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.

Monday 16 February 2026

South Fambridge, 17:00 to 17:15, Brief respite in the rain
1 Marsh Harrier (female on BHF), 2 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl (showing wonderfully well actually hunting in my field as well as the seawall.), 1 Corn Bunting [Paul Baker]

West Wood, 14:30 to 15:30
1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 4 Jay [Max Hellicar]

Doggetts Pits, 12:40 to 13:10
2 Great Crested Grebe (pair have returned for another year) [Steve Arlow]

Sunday 15 February 2026

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:20, Finally stopped raining
4 White-fronted Goose (on BHF), 1 Marsh Harrier (ad female), 3 Buzzard (in the air together), 2 Avocet, 1 Barn Owl (showing well at bottom of the garden), 1 Raven (over east end of BHF being mobbed by 2 crows, then did some 'tumbling'), 2 Reed Bunting (males) [Paul Baker]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 15:40 to 17:15
1 Jack Snipe (Picked out on the ground with TI to the right of Pantile Screen, several metres beyond elec fence in front of pool), 5 Snipe (+), 20 Fieldfare (+), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Wood Mouse [Tim Bourne]

Airport Business Park, 15:35 to 16:20
3 Snipe, 4 Skylark, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Shrew sp. [Neil Chambers]

Canvey Wick, 08:00 to 09:30
7 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Heard ), 7 Lesser Redpoll ( In trees south of crossroads) [Lee Ebbs]

Saturday 14 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 20:30 to 20:35
2 Badger (still visiting garden each evening) [Neil Chambers]

Shoeburyness Park, 16:50 to 16:50
3 Egyptian Goose [Max Hellicar]

Friars Park, 16:30 to 16:40
1 Cetti's Warbler [Max Hellicar]

Shoebury, 16:10 to 16:30, St. Mary's Churchyard
2 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:55
500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 1 Short-eared Owl [Matt Bruty]

Southchurch Park West, 14:20 to 14:40
1 Red-crested Pochard, 4 Stock Dove [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:00 to 17:00
2 Great White Egret (1 on Fitz lagoon, 1 on Foulness), 5 Spoonbill (Darwin lagoon), 9 White-fronted Goose (Tillets), 10 Barnacle Goose (Tillets), 2 Marsh Harrier (M & F), 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin (Pool Marsh), 2 Greenshank, 1 Barn Owl (Tillets & Pool Marsh), 1 Short-eared Owl (Pool Marsh) [John Wright]

West Wood, 13:00 to 16:30
1 Buzzard, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Song Thrush, 20 Redwing, 3 Goldcrest, 8 Firecrest (possibly 10 in Holly all around the wood), 1 Coal Tit (showing well, singing occasionally ), 1 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper (pair), 20 Chaffinch [Steve Arlow]

Westcliff Seafront, 13:00 to 14:00
18 Mediterranean Gull [Max Hellicar]

Canvey Point, 11:55 to 12:30
2 Mediterranean Gull (adults), 1 Little Gull (super adult east of the point) [Steve Arlow]

Canvey Wick, 10:30 to 11:20
7 Lesser Redpoll (just south of the crossroads in birches) [Steve Arlow]

Hadleigh Downs, 10:30 to 12:50
2 Buzzard [Paul Griggs]

Gunners Park, 08:50 to 09:50
1 Scaup (still present on the lake), 1 Water Rail (in the reserve), 14 Little Gull (a flock of 12 and then 2 stragglers flew west; mostly adults), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 0 Dartford Warbler (no sign), 0 Firecrest (no sign), 2 Raven (flew north over the reserve; appear to be coming in off the sea) [Steve Arlow]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 08:45 to 13:00
1 Great White Egret, 5 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk (female hunting east end), 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Common Seal (up on the mud at Half Moon) [Matt Bruty]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 10:45
1 Pink-footed Goose, 100 Barnacle Goose (+), 10 Pintail, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Curlew, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 60 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 3 Corn Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Gunners Park, 07:45 to 09:45, Cold 2C light NE overcast brightening later. Just sea watching from 9.2 inch gun battery.
10 Red-throated Diver (All flying east in one’s and two’s), 52 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Scaup (1st W still on lake), 30 Grey Plover (+, Flock heading E), 10 Sanderling, 16 Little Gull (Single adult feeding offshore and drifting E, then flock of 12 past east (thanks Steve) then 3 more feeding. ), 1 Rock Pipit [Jeff Delve]

Two Tree Island (East), 07:15 to 11:00
1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Jay, 3 Greenfinch [Max Hellicar]

Friday 13 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 20:30 to 20:35
1 Tawny Owl (female calling) [Neil Chambers]

Hole Haven Creek, 16:05 to 17:05
1 Great Crested Grebe, 20 Avocet, 450 Larus sp. (large gulls in pre-roost gathering), 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult) [Neil Chambers]

Canvey Wick, 15:15 to 16:00
3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 13:00 to 13:00
4 Buzzard, 1 Reed Bunting (male), 1 Corn Bunting [Paul Baker]

Canvey Point, 09:30 to 11:30
1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet (adults flew up river), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Grey Seal [John Wright]

Leigh on Sea, 08:00 to 08:00
1 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

Thursday 12 February 2026

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 19:35 to 19:40
2 Tawny Owl (pair duetting) [Neil Chambers]

Leigh on Sea, 17:00 to 17:00
1 Goldcrest [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:15 to 16:15, Light S breeze, 11C overcast some light showers
1 Great White Egret (S Fitz), 4 Spoonbill (South Darwin), 46 Mute Swan (Across site), 6 White-fronted Goose (On Jubilee saltmarsh then flew out onto Foulness), 9 Barnacle Goose (On Jubilee saltmarsh with Greylags, Canadas and WfG), 168 Pintail (On Darwin alone, more on Fitz and Stokes, really good numbers ), 3 Marsh Harrier (2 males), 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Usual ad female on Jubilee), 2500 Golden Plover (+), 4 Greenshank (Pool M), 2 Stock Dove (Pair in display on white elephant), 3 Skylark (Great to hear them in full song ), 3 Reed Bunting [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 13:20 to 13:20
1 Barn Owl [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 13:15 to 13:15
1 Red Kite (over North Fambridge again, seemingly resident now), 1 Marsh Harrier (ad female), 2 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker [Paul Baker]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:45 to 11:15, Usual stuff around
1 Pink-footed Goose (on Don's marsh with Greylags), 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Fieldfare [John Wright]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 00:00 to 00:10
1 Tawny Owl (hooting distantly) [Neil Chambers]

Wednesday 11 February 2026

South Fambridge, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Marsh Harrier (the smart male on BHF), 5 Buzzard, 3 Redwing [Paul Baker]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 00:00 to 00:10
1 Tawny Owl (hooting male) [Neil Chambers]

Tuesday 10 February 2026

Leigh Seafront, 16:00 to 16:50
8 Mediterranean Gull [Max Hellicar]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 13:50 to 14:50
1 Pink-footed Goose, 11 White-fronted Goose (+), 1 Buzzard, 1 Stonechat [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

South Fambridge, 12:30 to 12:30, Not raining!
1 Red Kite (over North Fambridge again), 1 Marsh Harrier (ad female hunting BHF), 1 Buzzard, 1 Song Thrush (singing), 1 Cetti's Warbler (in full voice around the garden) [Paul Baker]

Leigh on Sea, 11:30 to 11:30, Toolstation, Progress Road
1 Grey Wagtail (in brook) [Paul Baker]

Canvey Wick, 10:20 to 13:45
1 Marsh Harrier (m), 1 Woodcock, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Song Thrush (singing), 3 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler (h), 7 Redpoll [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:00 to 16:00, Initially tree planting nr Grapnells then Jubilee trail. Dull overcast but mostly dry couple of showers later
1 Great White Egret (Fitz), 4 Spoonbill (South wall of Darwin), 6 White-fronted Goose (Distantly on Tillets from Jubilee trail), 9 Barnacle Goose (Unringed and no collars with WfG and Greylags/Canadas), 3 Marsh Harrier (Causing chaos amongst massed wildfowl on lagoons), 1 Merlin (Female, initially on roof of Caroline’s hide then flew east), 1 Peregrine Falcon (Ad female on island in N Jubilee), 14 Coot (Numbers building again in N borrowdyke), 2500 Golden Plover (+, Over Pool Marsh and Beagle Lagoons), 3000 Lapwing (+), 3000 Knot (+, Over E Allfleets mid afternoon), 250 Bar-tailed Godwit (+, Flock flew in to N Jubilee early afternoon ), 4 Greenshank, 20 Skylark (+, Flock along entry road plus several singing birds ), 1 Stonechat, 1 Song Thrush (Garden of farmhouse), 2 Corn Bunting [Jeff Delve]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 09:30 to 13:15, Along the north track only
1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Greenshank, partial ermine Stoat, Wallasea RSPB, 10/02/26 (John Wright) (76727 bytes) partial ermine Stoat, Wallasea RSPB, 10/02/26 (John Wright) (73652 bytes) 1 Stoat (partial ermine), 1 Weasel [John Wright]

Gunners Park, 09:25 to 11:50
10 Little Grebe, 1 Scaup (on lake), 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Cetti's Warbler (h), 3 Greenfinch [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 11:00
1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 200 Canada Goose (+), 100 Barnacle Goose (+), 3 Pintail, 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Snipe, 11 Curlew, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat, 20 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Southchurch Park East, 07:45 to 09:15
2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Water Rail (h), 10 Collared Dove, 1 Cetti's Warbler (h), 1 Jay [Jeff Kinnerman]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 00:05 to 00:20
1 Tawny Owl (male hooting) [Neil Chambers]

Monday 09 February 2026

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:30 to 13:30
1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 40 White-fronted Goose (plus), 20 Barnacle Goose (plus), 8 Pintail, 2 Ruff, 2 Mediterranean Gull [Graham Oakes]

Sunday 08 February 2026

Shoebury East Beach, 16:20 to 17:10, Cold SE light fading, just checking boom
1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st W ( thanks Steve)) [Jeff Delve]

Shoebury East Beach, 16:15 to 17:10
60 Great Crested Grebe (+), 2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1'w on boom), 1 Kittiwake (ad on boom) [Neil Chambers]

Shoebury East Beach, 15:30 to 17:15
6 Red-throated Diver (All going east), 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Common Gull (Probable heinei on the boom), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter on the boom), 1 Kittiwake (Adult on the boom) [Steve Arlow]

Shoebury East Beach, 15:30 to 17:10
2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter), 1 Kittiwake [Bob Young]

Shoebury East Beach, 14:20 to 17:10
72 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Little Gull (Distant adults), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (1w on the Boom. Thanks Steve…..again!), 2 Kittiwake, 1 Song Thrush [Marc Outten]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 14:15 to 16:30
1 Great White Egret, 4 Spoonbill, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 2 Greenshank, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Stonechat [John Wright]

Rochford Golf Course, 14:00 to 15:50
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Skylark (singing over airport) [Neil Chambers]

Gunners Park, 12:20 to 13:30
1 Scaup (1'w on lake), 1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat (pair in reserve), 3 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Firecrest (south side of concrete pad) [Neil Chambers]

Hockley/Hawkwell, 12:00 to 12:00
1 Red Kite (Very low above Cherry Lane nursery, Lower Road) [Paul Baker]

Southend Pier, 11:40 to 15:45, Bright overcast, calm seas, high tide 16:40
30 Great Crested Grebe (+, Well scattered), 4 Black-necked Grebe, 800 Knot (+, Flew over on rising tide), 1 Dunlin (In with Turnstone roost), 250 Turnstone (+, On roost till flushed twice by low flying drone!! ), 20 Mediterranean Gull (19 adults 1 2w.), 2 Little Gull (Adults, feeding along current lines), 8 Kittiwake (7 adults and 1st W following local fishing boat), 1 Common Seal, 2 Harbour Porpoise [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 11:25 to 11:25
1 Red Kite (still) [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 10:25 to 10:25
1 Red Kite [Paul Baker]

Gunners Park, 10:20 to 14:30
5 Red-throated Diver (Flying east on rising tide !), 3 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Scaup (Sill on lake), 1 Mediterranean Gull (Adult), 2 Green Woodpecker (Pair), 2 Stonechat (Pair), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Dartford Warbler (Very brief views at the west end of the reserve in gorse), 2 Firecrest (By the concrete pad) [Steve Arlow]

Gunners Park, 10:10 to 14:00
10 Little Grebe, 1 Scaup (lake ), 2 Stonechat (pair,SSSI reserve ), 1 Song Thrush, 2 Cetti's Warbler (h), 1 Firecrest, 2 Greenfinch [Jeff Kinnerman]

Gunners Park, 09:30 to 11:20, Sunny start clouding over and light SSE breeze
1 Scaup (1st W still on lake), 2 Stonechat (Pair on reserve), 2 Song Thrush (Singing), 3 Cetti's Warbler (Singing), 1 Dartford Warbler (Brief but good scope views in gorse within reserve from NW fence), 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Greenfinch, 6 Linnet [Jeff Delve]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 08:30 to 10:00
2 Great White Egret, 4 Spoonbill, 30 Pintail (+), 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat (Pair), 1 Stoat (All white individual ) [Lee Ebbs]

Saturday 07 February 2026

Shoebury East Beach, 17:05 to 17:15
1 Caspian Gull (1w on the Boom. Thanks Steve!) [Marc Outten]

Shoebury East Beach, 17:00 to 17:10
1 Caspian Gull (1st winter on boom, cheers Steve) [Lee Ebbs]

Shoebury East Beach, 16:50 to 17:20
1 Caspian Gull (1st winter on the boom on failing light) [Steve Arlow]

South Fambridge, 15:50 to 16:00
1 Marsh Harrier (female on BHF), 1 Sparrowhawk (over North Fambridge ), 1 Barn Owl (hunting deer farm field on north side), 1 Reed Bunting [Paul Baker]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 15:50 to 16:10, Scoping from Roscommon Way
1 Pink-footed Goose, 43 White-fronted Goose (+, Distant and on uneven ground, at least 43 present), 1 Sparrowhawk [Tim Bourne]

Gunners Park, 15:15 to 16:40
5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Scaup (Still on the lake), 1 Marsh Harrier (Female type south across river), 4 Little Gull (All adults ), 8 Kittiwake, 1 Guillemot (Distantly east) [Steve Arlow]

Gunners Park, 14:30 to 15:45
5 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Scaup, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Little Gull (Adults), 2 Kittiwake [Lee Ebbs, Marc Outten]

Lower Raypits, 12:45 to 16:45
1500 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier (Male), 1 Hen Harrier (Male), 2 Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Stonechat [Matt Bruty]

Canvey Wick, 09:30 to 10:20
8 Redpoll (feeding on Silver Birch catkins) [John Wright]

Friday 06 February 2026

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 21:30 to 21:35, Garden Pond
15 Smooth Newt, 8 Common Frog (including a pair in amplexus) [John Wright]

Leigh Seafront, 16:05 to 16:25
1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Little Gull (adults dip-feeding offshore) [Max Hellicar]

South Fambridge, 12:00 to 12:00
1 Little Egret (attempting to fish in my flooded lawn), 2 Marsh Harrier (Females hunting line astern on BHF), 1 Sparrowhawk (same bird as a few days ago), 1 Buzzard [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:00 to 14:00
2 Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 2 Kestrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Field Vole [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 12:00 to 13:30
17 White-fronted Goose, 5 Barnacle Goose, 20 Pintail (Pantiles ), 1 Buzzard, 1 Knot (From 2nd hide), 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Stonechat, 50 Fieldfare (plus) [Graham Oakes]

Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:00 to 12:15
1 Peregrine Falcon (On pylon), 1 Woodcock, 3 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing (+), 2 Raven (Flew across from Vange Wick) [Tim Bourne]

Thursday 05 February 2026

Hadleigh Marshes, 16:10 to 17:00
550 Jackdaw [Max Hellicar]

Belton Hills, 15:50 to 16:00
1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Caspian Gull (first-winter in the pre-roost gathering offshore, viewed distantly) [Max Hellicar]

Hadleigh Downs, 15:45 to 16:15
1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chinese Muntjac (doe), 3 Grey Squirrel [John Wright]

South Fambridge, 15:05 to 15:05
1 Little Gull (First-winter dip-feeding in the Crouch and showing a little better than earlier, making it's way downstream. Presumably same bird as earlier.) [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 13:25 to 13:25, Decidedly moist
1 Little Gull (first-winter heading downstream in the murk and gloom) [Paul Baker]

Wednesday 04 February 2026

South Fambridge, 15:20 to 15:20
1 Short-eared Owl (seen roosting in rough grass) [Paul Baker]

South Fambridge, 14:30 to 14:30
1 Short-eared Owl (hunting favoured area of seawall) [Paul Baker]

Gunners Park, 13:55 to 16:00, Sunny, light E, hi tide 14:20
1 Red-throated Diver (Flew out east), 40 Great Crested Grebe (C. Several groups offshore), 1 Black-necked Grebe (Drifting east on falling tide - 10 reported earlier), 1 Scaup (Still on lake), 3 Knot (With Turnstones roosting on Gog’s Berth), 1 Mediterranean Gull (Summer plumaged adult N over reserve), 3 Little Gull (Adults moving east with large group of Bh Gulls), 3 Kittiwake (Adult roosting on Gogs Berth, 2 other adults moving east with other gulls), 1 Kingfisher (At S end of main ditch ), 2 Song Thrush (Singing), 3 Cetti's Warbler (Singing birds ), 1 Dartford Warbler (Popped up briefly amidst gorse NW of reserve. Too quick for camera and not seen again) [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 10:30 to 10:30
1 Sparrowhawk (female), 2 Yellowhammer (a pair at bottom of garden before being spooked by a hunting Sparrowhawk) [Paul Baker]

Canvey Wick, 10:10 to 11:45
1 Buzzard, 1 Woodcock, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Greenfinch [Bob Young]

Southchurch Park East, 10:00 to 10:10
1 Firecrest [Max Hellicar]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:00 to 09:05
1 Goldcrest [John Wright]

Southchurch Park West, 09:00 to 09:10
1 Red-crested Pochard, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Max Hellicar]

Southchurch Hall Park, 08:40 to 09:00
1 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's Warbler [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 08:30 to 12:30
1 Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 700 Golden Plover (+), 1 Stonechat, 2 Corn Bunting [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Rawreth, 08:20 to 08:20
1 Red Kite (flew low south over Rawreth Lane near playing fields) [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 08:00 to 14:25
13 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 3 Spoonbill (Darwin’s Lagoon), 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hen Harrier (m,Grass Farm Lagoon ), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 750 Golden Plover (c ), 8 Grey Plover, 500 Lapwing (c ), 475 Black-tailed Godwit (c), 20 Bar-tailed Godwit (c), 2 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 1 Barn Owl (Marsh Flats), 16 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit (+), 3 Stonechat (m+pair), 1 Fieldfare, 3 Corn Bunting, 1 Peacock Butterfly [Jeff Kinnerman]

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