The full suite of divers were present on the 1st with up to
four Red-throated Divers, two Black-throated Divers, and two Great Northern Divers all frequenting
the Pier during the first week. The Ring-billed
Gull at Westcliff was duly ticked by keen year-listers. Along Southend
seafront the Snow Bunting flock
which now numbered nine were equally obliging throughout the month and a single
Guillemot was offshore on the 1st.
Siskin were around in good numbers
from the beginning of the month onwards with up to 25 frequenting alders in a
suburban Leigh road. The month’s only Chiffchaff
was in Southchurch Hall Park on the 1st and a drake Mandarin was in Friar’s Park although
not subsequently. Single Spotted
Redshank and Greenshank were in
Benfleet Creek and the two Hen Harriers
and two Marsh Harriers from last
month were seen with patience around the Wakering area. Three Bullfinch, a Woodcock, and 1,000 Lapwing
were notable on Hadleigh Downs on the 2nd. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Belfairs on the 2nd
with the Hockley Woods birds reported from the early date of the 4th
intermittently through the month. On the 4th the Waxwings returned to their favourite
habitat, that being supermarket car parks in Pitsea. Initially 24 of these
beauties appeared with numbers building to 31 by the 15th. A Merlin and three Green Sandpipers were on Bowers Marsh on the 5th with
another two Green Sandpipers
wintering in Benfleet from the 7th onwards. All 21 Pintail from mid-December were still
present on Paglesham Lagoon throughout the month. The Pier provided the only
multiple count of Guillemot this
winter with just two birds seen on the 8th with a Razorbill and the two wintering Eider still there. A fly past Fulmar was unseasonal. On the 11th,
Hole Haven Creek hosted an impressive gathering of 1,500 Lapwings. Also there, careful scanning of the bathing gulls
revealed an unprecedented passage of Caspian
Gulls with eleven different birds this month alone. Repeating events from
last winter, a Purple Sandpiper was
found wintering along Southend seafront over each high tide from the 13th
to the end of the month and was twitched by many an Essex birder. A skein of 50
White-fronted Geese flew over Two
Tree Island on the 15th and were tracked heading up the Thames past
Thurrock and Rainham. Also on Two Tree Island on the 11th was a
modest peak count of 32 Common Snipe.
A Guillemot was as far up the Crouch
as South Fambridge on the 17th, and a Short-eared Owl was reported from Two Tree Island surprisingly for
the only time this month. Bullfinch
seem to be slowly increasing in the area so it was pleasing to record four at
Wat Tyler on the 19th and again on the 25th with another
at Belfairs N.R. on the 30th. The 19th will also be
remembered as the day that the Northern
Bottle-nosed Whale was first sighted as it swam up the Thames under the
QEII bridge. In addition, there were unconfirmed reports of at least one other
whale, possibly from the same family group off the coast of Southend at this
time. Marsh Harriers were seen at
Hole Haven on 21st and Wat Tyler on 22nd. Barn Owl reached four, and Short-eared Owl numbered three around
Wakering on the 21st and a Merlin
was hunting there from 21st to 28th. Blackcaps were recorded in gardens in Leigh on 21st and
29th, and Benfleet on 24th and 28th. 125 Redwing at Magnolia N.R., Ashingdon on
the 22nd was the largest wintering flock by far. The single drake Mandarin was again present in
Southchurch Hall Park from 24th to 28th before
disappearing for the rest of the winter. The only Lesser Redpoll of the first winter period was a single at Wat Tyler
on the 25th. An unconfirmed report of four Black-throated Divers flying past Canvey on the 26th
would be one of the largest Essex counts in the last ten years if true. A Merlin was also claimed. At least one
wide ranging Peregrine frequented
Southend seafront through the month with an individual performing very well on
the 29th when it spent the day hunting from an office block in the
heart of the town centre.
On the 1st, a Merlin
was reported at Fleet Head. A smattering of Blackcap records came from gardens in the first week with birds in
Rayleigh, Thundersley and Benfleet. A Coal
Tit found at Belfairs from the 2nd to the 4th was a
local mega. Small numbers of Siskin
were relatively widespread from the 4th to the 19th with
between one and six birds at five locations most of which were gardens. At
Wakering Stairs on the 4th came unconfirmed reports of a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and 15 Twite whilst next day 112 Avocet were counted along the Roach. A Woodcock in Gunners Park on the 8th
was unusual in terms of location but a Red
Admiral the same day on Hadleigh Downs was exceptionally early. The male Peregrine showed well at Wat Tyler from
the 9th to the 13th with the Marsh Harrier also seen on the 9th. Hole Haven Creek
turned up a first-winter Iceland Gull
on the 11th with two Caspian
Gulls bringing the total to 13 different birds that have passed through
here so far this year. A Slavonian Grebe
was a good find off Shoebury East Beach on the 12th whilst nearby
the obliging wintering Purple Sandpiper
was recorded for the last time along Southend seafront. A Bullfinch was seen again in Belfairs on the 12th but the
best find of the day was the discovery of the Hawfinch in Hockley Woods that repeated events of the last few
years with regular sightings into April. Two more Blackcaps were found from the 12th to the 15th
with birds in Leigh and Benfleet. Six Red-breasted
Merganser were at South Fambridge on 12th being somewhat scarce
this winter with a Merlin and Common Scoter also claimed here on the
14th. On the 13th the nine strong Snow Bunting flock along Southend seafront were recorded for the
final time although two birds were present on one date in March. A solitary Waxwing was reported from Canewdon on
the 14th. The Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker in Hockley Woods showed well from the 14th to the 18th
with two birds reported on the 25th. A Little Gull hawking inland at Eastwood on the 17th was
unexpected. The Pintail flock at
Paglesham Lagoon reached an impressive high of 44 on the 18th. The
20th saw a lone Snow Bunting
along the foreshore at Canvey at the same place as it was in December. The Waxwing flock at Pitsea had reached 44
on the 22nd. A Woodcock
and four Bullfinch were at Hadleigh
Downs on the 23rd. A Larus
sp. closely resembling an Iceland
Gull was seen in Hole Haven Creek on the 25th but was later deemed
to be a hybrid. Nearby, a Great Northern
Diver was reported off Canvey seafront the same day and an early Adder was enjoying the weak sunshine on
Hadleigh Downs. The wintering Marsh
Harrier and two Hen Harriers in
the Wakering area were recorded again on the 26th when the Ring-billed Gull at Westcliff showed
well after being sporadic in appearance earlier in the month. The only record
of Long-eared Owl during the winter
was a single roosting at a traditional site on the 26th. Canvey
hosted two Common Buzzards on the 27th
and a Merlin on the 28th with two Common Scoter
also noted on the 27th.
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
was in Pound Wood on the 1st with others at Hadleigh Downs, Little
Haven N.R., Coombe Wood, and Shipwrights Wood during the month with the Hockley
Woods pair also present throughout although elusive. Two Snow Buntings were reported from Southend seafront on the 4th,
a full three weeks after the winter flock of nine were last recorded. The last Red-throated Divers of the winter were
logged off Shoebury and Canvey on the 5th with a Slavonian Grebe also at the former site
and a Red-necked Grebe at the
latter. Hadleigh Downs hosted a good count of six Bullfinch on the 5th with a Woodcock also there with another nearby on Benfleet Downs the next
day and a pair of Bullfinch were in
Hockley Woods. A Merlin was at South
Fambridge on the 6th and last month’s six Red-breasted Mergansers remained. The 9th was a good day
for Owls with two Little Owls and a Barn Owl at a central Southend site and
two Short-eared Owls were on Two
Tree Island. Another first-winter Iceland
Gull was found in Hole Haven Creek on the 11th along with another
two Caspian Gulls and a Hen Harrier was quartering Wakering
Stairs. The 12th produced a Woodcock
in Hockley Woods and saw the Waxwing
flock at Pitsea hit its peak for the winter with 56 birds reported. The humble House Sparrow rarely gets a mention in
these pages but a flock of 120 roosting at Pitsea on the 16th are
worthy of note these days. A Black Brant
was at Paglesham Lagoon on the 17th as were the last five Goldeneye of the winter. A peak day
count of five Caspian Gulls was made
at Hole Haven on the 18th which, when coupled with the numerous
other records over the last few months must now challenge this species status
as a rare county visitor. The 18th was also the last day that the Waxwing flock at Pitsea was recorded,
ironically just six days after reaching its peak. A Jack Snipe showed well on Wallasea on the 19th and five Common Scoter were off Wakering Stairs.
Ten Siskin in a garden by Coombe
Wood on the 20th were the best count during a relatively widespread
and protracted passage. Small numbers were recorded from a further eight sites
this month with the majority favouring seed feeders in back gardens. The Hawfinch in Hockley Woods continued to
be seen throughout but offered views only to those present at dawn. A feral Barnacle Goose was at Wat Tyler on the
23rd where three Cetti’s
Warblers continued to sing, as they had most of the winter. The first
migrant Chiffchaff arrived on the 25th
with eight others arriving at five locations between 29th and 31st.
The Ring-billed Gull at Westcliff seafront
was reported for the last time on the 27th, the same day that the
first true migrant arrived with a Wheatear
on Two Tree Island some eleven days later than last year, no doubt as a result
of the prolonged northerly winds. It was joined by a second bird on the 28th.
A Woodcock was in Shipwrights Wood
on the 29th. Redwing
departed surprisingly early with several birds over Southend Airport on the 30th
and the last bird being a single on Benfleet Downs on the 31st,
which coincidentally was the same date as the last bird in 2005. Swallows finally struggled through with
singles at Canvey on the 30th and Wat Tyler on the 31st.
The first migrant Blackcap was
singing on Benfleet Downs on the 31st.
Willow Warbler arrived on the 1st
with a single by Benfleet Creek where the Short-eared
Owl remained through to the 4th. A pair of Little Owls showed well at Canewdon all month. A Common Buzzard reported over Wat Tyler
on the 1st was the first of three passage birds across the area this
month and Sand Martins were also
there from the 2nd along with a Marsh
Harrier on the 4th and 10th. Finch passage continued
to be noted with a total of 47 Siskins
reported from eight locations in the first week along with eight Brambling at three locations. Perhaps
caught up in the same movement, a Hawfinch
was visiting a feeding station at Wat Tyler during the first week with the
Hockley Woods bird last seen on the 7th. Two passage Nightingales were singing in Gunners
Park on the 6th with further singles recorded there on the 9th,
16th and 19th. A Marsh
Harrier was at Wakering Stairs from the 6th to the 9th.
Four Yellow Wagtails were in Gunners
Park on the 8th along with six White
Wagtails, the first of approximately twenty birds this month. Offshore from
Gunners Park on the 8th were the first Sandwich Terns, and House
Martins were noted at Wat Tyler. Vange Marsh hosted the first Sedge Warbler on the 9th and
a Jack Snipe was also claimed. The
first Whitethroat was reported on
Two Tree Island on the 9th and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported at Eastwood sewage works.
The second Common Buzzard of the
month was seen to fly high over Wakering on the 9th. A first-winter Iceland Gull at Wat Tyler on the 10th
may well have been last month’s bird from Hole Haven. The Jack Snipe at Vange Marsh was reported again on the 14th.
Gunners Park scored well on the 15th with the first Common Terns and Cuckoo coupled with a peak spring count of nine Wheatears and a female Ring Ouzel that stayed until the 18th.
On the 16th, a male Ring
Ouzel was reported on Two Tree Island, a Continental Coal Tit was in Gunners Park and the only passage Firecrest of the spring was in a garden
in Leigh. Sparrowhawk records
increased significantly this month partly due to resident birds being more
prominent whilst displaying but also due to an influx of passage birds. In
total there was over fifty records this month alone including five together
over Leigh on the 16th. A healthy passage of Yellow Wagtails continued through the month with a good count of 42
at Paglesham Lagoon on the17th, the same day that the first Swift was recorded over Vange Marsh.
Six Red-breasted Mergansers on the
Roach on the 18th were noticeably late. Wader passage was pronounced
between the 20th and the 26th with an obvious arrival of
single figure flocks of Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank during the period coupled
with single Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, and Little Ringed Plover. The first Hobby was observed at Fleet Head on the
22nd, the same day that Lesser
Whitethroats arrived with singles appearing at three sites. Turtle Dove returned on the 23rd
with a ‘purring’ bird in Gunners Park but worryingly few others recorded by
mid-May. Two Grasshopper Warblers
were heard reeling on the 23rd with birds at Wat Tyler and Canvey,
and the third Common Buzzard of the
month passed over Rayleigh. It was pleasing to report two Nightingales singing from suitable habitat along Benfleet Downs
from the 24th onwards. Two Fieldfare
which had been on Canvey from the 14th persisted to the late date of
the 26th before departing. Equally reluctant to leave were two Dark-bellied Brent Geese still at
Paglesham Lagoon on the 30th. A Garden
Warbler was claimed in Hockley Woods on the 28th by which time
there were two Little Ringed Plovers
at Vange Marsh.
One to two Wheatear
continued to push through from the 1st to the 11th with
Gunners Park providing all but one of this month’s records. Two adult Little Gulls visited Wat Tyler on the 3rd
where they remained through to the 6th. Also here were the regular
pair of Hobby along with a third
bird, and two Turtle Doves. Records
of Hobby were widespread this month
whereas Turtle Dove numbers are down
on last year with just two representing the highest count. A Marsh Harrier was hunting over Paglesham
Lagoon on the 4th and again on the 10th. A Nightingale reported in Gunners Park on
the 5th was most likely a late migrant. After a report of two drake Garganey at Paglesham Lagoon on the 6th,
one remained through to the 10th and was widely appreciated. Also
here at this time was a Common Sandpiper
and seven Yellow Wagtails. The
month’s only other Common Sandpiper,
and sole Greenshank were both
reported at Vange Marsh on the 7th. Sighting of the week goes to an Osprey watched from a Southend front garden
on the 7th, which could conceivably also have accounted for the
record of an Osprey on Canvey on the
13th. Another local mega garden tick came on the 9th when
a Ring-necked Parakeet circled an
Eastwood garden, (mine!). A pair of Bullfinch
and a Garden Warbler were reported
from Belfairs on the 9th. A Short-eared
Owl over Rushley Island on the 11th was notable given the time
of year. The following day, a Red Kite
joined the growing band of mega garden ticks this month when one flew past
Leigh. The two Nightingales which
performed well at Benfleet Downs from the 24th April were heard
singing for the last time on the 12th, whilst nearby two pairs of Stonechat had clearly paired up along
Benfleet Creek. A Common Buzzard
flew over Hadleigh Downs on the 13th, the same day that a Marsh Harrier was seen nearby along
Benfleet Downs. Spotted Flycatchers
finally returned on the 13th with a migrant on Two Tree Island and a
likely breeding bird at a central Southend location. Another drake Garganey was unfortunately all too
brief on the scrape at Wat Tyler on the 15th. Vange Marsh continued
to host a pair of Little Ringed Plovers
to the 18th at least with the nearby reedbed and scrub holding four
singing Cetti’s Warblers with a
further three at Wat Tyler. A Firecrest
seen and heard singing in Belfairs on the 20th was intriguing but
could not be located subsequently. Two Muntjac
also there the same day were notable, as they remain scarce in the recording
area. Garden Warblers were heard
singing on the 25th again at Belfairs, with another on Hadleigh
Downs. The happiest news this month was the successful hatching of Avocet chicks on Two Tree Island on the
25th with 21 chicks by the month’s end. The previous two years have
seen the eggs go missing in suspicious circumstances just prior to hatching but
happily the increased security and around the clock wardening resulted in a
more successful outcome this year. A Marsh
Harrier on Wallasea Island on the 28th may well have been the
same bird as that over Paglesham earlier in the month. A Peregrine along Benfleet Creek the same day further elevated this
species’ status locally to virtually resident throughout the year. Finally, a pair of Wigeon at Wat
Tyler on the 30th were notable and a Marsh Harrier was hunting the nearby reedbed.
On the 3rd, seven Stonechats
were present along Benfleet Creek consisting of two family parties, each with
young. The Spotted Flycatcher pair
in central Southend continued to show well between the 4th and 7th
before becoming famously elusive until mid-September when they were seen with
two young. Owls were once again very evident this month with a Tawny Owl near Wallasea, three Little Owls at Canewdon and two Barn Owls at Vange Marsh all
coincidentally on the 4th. A Bullfinch
at Wat Tyler on the 6th raises hope of possible breeding. One of the
most curious reports was of two Common
Cranes reportedly flying over Benfleet whilst nearby on the river at Canvey
a Common Scoter was seen. From
Gunners Park on the 9th came a report of a Garden Warbler but the male Golden
Oriole reported on the 10th at Canvey West End unfortunately
eluded everyone except the finder. Some interesting raptor records were claimed
mid-month starting with the month’s only Marsh
Harrier on Wallasea on the 11th, followed by an Osprey over Hockley on the 12th,
a Common Buzzard over Hockley on the
13th and presumably the same bird over Battlesbridge the next day. A
male Peregrine was also regular
around Leigh throughout as were Hobby.
A Dark-bellied Brent Goose off
Canvey on the 16th was unseasonal but the same observer was even
more surprised the next day when he made the first land-based observation in
Essex of a Bottlenose Dolphin in
over one hundred years! By staying faithful to the entrance of Hole Haven Creek
through till early August, the dolphin became a local celebrity and even made
into the local newspapers and TV bulletins. Back on land, a Cetti’s Warbler was singing from yet
another new site, this time by Benfleet station on the 17th, whilst Pochard hatched three young in the
nearby borrowdyke and three Greenshank
at Hole Haven Creek were possibly the first returning waders. The first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of a very good
season was in a Westcliff garden on the 21st. Owls continued to
show, with Little Owl at Canewdon
and Paglesham, and Barn Owl also at
Paglesham, all on the 23rd when over thirty Heath Fritillaries were on the wing in Belfairs. A cracking summer
plumage Spotted Redshank at Fleet
Head on the 24th was one of only a handful seen all autumn. Another
family party of Stonechat was found
on the 25th, this time at Canvey West End. Butterflies were abundant
on the 28th when the following counts were made on Hadleigh Downs:
30 Small Skipper, 20 White-letter Hairstreak, 10 Ringlet, 6 Marbled White and 2 Large
Skipper.
Some interesting moths were trapped in Prittlewell on the 1st
with three Elephant Hawkmoths and an
Eyed Hawkmoth the most notable,
whilst in the daytime ten Heath
Fritillaries were found at their other local site, Hockley Woods. The first
returning Black-tailed Godwit were a
group of 39 in Benfleet Creek on the 1st, closely followed by the
first Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper, both at Vange Marsh on
the 2nd. Also at Vange Marsh on the 2nd a very
respectable local peak count of eight Little
Ringed Plover was made. One of the most interesting records of the month
was a ringtail Hen Harrier found
summering on Wallasea on the 2nd, and reportedly present since 24th
June which remained through to the 19th at least. Also on Wallasea
at this time were two Marsh Harriers
present from the 7th onwards plus 50 Skylarks, 30 Yellow Wagtails,
30 Corn Buntings and 300 Swifts. The first of two Clouded Yellows this month was on
Benfleet Downs on the 8th and six newly hatched Ruddy Duck were seen in the area. Last months Dark-bellied Brent Goose from Canvey was swimming off Chalkwell
seafront on the 12th. A Black
Tern claimed at Wat Tyler on the 14th was all the more
remarkable in that it was only seen through the webcam! The second Clouded Yellow of the year was recorded
at Paglesham on the 15th. Wader passage was more noticeable in the
second half of the month starting with the first returning Dunlin flock on Canvey Point on the 16th, three Spotted Redshank as Wat Tyler on the 20th
and peak autumn counts of 12 Green
Sandpiper and 34 Common Sandpiper
both at Vange Marsh. Four Black Terns
at Hole Haven Creek on the 22nd added variety but waders continued
to impress with 15 Whimbrel at Fleet
Head on the 23rd followed by another 14 on Two Tree Island on the 27th
along with 26 Greenshank. The second
Hummingbird Hawkmoth was in a garden
in Hadleigh on the 28th. A Curlew
Sandpiper was a good find in Potton Creek on the 29th. Gulls
were much in evidence on the 29th with a huge count of 144 Mediterranean Gulls counted along
Southend seafront, whilst at Paglesham Lagoon there was a respectable eight Yellow-legged Gulls and the first Caspian Gull of the autumn. Two pairs
of Common Tern were with hatched
young at Paglesham Lagoon on the 29th. The star of the summer, the Bottlenose Dolphin at Hole Haven
continued to entertain all month.
The first Gannets of the
autumn were three adults that cruised past Canvey Point on the 3rd,
a flock of 16 Common Scoter also
remained there all day. Only five other Gannets
were logged all month in the estuary. The following day, on the 4th,
the first Arctic Skua of a poor skua
passage made its way past Canvey Point. In total, just seven Arctic Skuas passed through this month,
with no records of the other skua species all month. The return of ‘Rossi’ the Ring-billed Gull at Westcliff seafront
was eagerly anticipated this autumn but to find him back three weeks earlier
than usual on the 4th was a surprise. This is now the eighth winter
he has honoured us with his presence. There was a small movement of Common Sandpipers between the 5th
and 7th with 12 at South Fambridge and 17 at Vange Marsh where three
Clouded Yellows were also counted on
the 7th. The first of nine Wheatear
this month was at Wakering Stairs on the 6th, other early birds were
at South Fambridge on the 8th, and Wallasea on the 11th.
Peak numbers of Mediterranean Gulls
were predictably lower than last month with 51 at Westcliff seafront on the 6th
being the best count. A seawatch off Canvey Point on the 7th yielded
good numbers of terns, including 125 Sandwich
Terns, 150 Common Terns, 5 Arctic Terns, and 15 Black Terns with a Little Gull also keeping company. A Curlew Sandpiper was taking advantage of the newly created habitat
at Wallasea on the 11th. A local record count of 19 Yellow-legged Gulls was made at
Paglesham Lagoon on the 12th with four Caspian Gulls also present. There was a steady passage of Caspian Gulls this month with eleven
different individuals passing through Paglesham. Little Tern arrived off Canvey Point a little later than the other sterna with 50 arriving on the 12th
and ten Black Terns passed through
the next day as did nine Arctic Terns,
and a Porpoise was also present. At
Belfairs N.R. on the 13th one observer was lucky enough to find a White Admiral, and a Silver-washed Fritillary as well as the
expected Purple Hairstreaks. From
the 16th onwards Whinchat
were on the move with perhaps eight birds in the latter half of the month, all
at either Paglesham Lagoon or Benfleet Creek where six juvenile Stonechats were also counted on the 16th.
Two Stoat were an unusual record at South Fambridge on
the 19th. Five young Cetti’s
Warblers at Wat Tyler on the 20th were indicative of further
success there. As this species fortunes go from strength to strength, the Turtle Dove had a dismal showing with
no more than three birds counted at any site all summer, and the last birds of
the year being two at Paglesham Lagoon on the 20th. A family party
of four Hobby over Hadleigh Downs on
the 25th were believed to have bred locally. A Curlew Sandpiper was on the tideline at Southchurch on the 26th
when a Weasel was spotted at
Benfleet Creek. Continuing with mammals, a Muntjac
at Woodside Park, Thundersley on the 27th was the first site record.
Two Spotted Flycatchers in Gunners
Park on the 27th were the first passage birds. Good numbers of Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen this
month with 12 recorded, the majority of which were seen between the 19th
and 28th. A Common Buzzard
passed over Belfairs on the 30th.
A sprinkling of Hummingbird
Hawkmoths remained following the influx over the last two weeks with
sightings on 2nd at Rayleigh, 3rd in Leigh, 7th
in Thorpe Bay and 11th in Thundersley. Wheatear peaked at a paltry three on Wallasea on the 2nd
with a total of 16 passing through the recording area during September. Grey Wagtails were more noticeable from
the 3rd onwards with 1-3 at several suburban sites. A Spotted Redshank was seen at Wakering
Stairs on the 3rd with another along the Roach from the 6th
to the 8th. Four Little
Stints at Wallasea on the 3rd were the only ones recorded all
month with two remaining to the 5th. A peak autumn count of 31 Greenshank was made on Two Tree Island
on the 5th with five Whinchats
on Canvey the same day also representing a peak autumn count. A respectable
total of 15 passed through the recording area this month. An Osprey eating a fish at Shoebury East
Beach on the 5th was an exciting find but soon departed and may
conceivably have been the lingering bird on Sheppey. A Spotted Flycatcher at Thundersley on the 5th was one of
just three passage birds recorded in the area this month, with no Pied Flycatchers or Black Redstarts reported at all this
year and only one Redstart all year.
As the fortunes of some species decline, so others improve as demonstrated by a
huge count of 120 Little Egrets
along the Roach on the 6th and 97 on Two Tree Island on the 9th.
Curlew Sandpipers put on a
reasonable showing from the 6th to the 16th when small
parties of juveniles passed through at three coastal sites including seven
along the Roach on the 6th. Marsh
Harrier passage was modest with three on the 6th in the vicinity
of the Roach the only multiple count, a Merlin
was also logged and was a good autumn record. Arguably the best record from the
backwaters was two Porpoise that
remained in the Crouch off Wallasea from the 6th to the 8th.
Two Swifts over central Southend on
the 7th were surprisingly the last of the year, whereas six Fieldfare reported over Thundersley the
same day were incredibly early. An estimated 50 Yellow Wagtails were counted flying to roost on Potton Island on
the 7th, the largest concentration of the year. A passage Short-eared Owl was mobbed as it flew
south over the estuary at Gunners Park on the 8th. An Auk that flew upriver past Canvey the
same day may have been the Guillemot
that was subsequently seen in the Crouch on the 11th. Interestingly
the summering Hen Harrier on
Wallasea was claimed again on the 8th although this record could
even have been a different bird on passage. A small movement of seabirds
occurred on the 9th with nine Arctic
Skuas passing down the coast, whilst a Black-throated
Diver past Canvey was certainly less expected. Large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit were present around
Two Tree Island from the 10th onwards when 2,000 were estimated
rising to 3,210 on the 20th. A Bar-headed
Goose, which had previously been on Wallasea, took up temporary residence
on Paglesham Lagoon from the 11th and consorted with the Canada Goose flock, which was counted
at 670. A Common Buzzard was
reported over Hadleigh C.P. on the 11th. Somewhat surprisingly, last
weeks Osprey was reportedly fishing
off Shoebury East Beach again on the 12th. At Canvey on the 12th,
three Clouded Yellows were the best
count of the month in which a total of eight were logged in the area. The first
returning Dark-bellied Brent Geese
were a flock of 24 birds seen flying south past Shoebury East Beach on the 13th.
Two Kingfishers performed well in
the weir pool at Battlesbridge on the evening of the 14th. Two Porpoise, possibly the river Crouch
duo, were feeding along the tiderace off Canvey seafront early on the 15th.
Favourable conditions on the 16th saw 27 Gannets, 40 Common Scoter,
six Arctic Skua and seven Great Skua past Canvey Point. Also on
the 16th a Ring-necked
Parakeet flew over Vicarage Hill, Benfleet with possibly the same bird over
Southchurch Park five days later. By the 23rd, the Dark-bellied Brent Goose flock at Two
Tree Island had already reached three figures with 250 present. A Convolvulus Hawkmoth was an impressive
find in a moth trap at Prittlewell on the morning of the 25th. Seven
Bearded Reedlings buzzing over the
reedbed at Wat Tyler on the 30th was the highest count for several
months.
Last months Bar-headed Goose
was still at Paglesham lagoon on the 1st. Conditions looked
promising at Canvey seafront on the 6th where a surprisingly good
number of terns were still present for the time of year, with 15 Sandwich Terns, 18 Common Terns, 5 Arctic Terns,
and the last three Black Terns of
the season. Also present were two Guillemot
and an Eider these having become
extremely scarce in recent years. Three Whinchat
reported on Hadleigh Marshes on the 8th were the last of the year,
nine Corn Buntings were also counted.
A Little Stint was claimed on Two
Tree Island on the 10th with another coincidentally the same day on
the new habitat at Wallasea where two Merlin
could also be found. The first Redwing
were a flock of twenty flying in to Coombe Wood on the morning of the 12th.
The Thames at Canvey was well watched from the 13th to the 15th
during which time there was a good passage of Gannets with 33 on the 13th, 127 on the 14th,
and 87 on the 15th. Skuas were also noted over the three days with
three Arctic Skua on the 13th
surprisingly representing the highest count of the month, a respectable 13 Great Skuas on the 14th, and
the first two Pomarine Skuas of the
season on the 15th. Other interesting records at Canvey included two
Scaup on the 13th and two
Little Gulls on the 15th.
The last Hobby of the year flew over
the Crouch on the 15th and the last House Martins were three over Southend the same day. The second Lesser Redpoll of the year was at
Canvey West End on the 16th where a good count of five Clouded Yellows was also made. Two Tree
Island hosted six Greenshank and an
impressive 89 Little Egrets on the
16th whereas Wat Tyler C.P. hosted five Cetti’s Warblers and five Spotted
Redshank which were captured on the webcam. During the RSPB Brent Goose
watch at Leigh on the 17th, a Black
Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose
were claimed amongst the 6,000 Dark-bellied
Brent Geese. Two pioneering Bearded
Reedlings on Hadleigh Marshes on the 21st were noteworthy. Ruff have been scarce this year so it
was pleasing to find 26 at Fleet Head on the 21st whilst nearby at
Wakering Stairs a Pomarine Skua flew
by. Some interesting observations were made on the 24th starting
with the first Red-throated Diver of
the winter at Canvey Point, whilst the same observer witnessed a Short-eared Owl coming in off the sea.
Also at Canvey Point a Merlin could
be found harassing the waders for the next two days and 33 Pintail flew upriver. Along the seawall, the last Wheatear of the autumn was found and
the final three Swallows of the year
were across the creek on Two Tree Island. Canvey seafront hit the jackpot on
the 25th with the best seawatching day of the year. Records included
a Manx Shearwater, surprisingly the
only shearwater of the year, 43 Common
Scoter, all four skua species including six Pomarine Skuas and the only Long-tailed
Skua of the year, an impressive 147 Kittiwake
and a lingering Little Auk. A Woodcock in Thundersley on the 27th
was the first in the recording area since the spring. On the 28th,
two Caspian Gulls were found at
Barling as was a flock of 30 Corn
Bunting.
The first week of the month was highly productive, largely dominated by
good records from the Thames. Early morning on the 2nd saw two Guillemot, a Black-throated Diver, an Arctic
Skua, a Gannet and an impressive
16 Little Auks all off Canvey. Large
numbers of Redwing also arrived
en-masse early on the 2nd with probably several hundred passing
through across the area. On the 3rd, a Little Auk was found swimming in the Crouch at Wallasea and a Harris’ Hawk complete with jesses was
being mobbed by corvids on Canvey. Another Little
Auk was close inshore off Canvey Point on the 4th with a Gannet also there. Further down river
on the Pier, two Black-throated Divers
and a Guillemot were on the sea
along with a roosting Purple Sandpiper
and 22 Mediterranean Gulls on the
Pier structure. Meanwhile, Paglesham Lagoon produced a first-winter Glaucous Gull, two Caspian Gulls and a Black
Swan. A Common Buzzard flew
north over Wat Tyler whilst two Greenshank
resided on the scrape through to the 6th. A Snow Bunting on the seawall at South Fambridge on the 4th
remained to the 5th mirroring a similar find last November when
three were present. The last Clouded
Yellow was flying around Canvey Point on the 5th and the final Little Auk of the influx was off the
Pier on the 6th. A Barn Owl
flew from Wat Tyler towards Vange Marsh at dusk on the 6th. The next
day, the two Black-throated Divers
were seen again off the Pier. A Woodcock
flew over Rochford early on the 10th when the female Marsh Harrier was hunting again over
Wat Tyler. Events quietened down significantly after the 10th with
little to report. The 12th produced a Greenshank on Two Tree Island and a Barn Owl on Wallasea. There was a small passage of Stonechat mid-month with two at Wat
Tyler, three at Wakering Stairs, two at Fleet Head and one in Gunners Park. A Peregrine performed well along Thorpe
Bay seafront terrorising the wader flock between the 16th and 24th.
A Tawny Owl visited a Thundersley
garden twice in the latter half of the month. A female Marsh Harrier and a good count of three Short-eared Owls were all patrolling the marshes and islands around
Fleet Head on the 19th. One or two Green Sandpipers were recorded throughout the month at South
Fambridge and Wat Tyler with the latter site reaching a peak of three on the 21st
where the Marsh Harrier showed again
on the 23rd and the 30th. A male Marsh Harrier was seen over Fleet Head on the 26th with
the Short-eared Owls maintaining
their numbers from last week with three still present. Nearby, a Merlin was reported from Haven Point. A
Little Owl was seen at a traditional
central Southend site on the 27th and two Woodcock were reported from Pound Wood, Thundersley on the 30th.
A Cetti’s Warbler singing from scrub beside
Benfleet station on the 1st was unusual in terms of location. One of
only two Woodcock records all month
came from Hadleigh Downs on the 2nd. Green Sandpiper seemed to be wintering in relatively high numbers
with six at Wat Tyler on the 2nd plus a further four on nearby Vange
Marsh and a single at Wakering Stairs. Very strong winds from the 5th
brought some interest to the Thames with 65 Kittiwake, three Little
Gulls and a Razorbill among the
highlights off Canvey where the next day a Merlin
was hunting around the Point where it was seen again on the 23rd. A
wing-tagged Red Kite over Two Tree
Island was a super record on the 5th with what was surely the same
bird over Benfleet shortly after. Leach’s
Petrels were being reported around the country so local birders persevered
with the Thames and were eventually rewarded with one close inshore by the Pier
on the 7th with a further two the same day off Canvey. Other
sightings of interest on the 7th were last month’s Black-throated Diver still at the Pier
and two Razorbill seen from Canvey. Bearded Reedlings are rarely recorded
away from Wat Tyler so to find three birds in the borrowdyke opposite Two Tree
Island on the 9th was good although not unprecedented. A Shag was reported off Canvey Point on
the 9th and a Red Admiral
flying around an Eastwood garden was notably late. A session on Wallasea on the
10th yielded some good birds with a male Hen Harrier representing the only record of this species in the
area this winter, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, and three Little Stints that appear to have
remained on the new wetlands since the autumn. 100 Skylarks across the network of nearby fields was an impressive
count these days. Three Greenshank
were found typically wintering on Two Tree Island from the 10th
onwards. Two male Blackcaps were
visiting a Thundersley garden on the 12th with one of them or
perhaps a different bird in another Thundersley garden between the 20th
and 22nd. Another session off Canvey on the 16th saw the Black-throated Divers and Razorbills still present although 21 Gannets were more unseasonal. The 17th
saw a Great Northern Diver seen from
a boat off Leigh that was surprisingly the only report this winter up to the
end of the year at least. The 17th also saw the welcome return of
our wintering Purple Sandpiper along
Southend seafront that remained into 2007. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was a pleasant find in Hockley Woods on
the 21st, whilst a male Siskin
on a garden feeder in Ashingdon on the 22nd was surprisingly the sole
record for the area since the spring. A contender for local bird of the year
was the Dartford Warbler found at
Vange Marsh on the 23rd that was seen most days through to 2007 with
a little patience and luck. At Paglesham Lagoon on the 23rd another Caspian Gull was found as were seven Yellow-legged Gulls, and at Two Tree
Island a Spotted Redshank was
present and remained throughout the month. Christmas Eve failed to deliver any
surprises although it did provide some good peak counts of local birds with 32 Red-throated Divers, two Black-throated Divers and 14 Guillemots off Canvey Point, and 18 Goldeneye and 105 Avocet along the Roach. Unsurprisingly, not much was recorded over
the next few days with 11 Guillemot
and a Gannet off the Pier and a Woodcock over Benfleet Creek the
highlights. A Slavonian Grebe was a
good find off Two Tree Island on the 29th and was seen again the
next day and on the 1st January. Paglesham Lagoon on the 30th
held 18 Pintail, another Caspian Gull and remarkably, an adult Ring-billed Gull that was a different
bird to ‘Rossi’. Eight Stonechat
on