Saturday 24th walk to East Mersea Point revealed more recent damage to the shrubby sea-blite bushes. The thick stand of sea-blite here used to be one of the best in north Essex but this nationally scarce plant is fighting a losing battle with the sea. At least we got Dartford warbler in the area before the bushes get completely ripped out and smothered with shingle.About 300 brent were grazing the saltmarsh near the Point before flying into the fields to feed. There were also half a dozen lapwings displaying in the air depite the chilly northerly wind. Dozing on the fields were 24 shelduck and a couple of little egrets.
At the park pond the male ruddy duck popped into view. He arrived about a fortnight ago to stake his claim to territorial rights on the pond. Two snipe could be seen feeding amongst some marshy tussocks. The brief song of the chiffchaff was heard from the copse at the back of the pond, so this little warbler is still around since he was first heard on Thursday morning.
Signs of spring at West Mersea were noticed with a singing chiffchaff at Firs Chase and a male corn bunting on top of a telegraph post on the East Mersea road.
In the evening the Skinner moth trap was run all night with better than expected results. Over 100 moths of nine speces were recorded. The cloudy sky and the slight drop in the cold wind must have helped.
Shoulder stripe moth - only recorded once last spring
Red Chestnut - typical spring moth
Grey shoulder knot - not recorded on Mersea before
Bumper crop of ninety Common Quakers with varying shades of brown or buff.
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