HIGH TIDE

The wet weather has continued into Friday 28th but at least it stayed dry for a walk to East Mersea Point. There was plenty of evidence along the beach that there had been a very high tide just after lunchtime - apparently the highest of the year so far. The tide had been right up to the bottom of the park cliff and taken away a lot of previous slumps, leaving a very clean beach.
Luckily for the south-facing cliff, the wind was a northerly so didn't get the full force of nature on it.

Sheltering from the cool wind in front of the cliff was a wheatear with a pied wagtail. Further along the beach at the Point a second wheatear was seen and perching up on the sea-blite bushes were three stonechats. Also amongst the bushes was a flock of 40 linnets feeding on the seeds of the sea-blite. Every so often they would rise into the air and circle round before dropping back down to continue feeding. Five reed buntings were also seen perching on top of the bushes.

As the tide receded hundreds of waders were watched flying back into the estuary from their roost on the higher saltmarshes at Colne Point. Many dropped down onto the nearby mud to start their eager feeding frenzy. There was the usual rich selection of waders seen from this one spot on the Point including knot, bar-tailed godwit, black-tailed godwit, curlew, oystercatcher, redshank, dunlin, grey plover, golden plover, ringed plover, snipe, turnstone and sanderling.

There was a good close view of a common seal swimming past the Point, which was close enough inshore for it to keep staring at me every time it re-surfaced. The seal seemed quite inquisitive with its large black eyes and flared nostrils trying to suss out my motives.

The loud whistle from a kingfisher had me eagerly scanning a nearby saltmarsh pool in the hope that I could glimpse a splash of colour. I didn't realise till it was too late that it had perched very close to me on a bush less than ten metres away but at least I had a great view as it sped away, showing off its brilliant blue and orange colours.

A "charm" of 20 goldfinches were feeding on thistles in the fields, whilst in the main ditch a pair of gadwall could be seen with several mallard and two shoveler.

On Thursday 27th late into the evening a badger was seen in the car headlights crossing the East Mersea road near Meeting Lane.
On Tuesday 25th I was treated to a close fly-past of the scarce clouded yellow butterfly - only the third sighting on Mersea this year.

Richard Brown saw 4 swallow, 2 house martin, 3 wheatear, 3 stonechat, yellowhammer, whimbrel, little egret and 30 ringed plover between Coopers Beach and the Youth Camp. On Wednesday 26th Richard saw an albino house martin flying over West Mersea with good numbers of house martins.