GREY DAY BY THE STROOD

The mud along the Strood Channel has always got plenty of waders and wildfowl to watch. This is the channel that fills up at high tide and on several occasions each month, rises high enough to cover the only road onto Mersea Island. It was typically grey, overcast and breezy on Saturday 13th January. In these dull conditions, little brown waders become masters of camouflage out on the mud.

Only when a loud goose-scaring bang from a nearby field shattered the airwaves, were you suddenly able to see where all the birds were hiding. A loud flock of 1500 brent geese exploded into the air with most soon settling into a nearby channel. Elsewhere 100 wigeon, 100 teal and 50 shelduck were also seen taking to the air. About 500 redshank and 500 dunlin were the most numerous waders with both species dispersed along the length of the channel. Fifty knot were seen amongst a group of dunlin and their silvery grey plumage seemed to sum up the day.

Four red-breasted mergansers flew out of the Ray Channel heading out to sea. Other than the regular group of ten dabchicks, little else on the water.
The only small birds of note were 4 linnets feeding on the side of the seawall and a rock pipit rising up from the saltings with its distinctive call.