Thursday 15 May 2025

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]

Tuesday 13 May 2025

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

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]

Monday 12 May 2025

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

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]

Friday 09 May 2025

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 14:30 to 14:40
2 Slow-worm (adults) [John Wright]

Canewdon, 10:00 to 12:00
1 Cetti's Warbler (Singing BHP), 1 Reed Warbler (Singing BHP), 2 Chaffinch, 9 Greenfinch, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 2 Broad-bodied Chaser (Pair around garden pond), 2 Orange-tip, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood [Jeff Delve]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:30 to 11:30
1 Garganey (drake still on Pantile), 1 Peregrine Falcon (male), 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull (looking settled on Pantile), 2 Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Corn Bunting [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:45
5 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Spoonbill, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Jay, 40 Azure Damselfly (+), 1 Broad-bodied Chaser, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Wall Brown [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Thursday 08 May 2025

Two Tree Island (West), 19:20 to 19:50
16 Common Tern, 1 Cetti's Warbler [Max Hellicar]

Lower Raypits, 18:15 to 19:20, Mostly watching lagoon
3 Wigeon (pair and a male), 2 Gadwall (pairs), 4 Teal (pairs), 2 Mallard (pairs), 3 Pochard (pair flew in and a male), 3 Tufted Duck (pairs), 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher (pair on lagoon - no sign previous sitting bird), 1 Lapwing (Female sitting on different island, second attempt), 1 Cuckoo (male calling along sea wall), 1 Barn Owl (male hunting fields to south), 1 Short-eared Owl (flushed from sea wall and flew west over saltings), 2 Yellowhammer (pair west end Lion Creek), 2 Orange-tip [Jeff Delve]

Hadleigh Downs, 15:00 to 15:40
1 Chinese Muntjac (buck) [John Wright]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 14:30 to 14:40
1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Common Frog, 4 Slow-worm (last year's youngsters) [John Wright]

Westcliff, 14:00 to 15:00, Springfield allotments
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Whitethroat [Paul Griggs]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:45 to 14:00, Sunny but breezy and cold NE. Out via screens to hide and back
1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 26 Mediterranean Gull (On better vegetated island on Grass Farm), 2 Sandwich Tern (Flew over Grass Farm dropping into one of the islands before heading out east, possibly prospecting), 34 Common Tern (Grass Farm and Darwin), 4 Yellow Wagtail (Along entry road), 6 Reed Bunting (singing males), 2 Corn Bunting (singing), 3 insects (Black Oil Beetles), 1 Small Copper, 4 Common Blue (all males), 1 Small Heath [Jeff Delve]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 10:00 to 10:00
1 Sparrowhawk [Paul Griggs]

Canewdon, 09:00 to 10:00, Garden and BHP
1 Cuckoo (Male calling behind BHP), 4 Robin (Pair feeding 2 fledged young), 3 Blackbird (Male feeding 2 fledged young), 2 Chaffinch (pair on feeder), 9 Greenfinch (On feeders), 6 Goldfinch, 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly (BHP), 1 Large White, 3 Orange-tip, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Heath (BHP uncommon here) [Jeff Delve]

Wednesday 07 May 2025

Belfairs Great Wood, 18:00 to 20:30
1 Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Red Fox [Max Hellicar]

Ashingdon, 16:00 to 16:00
1 Hobby (flew north) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Edwards Hall Park, 15:40 to 15:40
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Cetti's Warbler (h) [Max Hellicar]

Cherry Orchard Country Park, 15:00 to 15:00
1 Buzzard [Max Hellicar]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 10:30 to 13:40
15 Little Egret (+), 1 Pintail (m), 5 Marsh Harrier (+), 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Greenshank, 6 Mediterranean Gull, 15 Common Tern, 5 Swift, 10 Skylark (+), 7 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Stonechat (pr), 3 Corn Bunting, 1 Painted Lady [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Lion Creek, 09:40 to 10:10
2 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Yellowhammer (male, singing) [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Two Tree Island (West), 09:15 to 10:00
230 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Kestrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Common Tern, 1 Cetti's Warbler [John Wright]

Two Tree Island (East), 08:30 to 09:15
52 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Northern Water Vole [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:45
3 Spoonbill (from gate by barn.), 1 Wigeon, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 2 Hairy Dragonfly, 1 Small Heath [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Monday 05 May 2025

Hadleigh Marshes, 21:10 to 21:30
1 Barn Owl (hunting by seawall) [Max Hellicar]

East Haven Creek, 21:00 to 21:00
1 Greenshank, 2 Chinese Muntjac [Max Hellicar]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 19:20 to 20:50
2 Spoonbill (on flood north of lagoon), 1 Wigeon, 16 Pochard (displaying), 2 Kestrel, 1 Cuckoo (singing), 1 Barn Owl (hunting), 15 Swift, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling by saline lagoon; seen a couple of times but skulky), 1 Bearded Tit (h), 1 Red Fox [Max Hellicar]

Hadleigh Downs, 18:40 to 19:00
1 Hobby, 1 Cuckoo (heard singing), 1 Cetti's Warbler [Max Hellicar]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 15:45 to 17:50
2 Spoonbill (On pools north of lagoon), 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon (Over north), 2 Cuckoo, 50 Swift (+), 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Corn Bunting (Singing male on landfill ) [Tim Bourne]

Westcliff, 15:30 to 15:30, Southend Hospital
1 Little Egret [Paul Griggs]

Gunners Park, 08:00 to 09:00
7 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 5 Sandwich Tern, 3 Swift, 2 House Martin [Lee Ebbs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 06:00 to 07:00, Overcast, light drizzle, cold
1 Barn Owl, 2 Yellow Wagtail [Vince Kinsler]

Sunday 04 May 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 19:55 to 21:50
2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Barn Owl (Hunting along western dyke and over landfill at dusk), 1 Nightingale, 2 Noctule Bat, 4 Northern Water Vole [Tim Bourne]

Gunners Park, 17:30 to 18:50, Overcast, brisk NE wind, high tide c6.30pm - 1 hour seawatch
2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Fulmar (singles flew east), 80 Sterna sp. (tight flock of c30 flew east, c50 feeding distantly throughout), 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Arctic Tern (single flock flew east close in), 5 auk sp. (distant flock east, probably more Razorbills), 8 Razorbill (flew east in groups of 2 + 4 + 2), 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Swift, 9 House Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat [Neil Chambers]

Westcliff, 15:30 to 16:50, Southend Hospital
1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon [Paul Griggs]

Canvey Point, 14:45 to 17:20
85 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 65 Turnstone, 25 Mediterranean Gull, 100 Common Tern (100+ including 94 in a feeding flock with gulls), 42 Arctic Tern (a flock of 37 and a flock of 5 flying east ) [John Wright]

Rochford Golf Course, 12:30 to 17:00
1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Skylark (singing over airport), 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing), 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 10:00 to 11:30
1 Spoonbill, 2 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Swift [Lee Ebbs]

Wakering Stairs, 08:45 to 10:30
1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier (m), 3 Buzzard (+), 2 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo (m), 1 Barn Owl (male), 6 Nightingale (singing), 1 Wheatear (f, Haven Point), 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Golden Oriole (By Landwick Cottages as we were driving away from the Stairs. It flew from a dead tree toward Wakering Common. Shape, flight action, green back and black wings distictive but only seen very briefly.), 1 Wall Brown [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 07:45 to 11:50
7 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Wigeon, 2 Common Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 20 Swift, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Nightingale, 12 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Azure Damselfly, 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 3 Wall Brown, 1 Small Heath [Graham Ryland, Graham Oakes]

Gunners Park, 07:20 to 08:20
3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 5 House Martin, 3 Cetti's Warbler (h), 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Saturday 03 May 2025

Cherry Orchard Country Park, 16:00 to 17:00
1 Broad-bodied Chaser [John Wright]

Westcliff, 14:00 to 15:00, Springfield Drive allotments
1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Swift, 1 Swallow, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Red Admiral [Paul Griggs]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 13:30 to 15:00
1 Wigeon, 4 Buzzard, 2 Hobby, 2 Corn Bunting [Mike Clarke]

Gunners Park, 12:00 to 13:15, Sunny spells, light N wind
1 Red Kite (circling over lake with a Buzzard, drifted off NW), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 1 Sedge Warbler (singing), 1 Reed Warbler (singing), 2 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

Shoebury, 12:00 to 15:00, Skywatching from the garden
1 Red Kite, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 10 Swift (+) [Marc Outten]

Victoria Road, Rayleigh, 10:00 to 11:00
1 Sparrowhawk (male), 2 Stock Dove (pair), 1 Song Thrush (singing), 2 Blackcap (singing), 1 Chiffchaff (singing), 1 Holly Blue [Neil Chambers]

Leigh Marsh, 09:30 to 09:35
1 Marsh Frog (1+ heard) [John Wright]

Benfleet Creek, 09:10 to 09:30
1 Cuckoo, 2 Stonechat (pair 'chatting' - presumed breeding. ) [John Wright]

Hadleigh Downs, 08:30 to 08:35
7 Wall Brown (along the track south of the castle) [John Wright]

Lion Creek, 08:20 to 09:50
1 Marsh Harrier (male), 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat [Bob Young]

Friday 02 May 2025

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 19:00 to 20:30
1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Nightingale, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Corn Bunting (At least 6 males singing) [Tim Bourne]

Wakering Stairs, 17:45 to 18:15
1 Turtle Dove, 2 Nightingale, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Wall Brown [Lee Ebbs]

Belton Hills, 16:45 to 16:50
1 Painted Lady [Vince Kinsler]

Canvey Wick, 11:00 to 11:40
2 Cuckoo, 2 Green Hairstreak [John Wright]

Hadleigh Downs, 08:30 to 10:40
2 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Marsh Frog (10+), 1 Chinese Muntjac (heard), 6 Azure Damselfly, 2 Wall Brown [John Wright]