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 21 August 2025

Wat Tyler Country Park, 11:45 to 12:45
9 Cattle Egret (With cattle on Vange wick) [Bob Young]

Wat Tyler Country Park, 10:35 to 11:00, viewing from Marina only
12 Cattle Egret (2 on saltmarsh, 10 with cattle on Vange Wick), 3 Little Egret [John Wright]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 09:15 to 10:25
1 Spoonbill, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, 6 Ruff, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Butterflies and Moths (Jersey Tiger), 1 Clouded Yellow [John Wright, Bob Young]

Wednesday 20 August 2025

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 18:00 to 19:40
1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Spoonbill, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, 4 Ruff, 100 Black-tailed Godwit (c.), 6 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank (h), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Bearded Tit (h) [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:40 to 12:15
1 Great White Egret, 14 Spoonbill, 1 Marsh Harrier (female.), 1 Sparrowhawk (male.), 2 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (heard.), 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 4 Swift, 3 Sand Martin, 100 Swallow (+), 2 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 2 Raven [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 09:15
3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, 5 Ruff, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Canvey Point, 06:55 to 09:10, Overcast, NNE4, high tide c11am
1 Common Scoter (flew east), 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 20 Sandwich Tern, 60 Common Tern [Neil Chambers]

Tuesday 19 August 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 21:40 to 23:20
2 Tawny Owl (vocal pair on and off) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 20:00 to 20:00
4 Cattle Egret (BHF), 3 Corn Bunting (at bottom of the garden) [Paul Baker]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 19:35 to 20:20
1 Spoonbill, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, 1 Ruff, 130 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper [Vince Kinsler]

South Fambridge, 18:30 to 18:30
1 Whimbrel (flew over garden, calling), 1 Greenshank (flew over garden, calling) [Paul Baker]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 18:10 to 18:50
2 Little Ringed Plover (juvs), 1 Little Stint (juv), 1 Ruff (juv), 280 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Bearded Tit, 2 Migrant Hawker [Neil Chambers]

Hadleigh Downs, 14:40 to 16:35
6 Little Egret (on roost), 1 Hobby, 2 Clouded Yellow [Paul Griggs]

Gunners Park, 09:00 to 11:30
7 Gannet, 9 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Common Scoter, 20 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher [Bob Young]

Vange Marsh (RSPB), 07:20 to 07:55
2 Little Egret, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Bearded Tit [Marc Outten]

Monday 18 August 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 21:10 to 22:00
1 Moorhen, 1 Whimbrel (several calls heard over the course of 30-40 secs), 3 Red Fox, 1 Badger [Neil Chambers]

Westcliff, 19:55 to 19:55, St Georges Drive
1 Swift (E) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Canvey Point, 18:40 to 19:40, Overcast, NE3, high tide c8.30pm
20 Grey Plover, 2 Mediterranean Gull (ad + juv), 10 Sandwich Tern, 120 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern (2 ads + juv) [Neil Chambers]

Leigh on Sea, 08:00 to 08:00
1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth (New Road) [John Wright]

Canvey Point, 06:30 to 10:00, Murky with clearer spells
1 Gannet, 6 Common Scoter, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Arctic Skua, 20 Sandwich Tern (c20), 60 Common Tern (c60), 2 Black Tern, 1 Grey Seal [John Wright]

Sunday 17 August 2025

Wakering Stairs, 17:50 to 18:25
4 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 10 Ringed Plover, 200 Grey Plover, 10 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 25 Dunlin, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

Gunners Park, 13:20 to 17:40, Two visits 13:20-14:45 & 16:15-17:40
1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher (Bunker Wood - very elusive), 2 Migrant Hawker, 1 Small Copper, 2 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth [Neil Chambers]

Fleet Head, 13:10 to 14:20
3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 3 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpiper, 10 Yellow Wagtail [Steve Arlow]

Gunners Park, 12:00 to 12:15
1 Pied Flycatcher (Bunker Wood) [John Wright]

Fleet Head, 11:00 to 11:40, Just around the fish ponds
1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 reptile sp. (Red-eared Terrapin sunbathing on fish pond bank) [John Wright]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 10:20 to 10:40
1 Goldcrest, 1 Small White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth [Neil Chambers]

Gunners Park, 09:20 to 12:45
1 Kingfisher, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Pied Flycatcher (elusive bird in Bunker Wood), 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoth [Steve Arlow]

Wakering Stairs, 09:15 to 10:30
1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Sand Martin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Migrant Hawker, 2 Clouded Yellow [Lee Ebbs]

Westcliff, 08:45 to 08:50, St Georges Drive
1 Swift (pos the same lingering individual ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:30
2 Great White Egret, 14 Spoonbill, 4 Egyptian Goose, 1 Wigeon, 1 Garganey (eclipse drake.), 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 2 Ruff, 300 Black-tailed Godwit (+), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Whinchat, 7 Chiffchaff [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Gunners Park, 07:15 to 09:00
3 Gannet, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Both in secret garden ) [Lee Ebbs]

Saturday 16 August 2025

Westcliff, 20:55 to 21:00, St Georges Drive
3 Common Pipistrelle [Jeff Kinnerman]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 16:35 to 17:00
1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Paul Griggs]

Hockley/Hawkwell, 13:05 to 13:05
1 Hobby (Adult flew N across Lower Road) [Jeff Delve]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:50 to 17:40
3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Hobby (juvenile), 120 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin (at least), 1 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 1 Swift, 50 Yellow Wagtail (at least showing very well around Caroline's Hide), 1 Wheatear (in front of hide briefly with Yellow Wagtails), 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly [Steve Arlow]

Canvey Point, 12:45 to 16:15, overcast with moderate ENE breeze
1 Sanderling (still largely summer plumage), 11 Whimbrel, 10 Arctic Skua (inc. a flock of 6), 1 Great Skua, 245 Common Tern (migrants passing by, inc. flocks of 50 and 60), 1 Little Tern, 26 Black Tern (mostly full plumage adults, inc. flocks of 10 and 8) [Jeff Saward]

Wat Tyler Country Park, 12:10 to 12:30, Just viewing from marina over Vange Wick
4 Cattle Egret, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher [Jeff Delve]

Bowers Downs, 11:45 to 12:00, Viewing from back of Crem
1 Great White Egret (Bowers main lagoon), 13 Spoonbill (On Bowers main lagoon), 1 Peregrine Falcon (Adult on pylon) [Jeff Delve]

Westcliff, 11:45 to 11:50, St Georges Drive
1 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 10:40 to 11:20, Just out to Red Hill junction
30 Swallow (+), 2 House Martin, 1 Whinchat (Distantly in long grass field left of track to middle fleet hide) [Jeff Delve]

Benfleet Creek, 09:20 to 09:35, On me bike
2 Common Sandpiper [John Wright]

Eastwood, 09:00 to 09:10, Lidl, Progress Rd
2 Swallow, 1 Grey Wagtail [Paul Griggs]

Canvey Point, 06:00 to 10:30, Overcast, moderate NE, Hi tide c. 06:15
2 Common Scoter, 2 Arctic Skua, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Kittiwake, 10 Sandwich Tern (+), 60 Common Tern (+, Large feeding flock towards pier and multiple small groups passing through), 8 Black Tern [Jeff Delve]

Canvey Point, 05:50 to 09:10, Overcast, ENE-NE 3-4, high tide c6.15am
2 Common Scoter (drakes), 5 Golden Plover, 3 Sanderling, 2 Arctic Skua, 5 Mediterranean Gull (3 ad + juv), 5 Kittiwake, 5 Sandwich Tern, 150 Common Tern (+), 8 Black Tern (1 + 3 + 4 flew east, presumably same 4 west later on), 2 Swallow [Neil Chambers]

Friday 15 August 2025

South Fambridge, 23:00 to 23:00
1 Western Hedgehog (rummaging around the garden, by the patio) [Paul Baker]

Westcliff, 20:45 to 20:50, St Georges Drive
2 Common Pipistrelle [Jeff Kinnerman]

South Fambridge, 18:20 to 18:20
1 Willow Emerald Damselfly (Desperately trying to get back into the house, or could be a 2nd individual) [Paul Baker]

Rochford, 17:35 to 17:35
1 Marsh Harrier (Adult male east over garden ) [Steve Arlow]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 15:00 to 18:30
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 13:30 to 15:00
1 Great White Egret, 15 Spoonbill, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo (Juvenile on the Eastern Grazing Marsh) [Marc Outten]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 13:00 to 18:00, Warm, sunny 24C, light SE
1 Pintail (Drake on Darwin), 78 Ringed Plover (On Fitz from hide on high tide), 60 Grey Plover (+, Large flock came into S Fitz over high tide, many in summer plumage), 16 Dunlin (On Fitz from hide on high tide), 8 Ruff (5 on Darwin plus 3 on Stokes later showing well nr hide), 200 Black-tailed Godwit (+, S Darwin over high tide), 7 Greenshank (3 from hide, 4 on Pool Marsh), 1 Turnstone (with RP), 50 Common Tern (+, Inc 19 mostly fledged juvs), 20 Yellow Wagtail (+, Well scattered in small groups), 1 Wheatear (Around digger on concrete path N of hide) [Jeff Delve]

South Fambridge, 12:50 to 12:50
1 Willow Emerald Damselfly (in my kitchen, duly released) [Paul Baker]

Pitsea, 11:20 to 11:45, Pitsea (Wat Tyler) Scrape but viewed from RSPB management access on the east side of the scrape (NOTE: no public access)
63 Cattle Egret (+ (a further 14 were on Vange Wick at the same time as counting the scrape) so in total over 80 CE in the area. ), 4 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Common Tern [Marc Outten]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:45
10 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe (1 juvenile ), 3 Cattle Egret, 9 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egret, 20 Grey Heron (Plus ), 12 Spoonbill, 4 Egyptian Goose, 1 Wigeon, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper [Graham Oakes]

Westcliff, 07:25 to 07:30, St Georges Drive
1 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Thursday 14 August 2025

Westcliff, 20:45 to 20:50, St Georges Drive
1 Common Pipistrelle [Jeff Kinnerman]

Westcliff, 07:10 to 07:15, St Georges Drive
2 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Gunners Park, 06:25 to 08:50, Overcast clearing to sunny, light SW wind
4 Great Crested Grebe (offshore), 6 Teal (flew SW), 1 Swift, 1 Kingfisher (commuting between favoured ditch and barge pier), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Sand Martin (+), 60 House Martin, 25 Yellow Wagtail (+, flew SW in small groups), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler [Neil Chambers]

Wednesday 13 August 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 21:35 to 21:35
1 Badger [Neil Chambers]

Westcliff, 20:50 to 20:55, St Georges Drive
1 Common Pipistrelle (Erratic circuits around the garden ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 16:15 to 18:30, Just to hide and back
34 Little Egret (from hide), 1 Great White Egret (Fitz), 1 Spoonbill (Darwin/Stokes bund), 40 Avocet (+, Pool Marsh), 35 Ringed Plover (Fitz from hide), 37 Golden Plover (Fitz from hide), 1 Knot (with Dunlin), 19 Dunlin (Fitz from hide), 2 Greenshank [Jeff Delve]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:15 to 11:45
4 Great Crested Grebe (1 juvenile ), 6 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret, 15 Grey Heron (plus), 14 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Ruff, 120 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Westcliff, 06:15 to 09:40, St Georges Drive
1 Kestrel, 3 Swift, 1 Yellow Wagtail (calling,S) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Tuesday 12 August 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 20:10 to 20:25
16 House Martin (flock lingering before flying high south) [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 18:00 to 18:00
1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Woodpecker (juvs), 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Painted Lady [Paul Baker]

Westcliff, 15:00 to 15:00, St Georges Drive
2 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Magnolia NR, Hawkwell, 10:30 to 12:30
1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Willow Emerald Damselfly, 1 Southern Hawker, 1 Emperor Dragonfly [Bob Young]

Monday 11 August 2025

South Fambridge, 21:45 to 21:45
1 Western Hedgehog (Had somehow managed to get inside a bag of compost! Thankfully my son heard the rustling and so we were able to releas the hedgehog in the garden.) [Paul Baker]

Doggetts Pits, 14:50 to 15:30
3 Great Crested Grebe (ad + 2 well grown young), 1 Kingfisher, 2 Willow Emerald Damselfly, 2 Brown Hawker, 2 Common Darter, 4 Ruddy Darter [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 12:00 to 12:00
1 Green Woodpecker (Juv around the garden), 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Blue, 1 Painted Lady (on buddleia throughout the day) [Paul Baker]

Canvey Point, 11:30 to 12:00, hot and hazy, light east breeze
7 Black Tern (a small flock, briefly joined the tern feeding flock out from the Point before heading off east) [Jeff Saward]

Rochford Golf Course, 08:30 to 14:40, Sunny, hot, light E wind
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Migrant Hawker, 1 Southern Hawker, 1 Emperor Dragonfly [Neil Chambers]

Westcliff, 08:15 to 08:20, St Georges Drive
6 Swift [Jeff Kinnerman]

Sunday 10 August 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 22:35 to 22:40
2 Tawny Owl (pair making a racket) [Neil Chambers]

Rochford, 17:00 to 17:00
1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth (in garden again) [Steve Arlow]

South Fambridge, 14:00 to 14:00
1 Buzzard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Lizard, 2 Common Blue, 1 Painted Lady (on buddleia), 1 Wall Brown [Paul Baker]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 11:45 to 13:15
7 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 20 Yellow Wagtail (+), 1 Whinchat (east side of Red Hill), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler [Neil Chambers]

Paglesham, 10:00 to 12:45, Hampton Barns out to Lagoon and return
1 Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 60 Black-tailed Godwit (at least), 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper (on pool south of farm), 2 Common Sandpiper (in borrowdyke), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Little Owl (usual spot at the barn), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 20 Common Blue Damselfly, 1 Emperor Dragonfly (male) [Steve Arlow]

Westcliff, 08:45 to 08:50, St Georges Drive
8 Swift (single group ) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:30 to 11:00
1 Great White Egret, 11 Spoonbill, 2 Wigeon, 1 Marsh Harrier (female.), 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 32 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Bearded Tit, 1 Raven [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Saturday 09 August 2025

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 21:20 to 21:20
1 Badger [Neil Chambers]

Battlesbridge Sewage Works, 17:45 to 19:35
20 Little Egret, 3 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 27 Lesser Black-backed Gull (clearly an influx from the past two visits), 2 Yellow-legged Gull (adults, including the regular bird), 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail [Neil Chambers]

South Fambridge, 11:15 to 11:15
5 Cattle Egret (BHF), 1 Marsh Harrier (ad male on BHF), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth (came indoors briefly) [Paul Baker]

River Crouch, 09:15 to 10:50, Upriver from Hullbridge slipway yo sewage works and back
1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper (On river by sewage works outflow), 7 Common Sandpiper (On river by sewage works outflow), 1 Yellow-legged Gull (Annually returning adult with atypical subadult bill pattern has returned, just upriver from Chalet Park), 1 Yellow Wagtail (In horse paddock by sewage works), 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Migrant Hawker [Steve Arlow]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:00 to 09:40, On me bike
2 Whinchat (just S.E. of Redhill) [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 08:15 to 09:45
1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Pheasant, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 18 Sand Martin, 80 Swallow, 60 Yellow Wagtail (minimum ), 2 Whinchat, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 80 Goldfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, 6 Corn Bunting [Vince Kinsler]

Westcliff, 06:35 to 06:40, St Georges Drive
1 Swift (S) [Jeff Kinnerman]

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