JANUARY 2025

 

As is customary, the first few days of the month saw local birders out in force keen to start their local year lists. In a repeat of 2024, the best New Year’s Day find was a first winter Caspian Gull at Hullbridge. The Velvet Scoter remained on the River Roach at Barling on the 1st and 2nd only, while nearby Paglesham Lagoon held five Goldeneye, a measly winter high count at their only regular site. Also on the 1st nine Long-eared Owls remained at their winter roost site in the south and two Firecrest were in Hockley Woods. As expected, Wallasea Island received a good amount of coverage early in the month with a Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Goose both discovered lurking in the Brent Goose throng on the 1st, along with six Barnacle Geese. A Merlin and two each of Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl were noted there on the 2nd and remained all month. The two Chinese Water Deer from last month also reappeared on the 2nd and were seen sporadically throughout the winter. The 2nd also saw a Kittiwake pass Gunners Park, a Great Northern Diver off Southend Pier and a month high of just nine Red-throated Divers off Canvey Point, while back on dry land a Brambling was a good find in the set aside at Paglesham Lagoon. The regular female Red-crested Pochard was at Shoebury Park on the 3rd, before moving back to its usual location of Southchurch Park West. Wintering Water Pipits were represented during the first week of the month by singles at Bowers Marsh and West Canvey Marsh; another single at Vange Marsh on the 3rd was joined by four more by the month’s end. Three Ruff at Bowers Marsh on the 3rd were a decent winter count by recent standards and had increased to four by the 11th. Also at Bowers Marsh on the 3rd were 18 White-fronted Geese, while that evening six Woodcock were watched leaving their daytime roost at Canvey Wick. The 4th saw an impressive count of 55 Corn Bunting at the Airport Business Park and the sole Jack Snipe of the winter could still be found at Vange Marsh. Six Ring-necked Parakeets were at their favoured haunt of Thorpe Hall Golf Club on the 5th, while Red Kites passed over Ashingdon on the 4th and Shopland on the 6th. The female Merlin was present again at Bowers Marsh between the 7th and 20th and was probably responsible for sightings at nearby Vange Marsh and West Canvey during this time, while the only other record of this species away from Wallasea this winter was at Stambridge on the 8th. A Goosander on Wallasea on the 7th and a Red-breasted Merganser there the following day were presumably returning birds given their penchant for the same low tide saltwater pools as in previous years. The 7th on Wallasea also saw the reappearance of the Dartford Warbler, where it remained until the 21st, but could be extremely elusive. Another Dartford Warbler was a good find in Gunners Park on the 10th, but was similarly elusive and was last seen on the 17th. Two Hen Harriers were at Wakering on the 9th, the same day two Great White Egrets were at Bowers Marsh, with the only other record this month from Wallasea on the 16th. Two Woodcock were at Wat Tyler Country Park on the 10th and 11th, with a raucous Alexandrine Parakeet adding some exoticism to the proceedings at Gunners Park on the latter date. The following day two Firecrests could still be found at Shoebury, a Long-eared Owl was seen in the south and a Short-eared Owl was hunting Bowers Marsh at dusk. After dark at Bowers Marsh on the 12th provided the biggest surprise of the month when, courtesy of a thermal imager, a Bittern was found roosting in a large bramble bush! It was conceivably the same as the bird at the end of October 2024 and was seen again the following evening, but not subsequently. Also on the 13th at Bowers Marsh a Red Kite flew over, and 37 Barnacle Geese came into roost; their number had increased to 50 by the 29th and several were bearing white neck collars from the North Yorkshire feral population. A pair of Mandarin Ducks added a splash of colour to a private woodland pond near Daws Heath between the 14th and 18th and were the first local record for six years. Redpolls were recorded at three sites between the 12th and 26th, including four at Pound Wood on the 16th. Nearby at Tile Wood the two Firecrest could still be found in the extensive holly clumps, while the 16th also saw a Woodcock in Priory Park and a Spoonbill on Wallasea. The Great Northern Diver was present again off Southend Pier on the 16th and 17th. The wandering Black Brant turned up again at Wallasea on the 19th, where two Short-eared Owls could also still be found. The White-fronted Goose flock at Bowers Marsh had dwindled to five by the 29th, when the first two Ravens of the year flew over. Also on the 29th the Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser were still keeping company on Wallasea, and the month was seen out with two Short-eared Owls at Lower Raypits.

 

FEBRUARY 2025

 

The beginning of the month saw an apparent influx of Short-eared Owls with six at Fleet Head on the 1st and quartets on Wallasea on the 2nd and Lower Raypits on the 5th. Also at Fleet Head on the 1st were a Black Brant, four Great White Egrets and a Spoonbill while over on Wallasea the Goosander and Merlin were both present, where at least three Hen Harriers remained all month. Finally on the 1st Vange Marsh played host to three Water Pipits and a Jack Snipe, which was present until the 6th only, and the wandering Merlin which put in a brief appearance. A Firecrest could still be found in Hockley Woods on the 2nd, the same day a Hen Harrier began a 16 day stay on Vange Wick. Away from Wallasea the roving male Hen Harrier popped up at Lower Raypits on the 5th and Wakering Stairs on the 9th. Seven White-fronted Geese on Blue House Farm on the 4th to the 6th were viewable with patience from South Fambridge. Two Ravens cronked their way over Rayleigh on the 5th with a single over West Canvey Marsh the following day, but the most unlikely sighting of the month concerned a migrant Long-eared Owl which was photographed on a Southend seafront pub roof on the 6th. A Merlin was at Paglesham Lagoon on the 9th along with just three Goldeneye; the last Goldeneye of the winter was seen there on the 16th. Three Gannets and two Kittiwakes were the highlight of a seawatching session at Canvey Point on the 10th, in what was the poorest first winter period out in the estuary for many years. The Ring-necked Parakeet flock at Thorpe Hall Golf Club had increased to nine by the 11th, and away from this favoured site singles were seen this month at Shoebury East Beach and Rayleigh. Scanning of the Brent Goose flocks at Fleet Head on the 15th revealed the presence of two Black Brants and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, the same day a large set aside field on the north side of Hockley revealed three Yellowhammers, 200 Linnets, 150 Chaffinches and 75 Corn Buntings. The 16th was a busy day, with a visit to Southend Pier producing a Shag, two Great Northern Divers and a winter high count of just ten Red-throated Divers, while along the coast the first three Common Scoters of the year were present off Wakering Stairs. A Woodcock was also flushed there, while two Redpoll were at nearby Wakering Common. Two Siskin passed over Rochford Golf Course, with single Red Kites doing likewise at Stambridge and Daws Heath. The wintering Water Pipit at West Canvey Marsh was last seen on the 17th with the final report from Vange four days later. New Short-eared Owls appeared at South Fambridge from the 17th to 26th and on Two Tree Island on the 19th. A Red-breasted Merganser took up station off Shoebury East Beach between the 19th and 22nd and nine White-fronted Geese visited Wallasea between the 20th to 22nd. Common Sandpiper is a scarce winterer locally, so one at Wat Tyler Country Park on the 21st was well received; other wintering waders during this period comprised six Spotted Redshanks, eight Greenshanks and five Green Sandpipers, while wintering warblers included 13 Blackcaps, all at garden feeders, and 10 Chiffchaffs. The 22nd saw single Woodcocks at Hawkwell and Canvey Wick, and a pair of Long-eared Owls on territory at a site in the south. The first butterfly of the year, predictably a Red Admiral, was on the wing in Hockley on the 24th while the following day a record breaking group of five Ravens overflew Wallasea Island. Garden feeders on the 25th played host to a Hawfinch in Thundersley and a Brambling in Canewdon. Bowers Marsh on the 27th was the place to be for anser aficionados with 24 White-fronted Geese and 64 Barnacle Geese vying for grazing rights amongst the resident Canadas and Greylags.

 

MARCH 2025

 

The month opened with the regular Red-crested Pochard back at its favoured location of Southchurch Park West after having bounced around the other parks in the south east of the area for the previous two months. Also on the 1st two Hen Harriers could still be found patrolling Wallasea Island, with the male regularly seen all month. Two Firecrests were still in Hockley Woods between the 1st and 6th, with a Brambling recorded twice there during the same period. Short-eared Owls were present at three sites on the 2nd, with Lower Raypits and Wallasea hosting three or four birds all month. Also at Lower Raypits on the 2nd was a flock of 90 Corn Buntings which contained an impressive nine Yellowhammers, and the first of 22 Red Kite sightings this month was made from South Fambridge. Two Great White Egrets were at Bowers Marsh on the 2nd with three or four others in the Wallasea / Potton / Fleet Head area during the month. White-fronted Geese were seen for the final time on the 3rd with 21 at Bowers Marsh, while the following day Barnacle Goose numbers peaked at 66; by the 9th only a single bird remained. Four Black-necked Grebes returned to their traditional site of Bowers Marsh on the 5th, but only two remained all month. Singles of Spoonbill and Raven were at Bowers Marsh on the 6th, with the same combination duplicated on Wallasea two days later. A Woodcock was seen at Wat Tyler C.P. on the 7th, while nearby the last of the winter roosting Long-eared Owls was present. Three Siskins passed over Gunners Park on the 8th, and the first Little Ringed Plover of the year arrived at Lower Raypits the following day. The 13th saw a Common Sandpiper in Benfleet Creek and a mightily impressive sight of 160 Corn Buntings at Lower Raypits which had attracted the unwanted attention of a Merlin. On the 15th a Gannet and Red-throated Diver, the last of a dreadful winter for seabirds, passed Southend Pier. Also on the 15th a single Woodcock was at West Canvey Marsh, with two at Wakering Stairs the following day, while the 17th produced a Common Scoter on the River Roach at Wallasea and two Siskins on a garden feeder in Canewdon. Early spring migration was now in full swing, starting with a Crane which flew over Wallasea on the 21st; this presumably also accounts for the belated report of one photographed on Potton Island ‘in late March’. While regular in autumn, Tree Pipit is a rare spring visitor so two present briefly at Bowers Marsh on the 23rd were a nice surprise. A Black Redstart on the 23rd was typical in timing, but at the highly unusual location of the end of Southend Pier, but one on Wallasea the same day was more normal in both regards. Two separate pairs of Ravens, at Wallasea and Wakering Stairs, were presumably part of the quintet from last month. The first Yellow Wagtail of the year was present on Wallasea on the 25th and showed some characteristics suggestive of the iberiae form ‘Spanish Wagtail’, while the four White Wagtails also present there were more classic in appearance, and the Chinese Water Deer were seen again. The first two Emperor Moths of the year were attracted to lure in Rochford on the 26th, the same day two Bramblings were present in a Canewdon garden, with one remaining the following day. As they moved off to cooler climes the first summer migrants began to trickle in with the first Swallow at Shoebury East Beach on the 26th, followed by three Sand Martins over Ashingdon and a Wheatear at Lower Raypits on the 29th. A Merlin was at Lower Raypits on the 29th, the same day a pair of Black-necked Grebes returned to a site in the south where they remained all spring. Four Little Ringed Plovers were now present at Lower Raypits on the 30th, and the month was seen out by an influx of Red Kites with nine well distributed sightings on the 30th and 31st; while some duplication cannot be discounted, a late March movement certainly ties in with previous years. The butterfly count rose to six with the addition of Small Tortoiseshell and Small White.

 

APRIL 2025

 

Two Spoonbills were still at Bowers Marsh on the 1st, the same day Ravens flew over Wat Tyler C.P. and South Fambridge. An early Nightingale was in song at Canvey Wick on the 2nd and heralded the start of the return of the common summer passerines over the following fortnight, albeit in low numbers due to the persistent north easterly wind. As a reminder winter wasn’t quite over, a White-fronted Goose dropped into Lower Raypits on the 4th, with a Short-eared Owl there the same day and another on Wallasea. The male Hen Harrier was also seen on Wallasea on the 4th, with a ringtail at West Canvey Marsh three days later. Five Redpoll flew over Benfleet on the 5th, with three Siskins over Wakering Stairs the following day. The 6th also saw the first of 11 sightings of Red Kite during the month. Bowers Marsh on the 9th held three each of Spoonbill and Black-necked Grebe, with the first Grasshopper Warbler of the year there two days later. A Black Redstart in a Westcliff garden on the 10th was a nice find, with the fourth and final bird of a good spring for this species on Wallasea on the 15th. In the meantime, a Long-eared Owl was seen in the south on the 11th and 12th with another site nearby holding two pairs. Two Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea off Gunners Park on the 11th, with a Siskin over Hadleigh Downs on the 11th and two more over Wakering Stairs on the 13th. A Wheatear in Gunners Park on the 12th was the first of just six this month. There continued to be plenty of Raven sightings in the Wallasea / Fleet Head area, with four on Wallasea on the 15th. A Grasshopper Warbler was a brief visitor to Two Tree Island on the 16th, with two Red-breasted Mergansers on Wallasea the same day. Just one bird was present on the 17th, when an Osprey and the male Hen Harrier were both seen there, but the highlight of the day was the two Cranes which flew over mid-afternoon before apparently spending the evening at Layer Marney. Interestingly a single Crane was seen flying south over Fleet Head on the 18th, the same day the first Hobby of the year flew over Canvey Wick. Any skua in spring is a rare treat, so a Great Skua past Gunners Park on the 18th was well received; five Sandwich Terns and six Arctic Terns also passed by. Also on the 18th a Glossy Ibis which flew from Rochford Golf Course was a big surprise, but less so the two Short-eared Owls still present on Wallasea the following day. A further Short-eared Owl could still be found scouring the rough grassland at Lower Raypits between the 22nd and 26th. An Arctic Skua and 28 Arctic Terns flew past Canvey Point on the 23rd, the same day the first Turtle Dove of the year pitched down in the unlikely location of Shoebury East Beach. Yellowhammers are becoming an increasingly scarce sight, so reports of duos at three sites towards the end of the month was encouraging. Just a single Great White Egret continued to tour the Bowers / West Canvey Marshes area, and an impressive 20 Nightingales were reported to be in song at Canvey Wick on the 27th. There was a small pulse of Grasshopper Warblers on the 27th and 28th with single birds at Wakering Stairs and Benfleet Creek, and two at West Canvey Marsh. The latter site was the place to be on the 28th when a Garganey and a Curlew Sandpiper, a very good spring record, were both present before a pair of Black-winged Stilts dropped in early afternoon. As is their wont they were typically very mobile, being seen at Vange Marsh on the evening of the 28th, Bowers Marsh the following morning before returning to West Canvey Marsh where they were present on and off until the 30th before disappearing. The warm weather towards the end of the month saw the first odonata on the wing on the 27th, as well as Green Hairstreak, Wall Brown and two early Brown Argus bringing the 2025 butterfly count to a healthy 17.

 

MAY 2025

 

The month opened with a pair of Garganey and a Grasshopper Warbler at West Canvey Marsh, while the two Black-necked Grebes nearby remained until the 11th. The 2nd saw the first Painted Lady of the year, one of four this month, at Belton Hills and the welcome return of a Turtle Dove to Wakering Stairs. The first three days of the month saw four well scattered Red Kite reports, while the 4th was to prove to be a red letter day. Two Fulmars, a very good record nowadays, passed Gunners Park along with the first two Sandwich Terns and five Arctic Terns of the year, and eight Razorbills – the latter species the first record since April 2024. Meanwhile, further upriver at Canvey Point an additional 42 Arctic Terns flew by. A Ring-necked Parakeet was also at Gunners Park, and a Wheatear at Wakering Stairs with two fortunate observers lucking into a brief Golden Oriole at the latter site. The 4th also saw the reappearance of the Black-winged Stilt pair at Bowers Marsh where they remained until the 16th only. Long-eared Owls were located at two sites in the south, with breeding confirmed at one site. As if that wasn’t all enough, the 4th had one last store in surprise when belated news was received concerning an Ortolan Bunting, a first for the recording area, photographed at a Southend garden birdbath early that morning. Further seawatching reports were received from Canvey Point on the 5th with 25 Razorbills, two Guillemots, four Gannets and 28 Kittiwakes all recorded. A Short-eared Owl was still enjoying Lower Raypits on the 8th, when two Yellowhammers were also present; Yellowhammers were seen at four further sites this month. The drake Garganey was still at West Canvey Marsh on the 9th before relocating to Bowers Marsh on the 11th, where a single Black-necked Grebe and five Spoonbills were also present. A Curlew Sandpiper was a good spring find on Wallasea on the 10th and was keeping company with a Spotted Redshank. Four Common Sandpipers were also there, with four further local records over the following week. An Osprey was watched from Hullbridge moving west over Marsh Farm on the 11th. A report of a pair of Turtle Doves near Canewdon on the 11th presumably accounted for the pair at Lower Raypits two days later. The 14th saw the female Red-crested Pochard still at Southchurch Park West, a Red Kite over Canvey, a Razorbill past Canvey Point and the first Scarce Chaser of the year at Doggetts Pits, their only local site. Two Gannets flew past Canvey Point on the 15th. A Wheatear was on Wallasea Island on the 16th while up to three Black-necked Grebes were at Bowers Marsh between the 16th and the 28th. The 19th saw three Spoonbills on Wallasea, Red Kite and Raven over Stambridge and single Spotted Flycatchers, a scarce spring migrant, in Gunners Park and a Rayleigh garden. The 20th saw an unconfirmed report of five Turtle Doves at a private site near Canewdon. A single Red Kite flew over Fossetts Farm on the 24th, while next day the first four Heath Fritillaries of the year were on the wing in Hockley Woods. The 30th saw a female Garganey at West Canvey Marsh, and the month was seen out with two broods of Stonechat along Benfleet Creek and three Turtle Doves at Wakering Stairs on the 31st.

 

JUNE 2025

 

The last Grasshopper Warbler sighting of the spring was at Bowers Marsh on the 2nd, while the same day Doggetts Pits held three Scarce Chasers. Bowers Marsh also held a Spoonbill on the 4th, while three Brent Geese at Wakering Stairs had apparently decided against a return migration. The next week was tinged with excitement and frustration in equal measure; firstly a Roseate Tern was photographed on Wallasea Island on the 4th, but was only present for twenty minutes. On the 8th two Red-necked Phalaropes pitched down at Bowers Marsh, but were equally fleeting in their appearance. Finally, one lucky observer was treated to a fly past of a White-tailed Eagle at Barling on the 10th. Despite satellite tagging data from the south coast reintroduction programme proving birds had passed through the area previously, this was the first to have actually been seen, although was presumably derived from the same scheme. Other sightings in this period included five Cattle Egrets at Wat Tyler, a Spoonbill on Wallasea and the first 13 White-legged Damselflies of the year, at Edwards Hall Park, all on the 7th. Odonata stole the headlines on the 13th with probably the earliest ever UK record of Willow Emerald Damselfly at South Fambridge, but even better were the three Norfolk Hawkers at Doggetts Pits; with only three previous local records hopes were high that this was the much anticipated colonisation attempt. The first White Admiral was on the wing in Belfairs on the 14th, but much more surprising was the Bittern at Bowers Marsh; conceivably the bird present since October 2024, but an unprecedented midsummer record nonetheless. There was a noticeable passage of Red Kites between the 15th and 19th with 14 sightings including four together out of a total of seven which flew over Leigh on the 15th. White-legged Damselfly numbers at Edwards Hall Park reached a peak of 51 on the 16th, the same day the first Hummingbird Hawk Moth of the year was at South Fambridge. Two Brent Geese were on Wallasea Island on the 18th, with the Norfolk Hawker count at Doggetts Pits on the 19th reaching an astonishing ten. Some warmer weather towards the end of the month saw Silver-washed Fritillaries at five sites on the 21st, including four at the unlikely location of Magnolia NR in Ashingdon, and three Southern Emerald Damselflies at their usual location on Canvey Island on the 22nd. A Red Kite flew over Bournes Green on the 21st with two Ravens over Rochford the following day, and two more at Bowers Marsh on the 25th. Return wader passage was underway on the 23rd with Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper all making their first appearance of the ‘autumn’ on this date. A Clouded Yellow at Benfleet Creek on the 25th was the first of the year, as was a Purple Emperor at Belfairs Wood on the 29th. A Lesser Emperor was at Doggetts Pits, also on the 29th, and as with all previous records of this species was only present briefly.

 

JULY 2025

 

A Painted Lady at Bowers Downs on the 4th was the first of four this month, whereas the Purple Emperor at Belfairs was the second and last sighting this year. Ten Spoonbills were at Bowers Marsh on the 10th along with another Lesser Emperor, but again it didn’t linger. Also on the 10th seven Nightingales were still in song at Canvey Wick, while nearby two pairs of Long-eared Owl were discovered. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling along Benfleet Creek on the 11th, the same day a month high of 14 Spotted Redshanks were at Vange Marsh. Two Ravens were seen regularly from the 13th at Bowers Marsh, an Arctic Tern was reported at Canvey Point on both the 15th and 17th, and a Great White Egret began a protracted stay at Bowers Marsh from the 16th. Five Norfolk Hawkers could still be found patrolling the margins at Doggetts Pits on the 17th, while the next day a Silver-washed Fritillary at the unusual location of a South Fambridge garden was the last of the year and from at least eight sites this month. The 20th was a busy day on Wallasea with a fine flock of ten Curlew Sandpipers joined by a brief Wood Sandpiper, and an Osprey which was hunting the river. Also on the 20th a Yellow-legged Gull was on Vange Marsh and a good count of nine Common Sandpipers was made at Wat Tyler. Clouded Yellow started to appear more widely from the 21st being noted at four sites to the month’s end. Three Spoonbill were on Wallasea on the 22nd, with seven at Bowers Marsh on the 24th increasing to 12 there by the 27th. Cattle Egret numbers also continued to climb with 17 at Wat Tyler on the 24th reaching 22 by the end of the month, and a further five were on Blue House Farm viewable from South Fambridge on the 28th. Another mini-pulse of Red Kites saw six individual sightings between the 25th and 31st. The seven Brent Geese at Wakering Stairs continued their summer sojourn on the 27th where yet another single-observer Lesser Emperor was recorded. Once a regular midsummer sight, Eiders are now noteworthy at any time of the year, so two off Gunners Park on the 27th and 28th were well received. The 28th also saw the Bittern reported again at Bowers Marsh.

 

AUGUST 2025

 

An early Wheatear was at Shoebury East Beach on the 1st, the same day a Red Kite drifted over Rawreth. Raven duos passed over Rawreth and South Fambridge on the 2nd, when a Garden Warbler was pulled from the mist nests on Two Tree Island. Four Ruddy Shelducks dropped into Gunners Park on the 2nd before turning up at West Canvey Marsh the following day; they commuted between there and Bowers Marsh until the 8th. Bowers Marsh on the 2nd also played host to a Great White Egret and 18 Spoonbills, which were present all month. Also on the 2nd a further 10 Spoonbills were on Wallasea along with the first of 10 Clouded Yellows this month. Another Lesser Emperor at Doggetts Pits on the 3rd was the fourth record this year and finally had the decency to remain long enough to be twitchable; it was seen again on the 6th. Cattle Egret numbers continued to rise with 36 present in the Wat Tyler roost on the 5th. A Garden Warbler was in Coombe Wood on the 5th and three Whinchat were at West Canvey Marsh, with another 13 well scattered records to the month’s end. A further two Ravens were at Bowers Marsh on the 6th and were present on and off all month. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were along their favoured stretch of the River Crouch at Hullbridge on the 9th. The first puff of north-easterly wind on the 11th saw the first seven Black Terns of the year pass Canvey Point. A Great White Egret on Wallasea on the 13th was the only one away from the South Essex Marshes complex, where there was a month high count of four from Bowers Marsh on the 15th. Fifteen Spoonbills at Bowers Marsh on the 14th interestingly included a Dutch-ringed bird. Cattle Egrets were enjoying their best ever year locally with a staggering 77 counted between Wat Tyler and Vange Wick on the 15th shattering the previous county high count. Their number quickly tailed away though, with only 20 remaining in the area by the end of the month. A Wheatear on Wallasea on the 15th was the second of just nine this month, while back at Canvey Point the following day a mediocre seawatch included a Great Skua, 10 Arctic Skuas, five Kittiwakes, 26 Black Terns and a Little Tern. Despite the easterly airflow seawatching failed to really get going during the following week and between the 17th and 23rd the highlights included 10 Gannets, a Common Scoter and eight Arctic Skuas off Gunners Park and a Gannet, nine Common Scoters, three Arctic Terns and a Guillemot past Canvey Point. Back on dry land on the 17th a Garganey was at Bowers Marsh and the first two Pied Flycatchers of the year were at Gunners Park. A mini-arrival of Hummingbird Hawk Moths on the 17th and 18th saw at least four locally. The 19th saw 12 Spoonbills still on Wallasea and a Little Stint begin a three day stay at Vange Marsh. Vange Marsh also played host to a Yellow-legged Gull and a month high count of six Spotted Redshanks on the 20th, while over at Hullbridge the regular Yellow-legged Gull was still present along with 10 Common Sandpipers. An Osprey was at Wallasea on the 21st with single Red Kites over Hockley on the 22nd and Bowers Marsh on the 23rd. Right on cue passerine migration began to ramp up on the 24th with a Garden Warbler on Two Tree Island and a Pied Flycatcher and Redstart at Wakering Stairs, with 12 Little Terns and a Gannet offshore at the latter site. Another Pied Flycatcher was at Barling Magna on the 25th with the first Spotted Flycatcher there on the 31st. The only two Tree Pipits of the autumn overflew Gunners Park on the 30th where a Garden Warbler was also present until the 31st. Also on the 31st Osprey, two Curlew Sandpipers and two Gannets were all at Wakering Stairs.

 

SEPTEMBER 2025

 

Six Curlew Sandpipers on Wallasea on the 1st kicked off a very busy first week of the month. The next day a Garden Warbler was in Chalkwell Park while Bowers Marsh hosted four Whinchats and 18 Spoonbills, with an Osprey flying south. Thirteen Arctic Skuas flew past Canvey Point on the 3rd. Between the 4th and 6th single Spotted Flycatchers were reported at Wat Tyler, Canvey Wick and Gunners Park, with two in Coombe Wood on the 5th, and a Pied Flycatcher was in Gunners Park on the 6th. Remarkably the Bittern at Bowers Marsh was seen again on the 5th, where just two Cattle Egrets now remained. Other Cattle Egrets during the first week of the month were represented by two at South Fambridge and one on Wallasea. Four Great White Egrets were at Bowers Marsh on the 5th with two more on Wallasea. Curlew Sandpipers put in a good showing with one on Wallasea between the 5th and 9th, rising to four on the 7th and 8th, singles at Potton Creek and Wakering Stairs on the 6th, two at Wakering Stairs on the 7th and one at Vange Marsh on the 9th. Little Stints were also present on Wallasea from the 5th to the 10th with a maximum of five on the 7th. With an ongoing nationwide influx of Glossy Ibis it was perhaps not too surprising to receive a report of one flying east over Rochford on the 6th; conceivably this was the same bird which turned up on Wallasea on the 7th and remained into October. A quiet day in Gunners Park on the 6th was brightened up by a Redstart which was pulled out of the mist nets. Ospreys were also on the move on the 6th with birds at Wakering Stairs, Two Tree Island and over Coombe Wood. Seawatching from Canvey Point on the 6th produced 25 Arctic Skuas and a Long-tailed Skua, with the 7th seeing 30 Arctic Terns, five Black Terns, a Little Tern, a Guillemot and best of all ten Glossy Ibises which included a flock of nine drifting high along the north Kent coast. A remarkable count of 34 Little Terns was made at Wakering Stairs on the 6th, the largest local count since 2019, with just six present the next day. The Yellow-legged Gull was still at Hullbridge on the 7th, the same day an Osprey took up station on Wallasea until the 16th and a Glossy Ibis was found at Bowers Marsh where it remained on and off into October. A Wryneck was an excellent find on Wallasea on the 8th, but sadly didn’t hang around. Also on the 8th four Wheatears were at Barton Hall Creek; just three other singles were seen this month. Whinchats fared a little better with birds at five sites including an impressive 11 on Wallasea on the 9th. Two White Wagtails were at Vange Marsh on the 9th with 10 Clouded Yellows on Wallasea on the 10th. Three Black Terns passed Canvey Point on the 11th, the Chinese Water Deer was on Wallasea again on the 12th, six Curlew Sandpipers were at Vange Marsh on the 12th and 13th. The 14th saw a Manx Shearwater and seven Black Terns past Canvey Point, Osprey at Shoebury East Beach and a Grasshopper Warbler, an island first, on Wallasea. Single Ospreys passed over South Fambridge on the 17th and Paglesham Reach the next day. An elusive Redstart began a four day stay in Gunners Park on the 18th with two Spotted Flycatchers also there on the 18th and three there on the 20th. A further Spotted Flycatcher was at Barling Magna on the 20th and the first three Siskins of the autumn passed over Gunners Park the following day. A very productive seawatch from Gunners Park on the 21st produced four Manx Shearwaters, 200 Gannets, Long-tailed and eight Arctic Skuas, Sabine’s Gull and a Guillemot. The next day Canvey Point weighed in with two Manx Shearwaters, Long-tailed, 12 Arctic and two Great Skuas, a Little Gull and four Guillemots. Birds were still in the estuary on the 23rd with Canvey Point recording Pomarine, 12 Arctic and two Great Skuas and an Arctic Tern. Seven Arctic Skuas and a Little Gull flew past there on the 24th, with a Long-tailed Skua and 16 more Arctic Skuas, two Little Gulls and a Little Tern on the 25th, the same day eight Arctic Skuas were off Gunners Park. Back on dry land a Pink-footed Goose turned up at Bowers Marsh on the 23rd where it sought the company of the local Greylags and stayed well into 2026. Six Little Stints were on Wallasea on the 24th with an early Hen Harrier making the first appearance of the season there on the 25th. A Red-necked Phalarope at Bowers Marsh was an excellent find on the 27th; it could be elusive but was well appreciated during its twelve day stay. A Manx Shearwater and Shag were both at Shoebury East Beach on the 28th, with nine Redpoll over there the same day. Bowers Marsh on the 28th and 29th saw 25 Spoonbills, two Yellowhammers, four Great White Egrets and two Ravens. Two more Ravens were on Wallasea on the 28th, a Spotted Flycatcher was at Canvey Wick on the 29th and the regular Red-crested Pochard was again present at Southchurch Park West.

 

OCTOBER 2025

 

The Red-necked Phalarope remained at Bowers Marsh until the 8th, during which time eight Spoonbills were present, along with up to four Great White Egrets and the Glossy Ibis until the 4th. Observers there also turned up a Whinchat and a late Little Ringed Plover on the 2nd, two Redpoll on the 4th, Short-eared Owl on the 5th, Common Sandpiper and the first Fieldfare of the autumn on the 7th, with up to three Ravens on and off during the same period. The Glossy Ibis at Wallasea Island was also present from the 1st to the 8th while up to three Great White Egrets were seen throughout the month. Two Spoonbills were there on the 5th, with two Hen Harriers and an Osprey the following day. Away from these two sites the first week of the month was fairly quiet with the best of the rest including a Red-breasted Merganser off Canvey Point on the 4th, two Ravens over Two Tree Island on the 5th, Hummingbird Hawk Moth in Ashingdon and five Ring-necked Parakeets in Priory Park on the 7th. A seawatch from Gunners Park on the 9th yielded two Pomarine and four Arctic Skuas and 55 Kittiwake, while two Redpoll also flew over there. A Merlin was on Wallasea on the 10th, with a Cattle Egret and the Pink-footed Goose again at Bowers Marsh the following day. Four Siskins passed over Gunners Park on the 12th with two more on the 15th. A Purple Sandpiper was a surprise brief visitor to Canvey Point on the 13th, where 39 Common Scoter, five Arctic Skuas, two Arctic Terns, a Guillemot and a Short-eared Owl all flew past. A Brambling was at Stambridge on the 14th, with a Little Stint at Bowers Marsh the following day, and a Firecrest in an Ashingdon garden on the 16th. Also on the 16th a Pomarine Skua and a drake Eider were seen from Canvey Point. Away from the Thames the last Wheatear of the year was along Benfleet Creek on the 17th, a Black Redstart at Fleet Head on the 18th, Woodlark over Shoebury East Beach on the 19th and two Firecrests at Gunners Park on the 19th all added to the passerine interest. In a poor autumn for diurnal finch migration, apparently favourable conditions mid month produced just single Redpolls over Belton Hills on the 17th and Wakering Common on the 19th, a Brambling and Siskin over Westcliff seafront on the 18th, nine Siskins over Shoebury East Beach on the 19th and two more Siskins over Gunners Park on the 22nd. Wallasea on the 18th held onto a single Spoonbill, with the two Hen Harriers continuing to be seen with some regularity while a Cattle Egret popped up at Fleet Head the same day and two Spoonbills were at Bowers Marsh on the 19th. A Red-breasted Merganser was off Westcliff on the 18th and Gunners Park on the 19th. Four Common Scoters and an Arctic Skua also flew past Gunners Park on the 19th with a Razorbill and Arctic Tern both loitering off the seawall there. A moribund Great Skua was on the seawall at Wakering Stairs on the 19th. Two Red-breasted Mergansers and an Arctic Tern flew past Canvey Point on the 20th. The 22nd saw 10 Red-throated Divers off Gunners Park, the only double figure count of the autumn, and the last Sandwich Tern of the year. The Arctic Tern was again off Canvey Point on the 23rd with two Common Terns also reported there. A Black Redstart was on Wallasea on the 23rd and a Red Kite drifted over Bowers Marsh on the 24th. Two Shags were on the Shoebury East Beach boom on the 25th with a month high count of just four Gannets past there. A Merlin was at Fleet Head on the 25th and two Long-eared Owls were watched leaving their winter roost at a site in the south west in the evening. The 26th saw an influx of Whooper Swans with family parties of six birds at Bowers Marsh and four north over Gunners Park. A Jack Snipe was at Bowers Marsh on the 27th while the next day a confiding Long-tailed Duck began a five day stay on Wallasea Island. Firecrests were seemingly back for the winter on the 28th with a single at Pound Wood and a duo in nearby Tile Wood. Wallasea held a Short-eared Owl and Raven on the 30th, with three Red-breasted Mergansers past Canvey Point the same day. The month was seen out at Gunners Park with 10 Siskin over there on the 30th and a single Redpoll on the 31st.

 

NOVEMBER 2025

 

The month opened with the surprise reappearance of the Bowers Marsh Glossy Ibis and a Crossbill, the only one of the year, over Gunners Park. Ten Siskin and two Redpoll flew over Rochford Golf Course on the 2nd. The Wallasea Long-tailed Duck remained until the 3rd when a Red-breasted Goose of questionable provenance was also first seen. During the first week of the month Wallasea also hosted two Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owl, two Ravens, single Spoonbill and Great White Egret, and the Chinese Water Deer. Another Great White Egret was at Bowers Marsh on the 3rd, when the Pink-footed Goose was also still present. A Grey Phalarope bobbing around just offshore at Canvey Point on the 4th was an excellent find and lingered for a few hours. A Water Pipit was at Bowers Marsh on the 5th, the same day a Guillemot took up station at the end of Southend Pier. A Scaup was a good find at Bowers Marsh on the 7th and remained until the 24th. Also at Bowers Marsh two Ravens were seen on the 7th and 9th with two White-fronted Geese there on the 8th, the same day that five Ring-necked Parakeets flew over Hadleigh Downs. A brief spell of warmth followed which saw the final butterflies and odonata of the year, with four Clouded Yellows on Wallasea on the 8th and six Common Darter dragonflies at Bowers Marsh on the 9th. The 9th also saw two Whooper Swans on Wallasea, along with duos of Spoonbill and Great White Egret, a Brambling flew over South Benfleet and single Great White Egret, Little Stint and Arctic Tern were all reported from Two Tree Island. A Hoopoe was a most unexpected find at West Canvey Marsh on the 12th; while it was reported through to the 14th it eluded almost all would be admirers. Black-necked Grebes are very scarce on the Thames, so a group of five off Southend Pier on the 13th was exceptional, less so the Black Redstart also present there albeit still a good record. A Crane flew south over Bowers Marsh on the 13th and was presumably the same which had passed over Maldon some 70 minutes earlier.  The final Arctic Skua of the year flew past Canvey Seafront on the 14th, the same day a Jack Snipe was at West Canvey Marsh, a Firecrest was in Gunners Park on the 15th, and the following day a Merlin was on Wallasea Island. A change in the wind direction on the 16th saw a classic late autumn seawatch from Canvey Point with all day observations recording Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, 120 Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Goosander, two Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Little Gull, 50 Kittiwakes, two Guillemots, Razorbill and the only Little Auk of the year. Gunners Park also weighed in on the action with a Purple Sandpiper and ten Gannets, while the two Slavonian and seven Black-necked Grebes there meant that this was probably the first time ever all five regular grebes had been recorded on the same day. Also on the 16th two Whooper Swans and just three Goldeneye could be found at Paglesham Lagoon, where an interesting Aythya duck, possibly a Scaup, or more likely a hybrid, was first seen; it remained into 2026. Things were much quieter over the following days with a Shag off Gunners Park and five Red-throated Divers and two Red-breasted Mergansers past Canvey Point on the 17th, a Razorbill there on the 18th, and 200 Common Scoters on the 19th. One or two Great Northern Divers were present between Canvey and Gunners Park from the 19th to the 22nd, a Slavonian Grebe was off Gunners Park between the 21st and 26th, an Eider off Canvey Point on the 20th and a month high count of nine Red-throated Divers was made from Southend Pier on the 22nd. Away from the river the West Canvey Marsh Barnacle Goose flock had swelled to 81 and two Ravens flew over, while the next day four White-fronted Geese were present there. The Red-breasted Goose reappeared on Wallasea on the 19th where it remained until the 25th feeding with either the Brent or Canada Geese. Three Great White Egrets and a Water Pipit were at Bowers Marsh on the 20th, when the Short-eared Owl was still on Wallasea. The 20th also threw up some garden surprises with a Siskin in Canewdon, eight Ring-necked Parakeets in Thundersley and a Woodcock in Hockley. The regular Red-crested Pochard could still be found at Southchurch Park West on the 22nd, while the following day Wallasea hosted three Hen Harriers and two Little Stints. The 24th saw a Razorbill and an unprecedented nine Black-necked Grebes off Gunners Park, while the following day the Shag was seen for the final time this year. A Black-throated Diver was a good find along the River Crouch at South Fambridge on the 25th and 26th, three Woodcock were at Canvey Wick on the 29th and a Long-eared Owl was at a regular site in the south west. The 30th saw a winter high count of just four Goldeneye at Paglesham Lagoon, their only regular site, a Red-breasted Merganser on the River Roach there and a Short-eared Owl on Wallasea.

 

DECEMBER 2025

 

The 2nd saw three Great White Egrets at Bowers Marsh and one on Wallasea, with the Pink-footed Goose remaining at West Canvey Marsh. A Bittern was an unexpected find at Wat Tyler Country Park on the 3rd, unfortunately its visit was all too brief. Also on the 3rd a Dartford Warbler was found in Gunners Park, where six Black-necked Grebes could still be found offshore. Two each of Spoonbill and Hen Harrier could be found on Wallasea on the 5th, when there were now eight White-fronted Geese at West Canvey Marsh. The 6th saw another Hen Harrier, this time at Wakering Stairs, with 13 Common Scoter past there and a Great Northern Diver just along the coast at Gunners Park. Wintering stuff had settled down by mid month and resulted in the finding of a Blackcap in Ashingdon and two Ruff at Bowers Marsh on the 10th and a Merlin on Wallasea on the 11th. Two Firecrests were ringed in Gunners Park on the 13th with a further bird at Thundersley Glen the same day. The first 19 Barnacle Geese of the season appeared on Wallasea on the 14th, along with three Little Stint, a good winter record. Also on the 14th two Yellowhammer were at Bowers Marsh, and a Woodcock flew over South Fambridge the following day. A Short-eared Owl was on Wallasea on the 16th, where a Chinese Water Deer reappeared. The scarcer wintering waders were in short supply this year, albeit Vange Marsh played host to three Spotted Redshanks and singles of Greenshank and Green Sandpiper on the 18th. A Black Redstart spent a couple of hours along the seawall at Leigh-on-Sea on the 19th, curiously it was never seen again. A Common Scoter and Merlin were at Barling on the 20th, while five Woodcock were watched leaving their daytime roost at Canvey Wick on the 21st. Two Black-necked Grebes remained off Gunners Park between the 21st and 24th, during which time the Pink-footed Goose remained at Bowers Marsh and a Yellowhammer was at South Fambridge. Two first two Water Pipits of the winter were at Vange Marsh on the 22nd, a Little Gull and four Red-throated Divers were off Gunners Park on the 24th, and single Red Kites were seen over South Fambridge on the 25th and 26th and Rochford on the 26th. A Firecrest was still in Gunners Park on the 26th when six White-fronted Geese could be seen from South Fambridge; their number had increased to 12 the following day. Seawatching was hard going from Canvey Point on the 27th with just four Red-throated Divers, two Red-breasted Mergansers and five Kittiwake to show for the efforts, although an Eider was present off Southend Pier. Wallasea was the place to be on the 28th with two Spoonbill, Merlin, two each of Little Stint and Spotted Redshank and four Ruff all present. Wintering warblers were in short supply this month with just three Blackcaps, predictably all at garden feeders, and one Chiffchaff noted towards the end of the month. The White-fronted Goose flock at Bowers Marsh had increased to 14 by the 29th, two Siskins flew over Rochford Golf Club on the 30th and the year trundled to a gentle close with two Firecrests in Hockley Woods and 58 Barnacle Geese at West Canvey Marsh on the 31st.

 

While 2025 yielded a poorer than average 206 species and there was no standout bird of the year, there were still some excellent records with the highlights being two Bitterns, a record number of Glossy Ibises, White-tailed Eagle, four Cranes, two Black-winged Stilts, three Red-necked Phalaropes, Grey Phalarope, four Long-tailed Skuas, Sabine’s Gull, Roseate Tern, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Woodlark, two Dartford Warblers, Golden Oriole, Hawfinch and Ortolan Bunting. Non-avian highlights included four Lesser Emperors and the long-awaited colonisation of Norfolk Hawker.