A log showing wildlife that has been seen in Southend's Parks and Gardens

  2007

Southchurch East Park Monday 26 November 2007 2 Cormorants fishing
& Kingfisher seen catching fish along North reedbed."
Southchurch Park East 9 am, 3rd Dec 2007.
2 resident Mute Swans flying in from estuary via Southchurch Park,
1 Little Egret feeding & roosting o­n pond/NW bushes, 3 Little Egret feeding in brook
1 Cormorant fishing & being chased by Swans, 8 Little Grebes, 1 Robin, Pair of Blue Tits,
6 Moorhens.

Southchurch East Park Tuesday 27 November 1 Little Egret feeding by Tidal outlet,
1 Little Egret roosting o­n North reedbed, 2 Resident Mute Swans feeding, 7 Moorhens, 8 Little Grebes,1 Cormorant fishing.


Southchurch East Park Tuesday 4 Dec 2 2007 sightings of kingfisher this afternoon.
1 cormorant made flying visit. Little egret feeding by tidal outlet. Resident swans on the water."

Southchurch East Park Tuesday  25th Dec 2007, 9.30 & 12.30 a.m.
1 Kingfisher (Male), fishing & flying across pond, 1 Little Egret o­n pond & 1 Little Egret fishing in brook, 2 resident Mute Swans, flying in from estuary, 7 Moorhens, 2 Bluetits.

2008

Southchurch Hall Gardens 3rd January 2008 10 am 1 Little Egret on the pond in the north west corner of the gardens

Southchurch Park East 2nd and 3rd January 1 Tufted Duck (Rare) o­n Southchurch Park East of pond, both days Late morning/Early afternoon. 2 Resident Mute Swans, 8 Moorhens.

Southchurch Park 19 January First winter great black backed gull on west end of lake

Southchurch Park East 8 February Copse in conservation area 1 long tailed tit seen

Southchurch Park East 9 February 1 Male Kingfisher back after 5 weeks, sunning himself on copse north of pond, then flying East to brook & willow tree at back of big houses. 7 Moorhens, 1 Coot, 6 Little Grebes, & 2 resident Mute Swans

Southchurch Park East 25th February 2008 9am, 1 Male Kingfisher fishing  from copse north of pond, then flying west to fish from kingfisher sticks. 7 Moorhens, 1 Coot, 6 Little Grebes, & 2 resident Mute Swans.

Victory Sports Ground 24 February 1030 am, one pair of fieldfare seen feeding

Southchurch Park East 15 March a green woodpecker could be heard in the copse. The cormorant is back in residence

Priory Park 21 March a Little Egret seen feeding near bridge under Priory Crescent

Cluny Square 22 March a green woodpecker seen (and heard) tapping in one of the trees opposite Cluny House

Southchurch Hall Gardens 24 March Yellow Wagtail seen around the moat on the north side of the hall

Southchurch Park East 27 March The resident swans have commenced nest building on the reed bed

Priory Park 30 March Three Little Egrets perched in the trees on the east side of the island

Southchurch Park East, 18 April 12.30 p.m.  1 Cormorant back at last fishing for eels, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel flying nth/sth, 1 Green Woodpecker calling, 6 + Bluetits & 2 Resident
Swans nesting for 2 weeks.


Southchurch Park, All day 18 April, 1 Canada goose.

Southchurch Hall Gardens 20 April pair of Canada Geese on main lake

Southchurch Park East 9 May Blue tit seen leaving outer copse birdbox; One Moorhen chick in
& around the Swan nesting area as from Wednesday (7 May)

Southchurch Park East 16 May One Heron, Cormorant fishing, Young Moorhen growing fast.

Southchurch Park East 20 May Blue tits nesting in one of the nesting boxes; reed warblers nesting. Reports received of a Black Cap being spotted in the park

Southchurch Park 4 June Yellow Wagtail seen near the Sensory Garden east of the café

Southchurch Park 15 June 7 ducklings, 2 weeks old on the lake

Southchurch Park East 27 June Fox and four cubs now residing in earth south side of lake in the vicinity of the willow

Southchurch Park East 25 July male kingfisher seen around the lake. This is about a month earlier than last year. A pair of 3 week old coots seen on the lake. The Little Egret seen in the reed bed. Evening 8 week old kitten found abandoned in undergrowth

Southchurch Park 25 July shoals of young fish, possibly sticklebacks seen in the west end of the lake

Southchurch Park 26 July Little Egret seen fishing off the island

Southchurch Park East 29 July Two ducklings hatched

Southchurch Park East 6 August Four moorhen chicks hatched - nest in reedbed using unoccupied swan nest

Southchurch Park East 19 August 1 Little Egret fishing, 2 Moorhens chicks being fed (2 lost), 1 duckling killed on Sun night/Mon morn

Southchurch Park East 1 September Kingfisher has returned to the lake; two green woodpeckers seen feeding on the grass (probably after leatherjackets); only one moorhen chick surviving now. Little Egrets are regular visitors to the lake.

Southchurch Park East 8 September 2008 Kingfisher seen about the lake for about 10 minutes

Southchurch Park East 11 October 2008 three Little Egrets seen adjacent to the reeds on the north bank of the lake. These were then joined by a fourth Little Egret that had been close to the sluice gates on the west side.

2009

Southchurch Hall Gardens 13 April Some coots have arrived - wildfowl arriving early this year

Southchurch Park East 15 April A pair of Blue Tits have taken up residence in the nesting box adjacent to the garages

Southchurch Park East 21 April 2009  Four ducklings arrived on Sunday at S.East & four Coot chicks

Southchurch Park East 3 May 2009 The Reed Warblers are back in the park

Southchurch Park 7 May A family of blackbirds have taken up residence in the hole in the old woodpecker tree

Southchurch Park East 15 May Four Coots chicks are 4wks old now. The Reed warblers returned 2nd May & are noisy & nesting. The Swallows & Swifts have now returned. Also their is an even larger team of adults & kids looking out for the Swans this year.

Southchurch Hall Gardens 22 August An Egyptian Goose has taken up residence in the gardens (see gallery)

2010

Southchurch Park East 9 January flock of fieldfare feeding