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.

Tuesday 28 October 2025

South Fambridge, 16:00 to 16:00
1 Marsh Harrier (adult male), 1 Red Admiral [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 15:55 to 16:50
1 Long-tailed Duck (probably 1'w female, feeding in channel on north side of lagoons), 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 1 Corn Bunting [Neil Chambers]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 15:00 to 17:00
2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel [John Wright]

Shoebury East Beach, 14:25 to 14:35
1 Kingfisher [John Wright]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 12:45 to 16:30, Light westerly, cool, mostly sunny
9 Little Grebe (in ditch with LtDuck), 2 Great White Egret (1 Hunting reptile area, another on Darwin. 3 reported earlier.), 1500 Greylag Goose (+, On Marsh Flats and Grapnells fields - spectacular when flushed by light aircraft over), 1000 Canada Goose (+), 2 Egyptian Goose (Pair near Marsh Flats cattle corral), 7 Pintail (from hide), Excellent find, 1st W female  (Jeff Delve) (55735 bytes) Wary but quite obliging (Jeff Delve) (51392 bytes) 1 Long-tailed Duck (1st winter bird feeding in ditch north of Beagle lagoons, mostly near sluice from Darwin. Well found Ian Cotgrove), 2 Marsh Harrier (Nicely marked male and a female), 6 Kestrel, 1 Merlin (Marsh Flats), 120 Golden Plover (+, roosting from hide), 500 Black-tailed Godwit (+, Mostly Pool Marsh), 1 Spotted Redshank (Flew over office south calling), 5 Greenshank (+, Darwin), 1 Kingfisher (On favoured bramble along NS ditch to office) [Jeff Delve]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 01:00 to 02:00
1 Badger [John Wright]

Monday 27 October 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 11:00 to 13:00
2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe [Marc Outten]

River Roach, 07:25 to 13:00, Stambridge Road to Paglesham Lagoon via Bartonhall Creek and return via the river : Very challenging in the strong winds
4 Little Egret, 1 Pintail (m,PL), 65 Pochard (c,PL), 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel (incl pair at BC ), 1 Peregrine Falcon (PL), 50 Avocet (c), 100 Golden Plover (c), 3 Grey Plover, 22 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 350 Black-tailed Godwit (c), 5 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher (BC), 5 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat (pair,BC), 1 Cetti's Warbler (h,PL), 1 Goldcrest (conifers NW of BC) [Jeff Kinnerman]

Sunday 26 October 2025

South Fambridge, 15:00 to 15:00
13 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Migrant Hawker [Paul Baker]

Gunners Park, 14:45 to 16:25, High tide, overcast, brisk SW wind
5 Red-throated Diver, 20 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Whooper Swan (2 ads + 2 juvs NW across estuary and then headed north over coastguards and high inland), 1 Kittiwake (adult), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing), 1 Chiffchaff [Neil Chambers]

Shoebury East Beach, 14:25 to 14:40, High tide, brisk SW wind
1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Shag (imm distantly on boom), 1 Kingfisher (flew from pond and then west over the sea towards Gunners until lost to view) [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Downs, 13:10 to 13:30
1 Great White Egret, 6 Whooper Swan (family party on fields south of barn) [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 12:00 to 13:30
1 Great White Egret, 6 Whooper Swan (4 juvenile), 1 Kestrel, 30 Avocet, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Ruff, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Stonechat [Graham Oakes]

Hadleigh Downs, 11:30 to 13:00
1 Buzzard, 1 Goldcrest [Paul Griggs]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 11:20 to 14:20
3 Great White Egret (all hunting the Wild Bird Cover), 2 Egyptian Goose, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon (male), 1 Kingfisher (possibly two), 2 Stonechat (pair) [Steve Arlow]

Leigh on Sea, 10:40 to 13:15
100 Little Egret (+), 4 Grey Heron, 4000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c.), 32 Fieldfare (west over Old Leigh) [Graham Mee]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:45 to 11:00
6 Whooper Swan (2 ads, 4 imms on the grazing marsh), 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Stonechat, 2 Fieldfare [John Wright]

Saturday 25 October 2025

Wat Tyler Country Park, 17:20 to 18:40
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Spotted Redshank (h), 3 Green Sandpiper [Tim Bourne]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 16:15 to 18:00, cold and windy
4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 2 Greenshank, 1 Stonechat, 2 Chinese Water Deer [John Wright]

Paglesham Eastend, 15:30 to 16:00
1 Kestrel, 3 Rock Pipit, 57 Linnet (single flock), 5 Corn Bunting [John Wright]

Shoebury East Beach, 13:40 to 15:00
3 Red-throated Diver, 4 Gannet, 2 Shag, 1 Spotted Redshank (On The Boom), 327 Redshank, 60 Turnstone [Marc Outten]

Rochford Golf Course, 13:00 to 17:30, WNW wind, some cloud
2 Egyptian Goose (pair), 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Meadow Pipit (singles SW calling), 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Peacock Butterfly [Neil Chambers]

Fleet Head, 11:25 to 13:00
6 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 7 Red-legged Partridge [Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow]

Wakering Stairs, 09:00 to 11:10
3 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat, 2 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 80 Goldfinch (+ flying west in small groups), 50 Corn Bunting (+) [Paul Griggs, Steve Arlow]

Friday 24 October 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 12:30
4 Pintail, 1 Red Kite, 40 Avocet, 1 Ringed Plover, 5 Ruff, 100 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Skylark, 2 Stonechat [Graham Oakes]

Thursday 23 October 2025

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 15:15 to 17:00, Breezy westerly. Patchy cloud with sunny intervals
1000 Greylag Goose (+, With Canadas - and also more on Marsh Flats), 1500 Canada Goose (+, Feeding on field N of entry road late on and more on Marsh Flats), 1 Marsh Harrier, 150 Mediterranean Gull (+), 250 Herring Gull (+, Feeding with the goose flock), Very confiding birdnear the office (Jeff Delve) (62761 bytes) 1 Black Redstart (1st W bird around office compound), 1 Stonechat (around compound) [Jeff Delve]

Wednesday 22 October 2025

Canvey Point, 13:45 to 14:55
18 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Little Egret, 750 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (+), 750 Oystercatcher (+), 26 Ringed Plover, 25 Sanderling (c), 2 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 1 Rock Pipit (h), 1 Common Seal [Jeff Kinnerman]

Gunners Park, 13:45 to 16:15, Sunny, warm, light SW wind, high tide
10 Red-throated Diver, 35 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kingfisher (usual spot), 3 Stonechat, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Siskin (two small heard only flocks flew SW), 2 Linnet (flew SW), 2 Clouded Yellow, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock Butterfly [Neil Chambers]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 09:45 to 12:00
Water Rail (John Wright) (86201 bytes) Water Rail (John Wright) (85259 bytes) 1 Water Rail, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 500 Black-tailed Godwit (c500), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Bearded Tit, 1 Common Darter [John Wright]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:35 to 13:15
1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 14 Pintail (over), 15 Pochard, 1 Marsh Harrier (f), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 63 Avocet, 1 Grey Plover, 100 Lapwing (+), 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 500 Black-tailed Godwit (c), 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 6 Stonechat (1f,5m ), 9 Cetti's Warbler (h), 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest (Manorway ), 6 Bearded Tit, 1 Raven, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Wall Brown [Jeff Kinnerman]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 01:15 to 04:30
4 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Tuesday 21 October 2025

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 13:00
1 Little Egret, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 40 Avocet, 1 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 6 Ruff, 2 Snipe, 800 Black-tailed Godwit (plus), 3 Curlew, 3 Greenshank, 4 Skylark, 16 Meadow Pipit, 8 Stonechat, 3 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Monday 20 October 2025

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 00:35 to 01:30
2 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

Sunday 19 October 2025

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 13:55 to 15:00
4 Cormorant (south), 1 Grey Wagtail [Paul Griggs]

Wakering Stairs, 12:10 to 13:10
2 Gannet, 8000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c. +), 2 Marsh Harrier, GreatSkua_WakeringStairs1_19_10_2025 (Marc Outten) (128819 bytes) Great Skua_WakeringStairs_19_10_2025 (Marc Outten) (196830 bytes) 1 Great Skua (Moribund bird on the shore by the slipway. Potentially avian influenza. ), 2 Rock Pipit [Marc Outten]

Gunners Park, 12:05 to 13:50, High tide, SSE wind
20 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet (2 ad + juv), 4 Common Scoter (flew west), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (redhead), 1 Arctic Skua (pale ad chasing gulls distantly), 3 Sandwich Tern, 1 Arctic Tern (juv), 1 Razorbill, 1 Kingfisher (usual spot), 1 Cetti's Warbler (singing) [Neil Chambers]

Wakering Common, 11:10 to 11:35
5 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Redpoll (circling calling) [Marc Outten]

Gunners Park, 10:45 to 12:55
4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 skua sp. (MC), 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Skylark, 4 Swallow (+), 2 Stonechat (pr), 2 Cetti's Warbler (h), 4 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest (both had rings) [Paul Griggs, Mike Clarke]

Shoebury East Beach, 09:50 to 11:00
7 Great Crested Grebe, 48 Little Egret, 1 Woodlark (Over with a Skylark and one other unidentified Lark, potentially a second Woodlark. Became disappearing silhouettes too quickly. ), 1 Skylark, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Siskin [Marc Outten]

Prittle Brook (Leigh on Sea), 09:00 to 09:05
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (On garden feeder), 1 Chiffchaff [Angela Baldock]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 11:00
1 Great White Egret, 2 Spoonbill, 1 Kestrel, 50 Avocet (plus), 1 Dunlin, 5 Ruff, 6 Snipe, 800 Black-tailed Godwit (plus), 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Skylark, 4 Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler (Graham Oakes) (53366 bytes) Cetti's Warbler (Graham Oakes) (61746 bytes) 8 Cetti's Warbler (2 seen), 4 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Saturday 18 October 2025

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 14:25 to 14:40
2 Greylag Goose, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [Paul Griggs]

South Fambridge, 14:00 to 14:00
1 Raven (flew south), 1 Red Admiral (on buddleia) [Paul Baker]

Wallasea Island (RSPB), 11:25 to 14:20
16 Little Grebe, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Spoonbill (on Darwin Lagoon), 12 Pintail, 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail with damaged tip to right wing), 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin (juvenile / female type), 1 Peregrine Falcon (juvenile), 83 Golden Plover, 1 Little Stint (on Grass Farm Lagoon), 19 Greenshank, 92 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Stonechat [Steve Arlow]

Fleet Head, 11:20 to 12:40, To Barling creek seawall and back
1 Cattle Egret (with the cattle), 2 Marsh Harrier (male and female), 1 Kestrel, 1 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black Redstart (female/imm), 22 Fieldfare, 1 Rabbit [John Wright]

Gunners Park, 09:30 to 10:30
1 Kingfisher, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Stonechat (male), 1 Rabbit [John Wright]

West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), 09:25 to 12:45
1 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Snipe, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Meadow Pipit, 12 Dunnock, 4 Stonechat, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff [Paul Griggs, Bob Young]

Westcliff Seafront, 07:15 to 09:15, Cliffs, light overcast, light E wind
1 Red-breasted Merganser (redhead), 1 Sandwich Tern (juv feeding offshore), 1 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Brambling (flew east calling), 1 Siskin [Neil Chambers, Lee Ebbs]

Friday 17 October 2025

Two Tree Island (West), 15:00 to 15:40
1 Kingfisher (on the lagoon) [John Wright]

Two Tree Island (East), 14:15 to 14:50
7000 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (c7000) [John Wright]

Leigh on Sea, 11:50 to 12:00
67 Little Egret (Leigh creek saltmarsh) [John Wright]

Benfleet Creek, 11:00 to 11:45
3 Stonechat [John Wright]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 09:30 to 09:35
4 Skylark (flying east) [John Wright]

Belton Hills, 07:35 to 07:35
1 Redpoll (Flew low north calling constantly ) [Vince Kinsler]

Benfleet Creek, 06:50 to 06:50
1 Wheatear (on seawall between Benfleet and Leigh) [Simon Watson]

Thursday 16 October 2025

Rochford, 13:00 to 13:00
1 Brimstone (Flew garden ) [Steve Arlow]

Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, 10:30 to 11:30
1 Cormorant, 3 Fieldfare (west) [Paul Griggs]

Bowers Marsh (RSPB), 08:00 to 12:15
2 Spoonbill, 4 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier (female ), 40 Avocet (plus), 1 Ringed Plover, 6 Ruff, 4 Snipe, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Bearded Tit [Graham Oakes]

Canvey Point, 08:00 to 11:30
4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet, 1 Eider (adult drake, haven't seen an ad drake locally for many years), 2 Pomarine Skua (juvs, one lingered east of the point, the other flew up river ), 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Swallow, 1 Grey Seal [John Wright]

Chalkwell Park Drive, Leigh, 00:30 to 02:00
4 Red Fox, 1 Badger [John Wright]

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