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.

Saturday 12 July 2025

Westcliff, 08:20 to 08:20, St Georges Drive
21 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Friday 11 July 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 19:00 to 20:45
6 Spoonbill (2 adults, 4 imm), 3 Greenshank, 12 Green Sandpiper (+), 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Bearded Tit (+ calling), 3 Southern Migrant Hawker, 1 Wall Brown [Tim Bourne]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 15:00 to 16:20
4 Ruff, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Scarce Emerald Damselfly, 20 Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 10 Southern Migrant Hawker, 5 Ruddy Darter, 20 skippers, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Small Copper, 6 Common Blue, 2 Marbled White, 70 Gatekeeper, 15 Meadow Brown [Neil Chambers]

Two Tree Island, 11:30 to 11:30
2 Buzzard (pair low over tip) [Graham Mee]

Woodside Park, Thundersley, 11:20 to 12:00
6 Purple Hairstreak (on Oakes adjacent to bowling green.) [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Hadleigh Marshes, 11:00 to 12:00
1 Buzzard, 30 Marsh Frog (30 in one small pond), 2 Grass Snake (hunting the frogs) [John Wright]

Belfairs N.R., 08:30 to 11:00
1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Purple Hairstreak, 2 White Admiral [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Westcliff, 08:10 to 09:00, St Georges Drive
1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Benfleet Creek, 08:00 to 08:30
4 Pochard (female with 3 imms), 1 Whimbrel (heard), 1 Stonechat (male, territory 1), 1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling) [John Wright]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 08:00 to 08:05
1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Peacock Butterfly [Neil Chambers]

Thursday 10 July 2025

Benfleet, 23:00 to 23:10, Short toad hunt in back garden
4 Smooth Newt, 3 Common Toad [Tim Bourne]

Hadleigh, 22:00 to 23:00
5 insects (Glow-worms, south of the castle) [John Wright]

Canvey Wick, 20:30 to 22:10, Still evening, cycle to Canvey
4 Spoonbill (Over south east, one obvious imm.), 7 Nightingale (+, calling), 1 insects (Glow worm) [Tim Bourne]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:30 to 12:00
3 Spoonbill, 2 Buzzard, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Bearded Tit, 15 Southern Migrant Hawker, 1 Lesser Emperor (southern track borrowdyke. Unfortunately it was just a fly past and didn't loiter ) [John Wright]

Westcliff, 06:10 to 06:20, St Georges Drive
35 Swift (c) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Wednesday 09 July 2025

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 10:30 to 10:30
1 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

Westcliff, 09:35 to 09:40, St Georges Drive
30 Swift (c ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 10:45
4 Great Crested Grebe (1 Juv), 3 Little Egret, 3 Spoonbill, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 20 Small Red-eyed Damselfly (plus), 8 Southern Migrant Hawker [Graham Oakes]

Tuesday 08 July 2025

South Fambridge, 23:30 to 23:30
Oak Eggar in the house (Paul Baker) (56583 bytes) 1 Butterflies and Moths (OAK EGGAR trying to get into the house, then made it inside before landing on me, subsequently released. Forgot how big they are.) [Paul Baker]

Pound Wood, 16:15 to 17:00
1 Silver-washed Fritillary [John Wright]

Westcliff, 09:00 to 09:05, St Georges Drive
3 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Monday 07 July 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 15:30 to 16:00
3 Large White, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock Butterfly, 1 Comma [Neil Chambers]

Sunday 06 July 2025

Southend, 13:15 to 13:20, Lundy Close
3 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 12:40 to 15:40
1 Little Egret (east), 1 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

South Fambridge, 12:00 to 12:00
Buff-tip Moth (Paul Baker) (130741 bytes) 1 Butterflies and Moths (BUFF-TIP MOTH disturbed from my box hedge) [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:00 to 12:00
1 Chinese Water Deer (long dead, looked like a female from photos.) [John Wright]

Saturday 05 July 2025

Pound Wood, 18:20 to 19:00
2 Yellow-necked Mouse (adult and imm) [John Wright]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 17:00 to 17:00
1 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:00
1 Chinese Muntjac [Paul Baker]

Southend, 07:30 to 07:35, Lundy Close (from moth trap)
1 Butterflies and Moths (Elephant Hawkmoth), 1 Butterflies and Moths (Dewick's plusia ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Friday 04 July 2025

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Wall Brown [Paul Griggs]

Benfleet Downs, 10:10 to 11:30
1 Buzzard, 2 Grass Snake, 1 Brown Hawker, 6 Southern Migrant Hawker, 3 Broad-bodied Chaser, 9 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Painted Lady (on the Buddleia with the SwFrit, plus Comma, Peacock, Red admiral, Whites), 1 Silver-washed Fritillary (on Buddleia, east end of St Mary's Rd, on the right just before the Country Park entrance) [John Wright]

Thursday 03 July 2025

Rayleigh, 20:15 to 20:25
3 Purple Hairstreak (Napier Fields / Turret House open space) [Neil Chambers]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 16:30 to 16:30
1 Buzzard [Paul Griggs]

Belfairs N.R., 10:15 to 12:15
2 Nuthatch (heard), 1 Common Shrew (Dead), 3 White Admiral, 2 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Wall Brown [John Wright]

Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 09:45 to 13:00
1 Chinese Muntjac, 1 Banded Demoiselle, 2 Large Red Damselfly, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary [Bob Young]

Hadleigh, 08:55 to 08:55
1 Buzzard (over Lidl) [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:45
2 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe (1 juv.), 2 Buzzard, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Bearded Tit, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Willow Emerald Damselfly, 1 Southern Migrant Hawker, 8 Common Blue, 400 Gatekeeper (+) [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Wednesday 02 July 2025

Rochford Golf Course, 19:25 to 21:05, Sunny, warm, NW wind
7 Swift, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 House Martin, 1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 1 Banded Demoiselle [Neil Chambers]

Wat Tyler Country Park, 18:10 to 18:50
2 Silver-washed Fritillary (Along track between cockroach and marina pond) [Tim Bourne]

South Fambridge, 18:00 to 18:00
1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth (found roosting in my house, (then released outside).) [Paul Baker]

Benfleet Creek, 16:35 to 17:00
37 Black-tailed Godwit (sum plum), 1 Stonechat (male, territory 1) [John Wright]

Tuesday 01 July 2025

Wakering, 22:55 to 23:45
1 Western Hedgehog (adult), 1 Red Fox, 2 Badger [John Wright]

Doggetts Pits, 21:15 to 22:30
6 Common Pipistrelle, 3 Soprano Pipistrelle, 2 Noctule Bat, 1 Red Fox, 1 Brown Rat [John Wright]

Hampton Barns, 20:00 to 21:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Curlew, 2 Little Owl, 4 Rabbit [John Wright]

Wat Tyler Country Park, 18:15 to 18:50, Short walk from the marina carpark
1 Southern Emerald Damselfly, 4 Southern Migrant Hawker [Tim Bourne]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 11:10 to 15:20
1 Buzzard, 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad) [Paul Griggs]

Doggetts Chase, 10:00 to 11:30
6 Small Red-eyed Damselfly (6+), 4 Brown Hawker, 4 Norfolk Hawker, 10 Emperor Dragonfly, 30 Four-spotted Chaser (30+), 8 Black-tailed Skimmer [John Wright, Bob Young]

Westcliff, 08:45 to 11:55, St Georges Drive
20 Swift (c), 1 Wall Brown [Jeff Kinnerman]

Monday 30 June 2025

Pound Wood, 21:00 to 22:30
1 Daubenton's Bat, 5 Common Pipistrelle, 10 Soprano Pipistrelle, 1 Noctule Bat [John Wright]

Doggetts Pits, 17:40 to 18:40
4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck (incl female with 3 young), 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Corn Bunting (singing), 20 Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 2 Norfolk Hawker, 7 Emperor Dragonfly, 4 Four-spotted Chaser, 2 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Meadow Brown [Neil Chambers]

Rochford Golf Course, 13:40 to 17:30, Sunny, hot, SE wind
1 Egyptian Goose, 10 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Greenfinch, 15 Banded Demoiselle, 4 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1 Southern Migrant Hawker, 1 Four-spotted Chaser, 2 Black-tailed Skimmer, 5 skippers, 1 Brimstone, 2 Large White, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Marbled White, 10 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet, 1 Small Heath [Neil Chambers]

Doggetts Pits, 13:00 to 13:40
5 Brown Hawker, 5 Norfolk Hawker, 9 Emperor Dragonfly, 1 Lesser Emperor (One very briefly ), 60 Four-spotted Chaser (Everywhere ) [Steve Arlow]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 11:00 to 12:00
1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Comma, 1 Gatekeeper [Neil Chambers]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 10:20 to 16:40
1 Sparrowhawk (f), 2 Buzzard, 6 Mediterranean Gull (adults, anting), 50 Swift (+ in tight flocks, screaming), 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock Butterfly, 1 Comma [Paul Griggs]

Belfairs N.R., 10:00 to 11:15
2 Purple Hairstreak, 8 Comma, 2 Marbled White, 20 Gatekeeper (c20), 30 Ringlet (c30) [John Wright]

Sunday 29 June 2025

Hadleigh Marshes, 21:00 to 22:00
1 Barn Owl (good to see one hunting the newly created wet grassland west of Leigh golf driving range) [John Wright]

Belfairs N.R., 17:15 to 18:50
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Swallow, 1 Blackcap, 5 Purple Hairstreak, 1 Purple Emperor (3 brief views SE of Poors Lane entrance), 2 Red Admiral, 4 Comma [Neil Chambers]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 14:05 to 15:30, Sunny, hot, ESE wind
1 Great Crested Grebe (juv), 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing), 2 Whitethroat (singing), 1 Corn Bunting (singing), 10 Black-tailed Skimmer, 200 skippers, 1 Small Copper, 1 Peacock Butterfly, 1 Comma, 150 Marbled White, 50 Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath [Neil Chambers]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 13:05 to 13:05
1 Buzzard [Paul Griggs]

Thundersley Glen, 12:30 to 13:45
1 Southern Hawker, 1 Southern Migrant Hawker, 1 Emperor Dragonfly, 3 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Meadow Brown [Neil Chambers]

Belfairs N.R., 10:35 to 12:10, Warm & sunny
1 Swift, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Nuthatch, 8 Southern Migrant Hawker, 6 Ruddy Darter, 1 Large Skipper, 10 Large White, 3 Purple Hairstreak, 2 White Admiral, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Peacock Butterfly, 4 Comma, 2 Marbled White, 20 Meadow Brown, 10 Ringlet [Neil Chambers]

Benfleet Creek, 08:00 to 08:20
3 Stonechat (pair + imm, territory 1 ) [John Wright]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 08:15
7 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Lapwing, 145 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Spotted Redshank, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 insects (Shrill Carder Bee) [Marc Outten]

Hadleigh Downs, 07:25 to 07:25
1 Pygmy Shrew (Dead) [John Wright]

Westcliff, 06:40 to 09:40, St Georges Drive
1 Little Egret, 13 Swift, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Large White, 2 Small White [Jeff Kinnerman]

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