CHILLY BUT CALM

First frost of the winter here at the start of Monday 12th. Feel of winter in the air with a light breeze blowing from the north. Perfect light conditions during the day with plenty of blue sky.
The tide on its way out in the early afternoon provided excellent views of all sorts of waders on the mud.

Along the top of the wooden posts sat 50 turnstones waiting patiently for the mud. Despite close scrutiny of these birds, no purple sandpiper was found today. One rock pipit calling loudly also perched briefly on one of these posts close to the beach.
Ten silvery-looking sanderling flashed past, eager to get to the first uncovered mud. Redshanks started to arrive in small numbers too as did the dunlin.

The biggest and noisiest flock to fly-past was a group of 300 brent geese that had been disturbed off a neighbouring farmer's field. Some geese dropped down onto the water calling loudly to each other while most followed the shoreline eastwards, to find the other main feeding flock of geese.

Further out to sea the only birds on show were several gulls. A very distant small dark bird flying fast and low looked as if it may have been a little auk but it was too far away to be sure.
Two great crested grebes displayed to each other as the light faded and the sun set.

The water in the dyke was very calm except for the activities of 10 little grebes diving and also a small group of wigeon swimming about. In the nearby field a further 100 wigeon could be seen grazing.

At the Point there were fine views of large flocks of waders heading up-river to their feeding grounds. The combined sound of their rapid wing-beats sounded as if gusts of wind were blowing past. Amongst the many dunlin and grey plover were 300 knot and 30 bar-tailed godwits.
Several small groups of shelduck totalling about 40 birds, headed back into the river and it is possible these were new arrivals from the continent.

The usual ten or so species of wader on show were quite close in to begin with. Both species of godwits feeding together made a good comparison, while 50 ringed plovers gathered on one area of the mud. Five more sanderling called out as they flew away and lots of oystercatchers, curlews and redshanks were soon onto the mud. At least five little egrets were seen having one last feed before having to head off to roost for the night.

The most eyecatching flock of waders was a dense group of about 1000 knot that appeared on the scene like a cloud of smoke, twisting and turning as they decided where to land. On the mud their dumpy grey bodies soon blended in well with the colour of their surroundings.

Where the high tide had just recently covered all this mud, there was now frantic activity from a few thousand waders, eager to feast on a chilly but calm late afternoon.

Glyn Evans had a very rewarding walk along the north side of the Island as he did the monthly wildfowl count. Ideal conditions for birds of prey were reflected by views of 5 marsh harriers, 5 kestrels, common buzzard, peregrine and a merlin. Also seen were red-throated diver, 3 common scoters, kingfisher, 6 stonechat, 2 corn buntings and grey partridge calling.

His father Pete saw 2 female / immature velvet scoters off the Esplanade at West Mersea and there were two probable little auks seen too.

Michael Thorley saw 2 little stints, green sandpiper, 5 red-breasted mergansers and 500 brent geese along the Pyefleet Channel