BACK TO SEA LEVEL

After a week in the Lake District dodging the rain and trying to get used to climbing up hills, it was back to Mersea to find out what wildlife changes there have been. Top of the list was to check out the small clump of common spotted orchids growing in Willoughby Car Park in the middle of West Mersea.

Five flowering spikes were just visible amongst the tall grass with the majority all fully out and at their peak. Apart from a neighbouring garden, this is the only site on the Island where these common spotted can be enjoyed.

On a nearby clump of thistles there were a few small white butterflies, meadow browns and a small skipper making the most of the short sunny periods between the showers.

The stiff breeze whipped up the sea and at high tide in the early afternoon, waves were crashing onto the beach.
Visited the hide overlooking the park pond and was amazed at the population explosion of tufted ducks that appears to have taken place in recent days. A week ago it was only three or four adults to watch, normally dozing around the edges. Today three proud mums kept watchful eyes over three different broods of about seven fluffy balls each. All the little dark brown ducklings were busy diving down for their food with ease as if they had been doing it for months previously. Tufted ducks have bred here before but never three families all at once. What was also unusual were all the other tufted ducks that were also on show with about 15 adults enjoying the scene.

One little grebe family were busy feeding a noisy chick, while a pair of moorhens also fed their two young chicks. Towering over all these small youngsters were the six week old swan cygnets who have grown noticeably over the last week and a half.

Darting over the water surface were various dragonflies and damselflies, the latter trying to stay sheltered from the stiff breeze. Emperor and black-tailed skimmers hawked along the edge whilst azure and common blue damsels could also be seen.

Around the park there were less butterflies to be seen as the wind was too strong. However a few meadow browns, small whites, comma, red admiral and small skipper were all noted.