JANUARY 2026

As is customary, the first few days of the month saw local birders out in force keen to start their local year lists. Resident fixtures on the 1^st included the Red-crested Pochard at Southchurch Park West and three Ring-necked Parakeets at Thorpe Hall Golf Club. The Scaup-like hybrid remained on Paglesham Lagoon which held just three Goldeneye, while a Red-breasted Merganser spent three days on the River Roach there. Wintering Firecrests were well represented with three in Hockley Woods and singles at Canvey Wick, Shoebury and Tile Wood. As expected, Wallasea Island received a good amount of coverage early in the month with three Spoonbills, six White-fronted Geese, 17 Barnacle Geese, three Hen Harriers, Merlin, Little Stint and two Ravens all noted. Bowers Marsh was similarly well watched with the highlights being the continuing Pink-footed Goose, 14 White-fronted Geese, Merlin and two Ravens. Short-eared Owls were in short supply this winter period, so one at Lower Raypits on the 1^st was well received. Finally on the 1^st just two Long-eared Owls remained at their winter roost in the south and six Woodcock were counted leaving their daytime roost on Canvey Wick. A Red Kite passed over Westcliff on the 2^nd. Single Water Pipits were found at Vange Marsh and West Canvey Marsh on the 3^rd when a Great White Egret dropped into the latter site, and 90 Barnacle Geese were present. The 4^th saw a Black-throated Diver, presumably the bird from November, drift past South Fambridge with a Merlin also there, a Guillemot off Wakering Stairs, four Siskins in Pound Wood and, best of all, four Bewick’s Swans which put in a brief appearance on Wallasea Island. One or two Red Kites were seen from South Fambridge all month. The itinerant Shag was off Gunners Park on the 5^th where the Red-crested Pochard was present, having been frozen out of its usual haunts. Gunners Park was the place to be on the 6^th with those two species being joined by two Great Northern Divers, a Black-throated Diver, two Black-necked Grebes, two Razorbills and two Kittiwakes. Two Water Pipits were at West Canvey Marsh on the 6^th. Single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers remained off Gunners Park on the 7^th, and an Eider was off Southend Pier. Also on the 7^th three Little Stints were on Wallasea where the Red-breasted Goose of suspect origin made a reappearance having now joined up with Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Two Common Scoters were off Gunners Park on the 9^th. The Red-breasted Goose turned up at Fleet Head on the 10^th and the 14^th and then visited Wallasea and Paglesham Eastend intermittently to the 25^th before moving to the Dengie; during this time increased scrutiny of the Brent Goose flocks uncovered at least three Black Brants and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese. The 10^th also saw a count of ten Woodcock at Canvey Wick while a nearby site held two pairs of Long-eared Owl. The cold weather no doubt contributed to six other sightings of Woodcocks at six sites during the next couple of weeks. The White-fronted Goose flock at Bowers Marsh had increased to 38 by the 11^th when an impressive flock of 20 Yellowhammers was found along the River Crouch at Battlesbridge. A Hen Harrier could be found patrolling the south side of the Crouch between South Fambridge and Lower Raypits from the 14^th, when three Yellowhammers were at West Canvey Marsh and a White-fronted Goose was at Fleet Head. White-fronted Geese numbers at Bowers Marsh continued to rise and had reached 61 on the 17^th. A Great Northern Diver was off Southend Pier on the 16^th to the 18^th, when the Shag was also present along with an unprecedented winter count of 12 Black-necked Grebes. A Red-breasted Merganser and Short-eared Owl both began protracted stays on Wallasea from the 16^th, and another Short-eared Owl did likewise between South Fambridge and Lower Raypits. Two Great White Egrets came into roost at Wat Tyler on the 17^th. Merlins were seen at Fleet Head on the 17^th, Bowers Marsh on the 18^th and South Fambridge on the 22^nd. A Black-throated Diver, conceivably the bird from South Fambridge, was photographed on Wallasea on the 18^th where a Great White Egret was also present and 26 White-fronted Geese flew over. A Scaup was a good find on the Gunners Park lake between the 19^th and 26^th, as was a Brambling at Stambridge on the 21^st only, with the 22^nd seeing a Razorbill and Red-breasted Merganser pass by Canvey Point. The Red-crested Pochard was back at Southchurch Park West on the 24^th when the Scaup-like hybrid could still be found on Paglesham Lagoon along with a winter high count of a measly four Goldeneye. Also on the 24^th seawatching at Gunners Park produced a Little Gull, Guillemot, three Razorbills and a month-high count of just six Red-throated Divers. A Little Stint could still be found on Wallasea on the 24^th and 25^th when a Common Scoter was on the River Roach there. A Firecrest was in Gunners Park on the 25^th with a Gannet and Red-breasted Merganser past Canvey Point the following day, and five Yellowhammers at South Fambridge. The roving male Hen Harrier popped up again at Wallasea on the 28^th the same day there were now two Water Pipits at Vange Marsh. Bowers Marsh on the 28^th was the place to be for anser aficionados with 70 White-fronted Geese and 100 Barnacle Geese vying for grazing rights amongst the resident Canadas and Greylags. Another Firecrest was at Hadleigh Downs on the 30^th, and a very busy month was seen out on the 31^st by three Whooper Swans at Bowers Marsh, eight Ring-necked Parakeets over Westcliff and a Short-eared Owl at Wakering Stairs.

FEBRUARY 2026

The three Whooper Swans remained at Bowers Marsh on the 1^st before quickly relocating to Vange Marsh and then flying off high north. A Red Kite at Vange Marsh was the first of four this month away from South Fambridge, where they continued to be seen almost daily. A phenomenal count of 31 Woodcock was made at Canvey Wick on the 1^st when five Mealy Redpoll were also seen. Over at Gunners Park the Scaup, three Firecrests, including the two ringed in December, and 10 Black-necked Grebes all remained in situ. Most surprising, however, was the reappearance of the Dartford Warbler after an eight week hiatus; it was incredibly elusive and only seen a further three times briefly through to the 8^th. Little Gulls featured prominently between the 2^nd and 8^th with between one and four seen from Canvey Point or Gunners Park each day, and one on the River Crouch at South Fambridge. The 2^nd also saw eight Lesser Redpolls on Canvey Wick and a Red-crested Pochard drop into West Canvey Marsh. A Firecrest was found in Southchurch Park East on the 4^th, the same day Wallasea recorded the first butterfly of the year, a Peacock. The first Caspian Gull of the year was found in the early evening gloom off Old Leigh on the 5^th. The Pink-footed Goose was seen again at West Canvey Marsh on the 7^th, when a Hen Harrier was at Lower Raypits and five Kittiwakes and a Guillemot passed by Gunners Park. A Caspian Gull roosted at Shoebury East Beach in the evening of the 7^th and was replaced by a Yellow-legged Gull the following day. A Merlin and four Spoonbills were on Wallasea on the 8^th, where two days later nine Barnacle Geese turned up. The Canvey Wick Lesser Redpoll flock had decreased to seven on the 10^th. Seawatching on the 13^th and 14^th was hard going, but did produce the Shag on Southend Pier and two Gannets past Canvey Point on the 13^th, and 10 Red-throated Divers and a good winter count of 16 Little Gulls past Gunners Park on the 14^th. Back on dry land the Merlin was seen again on Wallasea on the 14^th, where a Short-eared Owl was again present and the Spoonbill numbers had increased to five, and the Red-crested Pochard was back at its favoured location of Southchurch Park West. The most interesting record of the day, however, was the two Ravens over Gunners Park having apparently crossed the river from Kent. The first Jack Snipe of the winter was at West Canvey Marsh with the only other record quickly following from Vange Marsh on the 17^th and 18^th. The 17^th saw the reappearance of the Bowers Marsh Merlin where Barnacle Goose numbers had now reached 100. A flock of 20 Siskins was found at Daws Heath with three Lesser Redpolls at nearby West Wood. Vange Marsh still held a Water Pipit, 11 Woodcocks could still be found on Canvey Wick, and another evening Caspian Gull was found, this time at Hole Haven Creek. A Guillemot was off Southend Pier on the 19^th where it was keeping company alongside the Shag. Gunners Park on the 19^th also held three Firecrests, the Shag and six Black-necked Grebes still offshore and the Scaup which was seen for the final time. A Hen Harrier was on Wallasea again on the 20^th, while the following day a mightily impressive 106 Corn Buntings were gathered at South Fambridge. A Red-breasted Merganser was again on the River Roach at Barling on the 23^rd and 24^th. Five Yellowhammers were at South Fambridge on the 24^th, the same day the presumably returning Goosander was seen on Wallasea for just the second time this winter. A Whimbrel on Wallasea on the 25^th was a very unusual winter record, less so the three Woodcock at Wakering Stairs that evening. A pair of Long-eared Owls was noted at a site in the south towards the end of the month and a Black Brant was at Lower Raypits on the 28^th. Wintering waders during this period comprised four Spotted Redshanks, nine Greenshanks and 11 Green Sandpipers, while wintering warblers included 9 Blackcaps, all bar one at garden feeders, and three Chiffchaffs.

MARCH 2026

The month opened with five Spoonbills, a White-fronted Goose, Hen Harrier and Merlin all on Wallasea, while two days later there were three Great White Egrets, both Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser and three Little Stints all present. A brief spell of warm weather between the 2^nd and 5^th saw the first Brimstones, Small Whites and Commas of the year on the wing. Also on the 2^nd two Black-necked Grebes returned to their traditional site of Bowers Marsh, with two Great White Egrets and 48 White-fronted Geese present there the next day. The first Cattle Egret of the year flew over north of Hockley on the 3^rd. The 5^th saw a Water Pipit at Bowers Marsh and the last Goldeneye of the winter at Paglesham Lagoon. Up to three each of Brambling and Yellowhammer could be found among the 150 strong Chaffinch flock of on the south side of Hockley Woods between the 5^th and 10^th. A Curlew Sandpiper was a good find on Wallasea on the 7^th. Canvey Wick the following day held eight Woodcock and four Redpoll, with one remaining until the 11^th. A Firecrest was in Hockley Woods on the 10^th, the same day an early Hummingbird Hawk Moth was in Ashingdon. There was a pulse of Red Kite sightings between the 11^th and 23^rd with 11 well distributed sightings; while some duplication cannot be discounted a March movement certainly ties in with previous years. The 15^th saw the first Siskin of the spring pass over Gunners Park. The first Emperor Moth of the year was attracted to lure in Rochford on the 19^th, the same day the first four Little Ringed Plovers arrived at Lower Raypits. Four Siskins on a Canewdon garden feeder on the 20^th were gone the following day, but had been upgraded to a Brambling which remained until the 22^nd. Three Red-throated Divers and a Guillemot were off Southend Pier on the 21^st. At West Canvey Marsh on the 22^nd 32 White-fronted Geese could still be found. Three Ravens overflew Rochford on the 26^th, while the apparently regular duos could still be found around the South Fambridge, Wallasea / Fleet Head and Bowers Marsh areas. In what was to be a very good spring for the species, seven Wheatear were at Bowers Marsh on the 26^th, with four more there on the 29^th when one was also on Wallasea. The first Sand Martin flew over Wallasea on the 28^th with the first Swallow a day later at Bowers Marsh, but the wintery feel couldn’t be shaken with the three Spoonbills, Merlin and two Little Stints still on Wallasea around this time, and the Pink-footed Goose which completed another month in residence at Bowers Marsh.

APRIL 2026 

Two Willow Warblers were in song in Gunners Park on the 1^st and heralded the start of the return of the common summer passerines over the following fortnight. The Water Pipit remained at Bowers Marsh to the 4^th, where there were also four Spoonbills and the Pink-footed Goose, which again remained all month. A Red Kite over Rochford on the 2^nd was the first of 14 records this month, and the last Hen Harrier of the winter flew past Wakering Tip. After a shocking spring passage last year Wheatears were enjoying their best spring for many years, with at least 60 birds passing through this month. As expected, Bowers Marsh had the lion’s share of the records and a high count of 11 on the 5^th. Nightingales were back on territory on Canvey Wick on the 6^th with careful plotting later in the month revealing 17 singing birds. Black-necked Grebe numbers at Bowers Marsh increased to five between the 6^th and 10^th. A Hoopoe was an excellent find in Gunners Park on the 9^th, but was unavailable to most would be admirers, although the first White Wagtail of the year there was some small consolation. A Siskin turned up on a Canewdon garden feeder on the 10^th the same day the first odonata of the year, a Large Red Damselfly, was at Doggetts Pits. A White Stork which had flown over Latchingdon was intercepted 15 minutes later from South Fambridge as it cruised westwards along the north side of the Crouch. Also on the 11^th six Ring-necked Parakeets could still be found at their favoured haunt of Thorpe Hall Golf Club. A Great White Egret was still at Bowers Marsh on the 14^th and the Red-breasted Merganser made a surprise reappearance at Paglesham Lagoon on the 15^th. Two Black-winged Stilts appeared at Vange Marsh on the 15^th where they remained until the 16^th only, a pair of Garganey were erratic visitors to West Canvey Marsh from the 15^th, and the first Hobby of the year was at Bowers Marsh on the 16^th. A Whinchat was at Bowers Marsh on the 17^th, with two there on the 19^th. A Garden Warbler in song at Canvey Wick between the 18^th to 20^th was a good spring record, and the first Green Hairstreaks of the year were on the wing there on the 18^th. A Little Gull was at Bowers Marsh on the 22^nd, the same day a Cattle Egret was at West Canvey Marsh. The second White Wagtail of the spring was at Fleet Head on the 24^th while the first two Grasshopper Warblers returned to Bowers Marsh on the late date of the 25^th, the same day a Red-crested Pochard was at the unlikely location of the River Crouch at Hullbridge. Four Little Stints were on Wallasea on the 26^th with one remaining to the 29^th. Also on Wallasea a Curlew Sandpiper was a good spring record on the 27^th and was sandwiched between two reports from Canvey Point. Four Glossy Ibises flew over Thundersley on the 27^th, and a Short-eared Owl was still patrolling the South Fambridge seawall that evening. Wood Sandpipers were on the move from the 27^th when the first bird was at Bowers Marsh, increasing to five on the 30^th. The month was seen out by three Guillemots past Canvey Point and two Cattle Egrets at West Canvey Marsh.