HERD OF ELEPHANTS

A colourful herd of hawkmoths visited the Firs Chase garden on the night of Friday 20th. Fourteen elephant hawkmoths came to the garden moth trap, along with two privet hawkmoths and three pine hawkmoths. After the hawkmoths were photographed, they were all released to safety inside a thick bush in the garden. Two tawny owls were heard calling to each other late on Friday night in Firs Chase.

A red kite was seen drifting over Feldy View on Friday just after midday, which may've been the same one seen by Andy Field a few minutes earlier over his garden in High Street North. Sixteen swifts were also seen over the houses.

A ruddy darter photographed by Andy Field in Feldy View on Friday.

Two vapourer moth caterpillars were in Andy Field's garden on Friday.

On Friday morning, five Sandwich terns, common tern and a marsh harrier were seen from Ivy Dock in East Mersea by Martin Cock.

On Thursday 19th Martin Cock at Maydays reported two marsh harriers, stonechat, two common terns, curlew, four great crested grebes and a lesser whitethroat.

Jack Hoy saw a sparrowhawk at Cudmore Grove near the bird hide on Thursday afternoon.

A short walk round Feldy View and then to the Dabchicks on Wednesday 18th, provided views of 15 swifts over the houses, green woodpecker and great spotted woodpecker, three common terns and a song thrush.

A comma butterfly was resting beside the path by the Firs caravan park on Wednesday.

A ruddy darter was in Feldy View on Wednesday, also meadow brown, small heath, Essex Skipper and a red admiral.

A fox was caught on a trail camera in Andy Field's garden on Wednesday morning.

A red kite was seen flying low over Maydays farm on Wednesday by Steve Entwistle, also four house martins.

In East Mersea a purple hairstreak and a buzzard were seen by Martin Cock in Meeting Lane/ Gyants Marsh area on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday 17th birds noted during a brief visit to the Strood seawall included buzzard, sedge warbler, reed warbler, 25 swifts over the houses as was a sparrowhawk. A goldcrest was singing in the Firs Chase garden again.

A barred straw was photographed by Lea Merclova in the Cudmore Grove toilets on Tuesday 17th.

Lea also reported that the ringed plover was still on four eggs by the old fort on the beach, the nest now fenced off. The oystercatcher was still sitting on two eggs at the Point although the other oystercatcher nest by the shrubby sea-blite appears to have gone.

Two recently fledged swallows were photographed by Andy Field by the Cudmore Grove seawall on Monday 16th.

Two sand martins were also photographed by Andy along the park dyke on Monday.

There was a mixed flock of 20+ sand martins and swallows. Two sand martins spent a bit of time in a hole in the park cliffs, presumably prospecting a nesting site.

Four kestrel chicks at Cudmore Grove appeared to be almost fledged, photographed here by Andy on Monday. A red kite flew over the park, also a willow warbler singing at the park is a late migrant. A hummingbird hawkmoth was seen by the park cliffs. Two oystercatchers were on nests at the Point.

In Shop Lane a chiffchaff and blackcap were singing on Monday morning, also two grey squirrels seen by Fishponds Wood, while from the nearby seawall, two marsh harriers, two buzzards and reed bunting were noted, while the family of five Canada geese was still on Pewit Island.

A few red kites were seen passing over the island on Sunday 15th, with this one pictured being one of  two seen over Feldy View late morning. A red kite was also seen flying west over Martin Cock's house in The Coverts, one over Andy Field's High St North house, then three seen over the West Mersea Hard near noon by Rob Lee. A buzzard was also seen flying north-west off the island.

 

A common tern was hunting along the Strood channel on Sunday, also seen were a great crested grebe, mute swan, four shelduck, two curlew, two Cetti's warblers, two sedge warblers, two reed warblers, yellow wagtail and a whitethroat. Fifteen swifts were flying over the houses.

A song thrush was seen in Steve Entwistle's garden in Empress Drive on Sunday morning.

A little patch of poppies provided a bit of colour by the Maydays seawall on Saturday 14th.

Birds noted included a hobby over Langenhoe, two marsh harriers, buzzard, common tern, three great crested grebes, two curlew, four redshank, 9 shelduck, yellowhammer, stonechat, 20 swifts and a lesser whitethroat singing.

In the afternoon a hobby flew over the Firs Chase garden heading north-west. Later in the middle of the night two tawny owls were heard calling to each other.

Birds noted on Friday 13th by Feldy View were marsh harrier, whitethroat, reed warbler, 10 swifts over the houses and three common terns in the channel.

A goldcrest was singing in Firs Chase garden.

At Maydays on Friday, Martin Cock reported two marsh harriers, lesser whitethroat, several young sedge warblers, yellowhammer, stonechat and a small skipper butterfly.

On Thursday 12th in a circuit of Feldy View and Dabchicks, ten swifts were over the houses, three common terns, two Mediterranean gulls, buzzard, yellow wagtail, blackcap, chiffchaff and a whitethroat were the main birds noted.

A small skipper was in Feldy View on Wednesday 11th, also a handful of meadow browns and small heaths. The cuckoo was heard calling, a pair of avocets flew along the Strood channel and three whitethroats were by the caravan park. A goldcrest and song thrush were in Firs Chase.

At East Mersea Point on Wednesday, Lea Merclova of the Essex Coast Bird Aware project, fenced off a second oystercatcher nest, also two ringed plover territories noted with four eggs noted at one nest and a chick also seen at the Point.

Along the Strood on Tuesday 10th were a pochard flying, two sedge warblers and a reed warbler singing and three whitethroats by the caravan park.

Moth trapping has been taking place on several of the warm nights recently in the Firs Chase garden. The first Privet Hawkmoth of the summer was on the 12th.

The first Four-spotted Footman for the garden was noted on the 12th.

Swallow-tailed moth

Magpie moth

Barred Yellow

Tawny-barred Angle

Cream-spot Bark Moth.

CUDMORE BARN OWL

The barn owl at Cudmore Grove was photographed on the owl-box near the park pond by Andy Field on Tuesday 10th June. It had been seen hunting over the park fields and then brought some prey back to the box during the evening.

Earlier on Tuesday two red kites were seen by Rob Lee flying over Barrow Hill / Bower Hall area on Tuesday afternoon.

A pochard was seen flying along the Strood channel on Tuesday, also two sedge warblers and a reed warbler heard along the dyke, also three whitethroats near the caravan park and five swifts over the houses.

In Feldy View a holly blue was flying about on Tuesday,

Half a dozen meadow browns were seen in Feldy View, also two small heaths.

A worn red admiral was feeding on laurel flowers in Feldy View.

Hornet Hoverfly also in Feldy View on Tuesday.

At least three kestrel chicks were seen by Andy Field on Monday 9th, in their nestbox at the back of the Cudmore Grove grazing fields.

An oystercatcher was still sitting on the nest, photographed at a distance by Andy at the East Mersea Point on Monday. A pair of ringed plovers was also seen by Andy with their tiny chick near the old fort by the seawall corner. In the nearby Golfhouse paddock, the three lapwing chicks have reappeared after going missing for several days. Also a juvenile whitethroat and a lesser whitethroat seen too.

A turnstone was photographed by Andy Field at East Mersea Point on Monday - presumably a non-breeding bird that is summering in the estuary.

A moorhen feeding a chick in the park dyke was photographed by Andy.

A spiky looking sea holly flower photographed by Andy at East Mersea Point.

Sea holly clump pictured by Andy on Monday.

On Monday morning near Feldy View a hobby was watched hawking after dragonflies for a few minutes over the wheat field. A marsh harrier was seen over the Strood fields also a yellow wagtail, cuckoo heard, two stonechats, meadow pipit along the seawall, ten linnets, four sedge warblers, three reed warblers and family of three whitethroats by the caravan park. 

Also on Monday a great crested grebe was along the Strood channel and three common terns were hunting along the moorings. Four sub-adult great black-backed gulls and two adult lesser black-backed gulls were seen near the Hard. A song thrush was singing in Firs Chase and another in The Lane. Late on Monday night the tawny owl was heard calling near the Firs Chase garden.

A cream-spot tiger moth was photographed by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden, after it was first spotted by Sarah on her potato plants on Monday morning.

A Spotted Longhorn Beetle was seen feeding in Feldy View on Monday.

COLOURFUL LINNET

A colourful male linnet perched on a bush along the Strood seawall on Sunday 8th - ten linnets were seen in total in the area. Along the dyke were three reed warblers, two sedge warblers while beside the caravan park were three whitethroats. Three common terns were seen in the Strood channel, while over the houses were two sparrowhawks and 14 swifts. A song thrush was singing in Firs Chase.

A small tortoiseshell was seen in Feldy View on Sunday.

A record shot of two stonechats at Maydays farm on Saturday 7th, when two fledged youngsters were seen for the first time by the dyke. The male is seen here below one of the youngsters. They wouldn't allow any closer approach.

A male yellowhammer was singing by the Maydays dyke on Saturday, also noted were three reed warblers, sedge warbler, lesser whitethroat, two whitethroats, cuckoo, two swifts, red-legged partridge, meadow pipit, ten linnets, corn bunting and three reed buntings. Two marsh harriers and three buzzards were flying about.

A lesser black-backed gull was having a preen beside the Maydays seawall on Saturday. Along the Pyefleet Channel was a pair of Canada geese with four goslings by Pewit Island, a pair of shelduck with four small ducklings, also seven other adults seen, five great crested grebes, seven grey plover and four redshank also noted.

Two small heath butterflies and five meadow browns were seen, also an Essex Skipper at Maydays on Saturday.

On Friday 6th birds noted during a walk along the Strood seawall were five shelduck, great crested grebe, common tern, grey heron, buzzard, three sedge warblers, three reed warblers, two whitethroats, stonechat, 15 linnets and four reed buntings. Fourteen swifts were over the houses and three song thrushes noted in the area of Firs Chase and The Lane. Two brown hares were seen in the Strood fields.

Along the Strood seawall on Thursday 5th were a marsh harrier over the fields, two sedge warblers and two reed warblers singing, whitethroat, two stonechats and a green woodpecker in Feldy View. A goldcrest and song thrush were singing in Firs Chase.

Local West Mersea oysterman William Baker reported seeing two ospreys flew past his boat in Salcott channel on Wednesday 4th.

A Leopard Moth was in the garden moth trap in Firs Chase on the 8th.

Cypress Carpet.

ELEPHANTS AND TIGERS UP EAST

A Small Elephant Hawkmoth was one of the striking moths seen at Cudmore Grove Country Park on Wednesday 4th, during a mothing evening held by several members of the Essex Moth Group. Also noted was the close relative - the Elephant Hawkmoth.

Another colourful moth at Cudmore Grove was the Cream-spot Tiger Moth. 

The final tally for the moth evening is still being collated but should be 70 - 80 moth species from thirteen moth traps dotted about the country park.

A Speckled bush cricket was also noted by the moth trap at Cudmore Grove on Wednesday evening.

Birds noted at the country park during Wednesday evening were the barn owl flying across the car park at 8.30pm, a little owl calling from the nearby caravan park, two Sandwich terns heard calling in the dark as they flew past the park, also a pair of red-legged partridge in Bromans Lane.

Earlier on Wednesday seven avocets were seen on the Golfhouse saltmarsh pools.

It looked like three pairs of avocets and a single bird were present on the pools but no sign of any nesting taking place.

A well-grown lapwing chick was feeding on the saltmarsh pools on Wednesday with an adult watching closeby. Two pairs of gadwall and a pair of Canada geese were also on the pools.

An oystercatcher was near to her nest with three eggs on the beach at the East Mersea Point on Wednesday. Out on the main East Mersea Flats were 50+ oystercatchers feeding at low tide.

A pair of ringed plover was on the beach at the Point with another six birds present on the nearby mud.

Two whimbrel and eight redshank were on the mud by the Point.

Six shelduck were seen. In the Colne two Sandwich terns and two common terns were flying about.

A male reed bunting was singing on top of the sea-blite bushes at the Point on Wednesday, also eight linnets seen here too.

A brood of four mallard ducklings was feeding along the park dyke on Wednesday, also six tufted ducks present.

A water vole was feeding beside the park's borrowdyke on Wednesday.

A male black-tailed skimmer rested beside the park's dyke on Wednesday, also emperor dragonfly and several azure damselflies and blue-tailed damselflies. A red admiral and two meadow brown butterflies noted too.

A whitethroat was singing by the Golfhouse paddock on Wednesday. Other warblers noted included two Cetti's warblers, three reed warblers and a sedge warbler. Two sand martins were seen by the park cliff.

A green woodpecker was feeding in the Golfhouse paddock on Wednesday. 

A small flock of 150 starlings was feeding beside the Golfhouse track on Wednesday. A cuckoo was heard calling and three buzzards were seen soaring in the sky to the north-west.

On Tuesday 6th along the Strood, the stonechat, buzzard, cuckoo calling, Cetti's warbler, two sedge warblers and two reed warblers were noted while 12 swifts were flying over the houses. A song thrush was singing in Firs Chase.

Along the Strood seawall on Monday 2nd, a hobby flew along the back of Ray Island heading to Feldy Marsh, a red kite flew over the Strood Hill, marsh harrier and three buzzards were also seen. Two stonechats, yellow wagtail, cuckoo, eight linnets, two sedge warblers and two reed warblers were noted, while twelve swifts were flying over the houses.

Steve Entwistle also visited the Strood seawall on Monday and as well as seeing some of the above, added a pair of reed buntings, four linnets and two whitethroats.

A goldcrest was singing in the Firs Chase garden again on Monday.

A hummingbird hawkmoth was seen by Steve Entwistle in his Empress Drive garden on Monday morning.

Michael Thorley photographed this Violet ground beetle in his East Mersea garden on Sunday.

The Swollen-thighed beetle Oedemera nobilis was also photographed by Michael in his garden.

A Hummingbird hawkmoth was photographed by Mollie Kirk in the garden of the Cudmore Grove bungalow on Saturday morning.

Fourteen stock doves were seen at Barrow Hill by Rob Lee on Saturday.

A hedgehog was back in Steve Entwistle's Empress Drive garden late on Friday night, after being absent for the previous week.

A Peppered Moth was in the moth trap in the Firs Chase garden on May 2nd.

Sand Dart

Beautiful Hook-tip

Common Swift.