AUTUMNAL SUN

Sunday really was a day of sun from dawn till dusk. The photo above is just after sun-rise and provided a memorable start to a clear, wind-free and endless blue-sky day. The first part of the sun-rise was a spectacular bright red orb slowly climbing over the horizon. Sadly I wasn't in a position to reach for the camera at that stage.

The calm conditions stayed all day and made it easy to hear many of the birds all around as well as being able to scan the waters of the river Colne and out to sea for birds or seals. As the tide receded in the morning there were fine views of the hundreds of waders feeding close in to the shore.
Staring into the bright sunshine at times, the challenge of identifying many of the waders in silhouette comes down to scrutinising several features such as body shapes, size of bird, bill shape, leg length, feeding action and maybe their calls. Despite lots of scanning of mudflats and checking the various wader flocks, it was all pretty much routine species and of course, enjoyable to watch.

There was one large mixed group of about 500 waders near the Point that were having a snooze as if they had been up all night feeding. A mixture of dunlin, grey plover, knot, golden plover and redshank were enjoying the sunny start to the day.

In the river 16 great crested grebes could be seen scattered along some of its length but no sign of any seals despite the perfect conditions.

More red saltmarshes on view above, at the eastern end of the Island - adding some autumnal colours to the coastal scene. Four little egrets stood hunched up as they waited for the tide to drop, a couple of rock pipits flew around calling while a high flying grey wagtail crossed over the river as it headed west.

The kingfisher was spotted hiding in a blackthorn bush close to the water of the dyke near the Golfhouse. The tell-tale turquoise colour of its back reflected down onto the water. A second view of the kingfisher was seen flying low over the grazing fields but whether this was the same bird, I couldn't say. Ann Cock saw two kingfishers together near here four days ago.

Five stonechats at various locations along the seawall was a good count for this end of the Island and it turned out that Martin Cock saw five more birds at Reeveshall today too. Also from Reeveshall he saw a male merlin on Langenhoe and in the Pyefleet a red-breasted merganser.

In the grazing fields, 120 wigeon were busy feeding on the grass and nearby 12 goldfinches fed on the few remaining thistle seed-heads. The brent geese have not started to feed in the fields yet although there were probably 300 in the mouth of the estuary this morning.

Some trees at this time of year catch your eye and this silver birch in West Mersea certainly did when the sun shone through the leaves.

I've lost count how many times I've walked along the seawall near East Mersea Point but this year is the first time I have noticed the colourful fruit, pictured above, on this bush in the reeds by the dyke. It is a type of cherry plum bush and with very tasty "plums" and yet the fruit is much smaller and rounder than regular cherry plums. Most cherry plums fell off the trees about two months ago too. Also investigating the fruit was a very tame reed bunting and a wren.

Following a recent enquiry about oak apple galls, here is what one looks like at this time of the year. Lots of the oak trees in the country park have all sorts of growths caused by the many different types of gall wasps. The wasps aren't as fiercesome as they sound and are more like small ant-like insects. This old "apple" was green and spongy in late spring and would've provided a home for many gall-wasp grubs, that have since emerged as adults during the summer.

Earlier in the week on Thursday night I had to slow down whilst driving near the East Mersea shop while a brown hare hesitated about crossing the road.