Monthly Essex RoundupDecember 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: December was harsh and the birds we found were representative of this weather with many species forced south by the snow and wind. Three Pomarine Skuas got the month off to a good start with an Eider the next day (till 4th) and another on the 29th. All three sawbill ducks were seen including an amazing eight Goosander and three Smew (19th) along with a couple of Mergansers. Two Goldeneye, Common Scoter and Scaup added interest and two herds of Bewick's Swans were seen with 27 on the 3rd and 19 on 22nd. They did not linger long and three adult Whoopers on the 24th did likewise. Fourteen Tundra Bean Geese were seen on the 1st and 19th with 28 White-fronted Geese north on 21st and a Pink-footed Goose going the same way on the 29th. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose on 22nd was potentially a first for London and a Dark-belied bird was seen on the 18th while three Barnacle Geese from the 19th arrived with a massive influx from the Low Countries into the South-east. It did not stop there with two sightings of an adult Gannet, two Black-necked Grebes (27th), Bittern (28th), Raven (30th), over 40 fly-through Waxwings, a Grey Phalarope (4th), wintering Ring Ouzel (!), Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings, single Lapland Buntings and a very showy Snow Bunting (7th-10th) that was initially found under the bird feeders. Caspian, Iceland and Little Gulls were all picked out from the throng and our Marsh Harriers and Short-eared Owls were still around. Two ring-tail Hen Harriers were noted on 9th and 13th making it the best year for the species in 20 years on site. Bearded Tits continued to show well and included some north Kent ringed birds and Water Pipits were in their usual haunts. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : The Stop Press rarity of the month was a Dark-eyed Junco in a garden in Waltham Abbey on 18th-19th. Hopefully it will reappear for all to enjoy. The Lee Valley hosted possibly as many as ten Bitterns of which five were in the Essex sector at Seventy Acres Lake while two remained in the Ingrebourne Valley . The reservoirs did well with the KGV and Girling hosting 25 Goosander (1st), Velvet Scoter and Scaup (2nd), eight Eider (19th with three till 27th), 24 Black-necked Grebes and a Merganser. Up to four pair of Smew were on in the mid Lee valley with others at Belhus Woods CP, Grangewaters and Connaught Water while five more Scaup and a Shag (12th-13th) were on the Walthamstow complex. Another Merganser was with three Goosanders at Fairlop Waters CP on the 1st and this site also held two Jack Snipe and a Merlin (13th). The Bewick's Swan flock first seen at Rainham Marshes on the 3rd soon dispersed and 15 were then seen over the Ingrebourne and 17 over Fairlop. Forty White-fronts headed over Grays on the 20th and 100 went over Wanstead Flats on the 22nd. A Grey Phalarope stayed for five days from 10th at Grays foreshore with 12 Eider through there on 15th! Avocet peaked at 59 at nearby West Thurrock Marshes on 19th and two Scaup were also seen. Woodcock were reported in many areas in the freeze. Goshawks were seen at Woodford Green (8th), Wanstead Park (27th) and at Holyfield Hall Farm (31st). All were males. Two Marsh Tits continued to be seen at Belhus Woods CP and another was seen at Grangewaters. Several Mealies were picked out amongst flocks of Lesser Redpolls and the Siskin flock at Cornmill Meadows reached 600 on the 31st. Other good small birds included the continued presence of Firecrest at Bedfords Park and Romford Golfcourse with another at Belhus Woods CP and at nearby Parklands while four Woodlarks were seen on Wanstead Flats on 20th and a Lapland Bunting was up the Mardyke Valley on 7th. A Raven was seen over Waltham Abbey on the 17th and two headed north over Romford on 31st. And yes there were lots of Waxwings with 43 reports from across the area with a peak of 90 in Loughton (31st). South-east Essex : Waxwings aside, it was a busy month with lots of cold weather activity. Wallasea Wetlands was certainly the place to be with a succession of fantastic goose records starting with 1500 Dark-bellied Brents and aBlack Brant on 17th, another Brant on 19th; single Pale-bellied Brents till the 19th when there were four, rising to 11 on the 27th. The 23rd saw 6000 DB Brents along with 250 White-fronts and 11 Barnacles and two Common Cranes just to spice things up. Also seen during the month were up to four Hen Harriers, Merlins, 800 Skylarks (12th), 15 Scaup (19th) and from the 26th a party of eight Lapland and a single Snow Bunting with other local buntings and finches. Up on the Crouch three Bewick's Swans were seen from the 11th along with 50 Barnacle Geese and a couple of White-fronts the next day. By the 20th there were 42 White-fronts at Blue House Farm and two Twite had taken up residence at South Fambridge from 15th. Nearby Paglesham Lagoon hosted a female Scaup from 7th and a small party of up to five Tree Sparrows moved between there and Hampton Barns. Three Bewick's and 75 White-fronts were over the lagoon on 20th. Wat Tyler was quiet but Jack Snipe were reported from RSPB Vange Marshes with a Hen Harrier there on 14th. Another ringtail was seen intermittently at East Tilbury where it was dining largely on Redshanks! Down on Canvey White-fronts were seen going over on two dates with 32 on 20th and 130 on 21st. River watching off the point gave good views of a Storm Petrel on the first with Red-throated and three Black-throated Divers for back up along with six Pomarine Skuas and a Velvet Scoter. The latter was seen on several other dates. A Purple Sandpiper was seen there on 5th and 19th with tree Twite on the saltmarsh on the latter date. Another Pom Skua was seen on 23rd. Seven Snow Buntings were seen at Shoebury East Beach on 3rd and Rossi the Ring-billed Gull was still at Westcliff throughout. A Spoonbill was seen at Prittlebrook on 30th and inland slightly there were sightings of Firecrest, Crossbill and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Hockley Woods. Waxwings were seen in traditional areas with a peak of 120 at Pitesa on the 28th. North-east Essex: Hamford Water held a good variety of winter wildfowl late in the month with seven Scaup, Smew, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck and four Eider (21st), 40 Eider, Scaup, 43 White-fronted and a single Tundra Bean Goose (24th). Boat trips up the Stour on 12th, 14th and 28th added up to three Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes and a respectable count of 150 Gadwall to the list. Twenty-two Twite at The Naze (11th) included a colour-ringed English breeder and the seven Shorelark that arrived on 23rd increased to nine by the 26th. Holland Haven hosted ten Tundra Bean Geese on 3rd with 12 White-fronted Geese and two Whooper Swans from 21st and a Firecrest on 22nd and 31st. The TBG's were seen on nearby Howlands Marsh, St Osyth on 5th when 2200 Jackdaws were seen going to roost. Six Bewick's Swans were around from 4th and in a nearby rural garden there were counts of 18 Tree Sparrows and 92 Corn Buntings! Two more TBG's were seen on the 27th on Howlands along with 17 White-fronts, 89 Barnacles, four Pink-feet and two Pale-bellied Brents. Forty-three Barnacle Geese were still present on the 31st. Seawatching off Frinton produced Pomarine Skuas on 2nd and 16th; Lapland Buntings on 7th and 19th (along with six Snow Buntings); 207 Red-throated and eight Black-throated Divers (19th) and White Fronted Geese on 20th (21) and 21st (12). Four Barnacle Geese, 25 Eider and 11 Velvet Scoters headed south on 23rd. The biggest group of Waxwings was 55 in Stones Green on 12th. Mid & East Essex: Birding along the Colne was remained good with two Velvet Scoter being seen on and off all month from various sites along with five Bewick's Swans and a Scaup on 1st at Wivenhoe. Twenty Bramblings were seen at Alresford and Tree Sparrows continued to be seen at Sunnymead Farm. Further up river there were seven Smew at The Hythe on 3rd and a Scaup on 6th while Mergansers and Goosanders were regular here. Other Smew and Scaup were seen at Hetbridge GP and Chigborough Lakes and the latter site also held Red-crested Pochard and Bittern (from 9th). Other wayward Bitterns were flushed from South Woodham Ferrers (4th), Steeple Bumpstead (12th), along the Chelmer at Maldon (27th) and at Wivenhoe the same day. There were two Great Northern Divers, eight Slavonian Grebes, Velvet Scoter, 30 Goldeneye and a Scaup in the mouth of the Blackwater on the 10th. This mirrors counts off Rolls Farm where a Red-necked Grebe was also seen on 5th. A Black Brant was at East Mersea on 27th and on New Years Eve there was a Long-tailed Duck , 25 White-fronts, three Salvonian Grebes, Great Northern Diver and 11 Eider were seen. Barnacle Geese reached 45 birds at RSPB Old Hall Marshes on the 12th with 40 still on 22nd when four Bewick's Swans, nine Eide5r, 134 Goldneye and 39 Mergansers were also seen. On Christmas Eve 258 White-fronted Geese went over and there were 55 Mergansers present. A male Smew was eeen there on 31st. Nearby 150 White-fronts were at Abbotts Hall with 28 Barnacle Geese on 22nd and another 53 White-fronts flew over Little Baddow the day before. Four Pink-footed Geese were inland at Boreham from 3rd to 7th and a huge flock of 257 Skylark were at Limbourne Creek on 3rd. Abberton reservoir was realatively quiet till the last few days with regular herds of up to 15 Bewick's Swans; 60 Goosander, Slavonian Grebe and three Smew on 11th, four Slavonian Grebes on 16th and a Bittern on 18th. Wild geese arrived en masse on 26th and peaked at 16 Tundra Beans, 21 Pink-feet, 35 Barnacles, 100 White-fronts and singles of Whooper and Bewick's Swans. Equally impressive was the arrival of 13 pale-bellied Brent Geese with two Dark-bellied inland at Hanningfield Reservoir on 24th. They stayed till 27th when nine Bewick's Swans were also seen. Hen Harriers were regular at Bradwell BO and 58 Wehite-fronts and 120 Barnacle Geese were seen there on 22nd. Elsewhere, up to 12 Hawfinches were seen at Braxted Park (along with a Red Kite) with other reported at Marks Hall Estate. A female Goshawk was seen there on 14th. Three hundred Yellowhammers at Doddinghurst on the 3rd was significant and could be matched by no other site. Finally and by no means least two Ravens were seen at Stansted Airport Lagoons on 28th-29th. The biggest concentration of Waxwings was 130 in Maldon on 26th. Waxwings: Quite a month across the county for this charismatic visitor. There were 148 records that I have collated from 74 sites and the graph attached clearly shows the trend for peaks around the 11th and 27th of the month when over 300 minimum were present in the county. If you still have any extra records please forward them on to me at howardebs@blueyonder.co,uk and I shall do some more crunching.
November 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: Much of the attention was on the Thames in November with good numbers of waders building up including up to 2500 Dunlin, 16 Grey Plover, three Avocets, six Knot, 300 Black-tailed Godwits and a single Turnstone. On colder days Snipe became obvious on the marsh and single Jack Snipe were seen on four dates including a showy individual from the Ken Barrett hide while two Woodcock were found. A pair of Mergansers was seen on the 9th with another single on 21st and three on 28th. Brent Geese were seen on several dates with 15 on the 9th being the high count while two Pink-footed Geese stayed until 25th with six reported on 24th. Gull watching produced possibly as many as 13 Caspian Gulls along with an immature Iceland Gull (20th), several Med Gulls and seven Little Gulls on the 8th. Up to four Marsh Harriers have been on the reserve with the immature male being the most regular and our good run of Hen Harriers continued with a female on 17th and a fine adult male on the 9th. Peregrines were daily and a female Merlin made several sorties. Little Egret numbers dwindled to just five and a Great White Egret was seen briefly on the 21st. A very late Wheatear was still hanging out with the Stonechats on the 20th and a Black Redstart spent four days around the Shooting Butts Hide from the 18th. Star birds of the month were the Bearded Tits which built up from just three at the start of the month to a wonderful 30 by the end. They often showed incredibly well to those with a little patience. Corn and Lapland Buntings (21st) were seen along the river wall and the elusive female Bullfinch paid another visit on the 10th. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Firecrests were widespread across the area in November with 12 sites hosting birds. Most were singles but two remained on Romford Golf Course and Bedfords Park and four were seen in Gernon Bushes on the 20th. Good numbers of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls were seen at various sites with over 200 of the former at Cornmill Meadows and over 150 of the latter at Thorndon CP where a certain proportion are looking like Mealies as in recent winters. The biggest count of Bramblings was 16 over Wanstead Park on the 6th and the nearby Flats hosted late Ring Ouzel (1st) and Swallow (2nd). Another Swallow was at Walthamstow reservoirs on 17th. The Marsh tit continued to be seen at Belhus Woods CP with two there by month end while Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were seen there and at Dagnam Park and at Strawberry Hill Pond in Epping Forest. A Rough-legged Buzzard was probably rarity of the month over the Roding Valley NR on 28th while Marsh Harriers continued to be seen in the Ingrebourne Valley and a Red Kite was over Orsett on the 4th. The Valley also hosted Merlin on a couple of dates along with two Bitterns. Another Bittern was seen on Seventy Acres Lake from 21st. Further up the Lee Valley there were 17 Egyptian Geese at Holyfield Farm on the 21st along with two Lapland Buntings the same day. A Woodlark was another good flyover at South Ockenden on 7th when 2580 Wood Pigeons were also counted. The only Waxwing so far was a single through Weald park on 2nd. Black-necked Grebes were seen on the KGV and Walthamstow Reservoirs and a female Goosander took up residence at Fairlop Waters CP from 7th with a male Goldeneye on Leyton Flats being equally noteworthy. A Short-eared Owl was also seen there on 13th. The first Smew was an eclipse drake back on Connaught Water from 28th. The adult Med Gull continued to entertain in Valentines Park but we are still waiting for Casper our regular Caspian Gull to return to the Royal Docks. South-east Essex : One bird stole the show with what appears to be a full adult Thayer's Gull on Pitsea Tip on 6th. It just now needs to be refound in a gettable gull spot! Canvey was generally very good with some notable days offshore: 7th: 82 Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Little Gull; 8th: two Sooty Shearwaters, Leach's Petrel; 9th: (including the Pier) Black and Red-throated Divers, Sooty Shearwater, 11 Eider, 13 Little Gull, Sabine's Gull, two razorbill, Pink-footed Goose, 150 Scoter, Scaup; 18th: Cory's Shearwater; 20th: ten Little Gull, Great Skua, two Arctic Skua; 21st: two Great Skua, Purple Sandpiper. A Swallow was seen on the 22nd and 21 Lesser Redpolls, a single Mealy and two Woodcock were seen there on 27th. Elsewhere, there were 300 Sanderling roosting at Westcliff (20th) and a Purple Sandpiper was on Southend Pier the same day. Vange Wick hosted a Tundra Bean Goose with the Greylags from 23rd to 27th and Marsh harriers and Jack Snipe were seen regularly at RSPB Vange Marshes. Down at Gunners park two Bewick's Swans were seen on 15th with two Black-throated Divers offshore on 22nd while out at Wakering a ring-tail Hen Harrier, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Spoonbill and Merlin were all seen on the 6th. Wallasea Wetlands hosted at least three ring-tail Hen Harriers along with a wintering Curlew Sandpiper (5th) and 2500 Lapwing that included the regular leucistic individual. Blue House Farm was quite productive on the 1st with both Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes while a Pink-footed Goose was on the opposite side of the river the next day. A single Scaup was at Paglesham Lagoon from 26th and Great (6th) and Pomarine Skuas (29th) were both reported from the Crouch. Four Cranes flew over Canewden on 29th and 11 Goosanders had returned to Billericay to winter. Redpoll numbers built up at Hockley Woods with 120 including at least five Mealies on 28th. Waxwings were slow to arrive with three in Billericay on 11th followed by a flurry late in the month in the Southend area with 46 at two sites simultaneously on 28th and 32 still present near the Hosptial on 29th. North-east Essex: Nineteen Bewick's Swans came into the Stour on 7th and RSPB boat trips on the 28th and 30th produced very similar counts that included five each of Shag and Slavonian Grebe, four Scaup and a Great Northern Diver. The Rough-legged Buzzard continued to make sporadic appearances at Holland haven with sightings in five dates. It may have been spending most of its time in Hamford Water where there also a couple of records. A Whooper Swan was also seen here on 24th and 27th. The Haven also had regular Short-eared Owl, Hen harrier and Buzzard sightings along with a Red Kite on 25th. There were unseasonal House Martins (1st) and two Swallows (2nd) and Snow Buntings on 2nd and 27th and Lapland Buntings on 10th and 28th. Five Long-tailed Ducks headed south with 55 Scoter on 7th and nine Whooper Swans came in off on 10th. A single Purple Sandpiper was seen on 27th and Black Redstarts were encountered on 7th and 25th. Another Black Redstart was at The Naze (27th) with Bullfinch, two Laplands Buntings, two Snow Buntings and 45 Redpolls there on 14th. Ten Waxwings dropped into St Osyth on 24th and up to 32 Tree Sparrows have been seen in the same rural garden. Nearby 43 Corn Buntings were at Colne Point on 20th. Frinton was as productive as ever with the following passage highlights offshore: 7th: Great Northern Diver, three red-throated Divers, five Bewick's Swans, 11 Pink-footed Geese, 20 Eider, 220 Scoter, two Velvet Scoter, three Pomarine Skuas and Swallow, Ring Ouzel, 54 Blackbirds and two Waxwings in off; 8th: ten Eider, Long-tailed Duck, 32 Kittiwakes; 9th: 12 Eider, three Little Gull; 10th: seven Eider, three Snow Buntings; 11th: Little Auk, Little Gull; 13th: 171 Siskin; 14th: 187 Siskin, 109 Redpoll; 21st 472 Goldfinch; 22nd: 60 Eider, two Goosander; 26th: Black Redstart. The passage Eider numbers during the month hark back to the good old days when good flocks wintered in the county. Mid & East Essex: Wivenhoe and Alresford produced some good stuff with Woodcock (1st and 7th), two Tree Sparrows on and off all month, Waxwings on three dates (three on 2nd, four on 23rd and 15 on 25th), Red Kite (7th), Slavonian Grebe (12th), Scaup (20th-21st), two Velvet Scoter and five Goosander (27th) and 250 Avocet (20th). Nearby there were up to seven Lapland Buntings on Mersea Island as well as a Shorelark (3rd), two Firecrests (15th), Swallow (3rd), male Hen Harrier and in the mouth of the Colne, two Velvet Scoters (28th-29th), Great Northern Diver (7th-10th) and a Little Gull (7th). RSPB Old Hall Marshes had a couple of good days with Short-eared Owl, Black-throated and two Red-throated Divers, Black Brant, Snow Bunting and six White-fronted Geese (6th), the latter stayed until 24th when a Lapland Bunting and drake Smew was also seen. A Pale-bellied Brant and 2200 Golden Plovers were seen on 17th. At nearby Tollesbury single Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe and 45 Mergansers were seen on 26th and five Cranes flew over there on 29th. Abberton Reservoir hosted Bewick's Swans on several dates with four on 7th and six on 28th being the high counts. A red-head Smew was back from 7th with up to eight Goosanders and three Slavonian Grebes present (14th). A Great Northern Diver was seen the same day. Other notables included a Lapland Bunting (7th and 28th), Little Stint and Water Pipit (26th). The first Bittern was back from 28th. Heybridge held a staggering 7000 Golden Plover on 13th along with an almost albino Dunlin and three Greenshank and a female Scaup was at Lofts Farm on 21st. The Dengie was fairly quiet although there was a good count from BBO of 21 Eider, nine Long-tailed Ducks, 15 Common and a male Velvet Scoter on 7th and a Snow Bunting on 12th. Redpoll flocks were encountered in many places with groups at Alphamstone, Lofts Farm and Wivenhoe while in Doddinghurst there were 60 Siskin and 120 Skylark on 21st. Waxwings were widely spread but did not linger with a single in Danbury (15th), two Chelmsford (27th), 40 Ardleigh (28th), 25 Colchester (27th) and eight on 29 th .
October RSPB Rainham Marshes: Things started well with our second Manx Shearwater of the year on the 2nd-3rd. It did not look too healthy and probably succumbed to the gulls. Three Bar-tailed Godwits were on the river in the first week and several small parties of Brent Geese were seen including 17 on 9thand ten on 10th. Four Pink-footed Geese dropped in on 16th and three made it to month end. A female Common Scoter drifted down river on 13th and our last Common Tern of the year was seen the same day. Gull watching began in earnest and a 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was a good start (5th) with two Caspians also recorded (28th). A Spoonbill flew by on 24th and another juvenile Gannet was seen on the 20th. The good raptor run continued with an Osprey (4th), Honey Buzzard and male Montagu's Harrier (7th), Red Kite (24th) and a male Hen Harrier on 11th and ringtails on 24th and two on 29th. Marsh Harriers have been seen most days with an immature male almost resident while there were several Merlin sightings. Short-eared owls were seen from 17th. Finch passage increased and Siskins, Lesser redpolls and Bramblings were all logged while a ringed Tree Sparrow graced our feeders from 14th-17th. A large, noisy female Bullfinch was seen on 23rd and 26th and could well have been a Scandinavian bird. Black Redstarts were seen on 2nd and 18th and Common Redstarts were found on the foreshore on 11th and 13th. Wheatears persisted with a single as late as 27th and a Whinchat was even seen on 30th. Rock pipits and a single Water Pipit had returned to the foreshore and a Red-throated Pipit flew over calling on 17th. A few Goldcrests started to dribble in and with them came a Firecrest on 22nd. The 10th saw three Ring Ouzels on site and only the third Turtle Dove record of the year as well as our fourth sighting of Raven for 2010. A Bluethroat was found but remained elusive on 16th and constituted our 200th species for the year while two Penduline Tits popped in for three days from 21st. Bearded Tits were almost a daily occurrence from the 17th with 20 being reported on two dates. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Wanstead Flats and the Park continued it impressive run with another Redstart (1st), flyover Lapland Buntings on no-less than five dates, Short-eared Owl (2nd), Rock Pipit (22nd), Tree Pipit (10th), juvenile Cuckoo and Yellow-browed Warbler (11th), Ring Ouzels on five dates, Waxwings on 24th and eight on 26th and a Black Kite through on 17th. Two more Waxwings were seen in Chigwell on 24th. A Wryneck was at nearby Five Oaks lane on 2nd and this scrubland site also hosted two Firecrests (16th), a late Yellow Wagtail (23rd) and two Ravens (7th). Another Ring Ouzel was near Bedfords Park from 14th and a Lapland Bunting went over there on 17th. Another was seen at Sewardstone Marsh on 11th while a Woodlark was at Warren Gorge the same day. Further Firecrests were seen on Romford Golf Course (with two on 29th), Dagnam park (21st), Walthamstow (22nd) and Wanstead Park (24th). A Marsh Tit was out of place at Belhus Woods CP on 10th and a Black Redstart was on the KGV Reservoir on 24th when nine Goosander were also seen. Four more of the latter were over Dagenham Chase the next day and seven Bearded Tits circled the site. A Tree Sparrow came to feeders at Weald Park on 13th-14th. It was a good month for raptors with up to three Marsh Harriers in Ingrebourne Valley along with Red Kite there on 30th. Another Red Kite was seen over Bulphan for a few days till 5th and probably find of the month was a sub-adult White-tailed Eagle seen here on the 5th being mobbed by corvids and Buzzards! A Goshawk was in Upshire on 11th and a Merlin went through Valentines Park on 9th while ‘Valentino' the regular Med Gull returned there on 13th. Five Black Terns dipped into Fairlop Waters CP on 5th and the first Bittern was back on seventy Acres Lake on 18th. South-east Essex : Canvey was quite productive with several notable counts including: 1st: two Great Skuas, 23 Med Gulls, three Black Terns; 2nd: Ring Ouzel; 3rd: 153 Gannets; 9th: Sooty Shearwater, five Great Skua, Black-throated Diver (and 10th); 12th: Pomarine Skua; 16th: four male Velvet Scoter; 17th female Velvet Scoter; 30th: Snow Bunting. The scoter was also seen off Two Tree Island the same day and the site also held 100 Little Egrets (10th) and a Water Pipit (24th). A Black Brant was with 3000 Brent Geese at Leigh on 4th and RSPB Vange Marshes once again held Spoonbills from 18th with two on 22nd. Down on Southend Pier a Shag was seen from 17th and a Slavonian Grebe bobbed past on 26th. Further up river a both Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints and a Hen Harrier was seen at East Tilbury on 16th. Another Hen Harrier was at Wakering Stairs (2nd) with Spoonbills there on 23rd and 24th. Wallasea Wetlands also had both these scarce calidrids with four and two respectively. Hen harriers were also frequent here and a Snow Bunting was seen on 24th-25th. Gunners Park collected a few drift species including a late Willow Warbler (13th), Firecrest (from 15th) and Yellow-browed Warbler (15th-18th). A Shag was picked up there (8th) and 145 Great Black-backed Gulls was noteworthy on 5th. A Sooty Shearwater was seen offshore on 16th. A Redstart was at Barling on 1st with and adult Caspian Gull there on 25th. Blue House Farm was well watched and produced a Red-necked Grebe (8th), Lapland Buntings (8th and 13th), twite (13th), Goshawk (17th) and Pink-footed Goose (from 25th). Finally, six Whooper Swans were seen over Maylandsea on (19th) North-east Essex : Holland Haven had another fantastic month with a succession of excellent birds that started with a Barred Warbler (2nd) swiftly followed by the first Baird's Sandpiper since 1977 on 7th. It stayed till 14th. A Red-throated Pipit was heard on 10th. The 20th saw the arrival of a Rough-legged Buzzard and it reappeared again on 25th when three Short-eared owls, Snow Bunting Purple Sandpiper, Little Auk and 29 Waxwings were also seen. Another Little Auk was seen the next day and four more Waxwings arrived on 30th. Nine more Waxwings were at Great Holland Pits on 25th. By contrast The Naze was quiet with a Richard's Pipit (6th) being the only real notable in the first week. Finch movement was impressive in the second week with over 1000 Goldfinches logged on 11th and 14th amongst smaller numbers of other species that included Siskins, Redpolls and Bramblings. A Shorelark was seen on 9th and a Woodlark on 14th when a late Tree Pipit was also recorded. A male hen harriers spent a few days around Great Holland and another was at Colne Point on 10th. A hooded Crow was seen there the next day with a fine Great Grey Shrike there on 17th. Frinton was awash with finches and some amazing tallies were made as birds headed north up the coast. About 15, 500 Goldfinches along were logged along with large numbers of the commoner species along with the scarce species already mentioned. Highlights of other species as follows: 3: Swift, two Tree Sparrow, two Lapland Buntings, Spotted Flycatcher; 5th: Black Brant south; 6th: 772 Swallow, 162 House Martins; 7th: 197 Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, 533 Swallow, 170 Siskin; 8th: 4112 Brent Geese south, Black Redstart, Garden Warbler; 11th Snow Bunting; 12th: 27 Little Egrets south; 14th: Redstart (in the kitchen...); 15th: two Raven north; 16th: Little Auk; 17th: Velvet Scoter, Ring Ouzel; 21st: Hooded Crow (from Holland Haven); 25th 12 Waxwings, Little Auk; 26th: two Little Auk. A true testament to living in the right place with the right view! Mid & East Essex: Chigborough Lakes hosted the bird of the year with an immature drake Baikal Teal for a short while on 2nd. It is hoped that this stunning little duck wil reappear somewhere for a while! The stretch of the Colne between Alresford and Wivenhoe was quite good with a Ring Ouzel (11th), Cattle Egret (12th and 14th), Spoonbill (16th) and 770 Fieldfare (20th). Cudmore Grove had Snow Bunting (11th), Garganey (14th) and eight Bearded Tits (15th). Another Snow Bunting was found on near Maldon on 23rd and showed well till 26th. Abberton Reservoir continued its good wader run with two Pectoral Sandpipers until 7th and a cute little Semi-palmated Sandpiper from 3rd-7th. It kept company with many Dunlin, up to seven Little Stints and five Curlew Sandpipers. Spotted Redshanks peaked at 37 (27th), Avocets at 22 and a Little Ringed plover on 6th was late. Jack Snipe showed off the causeway on 14th-15th and Wigeon peaked at 2700 on 5th. A Lapland Bunting was found on 5th and by the 14th there were at least 16! Five Spoonbills were still present on 5th and a Salvonian Grebe was found the same day. Marsh Harriers and Buzzards were regular (15 of the latter on 3rd) and the peregrines caused havoc with the wader watchers. A Red Kite was seen on 3rd. Two Tree Sparrows were on the feeders from 15th and a few Brambling were in the woodland. RSPB Old Hall Marshes had some good sightings with Shag, Short-eared Owl and erupting Bearded Tits (12th), six Whooper Swans and a Whimbrel (19th), Great Skua, Waxwing and 35 Spotted Redshanks (26th), 2009 Golden Plover and 176 Avocets (29th) and four Common Scoter (30th). Hanningfield Reservoir had a Hen Harrier and Black Tern (3rd), Red-breasted Merganser (17th) and a Grey Phalarope (21st). Nearby a Crossbill was seen on Crowsheath and 15 Waxwings were in Doddinghurst (23rd). Finally, three Ring Ouzels were found in Boreham on 31st. September 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: Wader passage continued but was hampered somewhat by water levels and most were seen on the Thames including up to four Knot that stayed most of the month, nine Greenshank, eight Bar-tailed Godwit (11th), two Sanderling (6th), three Ruff (9th) and a Curlew Sandpiper (4th). Tern movement was quite poor but 22 Sandwich Terns (5th) was a site record and smaller numbers of Common, Black and Arctic moved through. Our first Caspian Gull of the season was seen on 29th. A Manx Shearwater spent a couple of hours careening up and down in front of the visitors centre on the 15th and juvenile Gannets were seen on 25th and two on 26th as part of the national overland movement in the south-east. Duck began to return and Pintail reached nine by month end while three juvenile Ruddy Shelducks paid a brief visit on 2nd. A single Pink-footed Goose came in with the Greylags on 28th and ten Brent Geese were seen on 29th. In the skies above, Marsh Harriers were noted on several dates including five in the first three days of the month and a male Goshawk went high and west on the 12th. On the nicer days Buzzards were on the move with peak counts of ten (18th), six (19th) and 13 (21st) and a Red Kite was seen on 17th. Ring-tail Hen Harriers headed south on the 2nd and 30th and on the latter date Merlin, Hobby and a female Red-footed Falcon were also seen going across the Thames . A Raven made appearances on 13th and 19th and would be very popular if it would just land for a while and Ring-necked Parakeets hit a new county record of 87 on the 10th. Whinchats peaked at nine (8th) and the odd Wheatear and Spotted Flycatcher were seen. Over thirty Yellow Wagtails could be seen around the cattle and a Tree Pipit (1st) and the first returning Rock Pipits (28th) were reported. And last but not least a Marsh Tit was seen on 1st constituting the first site record of this declining species. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Like August, it was a month for small passage migrants with more reported in this area than on the coast once again! Whinchats and Spotted Flycatchers were found throughout the sector and no less than 16 Redstarts, eight Tree Pipits and two more Pied Flycatchers were recorded often at favoured areas such as Bedfords Park , Wanstead Flats and the Ingrebourne Valley . Firecrests were seen at Dagnam Park on 8th and 21st and another was in the Ingrebourne on 18th. A Wryneck was found in Grays on 12th and another took up residence on Wanstead Flats from 16th-24th. This site also held up to four Ring Ouzels from 28th and a Turtle Dove on 25th. Siskins were seen over Bedfords Park on 12th and the first Redwings were in Walthamstow on 21st and at Dagnam Park on 27th. A Black-necked Grebe took up residence at Fairlop Waters CP from 1st to 11th and the site also held a Knot on 25th. The Girling Reservoir held a peak of 34 Black-necked Grebes on 18th with a Goldeneye on the KGV the same day. Further up the Valley a Red-crested Pochard was on Seventy Acres from 4th with a Sandwich Tern there on 28th. Down on the Thames, Barking Bay hosted a Guillemot (19th) and 25 Black Terns (12th) while seven Gannet over Chafford Hundred on 25th were obviously trying to re-orientate themselves. Other juveniles were seen over Wanstead Park the same day, Grays (on 26th with Little Gull and four Brent Geese) and over Seventy Acres Lake (28th). Buzzards were reported moving through across the area along with Ospreys over the Ingrebourne (12th) and Belhus Woods CP (28th). Red Kites were seen over the Ingrebourne (13th), Roding Valley Meadows (15th), Fishers Green and Bulphan Fen (both 26th). Merlins went through Wanstead Flats (11th) and Walthamstow Filter Beds (6th) and the traditional September flurry of Goshawk sightings continues with males over Weald Park (9th) and Wanstead Flats (17th) and a female over Romford (16th). A Short-eared Owl was seen on Wanstead Flats on 13th. South-east Essex : RSPB Vange Marshes still held a single Spoonbill for most of the month and a good selection of waders that included up to three Curlew Sandpipers (7th), 19 Spotted Redshanks (20th) and three Little Stints (28th). A Garganey was seen there on 16th and at nearby RSPB West Canvey Marshes a Temminck's Stint stayed from 4th-7th. Unsurprisingly, Gunners Park attracted most of the scarcer migrants with Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers on numerous dates (including ten of the latter on 12th). A Pied Flycatcher was seen on 7th and Tree Pipit and Firecrest were both seen there on 13th. Perhaps most significantly three Tree Sparrows were seen on 1st with singles on several other dates. A Wryneck was found on 7th and another was seen on 12th. Elsewhere, another Wryneck was inland at Ramsden Crays Church on 7th with a fouth at Two Tree Island on 16th. This site also held 1820 Black-tailed Godwits, 31 Greenshank and two Tree Pipits on 1st. River-watching off Canvey was fairly quiet with a few terns moving including 30 Blacks on 6th when a Fulmar was also seen. A single Sooty Shearwater was seen on 15th, two Little Gulls on 26th and a Lapland Bunting dropped in on 18th. A look off Southend Pier added a summer plumaged Black-throated Diver and 180 Gannets on 25th. A Red-necked Grebe was showy at Paglesham Lagoon from 3rd-10th along with two juvenile Black Terns for the same period. Two more Lapland Buntings were seen here on 5th. Brent Geese started to trickle in from early in the month but by the 30th there were over 5000 at Wakering Stairs. Hen Harriers were seen over Rayne (11th) and Wallasea (28th) with the latter site also hosting a Red Kite on 25th and an Osprey on 10th. Another Kite was over Hadleigh on 18th and another Osprey was at South Fambridge on 7th. As the month drew to a close the first Redwings were reported and Ring Ouzels were at Benfleet and Barling (29th) and a Brambling was in Hockley (26th). North-east Essex : Seawatching off Frinton held sway in September with concerted vis mig observations paying dividends: 5th: Long-tailed Skua, Fulmar; 6th six Sooty Shearwater, four Fulmars, Pomarine Skua; 7th: Firecrest; 8th: Pied Flycatcher; 9th: Tree Pipit, 24 Siskin; 12th: Wryneck; 13th: 26 Siskins, seven Lapland Buntings; 9th-13th: 13,380 Swallow, 2591 House Martin, 12th-17th: 2275 Meadow Pipit; 17th: two Lapland Buntings; 19th: five Pink-footed Geese, Sooty Shearwater, three Tree Pipits; 21st: 2582 House martins; 24th: Long-eared Owl, two Little Gull; 27th: Black-throated Diver, Redstart, Tree Pipit, many Robins and Dunnocks; 28th: Yellow-browed Warbler, 2008 Brent Geese; 29th: 2122 Brent Geese... wow Elsewhere in the area there were 17 Pink-feet in off at Colne Point on 17th and a Honey Buzzard over Great Holland on 27th. The Naze had Wryneck, Pied Fly and Tree Pipit on 12th and a good fall on 28th when Pied Fly, Redstart, two Ring Ouzels, 40 Redwings, 80 Robins, six Brambling, Lapland Bunting, 12 Garden Warblers, 20 Blackcaps and Tree Pipit were reported. A Red Kite flew over on 30th. At nearby Holland Haven a Wryneck showed very well from 4th-9th at least and several Pied Flys and Redstarts were seen. Six Lapland Buntings were found on 13th and a Pectoral Sandpiper dropped in on 7th. Offshore, three Sooty Shearwaters were seen on 6th. Mid & East Essex: RSPB Old Hall Marshes was busy at the start of the month with a good selection of waders including 43 Curlew Sandpipers and Wood Sandpiper on 2nd and 62 Spotted Redshanks on 3rd when a Wryneck was also found. A Spoonbill was seen on 4th and 7th and Whinchats peaked at ten on 4th when a Redstart was also seen. An Osprey was seen occasionally from 7th between the reserve and Abbott's Hall and probably overlapped with the bird out on Langenehoe Ranges and Mersea from 6th-12th. Another juvenile was at Alresford on 25th. The Ranges also held two Pectoral Sandpipers on 20th while sea-watching off Mersea produced Long-tailed Skua and Sooty Shearwater on 6th. A Lapland Bunting flew over on 16th. Abberton Reservoir improved for waders and there were some good records including: 52 Spotted Redshanks and 21 Bar-tailed Godwits (10th), Pectoral Sandpiper (11th-13th with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the first date) and then two from 30th with five Curlew Sandpipers. Three Spoonbills were there on 30th and 14 Red-ccrested Pochards and a Black-necked Grebe were seen. Honey Buzzard (10th) and Red Kite (17th) were the only notable raptors over the reservoir. Other Honeys were seen over the Hythe (14th) and Chelmsford (19th) while the former site also hosted a Guillemot on the Colne looking slightly lost on 7th. Inland there was a belated report of a Wryneck at Salcott in the last week of August and another encountered a window in Great Baddow on 2nd. Six Curlew Sandpipers were at Heybridge GP on 4th and an Osprey was there on 8th while another Osprey was at Hanningfield Reservoir on 6th. The reservoir did quite well in September with two Marsh Harriers and a Quail (14th), Pectoral Sandpiper (19th), Red-necked Phalarope (22nd) and 14 Black terns (23rd). Twelve early Fieldfares were at Mountnessing on 17th. Out on the Dengie an Osprey was seen on the 12th at Old Mont Sale and fisherman reported that it had been in the area for three weeks! Two Firecrests were seen on 11th with two Tree Sparrows (19th), Sooty Shearwater and Pomarine Skua (22nd) and 177 Gannets and a Jack Snipe (26th) adding interest. August 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: A busy month with a good selection of waders on the move including most of the commoner species. Highlights were three Turnstones (7th), Sanderling and three Wood Sandpipers (14th), 200 unseasonal Redshank (23rd) along with Greenshanks, Whimbrels, four Avocets and a couple of Knot. Terns were evident on the Thames and there were several good ‘tern days' such as the 14th with 103 Common, three Arctic and single Black and Little; the 15th with 164 Common, six Sandwich and three Black, the 23rd with 231 Common and three Sandwich and the memorable 27th when over 300 Common, nine Arctic, 16 Sandwich, three Little and four Black were recorded along with two Little Gulls, Kittiwake and Great Skua! Yellow-legged Gulls peaked at 40 and an Arctic Skua (23rd) and Black-necked Grebe (28th) added to an excellent month of river watching. A juvenile White-winged Black Tern spent the day on the pools on 17th and was a much hoped for new bird for the reserve. It almost became dinner for a Peregrine! Marsh Harriers were a regular sight with another colour-tagged Kentish bird dropping in and Hobbies really came back into their own as the month wore on and the Migrant Hawker dragonfly population exploded. An early Merlin was seen on 13th. A Cattle Egret graced us from 25th-27th and would seem to overlap with the bird on Canvey Island . Duck numbers increased and two Garganey arrived on 14th. Whinchats, Wheatears, Spotted Flycatchers and Yellow Wagtails became daily from mid-month and a Black Redstart was seen on 21st. A Pied Flycatcher dropped in on 26th and a female Serin on 7th surely hinted that our wintering birds are infact locals and not immigrants? An Ortolan Bunting was found on 31st two years and a day after the first site record and almost in the same place but like that one proved very elusive. A single Goldcrest (18th) and Tree Pipits on 25th and 31st hinted at further movement. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : It was a month for small passage migrants with a plethora of sightings of all the key species across the area. Whinchats and Spotted Flycatchers were found throughout the month and several key spots became good migrant traps. Wanstead Park and the Flats held Tree Pipits on 19th and 22nd (two), Wood Warbler on 20th; Pied Flycatcher on 30th and Redstarts on 22nd (three) and two each on 23rd and 24th. The site also hosted six Black-tailed Godwits on 21st and two Goshawks on 13th. Weald Park was in fine form and from 18th-31st there was a succession of good counts. 18th: Pied Fly, two Spot Flys, Wood Warbler; 20th: Pied Fly, five Spot Flys, Wood Warbler, Redstart; 21st: 2 Pied Flys, 20 Spot Flys, 2 Wood Warbler, 5 Redstart, 20 Willow Warbler. Similar flycatcher counts were made in the following week with another Wood Warbler on 31st. Amazing! Nearby Bedfords Park also fared well with Wood Warblers (14th and 27th), Redstarts (23rd and 27th), Pied Fly (27th), Tree Pipits (26th and two on 27th) and 25 Willow Warblers (27th). Another Wood Warbler was in Goodmayes Park on 19th and there were several other Redstart records. Fairlop was among these other sites and also held Nightingale and two Tree Pipits on 22nd while a Pied Fly was in West Ham Park on 24th. Dispersed Marsh Tits were seen at Weald Park (17th) and Thorndon CP (23rd) while two Bearded Tits were in the Mardyke Valley on 16th. Red Kites were seen over the Epping area on 1st and 20th and Honey Buzzards were over Upshire (8th) and Cranham (18th) with an Osprey over Lakeside on 11th. A female Hen Harrier flew through the Royal Docks on 23rd and the Ruddy Shelduck stayed at Barking Bay till 7th with Grey Plover, Sanderling and two Whimbrel for company. A female Common Scoter was at Creekmouth on 21st. South-east Essex : RSPB Vange Marshes was once again the hotspot for the region with a succession of good birds starting with a Garganey on the 1st and then a single Spoonbill on the 3rd. By the 8th there were three and on 23rd a fourth bird arrived leaving just one on 28th. A good selection of waders moved through with ten Spotted Redshanks (3rd) and a series of Wood Sandpipers including two on 15th. Little Stint and Temminck's were seen (28th) and a Red-necked Phalarope spent two days spinning round on 28th-29th. A Red-backed Shrike was elusive from 21st-23rd and an Osprey flew over on 26th. At least one Osprey spent from 13th at Wakering Stairs with two on 19th. Another was at Barling on 26th. The Cattle Egret reappeared at Holehaven on 17th and then roosted at Wat Tyler on 20th and 23rd (when there were 55 Little Egrets) before going awol until 27th when it reappeared mid-morning back at Holehaven. The Rainham Marshes bird was not seen in the afternoon so it could possibly have been the same energetic bird! The Egret roost on Two Tree Island attracted 92 on 13th. Canvey Island had some good days including Slavonian Grebe, five Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas and 18 Black Terns on 15th and a huge haul on 27th with 103 Arctic, four Long-tailed, 59 Great and three Pomarine Skuas, 37 Black Terns, five Sabine's Gulls and 41 Gannets! Rossi the Ring-billed Gull was back at Westcliff from 7th. There was a good smattering of passage passerines across the area with Gunners Park naturally drawing in a Spot Flys and Redstarts along with several Tree pipits from 26th, Pied Fly (18th and 27th) and Wood Warbler (3rd). All four Skuas were also seen off here on 27th. Elsewhere there was a fall of 36 Willow Warblers at Paglesham Lagoon on 8th, a Merlin on Wallasea on 27th and a Red Kite over Hutton on 8th. As the month drew to a close a Kentish Plover drew a crowd on 28th-29th with a high count of 450 Avocets at the same site. North-east Essex : Seawatching of Frinton had its moments as usual with two early Brent (13th), 83 Whimbrel (14th), 12 Black Terns and a Pied Fly (15th), five Egyptian Geese (18th), 821 Common Terns and a Razorbill (22nd), 290 Common Tern, 14 Arctic Skua, Long-tailed Skua, 1425 Knot, 747 Scoter and two Manx Shearwaters (23rd) and 326 Common Tern, Pomarine Skua and two coasting Cranes (26th). Elsewhere two Ospreys were at Colne Point on 28th and a Pied Fly was at The Naze on 15th. A Hen Harrier was seen over Horsley Cross on 10th. Mid & East Essex: RSPB Old Hall Marshes was fairly quiet but did mange 30 Spotted Redshanks on 1st with three Spoonbills on 8th and two on 15th.Four Wood Sandpipers and a Little Stint were seen on 15th when 298 Common Terns were recorded roosting. Adjacent Abbotts Hall held 92 Greenshank on 24th. Abberton Reservoir is currently underwatched but eight Garganey were found on 1st along with three Turnstones. The 3rd saw Little Gull and Pied Fly on site with Spoonbill and Red-crested Pochard on 6th. Black-tailed Godwits peaked at 405 on 15th when 13 Spotted Redshanks were also present. A Black-necked Grebe was found the same day and four Black Terns were seen on 17th. Langenhoe Ranges provided a stunning day for those lucky enough to be out there on 22nd with Red-necked Phalarope, Temminck's and Little Stint and a Broad-billed Sandpiper that at least had the decency to move to a publically viewable area on Pyefleet Channel and was sporadically viewable until 27th. Nearby at Fingringhoe Wick, 72 Greenshank and Nightingale were seen on 27th. Red Kites were seen over West Clacton (2nd) and Hatfield Broad Oak (10th). July 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: One bird stole the show with a county first White-tailed Plover on 7th. There was a good supporting cast of waders through the reserve with daily Whimbrel (including 22 on 8th), Greenshank (up to eight), Little Ringed Plovers (up to 11), a Ruff (from 21st), Bar-tailed Godwit (23rd) and Turnstone (25th) as well as good numbers of Green and Common Sandpipers. Our locally bred Redshank chicks got misidentified as Wood Sandpipers on several occasions. A family of four Avocets arrived on 24th and Black-tailed Godwits peaked at 67 on 5th. A colour flagged individual was seen on several occasions and we are awaiting details of its movements. Our summering Merganser reappeared on the 6th but 28 Common Scoters on the 26th were more expected on a gloomy summers day. Yellow-legged Gulls steadily built up to over 30 towards month end and Med Gulls became more regular while Sandwich Terns were seen on several dates which is unusual this far up river. Local Common Tern families could also been seen and three Arctic Terns were seen on 25th. Hobbies were actually quite scarce but Marsh Harriers were still seen most days and included two sightings of colour-tagged birds from the Isle of Sheppey. Two Crossbills over on 6th were part of a larger local movement. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Crossbills were seen heading purposefully over several sites staring with a single over the Ingrebourne Valley on the 9th and followed by Hutton (nine on 10th), Weald park (26 on 13th) and a single over Romford Golf Club on 23rd. The Ruddy Shelduck was seen occasionally at Barkig Bay and Dagenham Dock and the Rainham marshes Scoter flock also made it this far up. Two Red Kites kept the trend going with singles over Ongar (4th) and Wanstead Flats (28th). Marsh Harriers bred successfully within the area raising three healthy young; the first time in London and South-west Essex. Elsewhere it was encouraging to report probably four families of Spotted Flycatchers in the north of the area and a Quail was heard at South Weald on 26th. Passage waders were scarce but a Whimbrel was seen on Wanstead Flats (7th) and the Lee and Ingrebourne Valleys hosted Green Sands in some numbers. The latter site also manged another Spoonbill sighting on 27th and amazingly a Cattle Egret just three days later! South-east Essex : RSPB Vange Marshes was a wader haven during july with two Wood Sandpipers on 1st and subsequently up to ten Spotted Redshanks until 19th. Green Sandpipers peaked at 19 on 6th with two Ruff the same day while exactly 100 Black-tailed Godwits were seen on 8th. Two reeling Grasshopper Warblers continued to be heard and a brood of Pochard was discovered. A Cattle Egret roosted at Wat Tyler CP on 25th before spending the morning at the reserve next day. Canvey was quiet but a Brent Goose was seen on 12th and 13th and 115 Common Terns on 13th and 15 Sandwich Terns on 24th were notable. The traditional gathering of Med Gulls along the Southend Seafront reached 104 on 17th. Wakering Stairs also hosted a few returning waders with two Sanderling and 45 Dunlin on 18th and Wood Sandpiper and 52 Whimbrel from 24th. Two Grey partridges were also seen here and 410 Sand Martins moved through on one hour on 15th. A single Crossbill was over Belfairs NR on 14th. North-east Essex : Frinton saw a passage of over 300 Common Scoter in the first week and the first Arctic Skua on 29th. The Colne Point area held a Black Redstart on 6th and a flock of Crossbills went over on 9th. Four adult Spoonbills flew north over Wix on 17th. Mid & East Essex : RSPB Old Hall Marshes hosted the usual selection of waders during the month with 19 Golden plover, 19 Spotted Redshanks and 47 Greenshank on 25th being the pick. Abberton Reservoir was starting to show some mud and waders started to drop in including up to 80 Black-tailed Godwits (17th), five Ruff (13th) and Wood Sandpiper (19th-21st) Garganey reached seven on 25th and two Red-crested Pochards were seen on 27th. Another Garganey was at the Dump Pool at Maldon from 30th. Elsewhere some diligent survey work by Martin Peers has revealed 11 Spotted Flycatcher, ten Turtle Dove, 26 Corn Bunting and seven Yellow Wagtail territories at sites from Chrishall on the north-west chalk to Wormingford along the Stour Valley . We should all take heart that these species are still holding on in the county. June 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: Always a quiet month but exceptionally so this year with scant early wader passage with Whimbrel (17th), Avocet (two on 3rd and a single on 21st), Spotted Redshank (25th) and seven Black-tailed Godwits (28th). Marsh Harriers continued to be reported and Yellow-legged Gulls were in double figures by month end along with our first June record of Caspian Gull on 28th. Star of the month was the unseasonal female Red-breasted Merganser that frequented Aveley bay from 15th to 27th. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Two Quail were found on 2nd with singing males in the Mardyke and Roding valleys. A late Wheatear was in the Ingrebourne (3rd) and two pair of Spotted Flycatchers were breeding in Stapleford Tawney. A Hoopoe was seen briefly at Fairlop Waters CP on 16th with Wood Sandpiper there the same day. Another Wood Sandpiper was on Wanstead Flats the previous day. A Long-eared Owl was seen in the Mardyke and three Ravens kronked over Romford on 20th. Elsewhere a Great White Egret flew north over South Woodford on 11th with a Black Tern the same day on the Royal Albert Dock while the regular summering Ruddy Shelduck returned to Barking Bay on 19th. Grey Partridges at Navestock on 6th were notable and early dispersal was highlighted by a Siskin at Bedfords Park (22nd) and a Redstart in the Roding Valley (26th). There were eight Red Kite sightings between 6th and 29th. South-east Essex : A Spoonbill lingered at Wat Tyler CP from 4th-8th and Grasshopper Warblers showed well on Two Tree Island and at RSPB Vange Marshes. The RSPB reserve also hosted up to three Garganey from 7th along with up to six Spotted Redshank by the 26th. Shallow water also attracted eight Green Sandpipers, two Greenshank and two Wood Sandpipers (26th) and a male Ruff (27th). A 2nd year Caspian Gull was at Tewke's Creek on 30th and by the 15th there were already 36 Med Gulls along the Southend Seafront. Red Kites were seen over South Fambridge (3rd) and Paglesham Lagoon (7th). North-east Essex : Frinton saw a passage of 38 Gannet, seven Fulmar and two Manx Shearwaters on 12th with a Shag there on 27th and four Med Gulls south on 28th. Mid & East Essex : RSPB Old Hall Marshes hosted six Spoonbills on 12th with two still on 27th when 12 Spotted Redshanks and a Garganey were also seen. Abberton Reservoir could only muster three Hobbies, greenshank and Little Gull on 12th while a Spotted Flycatcher in Hylands Park on 13th was the only one reported. A few Turtle Doves were heard purring across the county but a Stone Curlew over Doddinghurst on 1st was probably the month's rarity! Red Kites: Seventeen more Red Kites added themselves to the year tally across the county. They must be breeding in Essex somewhere!
May 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: Most of the action took place in the first two days of the month before cold northerly conditions prevailed for the next two weeks. Little Stint, Sanderlings and and 17 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen on the 2nd along with three smart Black Terns and a brief Red-rumped Swallow. Turnstones were seen on the 9th and 25th with Sanderlings again on 18th (four) and 25th along with another Little Stint. Garganey dropped in on 1st and 25th and the first Shoveler and Gadwall broods were recorded while four Scoter flew up river on 9th. Smaller passage migrants were scarce with a few Wheatears, three Whinchats (1st), Turtle Dove (27th) and Spotted Flycatcher (26th). A Spoonbill eluded the dawn chorus walkers and left as they did on 23rd while a Raven was seen on 18th and 20th. Marsh Harriers and Buzzards were seen each day along with the Peregrines and up to eight agile Hobbies. Seven Red Kites moved through from 17th and a ringtail Monty was seen on 4th. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Wader passage was minimal with highlights confined to the new Langridge Scrape in the Lee Valley that hosted Wood Sandpiper (10th) and Temminck's Stint (15th) as well as a male Garganey (13th). Three night-time Whimbrel were heard over Harold Wood. A Turnstone was seen on the Lockwood and KGV and the latter site hosted Arctic Skua and Little Tern on 2nd. On the same day a Wood Warbler was in song at Fishers Green. Nightingales and Grasshopper Warblers were in their usual haunts and a Firecrest was singing at Dagnam Park on 10th. Turtle Doves were seen at several sites but most were probably transient birds. Fifty-six Stock Doves at Walthamstow Reservoirs on 7th was exceptional for the location. A Spoonbill toured the area with sightings over the Ingrebourne (14th), Seventy Acres lake (16th), Hornchurch (17th) and Grays (23rd). A Great White Egret flew up the Roding at Abridge on 31st while the only Quail was in song at Orsett Fen on 19th. Three Tree pipits were found in song in Thorndon CP but only one in Epping Forest . A grey Gyr was seen well on Millenium Mills by the Royal Docks on 9th before climbing high and north and 11 Red Kite sightings were made between 11th and 30th. South-east Essex : Gunners Park hosted one of the star birds of May with a Red-rumped Swallow on 2nd. A Black Redstart was seen there on 4th and 12th when a an Osprey was also seen. River watching off Canvey produced a Bonxie, five Kittiwakes and nine Gannets on 2nd and 18 Scoet and a fulmar on 16th but was otherwise quiet. On the new RSPB West Canvey Marshes reserve a Woodchat graced the site on 18th with a pair of Black-necked Grebes there from 4th, Caspian Gull (7th) and Spotted Flycatcher (10th). Nearby RSPB Vange Marshes held a male Garganey from 3rd and Marsh Harriers were regularly seen. A Spoonbill was over Wallasea on 3rd and a Golden oriole sang at Canewdon on 24th. There were many Red Kite sightings and two Honey Buzzards were over Wat Tyler CP on 23rd. North-east Essex : A female Montagu's harrier was seen at St Osyth on 11th and a Spoonbill was at Holland Haven on 6th but there were no migrants of note anywhere at all... Frinton saw 183 Whimbrel go north offshore on 7th along with 127 Bar-tailed Godwit and 22 Knot and another 85 Whimbrel on 13th and a Bonxie on 16th. Mid & East Essex : RSPB Old Hall Marshes held up to three Spoonbills all month and there was a good count of 173 Whimbrel on 2nd and a Garganey there on 9th. Three Black Terns were seen on 24th. A Red-rumped Swallow was at Chigborough lake on 2nd along with a Black-necked Grebe and a Hoopoe was seen at The Hythe and Wivenhoe on 3rd and 4th. Abberton Reservoir was very quiet bar an influx on Med Gulls, 3000 Swifts (11th) and a Spoonbill (10th).Hanningfield reservoir managed three Black Terns on 13th. A male Nightjar through a garden in Tollshunt Knights on 28th was probably surprise of the month. Red Kites in Essex May 2010 A separate paragraph is needed for Red Kites this month; simply astonishing from an Essex perspective with 47 report totalling 62 individuals from across the county. Most were singles but there were three groups of two, three groups of three and four once. Obviously there will be some duplication. The geographical spread was in a band running from the south west to north east of the county but with so few birders in the west and north-west sectors just how many really went through? There was only one record prior to the 11th; on the 3rd at Howe Green followed by a noticeable push on the 23rd, 24th and 31st.
April 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: The first week of April was one to be remembered with Hoopoe (4th), Alpine Swift (5th) and Black-winged Stilt (8th) stealing the show with an accompaniment of Garganey and Ring Ouzel on the 6th. Things took a while to get going but when they did there were migrants everywhere. Three more Garganey were seen from 24th and Ouzels were also seen on 17th, 18th (three) and 20th. The common warblers were all seen including six singing Grasshoppers and a staggering 22 male Cetti's Warblers. There was a smattering of Wheatears and Whinchats were seen on 21st and 24th while both redstart species were recorded with Blacks on 10th and 18th and a fine male Common on 23rd. A Nightingale sang briefly on 24th and 25th and the first Swifts were around from 19th. A Serin jingled westwards on 18th and another Alpine Swift was seen the same day along with the first Tree Pipit for the year. Our pair of Marsh Harriers continued to be seen on and off and several others moved through along with many Buzzards. Ten were seen on 21st alone! The first Hobby arrived and a huge un-jessied female Saker was seen clutching a Black-headed Gull at great height on the 18th while a tiny (by comparison) male Peregrine dive bombed it! A female Goshawk was seen on the 24th. A few Common terns and several Arctic were noted in the last week. There was some evidence of wader passage with up to 11 Whimbrel by the 25th, Spotted Redshank (24th-25th), odd single Greenshank (including one that was killed by a Peregrine), Bar-tailed Godwit (11th-12th), seven Ruff (12th), Knot (4th-5th) and Wood Sandpiper (22nd). Also on the move were four Scoter and an unseasonal male Goosander (11th). Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : There was some good bird raptor passage in April with no less than seven reports of at least eight Red Kites from the 8th-21st. Goshawks were reported from Woodford Green (5th and 21st), Sewardstone (6th), and Walthamstow (17th) while a Black Kite was seen over Chingford on 19th. Ospreys were seen over Harold Hill (1st), Seventy Acres Lake (3rd), Cranham and Walthamstow (4th) and the Ingrebourne Valley and then Dagenham Chase (23rd). Marsh Harriers lingered in the Ingrebourne Valley and were probably commuting from Rainham Marshes and 44 Cetti's warblers were reported singing there. Three Cranes geaded east over Holyfield Hall Farm on 12th and a Black-tailed Godwit was on the nearby Goosefields on 15th. A Glossy Ibis was seen high over Hainault on 22nd but did not land. Elsewhere an Alpine Swift entertained in Warren Gorge from 3rd-5th and six Scoter were on the Banbury Reservoir on 1st. The Great Northern Diver was still on the KGV Reservoir on 7th and the site hosted a Hoopoe (19th), Spanish Blue-headed Wagtail and Arctic Tern (20th), Black Tern (23rd), 62 Little Gulls (24th) with 21 the next day with 120 Common Terns. A male Ring Ouzel was at Sewardstone on 2nd-3rd with others at Holyfield Hall Farm (4th) and on Wanstead Flats on 18th, 21st and 22nd. The Flats did very well in April with Redstart (7th and 21st), Tree Pipits (15th, 20th, 22nd and three on 26th), Whinchat on 20th, 22nd and 26th and a great site rarity on 21st with a Dunlin! Another Tree Pipit was seen at Fairlop (17th) and Hooded Crow over Leyton (8th) was unseasonal. Late wintering thrushes were still around with seven Fieldfare in Epping Forest (15th) and 19 at Stapleford Tawney (18th) and four Redwings in the Ingrebourne (17th) and an even later one in Dagnam Park (22nd). South-east Essex : East Tilbury had a good day on 4th with Osprey, Merlin, Ring Ouzel and Garganey. Another Garganey was on RSPB Vange Marshes (14th-15th) and a pair were at Fleet Head from 17th. A Crane flew over Canvey on 21st and a late Jack Snipe was at Fleet Head on 9th. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were seen at Norsey Woods and Hockley and a Black Redstart was at Gunners Park for a few days from the 1st. The only Whinchat was on RSPB Canvey West Marshes on 25th. Nightingales were heard at several localities including two on Two Tree Island and Grasshopper Warblers were heard at RSPB Vange Marshes, South Woodham Ferrers, Fleet Head, Buttesbury Wash, Canewden and five on Two Tree Island. A male Red-backed Shrike was seen at East Tilbury on 23rd and at Buttesbury Wash on 25th-26th. North-east Essex : A colour-ringed Firecrest was seen in a St Osyth garden on 4th with a Ring Ouzel in the same spot on 9th and three more at nearby Howlands Marsh on 19th. An Alpine Swift whizzed north through Holland Haven on 7th. Seawatching off Frinton gave an early Hobby (8th), two Sandwich Terns (11th), a good passage of Whimbrel with 44 on 16th, 24 on 18th and 30 on the 19th. Ten Fulmars were logged on both 19th and 22nd with eight Little Gulls on 24th. An Osprey was over Kirby and Hamford Water on 20th. Mid & East Essex : Down on the Colne the Spoonbill at Fingringhoe was joined by another from 18th. The first Nightingales were in there on 3rd with 20 males by the 20th. A Turtle Dove was seen there the same day. At Alresford 800 Black-tailed Godwitsand two Spotted Redshanks were seen on 3rd. A Crane flew over Colchester on 13th and three were seen the same day over Frating while another was over Mersea on 18th. Quite a few waders were seen at the Hythe and a Caspian Gull was there on 10th. An Osprey was seen over Chelmsford (3rd) and Ouzels were at Fryerning (16th) and Boreham *25th). Goshawks were seen displaying over Friday Woods and two Honey Buzzards were over Abberton Reservoir on 25th and singles on 27th over flew Wivenhoe and Braintree . Abberton Reservoir was pretty quiet but had a good smattering of summer migrants along with a stunning Aythya hybrid from 6th, Slavonian Grebe (9th) and Garganey (18th). A Hawfinch was a good find in Danbury (12th) and a Black-necked Grebe was at Lofts Farm till 22nd at least with two Little Gulls there on 6th. At Heybridge 940 Redshanks were counted on 5th and 100 Corn Buntings were at nearby Limbourne Creek the same day. At RSPB Old Hall Marshes 106 Whimbrel and a male Brambling were seen on 18th and the 25th saw Turtle Dove, Nightingale and Garganey on site. Red Kites in April: Another fantastic month for Kites with 20 reported from across the county. The trend is still upwards for this enigmatic species. March 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: A fairly typical March with a mixture of winter visitors and the first trickle of summer migrants heading north. Gulls were still being scrutinised and three more Glaucous Gulls and several new Caspians were discovered. Our run of winter wildfowl continued when two adult Bewick's Swans dropped in on 7th and three fly-by White-fronted Geese on 10th completed the goose set as well! Wigeon reached a winter high of 911 on 14th and the Great Crested Grebes were already displaying. Four species of owl were encountered including four Short-eareds and an elusive Long-eared and the pair of Marsh Harriers are still around. An early Osprey was chased through on 20th and a Red Kite was seen on 29th. Little Egrets got frisky and a Great White Egret spent just a few minutes on the marsh on 13th. The first migrant was a Little Ringed Plover on 13th and up to five were seen subsequently. Greenshank (14th), Little Stint (7th) and bobbing Jack Snipe (24th-25th) hinted at northbound wader passage while from further south the first Sand Martins, Swallows and Wheatears arrived followed by an early Willow Warbler (18th) and a fine male Ring Ouzel (27th-28th). Up to seven smashing Water Pipits were on the Barges late ion the month. Surprise of the month was the brief return of a Penduline Tit on 13th-14th. Metropolitan Essex (LNHS area): The Lee Valley saw a good number of wildfowl on the reservoirs with Slavonian Grebe at Walthamstow (till 1st), Velvet Scoter, Shag, Great Northern Diver and 20 Black-necked Grebes on the Girling on the 9th. The Scoter stayed till 23rd. Fifteen Brents were on the KGV on 18th. Up to six Smew were still to be found around Seventy Acres with two more in the east at Mollands Lane along with a Scaup on 3rd. The female Red-crested Pochard and three White-fronted Geese remained in the Ingrebourne Valley with the former being joined by a stunning drake from 26th. The two Pink-feet from Rainham were relocated at Belhus Woods CP on 7th and stayed till 14th. A Bittern remained at Seventy Acres till mid month. Fairlop Waters held Corn Bunting (6th), Jack Snipe (16th), female Garganey (19th) and male Goshawk (20th) while a staggering 34 Cetti's Warblers were in song in the Ingrebourne on 28th. A male Goosander flew through the same day and was a new bird for the site. Two Cranes were seen over the Girling reservoir on 10th and Red Kites were seen on several dates with two on 14th, two on 15th, four on 21st and three on 26th. Ravens were reported over Ilford and the Roding Valley . Firecrests continued to be seen at Havering-atte-Bower and Bedfords Park and the latter site also had a fly over Crossbill on the 7th. Migrants started to trickle in late in the month although the first Sand Martin was over the Girling on the 9th. The first Wheatears were at Walthamstow and Wanstead on the 18th with three Little Ringed Plovers the same day in the Ingrebourne where a Penduline Tit was reported on 15th. Star bird was the dashing Alpine Swift that paid several brief visits to Leyton Flats on 22nd. South-east Essex: Relatively quiet in the south-east sector although favourites such as the Firecrests and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at Hockley and the Ring-billed Gull at Westcliff (till 20th) were well visited. RSPB Vange Marshes held a good variety of waders including 142 Black-tailed Godwits and a flock of 14 Ruff and a Water Pipit was there for most of March. An immature Iceland Gull was seen there on 13th while an adult Caspian was at Holehaven the same day. Another Caspian was with Rossi at Westcliff on 13th-14th. A Great Northern Diver was seen off Canvey sporadically and a single Purple Sandpiper was on Southend Pier till the 12th. East Tilbury was very good on the 2nd with 900 Avocet, 150 Snipe and two Jack Snipe while at nearby Mucking three different Glaucous Gulls were seen along with a ringtail Hen Harrier (13th) and a Crane (12th). A Waxwing paid a brief visit to a Hockley garden (3rd) and the first returning Wheatears and Sand Martins made an appearance by the 18th. A drake Garganey followed at Fobbing (23rd) with the first Sandwich Tern off Gunners Park (24th). Red kites were reported over Billericay on 26th and 27th. A Red-necked Grebe was off Ramsey Marsh on 1st and there was a smattering of migrants on the Dengie with three Black Redstarts on 21st, three Firecrests and a Wheatear on 18th and a Common Swift (not Pallid!) on 28th. North-east Essex: Howlands Marsh hosted five White-fronts and a single Pink-foot on 3rd while down the road at Thorrington a flock of 200 Brents held a single Black Brant and nine White-fronts on 12th. A Red Kite drifted over Horsley Cross Street on 15th and Black redstarts were seen at Holland Haven (22nd), Great Holland (23rd) and at Wigboro Wick (26th). Holland Haven also hosted 19 Avocet on 28th. Frinton enjoyed some good seawatching with 17 Red-throated Divers and 68 Scoter on the 1st and a fantastic diver passage on 13th with 112 Red-throats, two Black-throats and a county record 25 Great Northern. Two Slavonian Grebes and 299 Cormorants were also logged heading north. A pair of Garganey flew through on 22nd and the first Wheatear (18th) and Sandwich Tern (19th) for the area this year were noted. An Alpine Swift hurtled over Walton on 22nd and was briefly seen at The Naze the following day. Mid & East Essex: The Colne held Spoonbill and female Scaup at Fingringhoe (12th), Red Kite over Old Heath and 80 Yellowhammers at Alresford (1st) while on Mersea Island there were 11 Waxwings (2nd), three Snow Bunting (till 5th) and a Black-necked Grebe (13th). Looking off the west end of the island into the Blackwater produced five Slavonian Grebes (5th) and up to six Great Northern Divers (13th). RSPB Old Hall Marshes held two male Scaup, male Eider and Smew on 9th and three Little Stints moved between there and Abbotts Hall. There was little sign of spring at Abberton but up to five Black-necked Grebes (20th) and a single Slavonian Grebe were seen along with two Red-crested Pochard (22nd). Five Smew lingered till 9th and 13 Goosander were around on 15th. Two White-fronts were still present on 26th. A few Martins drifted through including the first House on 30th and a Little Ringed Plover arrived on 18th. Red Kites were seen on 22nd and 28th. Hanningfield Reservoir had a good spell with Marsh Harriers on several dates and a ringtail Hen Harrier on 23rd-25th. A Red Kite flew through the following day. A Kittiwake was seen on 31st and 200 Fieldfare on 14th were notable.
February 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: The wildfowl theme from January continued throughout February with the two Tundra Bean Geese dropping in again on 6th, 13th and 14th and two Pink-feet arriving the next day till 17th. Twenty Brents were seen on 7th and Pintail peaked at 31 on 10th. The obliging Slavonian Grebe from the end of January was inexplicably found freshly dead on 8th. Gull watching produced about eight different Caspian Gulls and Iceland on 12th and Glaucous on 13th. Med Gulls were seen regularly and a Little Gull was caught up with a huge movement of Black-headed Gulls on 28th. Yellow-legged Gulls peaked at 24 on the foreshore with many smart adults. There were no wader surprises but a Turnstone was new on 3rd and a Jack Snipe was seen on 15th. A female Marsh Harrier was seen on 4th and a male showed very well on 27th while the Peregrines put on daily acrobatic performances. The two Serins stayed till 24th and a Penduline Tit showed closely for a few minutes on 15th before heading north. Two Bearded Tits were heard on the 12th and the Barn Owl was out all day on the 4th but appeared to have a damaged leg and was not seen subsequently. Metropolitan (LHNS) Essex : The Great Northern Diver on the Girling Reservoir was present till at least the 19th with the Black-throated till 17th. Up to 19 Black-necked Grebes and a Red-breasted Merganser were also seen there. A Red-necked Grebe was also there on 19th which with a Slavonian Grebe available at Walthamstow Reservoirs from 15th meant that all five grebes were available in the Lee Valley on the same day. Up to seven Smew were in the Seventy Acres Lake area with about the same of Goosander while two more Smew remained at Mollands Lane, South Ockenden along with a Black-necked Grebe (3rd-8th). This area also held a ringtail Hen Harrier (3rd) and two Bitterns (3rd) while other Bitterns were seen in the Ingrebourne and at least three at Seventy Acres Lake . A female Red-crested Pochard arrived in the Ingrebourne Valley (along with thee White-fronted Geese) on 6th and a male was seen in the Roding Valley the same day. The White-fronts stayed in the valley all month and were joined by the Rainham Pink-feet on 19th and 20th. A Brent Goose was a good find at Fairlop Waters on 12th. Weald Park still held 23 Goosanders on 17th and a Scaup was seen on Walthamstow on 5th. This site held the rarity for the month with the first London record of Dusky Warbler that was found on 14th and showed well on and off till 21st. Well done Lol! The adult Med Gull continued to show well in Valentines Park . Winter finches were scarce with several small flocks of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls, two Mealies (Harold Court Wood on 3rd-8th and Fairlop on 15th) and only one Brambling (Upminster on 21st). Seven Crossbills were around Thorndon CP. Firecrests still made a good showing with nine reported with most in the Bedfords Park / Havering area. Blackcaps were similarly widespread again. South-east Essex : The Red-breasted Goose first seen in January reappeared in February on Wakering Stairs on 7th but despite checking the 3000 strong flock regularly in the area, it was not seen again. The same day saw 180 White-fronts head over the Stairs. Wallasea Island continued to host two wintering Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stint along with 37 White-fronts on 6th. At least three ringtail and one male Hen Harrier were reported between South Fambridge , Wallasea, Potton and the Stairs. Paglesham Lagoon held two Scaup till 14th and a Smew on 6th while the eight Bewick's Swans present from the 3rd were probably part of the South Fambridge flock that had reached 13 by 25th along with a single Whooper and 56 Mutes. This latter site also held a showy Red-necked Grebe (9th-14th) and Snow Bunting (14th-17th). A single Pink-footed Goose was with Greylags on Potton on 25th. Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver were off the Stairs on 14th with two Slavs and 49 Great Crested Grebes off Shoebury on 12th. Another Slav was still on Two Tree Island on 14th and the bird at Wat Tyler was present till at least 17th. Yet another was at East Tilbury from 5th. RSPB Vange Marshes hosted an adult Iceland Gull on 1st-2nd and a 1st year on 14th-15th. Two Caspian Gulls were seen there on 20th and Spoonbill dropped in on 2nd. Sixteen Ruff on 15th was a high count. Riverwatching off Canvey produced Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern and Black-throated Divers on 13th and 49 Gannets on 28th. Southend Pier was fairly quiet although at Purple Sandpiper, Red-necked Grebe (12th) and several Great Northerns were seen. The seafront produced another Purple Sandpiper with 550 Turnstone on the 21st and 41 Med Gulls and Rossi the Ring-billed were also counted that day. The three Shorelarks continued to be seen sporadically at East Tilbury till 10th and male Hen Harrier was seen on 4th along with Black Redstart (till 16th) and three Little Gulls (16th). Two Firecrests persisted at Hockley Woods where three Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were also to be found along with two Crossbills (14th). Two Waxwings were seen in Leigh on 16th and a Hawfinch was seen near Ingrave on 23rd. Abberton Reservoir: With limited access due to the re-shaping of the reservoir things were fairly quiet with peaks of nine Smew (14th) and eight Goosanders (14th), two Scaup from 8th-20th, three Tundra Bean Geese (6th), two White-fronted Geese (8th-20th), six Whooper Swans (14th-15th), Bittern (14th & 20th), Great Northern Diver (15th), Woodcock (17th) and three Turnstones (4th). North-east Essex: The Stour continued to hold a good selection of wintering specialities with three Great Northern Divers, Black-necked Grebes, 30 Great Crested Grebes, 30 Red-breasted Mergansers and three Scaup on 13th alone and Red-necked Grebe on 21st. Holland Haven was quiet but held three Pink-feet and two Purple Sandpipers on 19th while the St Osyth / Colne Point area had two Grey Partridge, two Hen Harriers and 28 White-fronts (6th), Jack Snipe (19th) and Black Brant and Richard's Pipit (20th). Seawatching off Frinton was very quiet with just a Bonxie of note on 26th and the continued presence of the Nordic Jackdaw on the greensward. Mid & East Essex : On the Colne the Spoonbill was seen again on Geedon Saltings on 8th and 14th and Avocets peaked at about 400. Inland up the Colne Valley there were encouraging reports of singing Marsh Tits and a Scaup was at The Grove, Wormingford on 25th. Another Scaup was at Lofts Farm from 14th and a Red-crested Pochard was there on 21st. RSPB Old Hall Marshes held 29 White-fronts and a single Black Brant on 7th while the 14th produced nine White-fronts, 18 Barnacles, 29 Little Grebes, eight Spotted Redshanks, Hen Harrier and Merlin. Six Great Northern Divers on this date probably account for other records off Mersea and Tollesbury but only one Slavonian was reported. The only bird of note from Hanningfield was an Avocet on 16th while in Doddinghurst 80 Yellowhammers and 250 Fieldfare were seen on 6th. Waxwings were seen in Colchester (19th) and on Mersea (two on 26th). January 2010 RSPB Rainham Marshes: 2010 got off to a great start with all the goodies from the end of December making it to January 1st with both Serins and the Great Skua performing well. The Buzzard and female Marsh Harrier lingered and Merlins were seen on three dates while up to six Peregrines have been around. The Short-eared Owls showed well on occasion and the Barn owl survived the cold and started showing well. Two Bitterns were seen on the 1st with other sightings on 2nd, 21st and 28th. The cold weather brought in three Mergansers (10th), Ruddy Duck (15th), three Scoter (25th) and Goldeneye (6th and two 18th) to the Thames . Three Brents on 12th were the precursor for 22 on 21st when 71 Pink-feet headed east and two Tundra Bean Geese dropped out of the flock and spent the rest of the month on the reserve. Fiver Whooper Swans were tracked across the region on 23rd and ended up roosting infront of the visitors centre where they stayed until 0750 the following morning. One was colour-ringed so we await details! Up to five Jack Snipe were seen and Woodcock became a daily occurrence and two Bar-tailed Godwits and 11 Grey Plover were on the foreshore along with a single Knot from 26th. A flock of 28 Knot were seen the next day! The Ruff flock peaked at six and 30 Oystercatcher (15th) were not only unseasonal but a site record. Gull watching proved an excellent choice for the month with no less than four juvenile Glaucous Gulls, an adult Iceland (22nd & 26th), several Meds and upwards of 20 Caspian Gulls for those with patience. A Slavonian Grebe was found in a ditch on 24th and dazzled people into February. Up to 200 Skylark were found wintereing and two Woodlarks were seen on 17th while Lapland (5th), 11 Corn and up to three Yellowhammers made it a good bunting month. The Serins stayed all month and the Bearded Tits returned for another photo session. Like elsewhere the reserve with full of thrushes during the snow. Metropolitan (LNHS) Essex : Bitterns were obvious in January with at least five in the Seventy Acres Lake area, three in the Ingrebourne Valley and singles at Weald Park, Walthamstow Reservoirs and Grange Waters. At least four more were in the Herts section of the Lee Valley . The Wm Girling Reservoir hosted two Great Northern Divers for most of the month and they were joined on 17th by a Black-throated Diver and all stayed till at least the 24th. Black-necked grebes peaked here at 25 and the female Merganser was seen most days. There were also sightings also of Scaup and seven Brent Geese (21st). Six more Scaup flew past Lee Mouth on 10th and another was at North Woolwich on 9th. Walthamstow Reservoirs also hosted both Scaup and two Black-necked Grebes from 24th. A huge count of 694 Tufted Ducks was made on the Thames at Creekmouth on 9th. Smew in the Lee Valley were mobile but at least three male and four redhead were seen with others at Belhus Woods CP, Grange Waters, Connaught Water and the Ingrebourne Valley . About 20 Goosander were around Seventy Acres and another 25 were in Weald Park on 23rd. Six Bewick's Swans flew over the KGV and Waltham Abbey on 9th and five adult Whoopers were tracked down the Lee Valley from Holyfield lake, over Walthamstow, down to the Thames at Crossness before heading to RSPB Rainham Marshes to roost. Mandarin peaked at 85 on Connaught Water and another 12 were in Gidea Park on 22nd. Goldeneye were in the Ingrebourne Valley (3rd) and Wanstead Park . Both the regular Caspian and Med Gulls were seen at their respective haunts of KGV Dock and Valentines Park . Red Kites were seen over Hooks Marsh (8th) and Lambourne End (23rd) and male Merlins were seen at Claybury and Ingrebourne (5th) and Aveley(12th). A Short-eared Owl at Gunpowder Park was a good Lee valley record and a Long-eared was encountered at South Weald. Up to 35 Siskin were counted in Weald Park with a similar number of Lesser Redpolls at nearby Harold Court Wood attracting at least one Mealy. Small groups of Yellowhammers were found in the Havering-atte-Bower area and a Corn Bunting at Risebridge GC in Romford was the first in the area for seven years. At least 16 Firecrests were recorded and about 30 Blackcaps were seen in gardens and parks. A Black Redstart on a Chafford Hundred garden on 9th was surprise. South-east Essex : Wat Tyler CP and RSPB Vange Marshes hosted a good selection of birds during January with a Bittern on 9th and a fine Slavonian Grebe from 23rd. Three Jack Snipe were put up and Spotted Redshanks and Greenshanks were regular. A Spoonbill dropped in on 31st and 265 Wigeon were counted on 27th when two Glaucous Gulls were reported. An immature Iceland-type was seen on 7th. Elsewhere in south Essex over 20 Caspians, ad Ring-billed, immature Kumlien's three Glaucous and an adult Iceland were seen at a private site while another similar location held two more Glaucous Gulls on 21st. Another Caspian was seen at Two Tree Island on 1st along with Spotted Redshank and a male Merlin. Hen Harriers were prominent with at least one male touring the Crouch, Wakering and Wallasea area while Red Kites were seen over Corringham (8th), North Fambridge (18th), Rayleigh Mount (21st), leigh (24th) and Ashingdon (26th). Canvey was quiet with just a Bonxie and Eider on the 9th of note while the Ring-billed Gull continued to show at Westcliff with a fine Black-throated diver often just off shore as well. Southend Pier held at least seven Great Northern Divers on 5h (and six on 17th) along with 70 Great Crested Grebes and Purple Sandpiper on 15th. A Black-necked Grebe was also seen off Westcliff on that date. A Spoonbill was seen at Leigh (10th) and Wakering (14th). A drake American Wigeon was on the Crouch on 4th. It is difficult to keep tabs on the wild swan reports but the peak counts received were of up to 12 Bewick's and a Whooper at South Fambridge (from 5th) and 13 on Wallasea (24th-25th) along with three Whoopers on Paglesham lagoon on 31st. Goose-watching on Wallasea on 24th proved fruitful with a much hoped for adult Red-breasted Goose amongst 3000 Dark-bellieds, two Pale-bellied and a single Black Brant. At Mucking a Bittern and ten Bewick's Swans were seen on 11th with a male Hen Harrier and 60 Corn Buntings the same day at East Tilbury where a Great Skua was also seen on 11th and 500 Avocets on 31st. A Shorelark was seen on the Mucking foreshore on 21st. Six Waxwings were reported at Pitsea Mount on 11th and four Twite were reported at Brandy Hole on the 9th along with a Water Pipit. A 1000 Skylark were on Wallasea on 10th and winter thrushes were everywhere along with many reports of Woodcock and garden based Blackcaps. North-east Essex : The Stour was productive with all the grebes, Great Northern Diver and Scaup being seen. While the Naze was quiet holding just 250 Skylark and seven Twite on 11th and 16 Snow Buntings on 22nd. Holland haven hosted Bittern and there Purple Sandpipers (11th) and 13 White-fronted Geese and a single Pink-foot from 21st. Seawatching off Frinton was pretty quiet although the 3rd saw an Iceland Gull and 12 Guillemots off shore; a Purple Sandpiper, 67 Cormorants, 33 Pinkfeet and a Snow Bunting on 7th; 1121 Brents north on 25th; 114 Red-throated Divers north on 28th with 80 north the next day along with a Bonxie. Thrushes were everywhere with a huge 5000 fieldfares in Lawford and the cold weather resulted in some impressive Woodcock hunt counts with 15 at Marskshall, 20 at Kirby and 46 at Thorpe (half of which got away!). Colne point and St Oysth held onto its Spoonbill and there were counts of 16 Snow Buntings, 180 Corn Buntings and a single Purple Sandpiper (11th). Abberton Reservoir: With work commencing on the re-landscaping and enlargement of the reservoir after the 3rd January it was a race to see as much as you could before close down. The Spotted Sandpiper was still around on 3rd but not after and generally reports were spares from the site. The Great Northern Diver was around till at least 8th and the Bittern was seen again on 10th. Smew peaked at three male and a redhead and the Whooper Swan remained throughout. The two Spoonbills returned till 3rd and a Black-necked Grebe was found on 28th. Goosander reached 18 on 18th. Bradwell Bird Observatory and the Dengie: Marsh Harriers and Merlins were a near daily occurrence with at least three of each doing the rounds along with two male and a ringtail Hen Harrier. Over 1500 Skylarks were counted on 13th and 100 Little Egrets were at Mouse House on 10th . A Dartford Warbler was seen at Weymarks on 6th . Mid & East Essex: The Colne was good in the bad weather with some unusual river records including Slavonian Grebe (3rd), pr Smew (10th) and nine on 26th, female Scaup (23rd) and 40 Goosanders (11th in Colchester). A further 19 Goosanders were in Chelmsford for most of the month and nine were in Billericay. Further Smew were seen on the river at Maldon (female 10th), Coleman's reservoir (female 18th), Ardleigh reservoir and Bourne Pond (females on 11th). The Blackwater was watched from many spots and gave monthly highs of six Great Northern Divers, eight Slavonian Grebes, 40 Mergansers and 87 Goldeneye. A male Smew frequented the Goldneye flock at Tollesbury on 3rd and on RSPB Old Hall Marshes aside from three Black Brants and a Pale–bellied Brent amongst the 200 Dark-bellieds, there were good counts of 93 Goldeneye and 31 Little Grebes (13th), Curlew Sandpiper (5th),Bittern and male Hen Harrier (18th) and four Grey Partridge, Little Stint and Whimbrel (28th). There were many Woodcock reports across the area and at least 15 wintering Blackcaps giving a total of perhaps 50 reported in the county so far this winter |