OASIS OF CALM

Decided to walk to the local supermarket on Saturday 21st via the last remnant of woodland in the middle of West Mersea. Reymead wood is not a large wood and although it is well used and abused by the locals, it is a little oasis of peace and calm and this day was no exception.

The sun seemed to bring everything to life and two warblers - chiffchaff and blackcap have returned back from Africa to breed again. The local birds such as wrens, blue tits, robins, great tits and wood pigeons all added to the woodland chorus. The sunshine had brought out eight speckled wood butterflies into the dappled light both in the wood and just outside it.

The highlight was the sudden appearance of a pair of sparrowhawks into the wood with one flying after the other with lots of calling. Both landed high up in the separate trees with the male providing the best views as it sat still for over five minutes before flying off. Sparrowhawks have been breeding in West Mersea since the early 1990's but seeing them here at this crucial time of year is very exciting.

The ditch that carries a little bit of water along the edge of the playing fields seemed of little interest until my eye caught this short section where the sunlight shone onto the lesser celandines. The bright yellow flowers adding a real splash of colour beside the little tinkling brook. A little scene of tranquility in the centre of a little bustling town.