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March 2010 |
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Friday 12th March 2010Latest Wildlife News - updated 12/03/10
Rayleigh, Ferndale Road 08:30 to 09:00
1 female Sparrowhawk. Paul Baker (SOG).
Southend Pier, 09:40 to 11:15
1 Purple Sandpiper on slipway and floating yellow/black inflatable by museum, 1 Great Northern Diver, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 4 adult Kittiwake. Vince Kinsler
(SOG).
Belfairs Great Wood, 10:15 to 10:30
2 Lesser Redpoll in 1st birch by the split track
opposite Dodds Grove entrance, 1 Sparrowhawk. Mike Bailey, Paul Baker, Don Petrie
(SOG).
Southend, Victoria Avenue. 10:15 to 17:30
1 female Peregrine Falcon on and around Maitland House and the HSBC building for most of the day. Paul Griggs, John Wright
(SOG).
Belfairs Woods, 12:45 to 13:00
1 male Siskin calling constantly atop tall birch next to redpoll tree, 2
Lesser Redpoll (same tree as earlier), 1 female Tawny Owl heard several times near Poors Lane entrance. Vince Kinsler
(SOG).
Thursday 11th March 2010
Belton Hills, 06:40
5 Siskin flew over Belton Hills East calling. John Wright
(SOG).
Southend, 09:15 to 13:40
1 female Peregrine Falcon on Maitland House's fire escape. Paul Griggs (SOG).
Wickford, Shotgate, Great Saling 09:30
Blackcap on the birdbath, 5 Goldfinch on the Niger feeder, Blackbird building a nest. All in my garden. David Hope.
South Fambridge/Brandy Hole 10:25 to 12:15
Common Buzzard heading south gaining height (11:05), 2 Red-breasted Merganser (pair), 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Corn Bunting, 3 Reed Bunting, Greenshank, 2 Grey Plover, 448 Brent Goose, Little Egret, 6 Wigeon, Long-tailed Tit. Ray Fuller.
Wat Tyler Country Park 10:30 to 12:40
Sightings on RSPB walk: Moorhen, Robin, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Little Grebe, Canada Goose, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Pochard, Coot, Shoveler, Teal, Redshank, Wood Pigeon, Spotted Redshank, Rook, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Oyster Catcher, Grey Heron, Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, 15 Ruff (one with a white head, in Vange Creek), Curlew, Blackbird, Great Tit, Pheasant, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Starling, Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Chaffinch. Terry Jeffreys.
Shoebury Gunners Park, 12:30 to 13:57
Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Mallard (pair), Little Egret, Oystercatcher, 40+ Turnstone, 30+ Sanderling, 30+ Dunlin, 10+ Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail (pair), Linnet, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, small mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing. S.Jackson.
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 14:00
1 Grey Wagtail flew low north calling then dropped down in stream. Paul Baker
(SOG).
Wickford 15:00
Grey Wagtail in Wickford Town Centre, 100+ Redwing on grass in Wickford Memorial
Park. John Atfield.
Ashingdon, Princess Gardens 16:00
1 female Sparrowhawk sitting on our bird table, presumably waiting for dinner to turn up. David Selley.
Wednesday 10th March 2010
Belfairs N.R., 07:20 to 08:05
1 Lesser Redpoll
(a single bird c200m south along main track in Great Wood NR from entrance opposite Dodd's Grove, then flew back towards Dodd's Grove calling), 1 female Tawny Owl calling SE of end of Poors Lane, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 08:45
1 Blackbird, 3/4trs albino with just black tail and rear. Paul Baker (SOG).
Maldon, Heybridge Basin 10:00
300+ Brent Geese on river, 500+ Black-tailed Godwit roosting on Basin, 1 Red Knot in small channel near Basin sea wall, 1 Kestrel hunting over rough ground near sea wall. Large numbers of Redshank, Oystercatcher Black-tailed Godwit, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck and Grey Plover on mudflats of estuary. Paul Forsdick.
Southend, Victoria Avenue 10:45 to 12:45
1 female Peregrine Falcon perched on the fire escape railings of Maitland House. Paul Griggs
(SOG).
Tuesday 09th March 2010
RSPB Vange Marsh, 09:30 to 10:20
1 Water Pipit (N.E. and N.W. ends, mobile), 5 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler. John Wright
(SOG).
Belfairs Woods Including Hadleigh Great Wood NR, 10:10 to 11:30
5 Lesser Redpoll feeding in the standard birch trees south of the western Poors Lane/Dodd's grove entrance to the main reserve, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 11 Redwing. Marc Outten, Tony Mead
(SOG).
RSPB Vange Wick, 10:40 to 11:45
16 Grey Heron, 1 Red-breasted Goose (The escapee, yellow ring on left leg, on Fobbing/Vange Wick with Canada Geese, viewed from Marina mound). John Wright
(SOG).
Belfairs Great Wood, 12:20 to 14:30
1 Siskin flew over Dodd's Grove calling at 13.21, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cormorant overhead, 1 Song Thrush, 62 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare. Mike Bailey, Don Petrie
(SOG).
Fields Bordering the Backwarden, Danbury
2 pairs of Skylark in the field behind my house bordering the Backwarden that rise and then after a few minutes of flight, plummet to the ground so fast that I lose track at the last moment, even in fog and frost. Laurette Guest.
Monday 08th March 2010
Rochford, Craven Close, 08:15
1 Fieldfare which then hung around most of the day, guarding - and sometimes scoffing - our cotoneater 'cornubia' berries. Richard Goring.
Wakering, Fleet Head, 08:25 to 10:35
1200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose by central track, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 20 Corn Bunting (incl. a few singing), 40 Stock Dove on Potton, 4 Canada Goose on Potton, 50 Golden Plover on Potton, 1 Rock Pipit,
100 Black-tailed Godwit. 11 Brown Hare. Neil Chambers
(SOG).
Hockley Woods, 08:30 to 10:00
1 Firecrest in holly on SW perimeter path, 1
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Bob Young
(SOG).
Paglesham Eastend, 11:05 to 11:35
From boatyard east along Roach for c.1/4 mile: 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Fieldfare. Neil Chambers
(SOG).
Wallasea Island, 11:50 to 12:00
1 singing Corn Bunting. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Sunday 07th March 2010
Hockley Woods 07:30 to 08:30
2 male Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers seen, as well as heard calling and drumming (1 50m from
car park down the central path, 1 near compound). 2 Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush. Several Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming. 2 Green Woodpeckers (heard only), Several Redwing still present. Andrew and Peter Allen.
Hockley Woods 10:00
Buzzard flying low over the wood. Nuthatch 25 meters from car park left hand side of main path, several Great Spotted Woodpecker. Ian Dewsnap.
Hockley Woods, 11:00 to 12:00
1 singing male Firecrest in large holly trees on SW side from perimeter path, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 drumming), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch (flew over the Firecrest), 1 Stock Dove (singing). Neil Chambers
(SOG).
Rochford Golf Course, 13:40 to 15:30
2 Redwing, 1 Green Woodpecker. Neil Chambers (SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park 14:30 to 15:00
1 Marsh Harrier on RSPB Bowers, c.10 Common Snipe on scrape. Web Author,
Kris Mee.
Chalkwell Seafront, 15:30 to 17:30
1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Sanderling. Paul Baker (SOG).
Priory Park, 17:30 to 17:50
1 Ring-necked Parakeet flew onto ivy covered tree on island at 17:40, didn't call. John Wright
(SOG)
Saturday 06th March 2010
RSPB Vange Marsh, 07:30 to 09:50
1 Water Pipit NW corner of the moat by the wood yard at 07.50, along grassy edge of moat by middle mound at 08.30 then flew onto the marsh and could not be relocated, 4 Meadow Pipit, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Cetti's Warbler (1 showing very well in abstraction ditch). Martin Cracknell
(SOG).
RSPB Vange Marsh 10:00 to 12:00
Sightings on RSPB walk: Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Teal, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Shoveler, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler (heard), Starling, Robin, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Blue Tit, Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard, Little Egret, Dunnock. Terry Jeffreys.
Southend, 13:35 to 13:35
1 Sparrowhawk plunged into a tree at Porters Grange roundabout to take a sparrow. Paul Baker
(SOG).
Southend Pier, 14:30 to 17:15
12 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Purple Sandpiper on south side of pier head throughout high tide i.e. not on ramp with main Turnstone flock, 15 Knot roosting with Turnstone, 92 Turnstone, 8 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Teal. Mike Bailey
(SOG).
Wakering, Fleet Head, 15:45 to 17:00
2 Red-legged Partridge, 56 Corn Bunting, 1 Green Sandpiper, 21 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Snipe, 4 Little Egret (3 on Potton Island). Marc Outten
(RSPB, SOG).
Canvey Point, 16:00 to 17:00
1 drake Common Scoter flew upriver at 16.45, 4 Great Crested Grebe, c.4000 Black-headed Gull constant stream flying east at a rate of c.70 per minute, but not a single Mediterranean Gull!, 86 Cygnus sp. on field on Kent side. Neil Chambers, Martin Cracknell
(SOG).
Priory Park, 17:30 to 18:00
1 Ring-necked Parakeet showing very well in thin ivy-covered tree on island in main pond - didn't call once). 1 Brown Rat. Mike Bailey
(SOG).
Friday 05th March 2010
Hockley Woods, 06:50 to 08:00
2 Green Woodpecker, 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1 between car park and clearing, a pair c.100m south of compound), 2 Nuthatch (vocal), 4 Treecreeper (2 pairs), 1 Goldcrest singing, 4 Stock Dove, 4 Redwing, 8 Long-tailed Tit. Vince Kinsler
(SOG).
Wat Tyler Country Park, 07:50 to 08:20
From marina overlooking Vange Wick. Not many large gulls present; all waders in creek: 1 Cetti's Warbler still singing NE of marina car park, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 12+ Ruff. Neil Chambers
(SOG).
Leigh on Sea, Highlands Boulevard, 08:10 to 08:20
1 Green Woodpecker calling from tree and then searching for worms on my back garden lawn - much to the consternation of the cat watching from the window! Lyn Davies.
Paglesham Lagoon, 09:30 to 15:00
Walked in from Paglesham boatyard: 44 Pochard (including one with nasal saddle 'A3'), 52 Tufted Duck (including one with nasal saddle 'DL'), 2 Pintail (pair), 2 Red-breasted Merganser (pair on river), 4 Reed Bunting, 1 male Yellowhammer, 1 Little Egret, 7 Goldeneye (2 drakes), 1 Skylark. Mike Bailey, Don Petrie
(SOG).
Shipwrights Wood, 11:45 to 12:45
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (inc. drumming and displaying), 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Redwing. Paul Baker
(SOG).
Mayflower Close, Eastwood, 15:00 to 17:00
2 Sparrowhawk hunting low through gardens. Paul Baker (SOG).
Hockley Woods, 16:30 to 17:30
2 Firecrest (a female 200 WSW of compound this morning at 10. Visit this evening; male in holly 50m east of first
log pile by main clearing), 2 Treecreeper singing in well grown coppice east of main clearing, 3 Nuthatch (singing birds near car park, at main clearing and S of compound), 3 Mistle Thrush (singing birds this evening), 1 Sparrowhawk (displaying male this morning). Jeff Delve
(SOG).
Thursday 04th March 2010
RSPB Vange Marsh, 06:55 to 07:35
34 Snipe, 4 Reed Bunting, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard). Vince Kinsler
(SOG).
RSPB Vange Marsh, 08:15 to 08:50
1 Water Pipit favouring the grassy edges of the moat between the 2nd viewing mound and the
wood yard, though quite mobile, 1 Reed Bunting, 29 Snipe, 3 Meadow Pipit. Neil Chambers
(SOG).
Rochford, Garden, Craven Close 08:50
1 Wren. Richard Goring.
Southend, Victoria Avenue, Portcullis House, 09:00
1 Peregrine Falcon. Karen Freeman.
Wat Tyler Country Park 10:30 to 12:30
14 Ruff on Vange Creek, one with a white head and shoulders, 2 Green Woodpecker. David Lee.
Wat Tyler Country Park 10:30 to 12:30
RSPB walk: 2 Green Woodpecker (NW of pillbox), Canada Goose, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Redshank, Teal, Moorhen, Grey Heron, 14 Ruff (in Pitsea Creek), Curlew, Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose, Oyster Catcher, Shoveler, Lapwing, Herring Gull, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Robin. Terry Jeffreys.
Gunners Park 12:30 to 13:30
24 Turnstone, 12 Sanderling, along the sea wall, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail. S.Jackson.
Hockley Woods 12:30 to 14:30
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker (heard only), 1
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker rear of the Golf Driving range loosely associating with mixed group of finches and tits but rather elusive, 2 Redwing, very many Chaffinch. Les Costin.
Canvey Point, 13:20 to 14:45
25 Common Scoter hanging around behind West Leigh buoy and Warden Point, flying frequently and landing again on the water, 2 Great Crested Grebe. 1 Red Admiral. Paul Baker
(SOG).
Chelmsford, Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve c.13:30
5 Goosander - three female, two male. One female apparently 'presenting' to male, stretched out flat on water next to him. No response from male and the female then displayed aggression towards another female. Paul Forsdick.
Hadleigh Downs, 15:30 to 16:00
1 Woodcock. Andrew Woodhouse (SOG).
RSPB Bowers Marshes, 15:30 to 18:00
Viewed initially from Pitsea Mount, then from the end of Church Road: 58 Greylag Goose, 39 Canada Goose, 1 Red-breasted Goose (adult of unknown origin. Seen in flight (fully winged) and actively feeding with Canada Geese from 15:40 until dusk), 1 Mute Swan, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler. Don Petrie, Mike Bailey, Marc Outten
(SOG).
Rayleigh, 17:15
Field NE of Carpenters Arms Roundabout: 1 Buzzard flying low across field chased by corvids and then gaining height. Vince Kinsler
(SOG).
RSPB Vange Marsh, 17:25 to 18:10
1 Water Pipit around flood/moat in most NE corner, 12 Snipe, 2 Cetti's Warbler seen chasing each other in abstraction ditch, 1 Water Rail seen well in abstraction ditch, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Meadow Pipit. 2 Northern Water Vole. Vince Kinsler
(SOG).
Wednesday 03rd March 2010
Wat Tyler Country Park, 08:55 to 10:55
1 Sparrowhawk over Pound Lane, 3 adult Mediterranean Gull on RSPB Vange Wick, 5 Ruff in creek, 1 Greenshank in creek, 1 Cetti's Warbler heard on RSPB Vange Wick, 2 Snipe in creek, 1 Little Egret. Paul Baker, Mike Bailey
(SOG).
RSPB Bowers Marshes, 08:20
2 Yellowhammer. Marc Outten (RSPB, SOG).
Hockley, Rosslyn Close 10:30
Single male Waxwing eating chopped apple on my lawn, stayed for around 10 Minutes. Barry Bridge.
South Woodham 12:00
1 Buzzard. Jim Cockram.
RSPB Vange Marsh, 12:50 to 14:25
1 Water Pipit on fresh marsh in the tussocky grass opposite the central viewing mound, 38 Snipe including a wisp or 29 flying around the marsh, 62 Shoveler (numbers are down but there were over 30 on Vange Wick today). Marc Outten
(RSPB, SOG).
Billericay, Lake Meadows 14:15
1 female Goosander. 50+ Redwing on field by boxing club hut. Marion Burch.
Billericay, Norsey Wood
Chaffinch, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, 25 Redwing, Wren, 5 Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Jay, Robin, 2
Siskin, Carrion Crow, Chris Huggins.
Tuesday 02nd March 2010
Rochford, 07:15 to 07:35
1 Green Woodpecker in garden. Steve Arlow (SOG,
www.birdersplayground.co.uk).
Hockley Woods, 08:00 to 11:10
3 Green Woodpecker, 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker feeding and calling as it moved through the SE section of the wood for about 400m, 3 Nuthatch calling from
car park, 200m south of car park and southern clearing. Don Petrie (SOG).
Hockley Woods, 08:25 to 10:55
2 Crossbill flew north over car park at 08.32 calling - one was an adult male, 2
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard calling only - one at 09.47 in trees east of the clearing, 200m north of the footpath to Eastwood sewage works, 10 Great Spotted Woodpecker (at least - many drumming), 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch (1 in car park, 1 near footpath to Eastwood sewage farm, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 3 Redwing in play area, 6 Stock Dove. Mike Bailey
(SOG).
Southend, 10:00
1 female Peregrine Falcon on Maitland House. Paul Griggs (SOG).
RSPB Vange Marsh 14:00 to 16:45
142 Black-tailed Godwit flew off towards Vange Wick 15.45, 5 Snipe, 45 Shoveler, 4 Teal, c.150 Wigeon, 2 Little Egret, 2 Pintails, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Kestrel. David Shepherd.
Monday 01st March 2010
Wat Tyler Country Park 07:30 to 09:00
6 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 singing Wren, Blue Tits, House Sparrows, Redshank, 15+ Teal, 1 Shelduck (photos at http://my.opera.com/Ukwildlife/blog/2010/03/01/wat-tyler-country-park-birds). Neil.
Southend, Maplin Way 08:00
9 Greenfinch all on one tree at end of garden. We generally have a pair feeding in morning but have never seen that many before all together. S Ramsdale.
Canewdon 09:30 to 09:37
Yellowhammer in tree at side of road showing superbly. Gary Dunn (www.ladyessex.com).
Crays Hill 10:00 to 12:00
Garden: 2 pairs of Blue Tit building in nest boxes, 1 Greater Spotted
Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine high above house heading toward Benfleet. Gary Dunn (www.ladyessex.com).
RSPB West Canvey Marshes, 10:30 to 12:00
49 Stock Dove, 2 Corn Bunting, 37 Curlew, 17 Pochard on the fleet reservoir by the road, c.400 Black-tailed Godwit, large flock high over heading east. Marc Outten
(RSPB, SOG).
Hadleigh Downs, 11:30 to 13:00
1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Woodcock, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 2 Adder. Andrew Woodhouse
(SOG).
Two Tree Island 12:30
Cetti's Warbler singing near estuary hide. Pat Dandridge.
Daws Heath, Little Havens EWT, 12:30 to 14:30
1 Buzzard came in low at treetop height from Pound Wood at 13:55 then thermalled slowly upwards between A127 and Hockley ridge until lost as a dot in the blue sky at 14:05, 2 Redwing, 26 Mallard flew west, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Paul Baker
(SOG).
Disclaimer: Some of our sightings are reported by a single
observer (who may or may not be known to us) and will not always have been
corroborated. In all cases the observers name will accompany the report. We
cannot always check the sightings directly and we have to rely on the
experience of the observer. The Web Author retains the right not to publish
some reports until further evidence has been submitted. In the case of major
rarities the observer may be asked to submit a description to the county
recorders.
Copyright: No part of this website is to reproduced without the
express permission of the South East Essex RSPB Local Group.
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