David Jobbins.

24/09/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness 07:45 - 10:05: 1 Grey Heron, 1 female Common Pheasant, 1 Kingfisher in brook at end of road, 1 Green Woodpecker, Swallows, House Martins, Meadow Pipits, 1 Common Redstart, 3 Whinchat, 1 Song Thrush, 2 female Blackcap, 1 Jay, Goldfinch. Web Author.
Priory Park, lunchtime: 1 Grey Wagtail. Steve Sanford.
Canvey Island from Coastguards 2.30pm to 6pm: 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 adult Little Gulls, up to 8 Black Terns, several Sandwich Terns and a Grey Phalarope. The Phalarope drifted up river on the tide - I was watching it for 20 minutes and was largely convinced of its ID when Jeff Saward arrived and confirmed it. We watched it drift further up river until it was a tiny dot somewhere near Lower Hope Point. In the two-and-a-half hours I it, it took off only twice, and then only momentarily. It was feeding actively from the surface for the entire period, sitting high in the water. The bill was visible even at the distance from which we were watching, and the upper parts appeared dark. David Jobbins, Jeff Saward (SOG). 

23/09/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness:  male Stonechat. Paul Griggs, Don Petrie (SOG).
Canvey Seafront 16:00 - 18:00: Sabine's Gull immature, 4 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Shag. Paul Griggs, Don Petrie, Jeff Saward (SOG).
Gunners Park 07:30 - 09:30: Wheatear, Stonechat, Whinchat, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, House Martin. Dave Watson.
Magnolia NR, Ashingdon: 4-5 Green Woodpeckers, c.50 Rooks, 11 Jackdaws, and 12 Goldfinch in the vicinity of the reserve. Steve Sanford.
Wakering Stairs Havengore Point 14: 00-16:30: Marsh Harrier, 6 Little Egret, Guillemot, Great Crested Grebe, c40 Greenshank, c30 Ringed Plover, c50 Grey Plover, c200 Dunlin, 3 Knot, Sanderling, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, c30 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Turnstone, 3 Wheatear, female Stonechat, c20 Meadow Pipit. Steve Giles.
Two Tree Island, eastern half; 18.30 - 19.10hrs: 5 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, c.270 Brent Geese in rafts swimming and upending on ebbing tide to south of saltings, 8 Shelduck, c.890 Wigeon, 7 Teal On saltings, c150 Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Dunlin. Martin Johnson.
Vange Marsh: 18 Little Stint reported.
East Tilbury: 8 Little Stints on the foreshore with Curlew Sandpipers. 1 Arctic Skua down river mid-morning. David Jobbins.
Newport (NW Essex): Richard's Pipit flew low north calling loudly at 08:41am also good numbers of other common passerines moving over, plus 1 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Siskins and 2 Redwings. Stephen Patmore
 

22/09/01
Two Tree Island (West): 2 Firecrest together in the same bush, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Whinchat and 4 Avocets (1 adult, 3 immature.) on the lagoon. Two tree (East) Ca.100 Brent Geese. John Wright (SOG).
Two Tree island 17.45-18.45hrs: 31 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, Ca.200 Brent Geese in rafts on water, 11 Shelduck, Ca.550 Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Ca.70 Curlew. Martin Johnson.
East Tilbury: Good numbers of Curlew Sandpipers, a few Avocets, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher and a Peregrine Falcon over Mucking tip. David Jobbins.

21/09/01
Two Tree Island: At least 14 Little Egret, 3 juvenile Avocets, 1 Willow Warbler also at least 30/40 Brent Geese and amongst them quite a few Wigeon. Dave Messenger.
Newport (NW Essex): Osprey south at 13:51 also Hobby. Stephen Patmore.

20/09/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness pm: 2 Common Redstart, 17 Yellow Wagtail, juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Chiffchaff, escaped Cockatiel and a Swift. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Newport (NW Essex): 2 Ring Ouzels, 1 Redstart, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Turtle Dove, 3 Siskin, 7 Redwing, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipit, 15 Goldfinche, 15+ Song Thrush, 30+ Blackbird, 3 Kingfisher, 2 Marsh Tit, 3 Treecreeper, 10+ Goldcrest, 30+ Swallow, 210+ House Martin, 4 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Jay, 4 Bullfinch. Stephen Patmore.
Other Reports: Colne Point: Lapland Bunting at waterworks but mobile, Hobby, 5 Yellow Wagtail. The Naze: Woodlark, 3 Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, 30 Siskin, Grey Wagtail, 2 Swift, Ring-necked Parakeet, 30 Pintail.

19/09/01
Canvey, Leigh Beck, SE corner of sea wall: Flying over water:- Gannet 4 (2 adult, 2 brown immature) about 5km to ESE but still readily identifiable flying NE
Wigeon two flocks of ca 70 and ca 150 appeared from Kent flying NNE to settle on water 1-2 km offshore from Leigh Old Town/Chalkwell area Little Tern 1, Common Tern 1, Sandwich Tern 2 close by, ca 6 in mid channel between Canvey and Kent. Resting on Canvey Point shell/shingle banks:- Cormorant 26, Little Egret 2, Grey Heron 1, also present in flocks not counted Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper (1 on water's edge of sea wall), Redshank, Curlew. On sea wall:- Wheatear 1. Martin Johnson

18/09/01
Canvey Seafront 09:15 - 12:00: Arctic Skua 14+, Pomarine Skua 3, Great Skua 4, Gannet 3, Little Gull 4 immature 1 adult, Little Egret 3, Black-tailed Godwit 1. Also, two Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier all crossed the Thames, going North. Paul Griggs (SOG) Before I arrived, there was another Kestrel and two more Sparrowhawks; an immature Sabine's Gull and a Long tailed Skua seen by Jeff Saward (SOG).

16/09/01
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness: 1Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Whinchat (2male, 1female), Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaffs. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Canvey Seafront 11:30 - 13:45: 1 Great Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, Sandwich Terns. Also Peregrine Falcon reported flying south earlier in day. Steve Sanford, Web Author.
Two Tree island: 15 Little Egrets and a flock of 12 juvenile and 1 sub adult Gannet. Howard Vaughan.

15/09/01
Vange Marshes: 7 juvenile Little Stints on the mud closest to the wood yard. Also here were 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island (lagoon at high tide): 4 Avocet, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher. Also a Kingfisher reported from filter beds at east end. Andrew Woodhouse, Essex Ranger Service.
Canvey, Leigh Beck from SE corner of concrete sea wall 15.00 - 18.35: Species seen to seaward of sea wall:- Cormorant, Little Egret 1, Heron 1, Wigeon ca 50 settled about 3km to east, Teal 2, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Curlew. Parasitic Skua 1 dark morph with conspicuous white wing patches but only slight central tail projections - juvenile? appeared in flight from Kent side of Thames and settled on water on Essex side of main channel of Thames; while drifting swiftly east on ebb it arose on 3 occasions suddenly and swiftly to pursue a Sandwich Tern; pursuits were abruptly broken off but unable to see if Terns had regurgitated food. Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Little Tern 2, Sandwich Tern 7, Barn Swallow ca 20 heading west, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Starling, Goldfinch. Martin Johnson.
East Tilbury, on the tide this morning: 4 Arctic Skua moving up and then back down into Mucking Bay, approximately 30 Wigeon, modest flocks (c50 each) of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Little Stints, 24 Curlew Sandpiper, Only notable raptor a Hobby. Light passage of hirundines and plenty of Yellow Wagtails still present. David Jobbins.

14/09/01
Westcliff Seafront (Rossi's): The Ring-billed Gull again present at 08:40 on the beach. Paul Griggs (SOG).

13/09/01
Canvey island: Leach's Petrel, 5 Pomarine Skua, 12 Arctic Skua and an Arctic Tern reported.

12/09/01
For Interest: A Red Kite was reported today on the Isle of Sheppey - this will almost certainly have been our bird that was on Foulness last week (see report for 09/09/01).
Mediterranean Gull Information: With regard to the Mediterranean Gulls observed by Steve Arlow on the Pier on 08/09/01 we have now received the following information:

Green E02 Ringing data
Numro bague / Ring-number Metal ring number : Paris FT 39744 Colour ring position : left tarsus Age : pullus
Ringing place : Oye Plage, Le Platier, Pas-de-Calais, France 51,00 N 2,02 E Date : 09/06/2000
Life history of jeudi 13 septembre 2001
Ring E02 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
STATUS DATE PLACE OBSERVER
vv 29/11/2000 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E P. Baker
vv 30/12/2000 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E S. Arlow
vv 17/01/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E I. Cotgnove
vv 09/02/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E G. Mee
vv 25/02/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E C. Todd
vv 07/03/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E G. Goldsmith
vv 11/03/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E G. Mee
vv 25/03/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E M. S. Johnson
vv 08/04/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E N. Green
vv 10/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 11/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 12/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 13/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 14/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 16/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 18/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 20/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 28/04/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 06/05/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 07/05/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 11/05/2001 Elms Farm, Icklesham, Sussex, England, United Kingdom 50,55 N 0,41 E P. Jones
vv 08/09/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E S. Arlow
STATUS DATE PLACE OBSERVER
From 29/11/2000 until 08/09/2001 Number of observations : 22
Copyright ECONUM Camille DUPONCHEEL Pascal RAEVEL 1044 rue d'Armentires F-59193 Erquinghem-Lys

Green K04 Ringing data
Numro bague / Ring-number Metal ring number : Paris FS 37275 Colour ring position : right tarsus Age : pullus
Ringing place : Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont, Somme, France 50,20 N 1,41 E Date : 21/06/2001
Life history of mardi 11 septembre 2001
Ring K04 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
STATUS DATE PLACE OBSERVER
vv 04/09/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E J. Perkins
vv 08/09/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E S. Arlow
From 04/09/2001 until 08/09/2001 Number of observations : 2
Camille Duponcheel

Green A00 Ringing data
Numro bague / Ring-number Metal ring number : Paris FT 39735 Colour ring position : left tarsus Age : pullus
Ringing place : Oye Plage, Le Platier, Pas-de-Calais, France 51,00 N 2,02 E Date : 09/06/2000
Life history of mardi 11 septembre 2001
Ring A00 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
STATUS DATE PLACE OBSERVER
vv 29/11/2000 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E P. Baker
vv 26/12/2000 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E S. Arlow
vv 17/01/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E I. Cotgnove
vv 09/02/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E G. Mee
vv 25/02/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E C. Todd
vv 07/03/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E G. Goldsmith
vv 11/03/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E G. Mee
vv 25/03/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E M. S. Johnson
vv 08/04/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E N. Green
vv 24/07/2001 Le Portel, Fort de l'Heurt, Pas-de-Calais, France 50,42 N 1,34 E C. Duponcheel
vv 25/07/2001 Le Portel, Pas-de-Calais, France 50,42 N 1,34 E C. Duponcheel
vv 27/07/2001 Le Portel, Quai de la Violette, Pas-de-Calais, France 50,42 N 1,34 E J. Delattre
vv 08/09/2001 Southend Pier, Essex, Great Britain, United Kingdom 51,31 N 0,43 E S. Arlow
From 29/11/2000 until 08/09/2001 Number of observations : 13
Camille Duponcheel
 

11/09/01
Westcliff seafront (Rossi's): The Ring-billed Gull again present at 08:40 on the beach, it seemed to be drooping its left wing a little - has anyone else noticed this? Paul Griggs (SOG)

10/09/01
Westcliff Seafront: The Ring-billed Gull was again along Westcliff Seafront opposite Rossi's Ice Cream Parlour at 9.00am on the falling tide. Steve Arlow (SOG). Also: 17:30 adult Mediterranean Gull. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Two Tree Island: 70+ Greenshank present on Two tree Island Lagoon. David Chivers.

09/09/01
Wakering Stairs from Havengore Point 08:30 - 10:15: 1 juvenile Red Kite, 5 Marsh Harrier, 7 Little Egret. Web Author. The Red Kite was perched on a mud bank directly in front of the point. At 10:15 it took off and flew east along the M.O.D. land watched by Steve Arlow (SOG), it was then seen to head south across the Thames in the direction of Elmley. There were no wing tags on this bird.
Canvey Seafront: 1 Kittiwake, 7 Arctic Skua, 4 Great Skua. Web Author. Also: Canvey Point 13:50 - 17: 30: C.20 Arctic Skua, 4 Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Gannet, Great Crested Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Wigeon. Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow, Jeff Saward, Mark Wickins, Chris Lewis, Mike Bailey, Neil Chambers (SOG).
Canvey Seafront - full listing below kindly supplied by Nick Green Essex Birdwatching Society:  

Canvey coastguards 0610-0830 
Arctic Skua - 10 
Arctic Tern - 1 
Little Egret - 2 north at 0625 
Swallow - 42 west in mainly small flocks 
Common Scoter - 10 west at 0810 
Kestrel - 1 juvenile west 
at 0845 1 Long-tailed and 1 Great Skua 

Southend Pier 0930-1145 
Arctic Skua - c.19 
Sandwich Tern 5 
Arctic Tern - 1 adult west 
Swallow - 6 
House Martin 4 
Gannet - 1 juvenile at 1120, 2 juveniles at 1125 (seen later at Canvey Coastguards)

Canvey Coastguards 1300-1815 
Long-tailed Skua - 1 juvenile about 1230 seen by Steve Grimwade & Simon Wood and went out east; 1 juvenile. On arrival swept by current up estuary and not seen again 
Arctic Skua - c.20 individuals 
Bar-tailed Godwit - 13 
Black-tailed Godwit - 6 
Teal 8 
Great Skua (*Bonxie - see below) - 4 at 1537 
Swallow - 4 
Sand Martin - 5 
Kittiwake - 1 adult west at 1750 
Common Tern 
Little Tern - 5 

* You will hear most birdwatchers, when referring to the Great Skua, call it a 'Bonxie'. The Great Skua is to be found mainly breeding in  Scotland with most birds on Shetland, with smaller numbers on the Hebrides, Orkney and a few on the mainland. The term 'Bonxie' is a Shetland word meaning bully and is given to the bird because they eat by chasing other birds and frightening them into dropping or disgorging their food whereupon the Skua will eat it. Our other passage bird, the Arctic Skua, grows up to 18 inches long whereas the Great Skua can grow to a massive 23 inches. Skuas are a regular passage bird in small numbers off our coast during the autumn and late summer.

08/09/01
Westcliff Seafront: 1 Ring-billed Gull, 4 Mediterranean Gull. John Wright (SOG).
The Fleet from Wakering Tip 09.30 11.30: Juvenile Montagu's Harrier, 5 Marsh Harriers (ad Male, Immature male, 3 female/immatures), 1 Peregrine Falcon (a peregrine was also seen at Paglesham Lagoons by Peter Low, SOG), 10 Little Egrets. John Wright (SOG).
Canvey Seafront 11:15 15:45: 1 Little Egret, Wigeon, Dunlin, 1 Great Skua, c.25 Arctic Skua (2 pale phase), 1 Sabine's Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, 6 Little Tern, 11 Black Tern. Web Author et al. Also: Manx Shearwater early morning (Graham Ekins) and 2 Pomarine Skua - 1 adult & 1 juvenile (from 4.10pm) 6 Long-tailed Skua - 1 juvenile west at 4.55pm, 5 juveniles west at 5.05pm (another probable at 5.20pm). Nick Green.
For information: The Arctic Skua stercorarius parasiticus has recently been renamed to the Parasitic Skua, I am afraid that on this website you will see the bird referred to under its old name, this is because your Web Author will never get used to its new name. I hope that you agree with me that Arctic sounds so much better than Parasitic!
Southend Pier: 9 Long Tailed Skua (including a fantastic individual about 300 yards out), 1 Leach's Petrel, 20-25+ Arctic Skua, 1 Gannet, 11 Black Terns, 1 distant auk species and 15 Mediterranean Gulls ( 6 Adults, 2 juveniles, 4 2nd Years and 3 1st Years. Of these birds, three were ringed. Last winters 1st Winter birds A00 + E02 are now in their 2nd year plumage, 1 of the metal ringed adults from last winter and 2 new ringed birds, a 1st Winter bird with a green ring with K04 and an adult with a yellow ring on the left leg 31P. Steve Arlow, Paul Griggs, John Wright, Mike Bailey and Don Petrie (SOG).

07/09/01
Westcliff Seafront 13:20:  2 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls. Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow (SOG).
Shoebury, Uncle Tom's Cabin 13:30: 1 first winter Mediterranean Gull Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow (SOG).
Westcliff Seafront: "Rossi" the Ring-billed Gull seems to be back in residence. Have seen him on two days this week on the usual beach in the company of Common and Black-headed Gulls. Terry Strong.
Southend Pier 5.15pm - 6.45pm: 5 Arctic Skua and 16 Mediterranean Gulls ( 7 Adults, 5 2nd Winters, 2 1stWinters and 2 juveniles ) One of the 2nd year birds was rung A00 which was one of last winters 1st Winter birds. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Canvey Seafront: 1 juvenile Sabine's Gull, 16 Arctic Skua, 16 Arctic Tern, 2 Black Tern, 4 Little Egret. per SOG.
The Fleet, Wakering 09:00 - 10: 45: 4 Corn Bunting, 5 Little Egret, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4-5 Kestrel ,1 Sparrowhawk (tustling with Kestrel and 2 Magpies for 20 minutes), 2 Marsh Harrier (1 female, 1 juvenile), Montagu's Harrier (in the air between the marsh harriers, all hunting on same bank),1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 unidentifiable raptor very high heading SW). Kevin Rees.

06/09/01
The Fleet from the old Wakering Tip 18:00 - 20:00: 93 Little Egret on roost, Ruff, Greenshank, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 juvenile Montagu's Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher heard calling, 2 Barn Owl, 7 Yellow Wagtail. Steve Arlow (SOG), Web Author.
Westcliff Seafront: 5 Mediterranean Gull ( 3 Adults & 2 2nd Years). Steve Arlow (SOG).
Shoebury East Beach: 1 Pomarine Skua, c.720 Sanderling. Steve Arlow (SOG).

05/09/01
The Fleet from the old Wakering Tip: 6+ Marsh Harriers, the Montagu's Harrier was seen again along the sea wall opposite the boatyard, 150+ Canada Geese and a total count of 86 Little Egrets going to the roost. Also seen was an adult Mediterranean Gull at North Shoebury. There was an unconfirmed report of an adult Ring Billed Gull at Shoebury East Beach at 3.30pm. Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow, John Wright (SOG).
Canvey Seafront (various times): 54 Arctic Skua, 5 Great Skua, 1 Black Tern. Per SOG.

04/09/01
Wakering stairs, Havengore Point 18:15 - 19:50: 18 Little Egret, 1 juvenile Red Kite (observed being mobbed by 3 Marsh harriers), 5 Marsh Harrier (4 female 1, juvenile male), 11 Grey Plover (many still in summer plumage), 27 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Barn Owl, 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat (1 male, 1 female), 2  Wheatear. Steve Giles, web Author.
Canvey Seafront 14:30 - 16:00: 12 Arctic Skua, 1 Black Tern, three Little Tern plus Sandwich and Common Tern. Jeff Delve.
Canvey Seafront 17:45: 1 Long-tailed Skua (one past this afternoon), 20 Arctic Skua, 10 Great Skua, 7 Pomarine Skua, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Black Terns reported.

03/09/01
Newport (NW Essex): Wryneck briefly by the sewage works 07:05 - 07:25am when it flew off north onto private land, also 3 Lesser Whitethroats, Whinchat, Common Buzzard, 7 Whitethroats, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Kingfishers, 3 Green & 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Treecreepers, 5 Grey & 2 Yellow Wagtails and several Turtle Doves. Stephen Patmore.
Flatford Mill: Red-backed Shrike reported at midday.

02/09/01
Wakering Stairs from Havengore Point 11:30: 1 Montagu's Harrier still showing well hunting over salt marsh on opposite bank, 2 Marsh Harrier (1 female, 1 juvenile), 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 2  Stonechat,  Also: Common Seal from end of M.O.D. road. Web Author, James Mee et al.
Canvey Sea Front: 25-30 Arctic Skuas including two pale phase birds plus Black Tern and many Sandwich/Common/Arctic Terns up river. David Jobbins.
Wakering Stairs from Havengore Point 13:00: Montagu's Harrier until 1.30pm when it flew north and had not returned by 3.30pm. Also seen from Haven Point were c.4 Little Egrets, 1 Wheatear, 65 Golden Plovers, 4-6 Marsh Harriers and about 22 Greenshank. Then from to Wakering Tip where the Montagu's was relocated hunting the seawalls north of Foulness Bridge up as far as directly opposite the boatyard until 6pm at least. Also from here were 29 Corn Buntings, 18+ Little Egrets and 3-4 Marsh Harriers. Steve Arlow, Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wakering Stairs 18:00 - 19:00: Montagu's Harrier showing well, to the west of the bridge on to Havengore Island, 2 male Marsh Harriers, 2 female Marsh Harriers. Steve Hiscock.
Two Tree Island: Overcast, wind light WSW. EWT reserve eastern half 13.00 -15.10hrs: Wigeon 56, mostly male and apparently still partially at least in eclipse plumage, at first riding on sea to SE of saltings, then flighting in to water over mudflat at edge of saltings, at first up ending to feed until mudflat exposed as tide ebbed. Teal 36, riding on sea at edge of saltings and on tide in runnels, then feeding on mudflat at edge of saltings. Little Egret 17, roosting communally in a group on saltings. Grey Heron 2, roosting among Little Egrets on saltings. Curlew 297 individually counted with telescope roosting on saltings, undoubtedly more which could not be seen at rest in the vegetation; when flew up at 15.05hrs estimated 400. Whimbrel 1, Grey Plover 10, Redshank ca 50 roosting, Starling ca 300 restlessly alternating between resting on saltings and feeding on berries on Elderberry trees on TTI EWT area; c.75% were juvenile/1st year birds with only the head remaining brown while moulting from all brown juvenile plumage to black spotted adult plumage. Martin Johnson
East of Wakering: Reports of Red Kite still in area at 11:30 this morning.

01/09/01
Gunners Park - Shoebury: 07:30: 1 Grey Heron, 3 Whinchat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat. Web Author. Also: Sparrowhawk, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats and Green Woodpecker. Steve Arlow (SOG).
Wakering Stairs from Havengore Point 10:00 - 15:00: 8 Little Egret, Wigeon, c.20 Common Eider, 1 Red Kite, between 4 to 6 Marsh Harrier, 1 juvenile Montagu's Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Kestrel, c.26 Golden Plover, Grey Plover, c.20 Common Ringed Plover, c.50 Whimbrel, c.22 Greenshank, 32 Sanderling, Knot, Dunlin, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1juvenile Little Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 8 Black Tern, Sand Martin, 1 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear. Web Author, John Wright, Steve Arlow (SOG) et.al. The Montagu's Harrier is a superbly text-book marked juvenile with a very rich dark orange body. The bird showed very well from 10:00 right through to 19:00 on the opposite side of the creek. The Red Kite was observed being mobbed by 3 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk. A fantastic start to September by any means!
Gunners Park, Shoebury 18:15: Kingfisher on bank by last bridge. Web Author, Steve Arlow (SOG).
Two Tree Island Lagoon lunchtime: 4 Avocet, 26 Golden Plover, 22 Greenshank, 100+ Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpiper. Andrew Woodhouse Essex Ranger Service.
Canvey Island: Reports of Pomarine Skua, 5 Black Tern, 16 Arctic Skua and Little Tern flying past between 12.00 & 16.00.
East Tilbury: 1 adult Peregrine, Hobby, 12 Little Terns, 230 Avocets, many Common Ringed Plover and a few Dunlins. Earlier Paul Wood had juvenile Cuckoo, several Curlew Sandpipers, four Little Stints, a Black Tern and one Arctic Skua. David Jobbins.