REELING IN A REAL RARITY

Migration time can do funny things to birds and to the birders following them. Maybe it was the clear starry night, or the lure of sunshine on the coast or maybe some weird underground magnetic activity but East Mersea saw the strange sight of a lesser spotted Andrew Thompson and accomplice Annie on Monday 26th. Actually they came to see two of the adders basking at the park.

Having joined them on the Shop Lane seawall we were able to enjoy the bright sunshine although frustratingly there was quite a heat haze through the telescope. At least five marsh harriers were seen over and above Langenhoe in near ideal conditions for raptors. Despite scanning the skies above, no passage buzzards or kites were seen.

On the Reeveshall pool, a ruff was an unexpected find as it waded in the shallows beside one or two gadwall. Two grey herons flying-by was notable only because little egrets seemed to have taken over their feeding grounds.

In the Pyefleet four red-breasted mergansers fed on the far side of the Channel whilst the main group of waders on the near-side were some 70 dunlin that got spooked off by something.