JANUARY 2004

Typically, some good local birds were found at the start of the year as birders went out in force keen to kick-start their year lists. A Bewick’s Swan was found among the Mute Swan herd at Barling Marsh on the 1^st, with three there on the 3^rd when a Black Swan and a peak count of 56 Mute Swan was made. A skein of 14 Pink-footed Geese flew east along the Roach on the 1^st, whilst on the river itself, Goldeneye numbers reached 30. Flocks of Siskin are always scarce in the area so it was good to find up to 14 birds along a suburban road in Leigh on the 1^st and 2^nd. Ten Gannets following fishing boats off Westcliff on the 2^nd were unseasonal as was the Greenshank on the foreshore. The regular Ring-billed Gull put in its first appearance of the year here on the 2^nd . The first of several Pale-bellied Brent Goose records was an adult on the foreshore off Thorpe Bay on the 2^nd and 3^rd. Barling produced some good records on the 3^rd with a male Merlin, a Green Sandpiper, an adult Caspian Gull and a flock of 20 Twite briefly. Nearby on the Roach, 80 Avocet and 13 Little Egret were counted and a Jack Snipe was a good find. At sea, a Shag was at the Pier and two Eider and two Common Scoter were seen from Canvey. On the 4^th a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was in Benfleet Creek with another two at Fleet Head along with a fine adult Black Brant. Also on the 4^th were some interesting wader records with a Little Stint at the favoured site of Potton Creek, with a Common Sandpiper also there and a good count of 46 Ruff nearby at Fleet Head. A Spotted Redshank was reported at Wakering Stairs. 21 Corn Buntings on Two Tree Island on the 4^th was the best count there this month and a Greenshank was also present. The Waxwing flock at Pitsea grew to 26 birds on the 4^th and 5^th before falling away to 18 birds on the 14^th and then none after this date. Hot on the heels of the areas first confirmed Dartford Warbler last October, what was conceivably the same bird was located further up the estuary at Haven Point, Wakering on the 10^th and 11^th only. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose sightings continued as the two or three local birds moved around the coast with a bird at Fleet Head on the 10^th and it or another along the Roach on the 11^th. Also on the 10^th, the Little Stint was again recorded in Potton Creek, the wintering Green Sandpiper remained at Barling and another Caspian Gull was found on the nearby tip along with two Yellow-legged Gulls. On the 11^th, a ‘new’ flock of Waxwings were found, this time in Eastwood with seven birds roving around two key sites. They proved popular and numbers rose to 12 by the end of the month. Mid-month saw a distinct increase in wintering Blackcap records. Following two in Leigh gardens earlier in the month a further five birds were found, all in gardens, and all between the 13th to the 17^th with reports from Hockley, Thundersley, and Shoebury. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was seen yet again at it flew past Wakering Stairs on the 17^th, the same day a Lesser Redpoll and a Bullfinch were at Hadleigh Downs. Treecreepers were found away from their Hockley stronghold with two in Belfairs Woods on 18^th and another on the golf course on the 24^th. The restless Black Swan was seen again on the 18^th, this time at Canewdon. Short-eared Owl numbers were low this month with just one bird present in the area which was reported on a number of dates from the Wakering area. Barn Owls were a little more numerous with three in the Wakering area throughout and another on Two Tree Island at the start of the month. Two Long-eared Owls were at their usual haunt. Mandarin were present all month at Southchurch Hall Park with a peak of four on 20^th, curiously all records from here this year have been drakes only. A Kingfisher graced Butts Hill, Canewdon on the 23^rd, the first here for three years and next day there were 30 Corn Buntings here too. Nearby on the Crouch, ten Pintail were counted on the 24^th. The third Caspian Gull of the month was claimed on the 24^th, once again Barling Tip being the host site. The same day three Stonechats were at Wakering Stairs and a Black-necked Grebe was reported offshore. A Hooded Crow seen from Wakering Stairs on the 25^th was an excellent Essex bird and was possibly one of the two north Kent birds on a sojourn. A Marsh Harrier at Fleet Head on the 25^th was the only winter record whilst four Hen Harriers wintered here during the month. The Pier produced a good count of Guillemots on the 25^th with 20 and a rather modest monthly peak count of five Red-throated Divers. Three Cetti’s Warblers and three Water Rails were recorded at Wat Tyler on the 25^th and a Common Sandpiper was reported in Benfleet Creek. The last record of note were three Siskins reported in Gunners Park on the 29^th. ‘Rossi’ the Ring-billed Gull was fairly reliable and seen throughout the month.

FEBRUARY 2004

A good count of 61 Ruff was made at Fleet Head on the 1^st along with 17 Corn Buntings. On the same day at Hockley Woods, two Lesser Redpoll were notable. An obliging female Brambling first appeared at the feeding station at Hadleigh C.P. on the 2^nd and was seen daily through to the 24^th. The semi-resident Peregrine at Wat Tyler was reportedly joined by another bird on the 3^rd and two Cetti’s Warblers were occasionally seen and heard throughout the month. A Spotted Redshank was claimed on Two Tree Island on the 3^rd and 15^th. Woodcock were more widespread this month with 1-2 birds typically flushed from Canvey, Eastwood S.F., and Hadleigh C.P. Hen Harrier numbered just two birds this month, both in the Wakering area. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are always sought after at this time of year and Hockley Woods remains one of the few places to see them. A female was found here on the 7^th, and from the 10^th onwards a male could also be found with a little luck and patience. More unexpected was the female Hawfinch seen feeding in the woods on the 7^th, representing the first bird here since March 2001. Incredibly a male Hawfinch was seen on the 12^th and by the 14^th both birds could be found together and could be relied on most days throughout the month. On the 8^th, last months Black Brant was seen again at Wakering and the Ruff flock at nearby Fleet Head had reduced to ten. Two Green Sandpipers were reported at Wat Tyler on the 8^th. A very respectable count of 26 Red-breasted Mergansers was made at South Fambridge on the 10^th with 14 Corn Buntings there on the 14^th. Just when it seemed that Two Tree Island had been overlooked by the Short-eared Owls this winter, one finally took up residence from the 13^th and was subsequently seen on two more dates this month. Staying with Owls, a Tawny was heard calling in Hockley Woods on the 12^th, two Barn Owls frequented the Wakering area and the two Long-eared Owls remained at their favoured site. A Bullfinch was seen in Benfleet on the 11^th increasing the number of different sites for this declined finch to three this winter. Water Rails were recorded regularly from Wat Tyler with a peak of three birds there on the 12^th. Nearby, a Yellow-legged Gull was at Vange Marsh and the Ring-billed Gull was seen at Westcliff. One of the Pale-bellied Brent Geese was seen again, this time at Fleet Head on the 15^th. We were lucky enough to have another Hawfinch in the area when one was seen well near the car park at Hadleigh C.P. on the 17^th. The Eastwood flock of Waxwings reached 12 on the 20^th. Three or four Blackcaps survived in gardens at Leigh and Thundersley mid-month, curiously they are nearly always males. A Marsh Harrier passed through Wat Tyler on the 21^st with possibly a different bird there on the 26^th. A trip up the Pier on the 22^nd gave some interesting records with eight Red-throated Divers, last months Shag, two Common Scoter, which doubled the number seen in the estuary so far this year, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, two Guillemots and two Razorbills. The Ring-billed Gull was logged for only the third time this month. Three Waxwings were reported at Wakering Common on the 23^rd and five Twite were reported on Two Tree Island on the 28^th.

MARCH 2004

A Firecrest at Hadleigh Downs was first found on the 2^nd, being subsequently joined by a second bird on 6^th with one remaining to the 17^th. A Muntjac was claimed in Hockley Woods on the 4^th and a Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank were reported from Tewkes Creek. Next day, a Water Pipit was reported on Canvey. A drake Scaup was noted on Paglesham Lagoon where it remained into April. A Blackcap was in a Benfleet garden on the 6^th when three Common Scoter were off the Pier remaining until the 7^th . The roving Dartford Warbler had returned to the lagoon on Two Tree Island on the 6^th where it gave fleeting views daily until the 17^th before disappearing once again. The only multiple count of Short-eared Owls on Two Tree Island was made on the 6^th when two birds were seen. 45 Corn Buntings at South Fambridge on the 7^th was an excellent site count. Further down the river, two Green Sandpipers and a Barn Owl could be found at Wallasea whilst at sea 60 Great Crested Grebes, 14 Mediterranean Gulls and three Guillemots were off the Pier. After disappearing for a week the Eastwood flock of Waxwings were relocated in some nearby gardens with 11 birds present for a few days from the 7^th. Both a Marsh Harrier and two Hen Harriers were at Fleet Head on the 7^th with a Greenshank also noted. Vange Marsh typically provided three Water Rail, a Cetti’s Warbler, and two Bearded Tits on the 11^th. A flock of 19 Yellowhammers remained at Barton Hall. A Fulmar was seen from the Pier and Canvey on the 9^th no doubt giving rise to the unsubstantiated claims of Cory’s Shearwater from other observers minutes later. A Siskin was in a Shoebury garden. Seawatching from Canvey on the 10^th gave a peak winter count of 12 Red-throated Divers with a Black-throated Diver adding variety. The Peregrine at Wat Tyler was not very reliable this month being seen only on the 11^th and 24^th. A Purple Sandpiper spent the day on the Pier on the 11^th being the only record of the first winter period. A Kingfisher made a surprise visit to a Rayleigh garden the same day but did not leave before helping itself to a goldfish! The pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Hockley Woods present daily since early February were last seen on the 11^th. After an excellent run of records, a juvenile Pale-bellied Brent Goose was found at Two Tree Island on the 13^th where it remained into April. A Short-eared Owl at South Fambridge the same day was a good find, a Firecrest was a welcome visitor to a Shoebury garden, and the wandering Black Swan was on Barling Marsh. The first Wheatear of the year was reported at Haven Point on the 14^th, two Siskins graced a Thorpe Bay garden on the 15^th. Following the first migrant Chiffchaff at Southchurch on the 16^th, there was a broad arrival every day for the rest of the month with multiple birds reported from twelve localities by the month’s end. By contrast, Blackcap passage was extremely lean with just four birds reported over the same period, and all but one of those were in gardens. 40 Fieldfare at Hampton Barns on the 16^th were the last birds reported this month. A Jack Snipe at Two Tree Island on the 17^th was an excellent find and doubled the number seen in the area this year! Also present on Two Tree Island were two Spotted Redshanks and the first butterfly of the Spring, a Peacock. 1-2 Bearded Tits and Cetti’s Warblers were seen or heard most days at Wat Tyler from the 18^th onwards. A Black Redstart at Gunners Park on the 19^th was the only one of the month. By the 20^th, 95 Avocets could be found around Two Tree Island with a Greenshank and Spotted Redshank both there next day. The 20^th was the last day that ‘Rossi’ the Ring-billed Gull was seen at Westcliff seafront, departing on schedule. It has always left us between the 14^th and 24^th of March in each of the last four years. The 20^th was also the last time the Hawfinch pair were seen in Hockley Woods after proving to be most reliable and seen almost daily since early February. A Mandarin at Butts Hill N.R. on the 21^st was a surprise find and a Woodcock was also there. 50 Corn Buntings were counted at Fleet Head on the 21^st proving that they can still be found in numbers around the coastal farmland. Last months Hawfinch at Hadleigh C.P. was seen again on the 22^nd. The first two Sand Martins were hawking over Paglesham Lagoon the same day. Garden feeders proved attractive to finches late month with two Brambling at Canewdon and up to three Siskin in Thundersley, with a further two in Shoebury and one in Canewdon. The most exotic garden bird though was a Silky Starling at Canewdon on the 28^th. A Little Ringed Plover had returned to Wat Tyler on the 24^th and a Hen Harrier was reported past Canewdon on the 25^th. The first Sandwich Tern was seen from the Pier on the early date of the 26^th. Yet another Waxwing flock was found in the area, with 13 birds showing very well in Leigh from the 27^th into April. A single Mandarin was at Southchurch Hall Park on the 27^th and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in Pound Wood. Marsh Harriers were reported from Wat Tyler on the 27^th and Fleet Head on the 28^th. Pintail numbered 12 along the Roach on the 27^th. Wintering wildfowl remained on the 28^th with 18 Goldeneye and 11 Red-breasted Mergansers still present around Paglesham and a fine adult Black Brant at Two Tree Island which remained with the Pale-bellied Brent Goose into April. A Little Owl showed well at Paglesham on the 28^th, when a Barn Owl was hunting at The Dome, Hullbridge, 1-2 Long-eared Owls remained, and the Short-eared Owl at Two Tree Island was still present on the 31^st. As the month drew to a close a Woodcock was at Hadleigh Downs and two Green Sandpipers were reported from Wat Tyler on the 31^st.

APRIL 2004

1-3 Siskins continued to be reported from gardens in Canewdon, Thorpe Bay, Shoebury, and Thundersley between the 2^nd and the 9^th. A Spotted Redshank was at Two Tree Island from the 2^nd to the 5^th and the first Whitethroat of the year was in Gunners Park on the 3^rd with the first Swallow also there and a Black Redstart. On the 4^th, a Firecrest was found in Gunners Park, two Little Ringed Plovers were at Wat Tyler, a Common Tern was off the Pier, and Avocet numbers peaked at 72 on Two Tree Island. Next day, a Jack Snipe was reported on Two Tree Island as was the first Reed Warbler. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen at Little Haven N.R. on the 7^th, with another next day at Belfairs golf course. The Little Owl at Paglesham showed well from the 7^th to the 13^th. The only Brambling of the month was at Canewdon on the 9^th on the same day the Waxwing flock was last reported from Leigh with five birds there. The Two Tree Island Short-eared Owl was last seen on the 9^th along with the first Hobby of the summer and a Merlin. A White Wagtail was at Benfleet on the 10^th whilst next day a Black Redstart arrived in Gunners Park and stayed to the 12^th. Willow Warbler arrived on the 12^th with one at Two Tree Island, the first Sedge Warbler was there on the 16^th and Lesser Whitethroat in Gunners Park on the 17^th. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen again at Belfairs on the 13^th with the last Redwings of the winter also there. A pair of Bullfinch were a pleasing sight in Ashingdon on the 13^th with one seen there again on the 20^th. 33 Little Egrets roosted near Fleet Head on the 14^th with two Barn Owls also seen there and a reasonable gathering of 27 Yellow Wagtails. The first of three spring Ring Ouzels was located in Gunners Park on the 15^th with another bird found on Hadleigh Downs on the 17^th. A relatively good passage of Grasshopper Warblers occurred between the 16^th and 24^th with up to five reeling birds from four localities including one showy bird on Two Tree Island. The second and final Firecrest of the spring was found typically in Gunners Park on the 16^th. Tawny Owl were reported from Hockley Woods and Hadleigh Downs on the 16^th and 17^th respectively. Last months Black Brant at Two Tree Island continued to be seen most days with the last sighting on the 17^th, whereas the Pale-bellied Brent Goose stayed on until the 23^rd. A male Hen Harrier flew past Wakering Tip on the 16^th one day prior to a notable passage of Marsh Harriers with 1-2 birds at Wakering Stairs and Wat Tyler from the 17^th to the 29^th. A Peregrine lingered around Wakering mid-month. A marked passage of Sparrowhawk occurred throughout the month with approximately 25 different birds recorded including four together at Leigh on the 30^th. A Common Sandpiper was at Wat Tyler from the 16^th to the 18^th, along with the first Cuckoo on the 16^th, and at Gunners Park on the 17^th a fly over Serin was claimed. The first Swifts surprisingly preceded House Martins by two days with the former at Wat Tyler on the 18^th and the latter there on the 20^th. A male Redstart on Canvey on the 19^th was a good spring record and another two were in Gunners Park on the 23^rd. The last week of the month saw small flocks of up to 9 Whimbrel passing through coupled with 1-2 Spotted Redshank and Greenshank at a handful of locations and one more Green Sandpiper. A large fall of Wheatear occurred across England on the 22^nd. Gunners Park provided a less spectacular but still very respectable count of 24 birds whilst offshore several Arctic Terns were picked out from the 300 Common Terns wheeling around. A most obliging Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was found drumming right beside the car park at Hadleigh C.P. and remained loyal to one large poplar tree through to the 26^th. Nightingale are surprisingly rare in this part of Essex so one singing on Canvey from the 24^th onwards was most appreciated particularly as it did not mind showing itself regularly too. A Buzzard circling over Wat Tyler on the 24^th was yet another good local record with the Cetti’s Warblers there being very reliable with three different birds singing on the 24^th and 25^th. Turtle Doves finally arrived on the 25^th with birds at both Wakering Stairs and Wallasea. Also at Wallasea on the 25^th, excellent counts of 100 Corn Bunting and 30 Yellow Wagtail were made. 42 Great Crested Grebes were offshore from Gunners Park on the 24^th whilst next day a Fulmar and the last Red-breasted Merganser were there too. An Osprey was reported over Southend Airport on the 28^th and a trickle of seabird passage also occurred with three Little Terns and seven Gannets reported past Canvey. The last day of the month saw the final Ring Ouzel of the spring at Gunners Park and a Whinchat at Wakering Tip. The drake Scaup at Paglesham Lagoon surprisingly stayed throughout the month.