ACTION IN THE SUNSHINE

Sunshine returned on Monday 29th after the dull and showery yesterday. Best conditions were in the middle of the morning when the clouds cleared and before the breeze picked up. East Mersea Point was peaceful and calm. Amongst the autumnal colours on display near the beach is this wild Japanese rose-bush with its reddish-pink leaves. Having a bit of sunshine seems to make many of the autumn colours richer and brighter.


The recent high tides have left lots of water on the saltmarsh, which struggles to drain away like it used to because the beach erosion is blocking up the main creek. However the ducks don't mind these pools and a few wigeon, teal and mallard were all happily feeding here.

On the seawall 10 reed buntings were feeding with a few meadow pipits and three stonechats. In the sea-blite bushes at the Point was another small group of reed buntings. Overhead a yellowhammer decided to leave the Island, flying strongly across the river to Brightlingsea. Five skylarks and a rock pipit were also seen in the air near the Point. A flock of 20 goldfinches fed on the thistles in the grazing fields. A flock of 20 curlew gathered in the fields to roost during the high tide.

A family of mute swans swam serenely along the dyke surveying the scene. The three brownish youngsters showed off their flying skills as the family took to the air and headed away.

There was a fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher hurtling eastwards low along the dyke. By the time I reached the park pond another kingfisher appeared from the west, so I reckon these were two different birds. The one on the pond signalled its arrival with some loud whistling and there was a split second view of the dazzling turquoise colours on the back as it headed to a branch overhanging the water.

The incoming tide in the morning resulted in the usual wader fly-pasts as they changed feeding grounds. The regular mixture of at least a dozen different wader species around the Point, provided plenty to look at. The most noteworthy were two flocks of golden plover totalling about 1000 birds, all hunched up on the mud having their daytime snooze. There are often quite a few golden plover that feed on the park at night, so I guess these roosting flocks are catching up on sleep.

Twenty knot were quite close in while scattered as far as the eye could see were several hundred dunlin. Some of the ten avocets counted were resting in a small group, while other avocets fed nearby. Small numbers of both black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits were seen probing the mud with their long bills. Other waders seen were curlew, redshank, grey plover, lapwing, turnstone and oystercatcher. Also feeding on the mud were about 25 shelduck.

At the entrance to Brightlingsea Creek a red-throated diver was enjoying the still waters with some fishing. All round the mouth of the Colne were up to 400 brent geese, dotted along the edges of the shore. Up to 100 were grazing the saltmarsh near the Point, until something spooked them and they all flew off.

Back to the pond, 7 little egrets rested in the willows above the water and down below 20 shoveler, 6 gadwall, 12 teal and 10 mallard could be seen.

In the hedge near the pond a female sparrowhawk suddenly slipped into view without any commotion from the other birds. The sun shone into its bright yellow eyes as it stared intensely around looking for some small bird activity. After a few minutes it left the area and flew up high to the top of a poplar tree pursued by a crow.

Small numbers of siskins and redpolls passed over the park during the day with up to 10 of the former and 2 of the latter although Ian Black saw a handful late in the day by the car park.
There was the strange sound in late morning of the local tawny owl calling, followed ten minutes later by a nearby little owl.

There are still several common darter dragonflies to be seen around and 2 red admirals flew past the pond.