STROOD WHEATEAR

The wheatear was seen again along the Strood seawall on Thursday 30th - enjoying its pause here on its migration journey south now for its sixth day.

There were lots of small birds feeding in the fields which included 100 linnets, 12 corn buntings, 12 reed buntings, 20 meadow pipits, ten goldfinches, 30 skylarks and five stonechats.

The male kestrel was perched on a tree-top by the Strood seawall on Thursday. Three marsh harriers were also noted during the walk.

A flock of 150 knot flew onto the Strood mud to feed having flown in from the Pyefleet channel direction. There was a nice variety of wader flocks along the Strood which included 100 golden plover, 100 redshank, 48 oystercatchers, 36 avocets, 52 dunlin, 50 grey plover and 50 black-tailed godwits. Duck numbers increasing with 200 wigeon, 100 teal, 24 shelduck, also 70 brent geese and 22 little grebes.

Three clouded yellows were seen on the wing along the inside of the Strood seawall on Thursday when the sun shone. A brown hare was seen running through one of the weedy fields.

A woodlark was heard by Chris Poole on Thursday morning as it flew high east over Fairhaven Avenue calling but not seen.

At Cudmore Grove four siskins were in the back garden of Mollie Kirk's bungalow on Thursday afternoon. Two greenfinches and five goldfinches also seen in that area by Steve Entwistle.

On a very wet Wednesday 29th there were several finches feeding in the Firs Chase garden including five goldfinches, six chaffinches and two greenfinches. A chiffchaff and goldcrest were seen among a mixed tit flock as they passed through the garden. Late afternoon the ring-necked parakeet was heard squawking from nearby gardens in Firs Chase.

A blackcap was calling in Feldy View on Wednesday morning. Only birds noted during a brief and wet look at the Strood included 20 avocets, ten black-tailed godwits, 50 brent geese and a stonechat.

The Strood wheatear was again very confiding along the seawall on a sunny Tuesday 28th.

A clouded yellow was seen flying past the wheatear.

The wheatear seemed to like the section of seawall opposite an old pear tree, where there's quite a lot of bare soil to find insects to feed on. Four stonechats were also seen near the seawall while in the weedy fields was a flock of 70 linnets. Two rock pipits were feeding along the saltmarsh edge below the seawall.

A merlin was watched as it crossed the Strood channel, then flew fast and low over the fields heading south-west. A marsh harrier was also noted over Ray Island.

A flock of 31 avocets was having a rest from feeding on Tuesday along the Strood channel. Also noted were 200 golden plovers, 100 black-tailed godwits, 200 wigeon, 100 teal and 70 brent geese.

Three siskins were seen flying north-west past the Dabchicks and a single siskin flew west over the Firs Chase garden on Tuesday.

Offshore from the Esplanade on Tuesday was a red-throated diver seen by Andy Field.

On Monday 27th the wheatear was still feeding along the Strood seawall, also noted during the walk were two stonechats, rock pipit, 100 brent geese, 100 wigeon, 20 little grebes, 36 avocets, 30 oystercatchers, 20 shelduck and 30 golden plover. Three redpolls flew west past the Dabchicks sailing club.

On a sunny Sunday 26th three chiffchaffs were feeding in the overgrown corner beside the Firs Chase caravan park.

The wheatear was seen again for its second day along the Strood seawall on Sunday.  Three stonechats and two rock pipits were also noted near the seawall.

There were 32 avocets feeding along the Strood channel on Sunday, ten Mediterranean gulls, 30 golden plover, 20 shelduck, 70 brent geese, also a Sandwich tern, marsh harrier and a skein of 24 greylag geese flying over.

A clouded yellow was along the Strood seawall on Sunday.

A ringtail hen harrier was seen by Ed Bateman flying in front of the East Mersea Oyster Fishery on Sunday, and a guillemot seen in the Colne.

Good numbers of wood pigeons were seen flying west over West Mersea by Martin Cock on Sunday morning.

A Sprawler moth in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 28th, seems quite a scarce moth on the island with only two previous records in twenty years - in 2009 and 2016.

The first Green-brindled Crescent of the autumn on 28th.

Black Rustic

LATE WHEATEAR

A wheatear along the Strood seawall on Saturday 25th was a late autumn migrant for the island. Before this individual, the last wheatear seen on the Island was a fortnight previously. 

Also seen along the Strood seawall were Sandwich tern, common tern, male pochard flying down channel, 150 brent geese and 20 shelduck. A large squadron of 200+ cormorants flew north-west over the Pyefleet towards Abberton reservoir, three buzzards were over Bower Hall.

Three stonechats, two rock pipits and forty linnets were noted too.

One of four chiffchaffs seen beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Saturday, also a goldcrest heard too.

Carrie Horwood visited Feldy View and the path beside the Firs caravan park on Saturday and saw a black redstart, 6 siskins, goldcrest and chiffchaff.

Michael Thorley saw a ringtail hen harrier by the Strood on Saturday afternoon.

A song thrush was in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday.

At Cudmore Grove two red squirrels were seen by Daniel Woollard on Saturday munching on hawthorn berries in the garden of his bungalow.

On Friday 24th there were, 15 goldfinches, five chiffchaffs and a goldcrest in the Feldy View area. In a brief visit to the Strood channel, three stonechats, rock pipit, 15 shelduck, 30 avocets were noted.

On a windy and wet Thursday 23rd, four redwing and a goldcrest were the only birds of interest near the Firs Chase caravan park.

Martin Cock reported seeing two Sandwich terns and six great crested grebes offshore from the Esplanade on Thursday.

A mobile black redstart was found by Andy Field in the Brickhouse Close area of West Mersea on Wednesday 22nd. Andy managed this record shot as it perched on a roof of one of the houses.

A pair of stonechats photographed by Andy along the Strood seawall on Wednesday.

A common seal also photographed by Andy as it swam along the Strood channel, spooking some of the waders and wildfowl as it fished along the edge of the saltmarsh.

There were sunny and calm conditions along the Strood channel on Wednesday with a high spring tide covering the saltmarsh. Birds noted included a red kite over Peldon, marsh harrier, buzzard, sparrowhawk, 25 avocets, five Mediterranean gulls, greenshank heard calling, 120 turnstones and 30 golden plovers. Small birds of interest were a brambling heard calling as it passed over, two corn buntings, two rock pipits, five stonechats, while in Feldy View there were two goldcrests and two chiffchaffs. 

In the sunshine a clouded yellow, five small whites and red admiral were seen on the wing along with a migrant hawker over the dyke.

The ring-necked parakeet was heard calling on Wednesday morning from the gardens in Firs Chase.

A tawny owl was heard calling early on Wednesday morning in Cross Lane by Shaun Bater.

At Cudmore Grove two redpolls, two goldcrests and a chiffchaff were reported by Simon Patient on Wednesday morning.

At Coopers Beach on Wednesday, Michael Thorley reported 64 curlew, 35 redshank, black-tailed godwit, 15 oystercatchers, five common gull and a great black-backed gull.

Brent geese numbers are slowly building up along the Strood channel with fifty noted on Tuesday 21st. Ten shelduck and thirteen little grebes also present.

A grey plover was seen by the Strood seawall on Tuesday, ten ringed plovers were noted before the tide covered the mud, while fifty turnstones were on boats by the Hard.

A Sandwich tern flew along the Strood channel on Tuesday.

Two kestrels, two redpolls, four stonechats, six reed buntings were noted during the seawall walk, while a goldcrest was by the Firs Caravan park.

A hen harrier was seen by Martin Cock flying over the Strood causeway, as he drove onto the island on Tuesday.

On a blustery and wet Monday 20th, a few birds noted during a brief visit to Feldy View and along to the Dabchicks included two goldcrests, three chiffchaffs, stonechat, 20 golden plovers and a kestrel.

The ring-necked parakeet was heard squawking briefly from gardens in Firs Chase again.

On Sunday 19th a black-tailed godwit was feeding in the pond at Waldegraves Holiday park, along with an assortment of mallards, gulls, moorhens and a little egret.

Offshore a dark phase Arctic skua was watched flying west into the mouth of the Blackwater and disappearing from view. 

Also in the Waldegraves area was a covey of 12 red-legged partridges scurrying across a field near Cross Lane, also song thrush, two chiffchaffs and a buzzard seen here, while a pair of stonechat was just east of the holiday park.

At the Rewsalls boating lake on Sunday, waders were gathered for the high tide roost on the side lake with 170 redshank, 60 turnstones, 130 curlew, four black-tailed godwits forming the main flocks.

A small flock of 19 ringed plover gathered on a small island by the boating lake on Sunday. Eighteen golden plover were flying over, two grey plover and two dunlin noted too.

Twenty-two little grebes were in the Rewsalls side-lake on Sunday. The kingfisher was seen perched on the fence-posts on the Rewsalls marshes, thirty brent geese, two rock pipits and a Cetti's warbler also noted.

A buzzard circled over the Rewsalls fields on Sunday, three kestrels also seen.

Two goldcrests and chiffchaff seen by the Youth Camp entrance.

This grey squirrel was seen by the Youth Camp entrance on Sunday.

A red-throated diver was seen by Jim Hume flying down-river from Fingringhoe towards Stone Point on Sunday.

Moth numbers continue to dwindle heading into the autumn - this Feathered Thorn noted in the Firs Chase garden on 18th.

 Large Wainscot on the 18th.

BLACK REDSTART BRIEF VISIT

A black redstart was found at the East Mersea Oyster Fishery on Saturday 18th by Alan Reynolds, photographed here by Andy Field. It was only reported during the middle of the day.

The black redstart pictured by Andy, looked like a first winter male. There have been nearly forty previous records of black redstart on the island over the last forty or so years, so nearly annual. There have been a few previous sightings here at the Oyster Fishery over the years.

Andy also photographed this female kingfisher at the Oyster Fishery on Saturday. A drake goldeneye was seen by Andy in the Colne and eleven common scoter seen offshore from Cudmore Grove.

Also at Cudmore Grove a redwing drinking at the garden pond of the park bungalow and red squirrel in the garden too, were reported on Saturday by Mollie Kirk.

At Coopers Beach on Saturday a drake common scoter flew east offshore, while ten brent geese, 12 golden plover, 4 little egrets, 20 skylarks, rock pipit, Cetti's warbler and a reed bunting were seen beside the caravan park.

On Friday 17th these three brent geese were photographed by Jon Ward as they flew past East Mersea Point. A kingfisher was seen along the park borrowdyke.

A common gull also photographed by Jon as it flew past the Point on Friday.

A meadow pipit perched up for Jon to photograph on Friday during his visit to East Mersea Point.

A brief visit to the Strood seawall on Friday revealed 20 brent geese, 30 black-tailed godwits, Cetti's warbler, fifty turnstones perched on the boats, also two goldcrest and two chiffchaffs by the Firs Caravan park.

On Thursday 16th a male stonechat was by the Strood seawall, also three other stonechats present along the bushes by the dyke. Birds seen in the fields included 100 linnets, two buzzards, 30 skylarks and thirty meadow pipits, while rock pipit was on the saltmarsh and two swallows flew north-west over the channel. 

Along the Strood channel on Thursday were 13 little egrets - one pictured here with a redshank, also 70 wigeon, 20 teal, 30 ringed plover, 30 dunlin, 50 black-tailed godwits and 13 little grebes.

Some of the meadow pipits on Thursday were feeding on the mud and saltmarsh beside the Strood seawall.

Glen Moore heard a woodlark flying over the Dabchicks sailing club on Thursday morning, although the bird itself wasn't seen.

On Wednesday 15th a dark phase Arctic skua was seen by Andy Field for the second day, offshore from Kingsland Road flying about and then resting on the water early afternoon. Clive Pickering also saw the same bird a bit earlier in the afternoon as he walked along the beach by Seaview Avenue. He heard loud anxious calls coming from some Sandwich terns and when he looked over, an Arctic Skua was in close pursuit, forcing the tern to regurgitate its food. The skua was then seen resting on the sea just offshore.

The Arctic Skua was watched later in the afternoon by Steve Entwistle as it flew about as well as spending long periods on the water. 

A red-throated diver and eight great crested grebes were offshore from the Esplanade on Wednesday afternoon, while Steve reported a peregrine on Bradwell power station and 28 brent geese on Cobmarsh Island. 

Clive Pickering reported a swallow flying along the beach near Waldegraves holiday park on Wednesday.

Along the Strood seawall on Wednesday birds of interest were a greenshank, 30 black-tailed godwits, 15 ringed plovers, five Mediterranean gulls, five stonechats and 30 linnets. Two siskins flew north-east along the seawall near the caravan park and a chiffchaff was in Feldy View.

Hummingbird Hawkmoths were reported on Wednesday in Martin Cock's garden in the Coverts and also in Clive Pickering's garden near Lower Kingsland Road.

A redwing perched briefly beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Tuesday 14th, also two chiffchaffs in the Feldy View area.

Along the Strood seawall there were three Sandwich terns, nine shelduck, 70 wigeon, two marsh harriers, sparrowhawk, four stonechats, two rock pipits and fifty linnets.

Andy Field watched an Arctic Skua offshore from the Esplanade on Tuesday, as it flew high towards Old Hall Marshes. Later it was seen chasing gulls distantly off Bradwell.

At Cudmore Grove a siskin was seen by Daniel Woollard drinking at his garden pond at the park bungalow on Tuesday. 

On Monday 13th a great skua was seen flying up the Blackwater by Martin Cock, also 20 common scoter flying east and two Sandwich terns noted too. Later Steve Entwistle reported nine cattle egrets flying west in front of the Bradwell power station, a peregrine chasing a bird by the power station, also ten brent geese, nine great crested grebes and a Mediterranean gull seen from the Esplanade.

From the West Mersea Hard on Monday late afternoon, Steve Entwistle saw nine cattle egrets flying over Copt Hall, barn owl hunting the same area, two marsh harriers, a Sandwich tern, 30 brent geese were noted from the Hard too.

Birds noted along the Strood on Monday included a redwing over Feldy View, fieldfare calling from bushes by the dyke and five siskins calling as they flew north-east. Also two marsh harriers, buzzard, sparrowhawk, four stonechats, fifty linnets and a rock pipit, while along the channel were 70 wigeon, 15 teal, ten ringed plovers and forty black-tailed godwits.

A male blackcap was in the Firs Chase garden.

Jack Hoy saw a flock of magpies fly over his Mersea Avenue garden.

At East Mersea on Monday a great spotted woodpecker, 8 long-tailed tits and a chiffchaff were seen in Fishponds Wood, Shop Lane by Steve Entwistle.

Near Meeting Lane Michael Thorley reported in his garden buzzard, kestrel, two great spotted woodpeckers, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tit, chaffinches male and female, male blackcap, carrion crows, jackdaws, magpies and wood pigeons. A tawny owl was heard calling on Sunday night.

Two Merveille du Jour moths were in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 16th.

First garden record of Small Mottled Willow, on the 16th.

Spruce Carpet

Beaded Chestnut

Another autumn garden record of Variable Cockroach in the garden moth trap with two noted on the 14th.

PINGING BEARDIES

Two "pinging" bearded tits flew along the Strood seawall towards the Firs Chase caravan park on Sunday 12th, passing over the heads of Steve Entwistle and I. A couple of minutes later a male came back along the seawall and perched on a nearby bush.

The male bearded tit was calling continually with its distinctive pinging calls, as it tried to make contact with its mate, which sadly didn't re-appear. The male continued back along the reedbed to the main corner, still calling and showing for the next hour or more, up near the top of the reeds and when it was in flight.

Further along the Strood seawall on Sunday, a kingfisher perched on the sluice for a few minutes before flying along the dyke. A peregrine flew over the Firs caravan park, four buzzards and a marsh harrier were noted, while in the fields were 30 linnets, four stonechats and 15 meadow pipits, while a rock pipit flew along the seawall.

In the Strood channel there were three Sandwich terns, three greenshank, 80 black-tailed godwits, 100 wigeon, 30 teal, 15 little grebes, three avocets, two brent geese and two Mediterranean gulls.

A crossbill was heard calling from the pine trees in the garden between the Dabchicks and the Firs Caravan park. The crossbill was seen flying out of the trees, circling round as it gained height, before heading back over gardens towards The Lane.

Steve Entwistle saw a small flock of nine siskins in Feldy View on Sunday, also a chiffchaff and clouded yellow seen. Earlier on the seawall there were three clouded yellows and a small copper.

At Maydays farm on Sunday morning Martin Cock reported a great white egret in the borrowdyke, two marsh harriers and a stonechat.

The Firs Chase ring-necked parakeet provided nice views in the garden on Sunday.

The ring-necked parakeet spent a bit of time preening before flying into the nearby holly bush to eat some berries.

This ring-necked parakeet has been in this part of West Mersea for over two months now.

When the parakeet isn't squawking, it's difficult to spot as it blends in well with the green foliage.

Also in the Firs Chase garden on Sunday morning was a red squirrel seen here darting away through the trees after having a drink in the bird-bath. The first garden sighting here since the early spring.

A walk along the Bower Hall seawall on Saturday 11th produced two Sandwich terns, 30+ Mediterranean gulls in the fields, marsh harrier, red kite, rock pipit and a calling yellowhammer, also a brown hare and common seal.

Jack Hoy saw a wheatear and a peregrine at Maydays on Saturday morning.

A Chinese water deer was photographed by Andy Field at Maydays farm on Friday 10th, while we carried out the monthly wetland bird count for the back of the island. 

Highlights from the seawall walk from Maydays to Cudmore Grove included a kingfisher at Maydays and two others by the Oyster Fishery, a water rail seen at the Oyster Fishery and another on the park dyke, five marsh harriers, three buzzards, five Sandwich terns, greenshank, 25 avocets, five stonechats, 48 golden plover, 20 Mediterranean gulls, 30 stock doves, two corn buntings Maydays, four bar-tailed godwits on the Golfhouse saltings, two male blackcaps by the Oyster Fishery, four great crested grebes in the Pyefleet and eight in the Colne / sea.

Charlie Williams during his count from Maydays to the Strood and Esplanade reported merlin over Bonners saltings, green sandpiper Bower Hall, 70 Mediterranean gulls, three Sandwich terns and two common terns Strood channel and a red-throated diver from the Esplanade.

Martin Cock had two possible crossbills seen flying and a red squirrel at Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane on Friday.

Along the Strood seawall on Thursday 9th, four Sandwich terns were feeding, also peregrine, two marsh harriers and 25 avocets, 25 ringed plover, five stonechats, fifty linnets and five corn buntings. Three chiffchaffs and a blackcap were also noted Feldy View and along the seawall.

Martin Cock saw four ravens flying from Colne Point and then passing over the Golfhouse before heading to Brightlingsea on Thursday morning. Also in the Golfhouse area were three blackcaps, two chiffchaffs and a water rail showing well along the dyke.

Michael Thorley visited the Golfhouse area on Thursday afternoon and saw 71 curlew in the park fields, 25 black-tailed godwits on the Golfhouse paddock and also 12 little egrets on the marsh.

A red squirrel was seen in Bromans Lane on Thursday by Charlie Coltman. Possibly the same red squirrel seen by Daniel Woollard in his garden at Cudmore the previous week.

A black-tailed godwit was feeding in the channel behind the Dabchicks sailing club on Wednesday 8th. Also along the channel were five brent geese, 25 avocets, 25 golden plover, two Sandwich terns, while sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, buzzard, four stonechats and fifty linnets also noted flying about. Four chiffchaffs also seen during the walk.

Martin Cock saw two redpolls and two chiffchaffs in Feldy View on Wednesday. Later at the Oyster Fishery there was a kingfisher, stonechat and a water rail showing well in the dyke.

An adder was found dead at Maydays farm by Jack Hoy on Wednesday, while a grey squirrel was found dead on the road near Meeting Lane by Michael Thorley.

A grey wagtail stopped off briefly to feed along the Strood seawall tideline at high tide on Tuesday 7th, seen during a walk along the Strood seawall with Charlie Coltman. Other birds of note seen included nine redpolls, ten corn buntings, eight stonechats including an immature male singing, three swallows, rock pipit, water rail calling, two Sandwich terns, 30 Mediterranean gulls following a tractor, red kite, three marsh harriers, 25 avocets, five brent geese and four chiffchaffs. In the flycatcher corner near Feldy View were five chiffchaffs and a blackcap.

In the Firs Chase garden the ring-necked parakeet was heard calling nearby, also a hummingbird hawkmoth seen at salvia flowers.

A tawny owl was heard by Michael Thorley calling near Meeting Lane on Tuesday evening.

A Tooth Tiger Ichneumon Wasp was seen in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 7th - a fairly widespread parasitic wasp.

Mallow moth

Brick moth

A late showing of an Orange Pine Tortrix.