Southend Ornithological Group Bird News

Records submitted in the last 14 days, most recent first. Amber indicates scarce, red indicates rare (Essex requires notes or a description), magenta indicates non-native.

Sunday 05 April 2026

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:40 to 10:50
6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Pink-footed Goose (on solar panel field.), 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (from gate by dismantled barn.), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 50 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Wheatear, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Saturday 04 April 2026

Two Tree Island, 17:50 to 18:10
8 Grey Plover, 10 Dunlin, 70 Black-tailed Godwit [Matt Bruty]

Canewdon, 15:30 to 16:00, Just around BHP
1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Common Lizard, 1 insects (Firebug, first for site) [Jeff Delve]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 14:00 to 17:20
1 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper [Matt Bruty]

Gunners Park, 13:30 to 15:00, Light westerly 13C. High tide 15:00
4 Cetti's Warbler, 0 Sedge Warbler (No sign of one reported earlier ), 3 Chiffchaff [Jeff Delve]

Wakering Stairs, 11:40 to 13:15, From stairs out to Haven point then Cupid’s Corner
20 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier (Male), 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 120 Curlew (+, Large flock on wader roost), 8 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff (+), 1 Peacock Butterfly [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Wick, 11:00 to 12:00
2 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Rabbit [John Wright]

Paglesham Lagoon, 11:00 to 13:20, from Trout fisheries
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard (+), 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 6 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Skylark, 6 Fieldfare, 6 Cetti's Warbler (h), 2 Blackcap (h), 2 Chiffchaff (h) [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 10:50 to 13:00
1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker (Heard), 1 Yellow Wagtail (Manorway), 8 Cetti's Warbler (Heard), 1 Blackcap (Heard), 2 Chiffchaff [Mike Clarke]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 10:00 to 13:00, Walk to Holehaven Creek and back
1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 110 Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Blackcap [Matt Bruty]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:15 to 11:45
6 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Wigeon, 1 Kestrel, 22 Avocet, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Bank Vole [John Wright]

Friday 03 April 2026

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 15:50 to 16:10
1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:00 to 18:30
1 Great White Egret, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 2 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank [Matt Bruty]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 11:55 to 13:10
1 Kestrel, 6 Snipe, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Chiffchaff [Matt Bruty]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:40 to 11:30
1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Swallow, 1 Bearded Tit (Great Pound) [Matt Bruty]

Thursday 02 April 2026

Wakering, 17:30 to 18:00
1 Hen Harrier (Ringtail hunting over old tip), 1 Buzzard, 3 Mediterranean Gull (Adults), 1 Blackcap (Male singing), 2 Chiffchaff (Singing) [Lee Ebbs]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 15:30 to 16:45, Pantiles and middle hide
2 Great Crested Grebe (Displaying pair on main lagoon), 43 Avocet, 2 Golden Plover (Pair in full summer plumage, gorgeous), 18 Lapwing, 10 Redshank, 1 Peacock Butterfly [Jeff Delve]

Rochford, 14:55 to 14:55
1 Red Kite (west over garden) [Steve Arlow]

South Fambridge, 10:45 to 10:45
8 Great Crested Grebe (still together on the Crouch, surprised they haven't moved off yet), 1 Red Kite (over east end of BHF) [Paul Baker]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 10:30 to 14:00, Initially cool, breezy W, wind dying and getting warmer later. Circuit
4 Spoonbill (Flew out to south), 1 Pink-footed Goose (South side of lagoon), 1 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail (H), 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 3 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper (Run off pools), 3 Swallow, 1 Water Pipit (Summer plumage bird still on run off pool but elusive), 1 Grey Wagtail (Run off pool), 7 Cetti's Warbler (Singing birds), 2 Bearded Tit (More heard), 2 Common Lizard [Jeff Delve]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:15 to 15:30
3 Little Egret, 9 Pochard, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 21 Lapwing, 1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpiper, 46 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull (ads), 5 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 1 Water Pipit (stagnant pool S of reserve), 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Common Lizard, 1 Small White, 3 Peacock Butterfly, 1 Comma (Church Road) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Wednesday 01 April 2026

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:00
2 Slow-worm, 1 Grass Snake (young one under tin still, same as previous) [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Whimbrel, 30 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing from near concrete steps), 1 Raven (over garden), 2 Yellowhammer (pair flew over garden, calling) [Paul Baker]

Tuesday 31 March 2026

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 17:35 to 18:30, Manorway only
1 Wigeon, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 2 Chiffchaff (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 16:00 to 19:15, Just Carolyn’s Hide. Calm bright evening, glorious!
14 Great Crested Grebe (On Fitzroy- Inc pair displaying ), 2 Great White Egret (Lytag), 2 Spoonbill (One with white ring on left leg but couldn’t read code), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk (Superb ad male flew N to by office compound), 1 Buzzard (Very pale phase bird on post S of hide), 1 Merlin (On post then flew east over Lytag), 5 Ruff, 300 Black-tailed Godwit (+, Most in summer plumage ), 3 Spotted Redshank, 10 Greenshank (Fitzroy) [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Red Kite (poss 2 birds low over North Fambridge woodland), 35 Mediterranean Gull (over garden & BHF), 2 Raven (BHF), 1 Yellowhammer [Paul Baker]

Lower Raypits, 10:30 to 15:00, Work party,
10 Avocet (On pool in fields), 4 Little Ringed Plover (3 on lagoon, 1 on pool in fields), 6 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 4 Mediterranean Gull (+), 1 Barn Owl (Flew from owl box ), 100 Linnet (+, Large flock on fields to south nr Lion Creek), 2 Corn Bunting [Jeff Delve]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:15 to 11:30
1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Bearded Tit [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 08:25 to 11:55
1 Little Egret, 20 Wigeon, 9 Pochard (5m,4f), 19 Avocet, 5 Lapwing, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 2 Mediterranean Gull (ads), 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull (ads), 5 Skylark, 2 Swallow (N), 2 Meadow Pipit, 10 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Greenfinch [Jeff Kinnerman]

Monday 30 March 2026

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 12:20 to 14:10, Circuit in blustery westerly conditions with a couple of heavy showers
1 Greenshank (Heard), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Swallow, 1 Water Pipit (Full summer plumage bird with pink washed breast, blue grey head on tip run off pools) [Jeff Delve]

River Roach, 07:55 to 13:10, Coombes Farm to Bartonhall Creek and return to Broomhill Fisheries
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon (BC), 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 21 Curlew, 1 Mediterranean Gull (h ), 7 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mistle Thrush (Rankins C.C.), 1 Cetti's Warbler (h), 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Greenfinch (m), 1 Corn Bunting (BC) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Sunday 29 March 2026

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 16:25 to 17:05, 10 mins from Bowers Downs & from gate behind old barn
2 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow [Neil Chambers]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 15:35 to 16:20, Brisk WSW wind, drizzle
1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Snipe, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 14:45 to 14:45, Cold and windy
2 Marsh Harrier (pair on BHF), 50 Mediterranean Gull (c.), 1 Swallow, 1 Raven [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 13:10 to 15:45, Breezy W, quite cold. Out to Schoolhouse then Caroline’s hide
3 Spoonbill (South Darwin), 2 Marsh Harrier (Inc cracking ad male), 100 Avocet (+, Most on island on S Darwin), 10 Knot (One in full chestnut regalia), 2 Little Stint (Excellent close views of one near hide on Fitzroy and another close on Darwin), 21 Dunlin, 2 Ruff (Fitzroy), 200 Black-tailed Godwit (+, Most in chestnut summer plumage), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank (All in near summer plumage distantly on Fitzroy lagoon), 30 Redshank (+), 1 Raven (Fly past from Jubilee out to southern sea wall) [Jeff Delve]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:15 to 15:30, Caroline’s hide
3 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Stint, 2 Ruff, 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Raven [Bob Young]

Lower Raypits, 11:30 to 12:30
10 Shelduck (Pair on lagoon, rest on fields ), 3 Gadwall, 18 Teal, 8 Shoveler (5 drakes), 4 Oystercatcher (2 psirs), 8 Avocet (4 pairs prospecting ), 3 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Lapwing (One on lagoon and two pairs displaying on fields), 10 Linnet [Jeff Delve]

Daws Heath, 10:30 to 11:00, Little Havens Reserve
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Nuthatch [John Wright]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:25 to 14:25
1 Great White Egret (showing well in borrowdyke on south side of Marsh Flats), 2 Spoonbill, 1 Wheatear (male briefly on North Jubilee) [Steve Arlow]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 09:45 to 09:45
1 Little Egret [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:00
1 Pink-footed Goose (in solar panel field.), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, 90 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Swallow, 4 Blackcap, 4 Bearded Tit, 2 Yellowhammer [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Saturday 28 March 2026

Southend, 13:05 to 13:10, Lundy Close
1 Peregrine Falcon [Jeff Kinnerman]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:05 to 13:30
1 Great White Egret (on Lytag), 1 Spoonbill (On Darwin Lagoon), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (redhead still on Darwin Lagoon), 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin (juvenile / female ), 1 Little Stint (on Stokes lagoon with mixed flock of Dunlin, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits), 5 Ruff (from hide on Fitzroy Lagoon), 3 Spotted Redshank (1 full winter plumage and 2 in moult towards summer plumage - all on Fitzroy Lagoon from hide), 1 Greenshank, 1 Swallow (flew north over the hide), 1 Raven (one flew north over Jubliee and what may have been a second bird along the south wall an hour later), 1 Weasel [Steve Arlow]

Friday 27 March 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 22:20 to 22:40
1 Tawny Owl (male hooting), 1 Red Fox, 2 Badger (still visiting garden daily) [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 17:10 to 18:30
1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Bearded Tit [Neil Chambers]

Westcliff, 07:50 to 07:55, St Georges Drive
1 Blackcap (m,in garden ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Thursday 26 March 2026

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 15:30 to 18:00, Circuit coming back up Manners Way but didn't do double benches
2 Egyptian Goose (from Manners Way), 1 Snipe (Run off pool), 3 Green Sandpiper (Tip run off pool), 1 Water Pipit (Summer plumage bird on run off pool), 1 Grey Wagtail (Tip run off pool), 2 Pied Wagtail (pair), 0 Wheatear (Sadly none found of multiple reported earlier in the day), 4 Bearded Tit (+, Heard at 4 different locations along southern edge of lagoon) [Jeff Delve]

Gunners Park, 12:05 to 14:15, Sunny but cold NW wind. Very quiet birdwise but lots of bees on Blackthorn blossom
3 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 3 Small White [Jeff Delve]

Rochford, 11:25 to 11:35
3 Raven (circling high over garden) [Steve Arlow]

Canewdon, 11:15 to 11:30, Quick look around BHP
1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 8 Greenfinch (+, Multiple displaying males), 1 Common Lizard (One on log pile, first for a couple of years :0)), 1 Slow-worm, 1 Peacock Butterfly [Jeff Delve]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 10:40
4 Egyptian Goose, 1 Kestrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Yellowhammer (pair.) [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Tuesday 24 March 2026

Canewdon, 15:00 to 15:30
1 Blackcap (Singing BHP), 1 Chiffchaff (Singing BHP), 1 Smooth Newt (Youngster under log BHP), 1 Slow-worm (Tiny guy under log BHP), 1 Chinese Muntjac (Seen by side of pond, my first here though footprints around for some time.) [Jeff Delve]

Monday 23 March 2026

South Fambridge, 14:00 to 14:00, Quick once around the garden
1 Marsh Harrier (circling high over garden), 5 Common Lizard, 7 Slow-worm, 1 Grass Snake (young one) [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:00 to 14:20, Just out to hide and back
1 Great White Egret (Darwin), 1 Kestrel, 50 Grey Plover (+, Stokes), 250 Knot (Approx with other waders on Stokes), 250 Black-tailed Godwit (+, On Darwin - not mixing with other wader roost), 150 Bar-tailed Godwit (Approx in mixed wader flock on Stokes), 75 Mediterranean Gull (Counted on Acresfleet alone), 50 Herring Gull (+, Along Darwin/Stokes and Fitzroy/Lytag bunds), 10 Skylark (+, In glorious song, really belting it out! ) [Jeff Delve]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 08:30 to 12:55
325 Wigeon (c), 12 Pochard, 1 Red Kite (drifted S), 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 6 Avocet, 11 Lapwing, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Curlew (single group in field ), 4 Mediterranean Gull (ads ), 13 Skylark, 1 Redwing, 9 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap (m), 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Raven (pair,E,calling ), 2 Greenfinch, 1 Peacock Butterfly [Jeff Kinnerman]

Westcliff, 07:50 to 07:55, St Georges Drive
1 Blackcap (m,in garden ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:00
8 Little Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Pintail, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Water Rail (heard), 1 Ruff, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Bearded Tit, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Marsh Frog [Graham Oakes, Graham Ryland]

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