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Monthly Essex Roundup

January 2011

RSPB Rainham Marshes: January 1st was surprisingly memorable with nearly 100 species recorded including both Whooper and Bewick's Swans, 60 Pink-footed Geese north, a single White-fronted Goose, three Barnacle Geese, ringtail Hen Harrier, male Merlin, Snow Bunting and Waxwing! Who could ask for more? Waxwings were reported on a further six dates with a high of 29 on the 3rd. The White-front was seen again on 15th-16th and three aadults dropped in on 19th. Needless to say the adult Slaty-backed Gull that was seen on the 13th and 14th was the show stopper for January. Various reports suggest that it was seen by some people on the 15th. There were over 20 reports of Caspian Gulls with six seen on the 15th along with a Glaucous Gull on the 19th, couple of Med Gulls and an unseasonal Arctic Skua. Wetter weather prompted a wildfowl arrival and on 18th 2500 Teal were counted while on 16th there were 1122 Wigeon and 391 Gadwall. A Goosander on the 31st was the only duck of note on the Thames although a Brent goose was seen on a couple of occasions. The usual waders were reported including a couple of Avocets, Turnstone and Jack Snipe. A flurry of Lapland Buntings were seen with up to 11 reported (6th) but none lingered while Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers continued to be found along the river frontage. Tree Sparrow and Bramblings were occasionally seen with the finch flock and a Bullfnch appeared in the woodland along with a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the 3rd. The three Marsh Harriers continued to pop in and anoter Hen harrier was seen on the 22nd. Peregrines were daily and a female Merlin was seen every now and then. A Red Kite (5th) and female Goshawk (24th) added interest. Short-eared owls were very tricky and the Barn Owl was only seen once.

Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex: Bitterns continued to show well with two at both Seventy Acres lake and in the Ingrebourne Valley . The Lee Valley also hosted at leat nine Smew and several Goosanders at Seventy Acres and Cetti's warblers seem to have survived here. Other Smew were at Fairlop Waters CP, Dagenham Breach in Fords and Belhus Woods CP while Goosanders reached a new high of 39 on the 12th at Weald Park . A male Red-crested Pochard was at Belhus all month. Black-necked Grebes were steady at 20 on the Wm Girling Reservoir along with two Slavonian Grebes (28th) and both Scaup and Merganser reported. Another Merganser was in Barkign bay with three Scaup on the first and three Bewick Swans flew through the same day. Nearby a Dartford Warbler was seen at the Ripple NR on the 29th-30th. A female Eider was found at Walthamstow on the 23rd and stayed till 26th. Two Pink-feet and a single White-front were to be found around Holyfield and the Egyptian Goose flock reached 25 there! Four more White-front arrived in the Ingrebourne on the 28th. Marsh Harriers continued to be seen in the Ingrebourne and a Red Kite was over Galley Hill Wood on 23rd. This site also hosted Ravens on the 4th and 18th with other nearby sightings on the 2nd, 22nd and 29th (when there were two over Friday Lake ). One was also seen over Romford on the 26th. Both our named Gulls: Casper the Caspian Gull and Valentino the Med continued to be seen at the usual haunts of the Royal Docks and Valentines Park . There were over 100 waxwings sightings during the month with not a single day missed! Peak counts of 220 in the Loughton area (4th) and of 225 at Lakeside on the 19th and a new county record of 367 there on the 22nd. Amazing! One of the birds in Hornchurch had been rung in Aberdeen back in November. Firecrests came through the cold ok with singles at Holyfield, Belhus Woods CP, Thorndon CP and Wanstead Park and two each at Romford GC and Bedfords Park . A Pied Wagtail roost at Harold Hill hit 210 on the 20th and a single Hawfinch was seen over Loughton on the 3rd. A Black Redstart was seen in Thurrock on 21st and a Yellowhammer flock at Hainault Forest reached 42.

South-east Essex: Waxwings numbers pulsated throughout the area with highs at Pitsea off 200 on 31st and 270 in Basildon . RSPB Vange Marshes hosted a Bittern on and off from the 1st and site high of 420 Teal on 14th. Wintering Spotted Redshanks and Greenshanks were also noted here. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen on RSPB West Canvey Marshes on 30th. Rossi the Ring-billed Gull was still at Westcliff and several Caspian Gulls were seen on Pitsea Tip. Down on Southend Pier a Purple Sandpiper was seen on several dates and three Snow Buntings were seen on Canvey. Further up the coast Wallasea Wetlands still held many geese with 207 White-fronts, 5000 Dark-bellied Brent and six Tundra Bean Geese on the 4th with 2500 Wigeon the same day. A Black Brant was refound on 14th and two families of Pale-bellied Brents were seen on the 15th and 21st. Hen and Marsh Harriers were regular here. Site along the Crouch such as Paglesham Lagoon and Blue House Farm had a great month with 160 White-fronts on the 3rd and 40 Barnacle Geese on the 4th. Pink-feet and Pale-bellied Brents were also recorded here and four Bewick's Swans and a Black-necked Grebe were on the Pool all month. A Rough-legged Buzzard and up to six Water pipits were also reported. Nearby Hampton Barns still held two Tree Sparrows and the Twite remained at South Fambridge all month. A Red Kite was seen over Southend on the 9th and at Hockley Woods the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Firecrest continued to entertain but there were no Hawfinches reported. Two Mealy Redpolls were with about 50 Lesser from the 19th.

North-east Essex : Six of the Shorelarks stayed at The Naze till the 5th and a Water Pipit was seen there on the 5th. Two Purple Sandpipers were at Walton on the 2nd.The Tree Sparrow flock continued to be seen near St Osyth and nearby Howlands Marsh held good geese numbers with 88 Barnacles, 20 White-fronts and a single Pink-foot on the 12th and similar numbers on the 20th. But the 26th only 26 White-fronts were present. Fifteen Lapland Buntings were at Colne Point on 21st with a Velvet Scoter off there on the 12th. A Black Redstart was in Clacton on 3rd and there was a good spread of Waxwings but no real big flocks. Seawatching off Frinton was quite productive. Two Pale-bellied Brents and a Black Brant were seen on the 7th (later at Holland Haven till the 9th) and 332 Fieldfares coasted on 9th. Peak diver days were 15th: 162 Red-throats; 22nd: 333 Red-throats, Great Northern and three Black-throats; 23rd: 507 Red-throats, two Great Northern and a Black-throat; 30th: 59 Red-throats, Great Northern and three Black-throats. Forty Barnacle Geese went south on 24th with five more on 27th and a Pomarine Skua was seen on 26th.

Mid & East Essex: The biggest Waxwing flock in the area was 100 in Maldon mid-month where there was also a Black Redstart on the 9th and 23rd. Set aside at Alresford continued to attract small birds with 40 Brambling, 100 Reed Bunting, 100 Corn Bunting and 70 Yellowhammers on several dates. On the Colne there were 650 Avocet on the 3rd while several Hen and Marsh Harriers continued to roost on Langenhoe. A Lapland Bunting flock was found just onto Mersea on the 4th and had risen to 42 by the 27th. Offshore Great Northern Diver, 21 Scoter and a Scaup were seen on the 1st and off the west end of the island there was a similar assortment in the Blackwater. The best single day count was off Goldhanger on the 3rd when 310 Goldeneye, 26 Eider, three Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Scaup, Great Northern Diver, five Slavonian Grebes, Black-necked Grebe and Red-necked Grebe were all seen. Quite a haul! By the 23rd the Slavonians had reached 11 and the Red-necked Grebe and a single Black-throated Diver were present off Rolls Farm. The wild geese from late December remained at Abberton Reservoir into early January with 100 White-fronts and six each Barnacle, Tundra Bean and Pink-foot on the 1st. The last two groups stayed all month and showed very well. A Whooper Swan stayed till 2nd and six Smew (25th), Hen Harrier (30th), Slavonian Grebe (10th) and four Lapland Buntings (till at least 23rd). The Bittern was seen occasionally all month. The 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese stayed till the 1st at Hanningfield Reservoir with seven Eider there the same day. The following day saw a bit of a raptor fest with both Hen and Marsh Harriers, Buzzard, Peregrine and Red Kite all seen. Danbury Lakes hosted 12 Goosander on the 16th and a similar number was at Mill Meadows, Billericay. The Hawfinches became almost reliable at Braxted Park with a peak of 24. This is the highest in the county for at least ten years. An immature Red Kite showed almost daily in the same area. While others were over Lawford, Inworth, Doddinghurst (100 Yellowhammers here on 21st) and Alresford. A Goshawk was seen over Friday Woods on the 24th. Bradwell Bird Observatory was quiet but there were 16 Barnacle Geese on the 2nd along with five Pale-bellied Brent Geese.

Waxwing Summary : Over 100 Waxwings were reported in Essex on every day in January. There were eight days with over 300, three over 400 and four over 500. Quite amazing. The 367 from Lakeside in the 22nd was achieved by carefully the birds from five photos of the trees they were in. The actual figure is more likely to have been over 400 as there were birds still on the ground feeding… A new county record.