Wrapped up warm for a walk along the Strood seawall on a sunny but windy Saturday 1st. The tide was well out by late morning and there was the usual good selection of waders and wildfowl to see. Having the sun coming from behind me made the viewing conditions easier along the Strood Channel.
Fourteen species were seen along the Channel in varying numbers, which seemed a worthy tally. The most notable being the good views of a greenshank and two spotted redshank feeding along the narrow band of water in the middle of the channel. Having stopped to watch the first spotted redshank busily feeding by itself, a second one called nearby and then flew closer to team up with the first bird. Both birds waded through the water doing some synchronised feeding, dipping their heads right under the water as they walked.
Most spotted redshank spend the winter in Africa so it was nice to get good views of two feeding together here. Similarly greenshank aren't common in winter here, so it was great to see a green, a spotted red and plenty of the usual redshanks all on the mud together.
Godwits were hard to find with only three black-tailed seen and five bar-tailed godwits located. Surprisingly oystercatchers were nearly absent from the upper part of the Channel beyond the boat moorings with only five noted . The only turnstone in this area was seen feeding along the seawall, although there were others feeding around the Hard.
As always the most striking flock was the large golden plover roost of about 800 birds on the mud, close to the Strood causeway. Something disturbed all the waders here sending everything into the air, including 200 lapwing. The golden plover flock twisted and turned in the bright sunshine, flickering brown and then white as they decided when to come back down.
Some of the golden plovers headed down the Channel in the direction of the Feldy Marshes. Some time later, the size of this flock was seen when around 1500 birds rose into the air along with 300 lapwing.
The other waders of interest were the 200 knot feeding in scattered groups on the mud. Knot have become more numerous along the north side of the Island in recent winters. This was never a wader that could be seen during the winter along the Strood Channel.
Other waders also noted on the walk were the usual large numbers of dunlin, several grey plover, curlew and ringed plover.
Enjoying the winter sunshine along the Channel were various groups of wigeon pictured above, with about 200 noted. The wonderful colours of the wigeon were really appreciated as the sun shone on them. There were about 150 teal, also seen snoozing in the middle of the Channel in various groups as far as the Strood. The 50 shelduck on the mud were the only other ducks seen.
The main flock of brent geese appeared to be feeding on the wheat fields beyond Ray Island. When a helicopter passed overhead, 500 geese flew into view, before settling back down again. Several smaller groups of brent were seen on various mudbanks around the Hard.
The little grebe count was at least 25 birds with the majority of them visible from the suitably located Dabchicks Sailing Club. One cormorant by the Hard was the only other waterfowl seen in the water.
The resident pair of stonechats were by the seawall halfway along, while in one of the wheat fields 20 skylarks were seen feeding. Rock pipit, meadow pipit and reed bunting were also noted.
Along the East Mersea road a redwing was seen as was a sparrowhawk, while in Bromans Lane there were 10 fieldfare and a great spotted woodpecker in trees by the road.
Graham Ekins reported that he saw offshore from West Mersea on Saturday morning, great northern diver, eider, 3 common scoter, 2 Slavonian grebes, 15 great crested grebes, 5 marsh harriers over Old Hall and 2000 golden plover.
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