A WINDY WED

Back in circulation and normal service is resumed after taking a short break(North Wales this time). A very strong wind on the Wednesday 15th meant it was hard work locating much wildlife across the park. Birds stayed in the bushes and kept quiet and my only view out to sea was to watch the big waves crashing onto the beach. It was rather awesome seeing the normally calm and sedate sea, turn into a real raging force that thundered down onto the sand with each wave. The rough conditions led to the cancellation of the famous annual round the island yacht race.

On the park chiffchaff and willow warbler both called amongst a large roving tit flock. Up to thirty painted ladies, three small heaths and a red admiral were seen.

In the last few days, Andy Field and Richard Hull visited the nearby Langenhoe Ranges on Sunday but had little to report other than stonechat and a couple of marsh harriers but few waders were seen.

On Monday Nick Green and Glyn Evans walked round the Island as part of the monthly wildfowl and wader count. Their tally included 3 whinchat, 2 hobby, 5 whimbrel, 2 cuckoo, 4 yellow wagtail, 2 comon sandpiper, 4 knot, 2 marsh harrier, 2 bar-tailed godwit, 8 little tern, 25 common tern, 2 turtle dove, 5 corn bunting and 5 avocet.

Most of the swifts appear to have left West Mersea and the young bird under Andy Field's roof of his house in High Street North flew off recently. Martin Cock watched a group of about 50 swifts fly west up the Blackwater river on Tuesday.