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.

Thursday 22 May 2025

Wakering Stairs, 18:30 to 20:10
10 Great Crested Grebe, 80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 1 Turtle Dove (male purring SW of road), 1 Cuckoo (singing), 3 Nightingale (singing), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

River Roach, 06:35 to 11:35, Coombes Farm to Bartonhall Creek and return to Mill Lane
1 Egyptian Goose (lake W of BC), 2 Buzzard, 1 Avocet, 2 Mediterranean Gull (ads), 1 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo (BC), 1 Little Owl (Hampton Barns viewed from BC), 4 Swift, 9 Skylark, 12 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Reed Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff (h), 4 Greenfinch, 4 Corn Bunting (pairs), 1 Common Blue, 1 Wall Brown, 2 Small Heath [Jeff Kinnerman]

Tuesday 20 May 2025

Wakering Stairs, 19:35 to 20:35
4 Little Egret, 5 Grey Plover, 6 Sanderling, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Turtle Dove (in dead tree by old blockhouse, then heard purring NE of road), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Nightingale (singing), 1 Sedge Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 18:00 to 19:30, Short visit to hide and Stokes
2 Great Crested Grebe (Pair Stokes), 4 Egyptian Goose (+, Pr plus at least 2 goslings Dragonfly pools), 3 Marsh Harrier (2 males), 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 6 Avocet (Darwin Very young juvs from 3 pairs, many more sitting still), 13 Ringed Plover (Feeding flock Fitzroy from hide), 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Corn Bunting (Singing ), 1 Field Vole (Ran across path ) [Jeff Delve]

Monday 19 May 2025

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 09:00 to 09:55
2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Lapwing, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Redshank, 50 Swift, 20 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Bearded Tit [Vince Kinsler]

River Roach, 07:25 to 12:25, Coombes Farm to Bartonhall Creek and return to Mill Lane
1 Red Kite (BC), 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 4 Avocet, 1 Grey Plover (BC), 1 Whimbrel (BC), 1 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo (One S of river,the other BC.Both calling ), 1 Little Owl (Hampton Barns viewed from BC), 4 Swift, 8 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Song Thrush (h), 2 Mistle Thrush (Rankins Cricket Club ), 1 Cetti's Warbler (h), 3 Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Raven (calling,W ), 3 Greenfinch, 12 Linnet (single group ), 2 Corn Bunting (SW of BC), 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Wall Brown, 3 Small Heath [Jeff Kinnerman]

Sunday 18 May 2025

Gunners Park, 12:40 to 13:25, Bunker Wood only
1 Swift, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 House Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Spotted Flycatcher (elusive bird in Bunker Wood - cheers Lee) [Neil Chambers]

Gunners Park, 10:10 to 11:00
1 Common Tern (Over), 4 Swift, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Bunker Wood. Cheers Lee), 10 Long-tailed Tit (Lots of juveniles ) [Marc Outten]

Gunners Park, 09:00 to 11:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Tern, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Bunker Wood), 3 Small Heath [Lee Ebbs]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 08:40 to 09:20
30 Gadwall (+), 6 Pochard, 4 Lapwing, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Redshank, 40 Swift (c.), 20 Swallow (c.), 80 House Martin (c.) [Marc Outten]

Gunners Park, 08:00 to 10:00
1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Swift, 2 Swallow, 24 House Martin, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Greenfinch [Angela Baldock]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:15
2 Spoonbill, 1 Wigeon (Drake), 2 Kestrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 05:00 to 10:30, Cold N wind, overcast, 11C, Jubilee trail Breeding survey
3 Spoonbill (2 adults and immature flushed from Tillets ditch at 5:45 flew N towards Crouch), 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Still on Tillets), 4 Marsh Harrier (3 males), 7 Avocet (Pairs, 4 on nests ), 5 Ringed Plover (2 nests plus 3 ), 73 Black-headed Gull (73 nests on saltmarsh lagoons), 35 Common Tern (10 sitting birds), 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Corn Bunting [Jeff Delve]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 05:00 to 10:30, Breeding Bird Survey - other stuff
3 Spoonbill (2 ads and an imm - south side of Pool marsh), 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Grass Farm lagoon), 1 Marsh Harrier (female), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Stonechat (male, from entrance road by the 'Welcome to Wallasea' sign), 8 Corn Bunting [John Wright]

Saturday 17 May 2025

Wakering Stairs, 17:45 to 18:25, Sunny, warm, light E wind
80 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 4 Buzzard, 350 Common Gull (+, all 2cy), 1 Cuckoo (singing), 3 Nightingale (singing), 3 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wall Brown [Neil Chambers]

Rochford Golf Course, 13:40 to 17:15
6 Swift, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap (singing), 1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing), 2 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 13:00 to 14:00
1 Marsh Harrier (sub adult male), 11 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Linnet, 4 Corn Bunting [Graham Mee]

Doggetts Pits, 12:40 to 13:35
4 Great Crested Grebe (ad + 3 young), 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Swift, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 80 Red-eyed Damselfly (+), 50 Azure Damselfly (+), 6 Common Blue Damselfly, 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1 Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Wall Brown [Neil Chambers]

Benfleet Creek, 11:45 to 12:15
2 Stonechat (male still on territory and 2nd female on territory), 2 Cetti's Warbler [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 10:00 to 11:15
2 Barnacle Goose, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo [Mike Clarke]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 02:00 to 03:00
6 Red Fox (4 adults, 2 cubs in the garden) [John Wright]

Friday 16 May 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 19:30 to 21:15
1 Spoonbill, 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 40 Swift (+), 2 Bearded Tit [Tim Bourne]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 15:00 to 15:00
2 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 13:45 to 16:00
1 Spoonbill, 1 Buzzard, 12 Redshank (+ but two pairs on Don’s Marsh, one pair with single juv. ), 1 Common Sandpiper, 14 Common Tern, 10 Swift (+), 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Bearded Tit (Heard only), 2 Reed Bunting (Singing males ) [Marc Outten]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:00 to 17:00
1 Marsh Harrier (imm male), 1 Kestrel, 15 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear (female still around compound ) [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 11:30, Benches only
4 Little Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Wigeon, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail [Graham Oakes]

Thursday 15 May 2025

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 11:50 to 17:30, Overcast, cool 11C light NNE. Breeding survey mainly Grass Farm and Southern lagoons
170 Avocet (+, Breeding pairs, some very recent chicks), 26 Mediterranean Gull (Nests, mostly on Grass Farm), 1916 Black-headed Gull (Nesting pairs across main lagoons ex Pool Marsh and Jubilee), 17 Common Gull (1st summer birds on Grass Farm), 27 Common Tern (Nests - about 70 adults o), 1 Stoat (Along entry road.) [Jeff Delve]

Benfleet Creek, 09:50 to 10:15
3 Stonechat (female still on territory and a pair a bit further along the seawall. Apparently they are monogamous but I wonder if it's the same male checking out a second female.), 2 Cetti's Warbler [John Wright]

Wednesday 14 May 2025

Southchurch Park West, 19:40 to 19:40
1 Red-crested Pochard (female), 1 Stock Dove [Max Hellicar]

Doggetts Pits, 12:15 to 14:00
3 Great Crested Grebe (Adult and 2, poss 3 well grown juvs), 2 Swift, 50 Red-eyed Damselfly (+), 30 Azure Damselfly (+), 3 Common Blue Damselfly, 10 Blue-tailed Damselfly (+), 3 Hairy Dragonfly, 3 Four-spotted Chaser, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Wall Brown [Jeff Delve]

Rochford, 12:00 to 12:15
12 House Martin (Colony at Malting Villa Road, 9 nests but signs of many more previously) [Jeff Delve]

Tuesday 13 May 2025

Leigh on Sea, 10:30 to 10:30
2 Grey Wagtail (pair around Waitrose car park) [Graham Mee]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:30 to 13:00, Warm, sunny, light easterly. Caroline’s hide
8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Brimstone [Jeff Delve]

Two Tree Island (West), 09:00 to 09:40
10 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Nightingale [John Wright]

Two Tree Island (East), 08:20 to 09:00
310 Dark-bellied Brent Goose [John Wright]

Lower Raypits, 06:00 to 08:30, BBS here and Lion Creek
0 Lapwing (All gone from lagoon), 0 Black-headed Gull (Breeding birds on lagoon gone), 2 Turtle Dove (Pair on track N of Bolt Farm), 8 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Corn Bunting (Singing males) [Jeff Delve]

Monday 12 May 2025

Hadleigh, 20:40 to 21:40, Hadleigh Castle area
3 Common Pipistrelle, 1 Noctule Bat [John Wright]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 13:30 to 16:00
10 Ringed Plover (Fitzroy), 6 Sanderling (Darwin - a scarce migrant here ), 21 Dunlin (Saltpan all summer plumaged), 5 Black-tailed Godwit (Stokes), 6 Whimbrel (Flew east over Carolime’s hide), 20 Mediterranean Gull (+, Pairs a good year ), 30 Common Tern (+, Pairs, quite a bit lower than previous years ), 3 insects (Black oil beetle), 20 Common Blue (+), 1 Wall Brown, 10 Small Heath (+) [Jeff Delve]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

Park View Drive, Leigh, 09:50 to 11:20
1 Sparrowhawk (female), 1 Buzzard (over) [Graham Mee]

Benfleet Creek, 08:50 to 09:20
1 Cuckoo, 1 Stonechat (male still on territory), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Frog (1+ heard), 1 Wall Brown [John Wright]

Sunday 11 May 2025

Benfleet, 21:20 to 21:20
1 Serotine (Watlington Road south of railway) [Tim Bourne]

Leigh on Sea, 19:30 to 19:50
2 Sparrowhawk [Max Hellicar]

Belton Hills, 19:00 to 19:00
1 Lesser Whitethroat (h) [Max Hellicar]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 17:10 to 18:35
5 Spoonbill (on floods behind barn before flying SW), 1 Wigeon (drake), 1 Garganey (drake), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 29 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo (pair), 1 Swift, 5 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale (singing north of track, east of parking area), 2 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Bearded Tit, 1 Great Crested Newt, 1 Marsh Frog (+, heard only), 1 Hairy Dragonfly [Neil Chambers]

Hullbridge, 13:00 to 14:30, Slipway east to Brandy Hole & back - warm & sunny, east wind, high tide
1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 1 Osprey (circling west over Marsh Farm, mobbed by gulls), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Holly Blue [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 10:45 to 11:30
1 Garganey (Drake), 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer [Lee Ebbs]

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 10:30 to 10:30
1 Blackcap [Angela Baldock]

Barling, 10:00 to 10:15
4 Swallow (At Morleys nursery) [Angela Baldock]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 10:00 to 12:00
3 Spoonbill, 1 Wigeon (Drake), 1 Garganey (Drake), 1 Common Tern [Mike Clarke]

Canvey Wick, 09:45 to 10:15
2 Nightingale, 5 Orange-tip, 4 Green Hairstreak [Lee Ebbs]

Wakering Stairs, 09:00 to 09:30
2 Pheasant, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 3 Nightingale, 6 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch [Angela Baldock]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:40 to 11:00
4 Spoonbill, 1 Wigeon (drake), 1 Garganey (drake), 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Bearded Tit (heard), 1 Marsh Frog (1+ heard) [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 09:30
1 Spoonbill (On pantile), 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Cuckoo [Lee Ebbs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:45
4 Spoonbill, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Wigeon (drake), 1 Garganey (drake), 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Water Rail (heard), 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo (male & female), 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 1 Yellowhammer (female), 6 Marsh Frog, 1 Orange-tip, 2 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Saturday 10 May 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 19:45 to 21:30, Lagoon and south side only
1 Spoonbill (Flew SE), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Nightingale [Tim Bourne]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 15:15 to 18:00
2 Marsh Harrier (M&F), 1 Kestrel, 1 Spotted Redshank (summer plumage on Fitz lagoon), 2 Greenshank (on Stokes lagoon), 4 Corn Bunting [John Wright]

Applerow, Eastwood, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Lesser Whitethroat (h) [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:45 to 15:30, Sunny, 19C moderate NE
1 Marsh Harrier, 14 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper (Fitzroy, thx Steve), 3 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, 6 Yellow Wagtail (+), 2 Common Blue Damselfly, 2 Brown Argus, 10 Common Blue (+) [Jeff Delve]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:10 to 15:40
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Hobby (two dark falcons flew west to east were possibly this species however they could also have been male Red-foots. Views were less than optimal), 1 Curlew Sandpiper (moulting adult summer on Fitzroy lagoon from hide), 24 Dunlin, 1 Spotted Redshank (adult summer), 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Brown Argus, 25 Common Blue (at least) [Steve Arlow]

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 09:30 to 09:30
6 Canada Goose, 1 Swift, 1 Holly Blue [Angela Baldock]

Benfleet Creek, 08:10 to 08:30
1 Stonechat (male, appears to be holding territory still), 2 Cetti's Warbler [John Wright]

Two Tree Island (East), 04:10 to 10:40
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo, 7 Swift, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (h) [Max Hellicar]

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