THE WETTER, THE BETTER

Recent rains have left large pools of water in the fields. A walk to the East Mersea Point for the last hour of daylight on Thursday 24th, confirmed that the wetter the fields, the better it is for ducks and waders. There seemed to be birds wherever there was a bit of water.

As always the noisy 600+ wigeon seemed to enjoy their bit of "whistling whilst nibbling". The continuous calling from the wigeon was the main sound coming from the fields, bringing the whole area to life. In smaller groups were 70 teal close to the marshy areas as were a few mallard, while in the central ditch were 10 shoveler.

A long white neck of a little egret was sticking out from the clumps of rushes as it stalked the back of the fields. Seventy black-tailed godwits and 50 curlew were probing for worms in the waterlogged soil, in various scattered groups but few other waders here.

At the park pond the usual mix of ducks with 12 gadwall, 24 shoveler and 12 tufted duck were the main ones of interest.
As dusk approached, wood pigeons gathered in the copse behind for the night and there was also the loud child-like squealing noise of two foxes squabbling nearby.

The walk to the Point was again rewarded with a surprise view of eight snow buntings feeding on the beach. I didn't know they were here and I nearly stepped on them. I hadn't spotted them until they took to the air, flying a short distance before landing back down to feed along the strandline. Like little mice, they scurried along the beach, very well camouflaged in the fading light. The birds took to the air again, flashing the white patches in the wings and then landing back down, where I left them to feed undisturbed.


On the mud near the Point was a nice group of 100 ringed plovers busy feeding on the recently uncovered mud. In their usual spot was the large roost of 1500 golden plover with a few knot and bar-tailed godwits and redshank.

In the river Colne there were a masses of gulls mainly common and black-headed gulls, feeding and flying low over the water. They appear to be attracted to the masses of sprats in the river. Apparently fishermen at West Mersea have been reporting some huge catches with nets struggling to haul them in.
A pair of red-breasted mergansers flew rapidly out of the river to feed, as dusk approached.

Earlier in the day a male sparrowhawk swooped low over the car park as it headed north. A song thrush appeared in my back garden, which was nice to see. One has been singing recently near the park entrance when I open the park-gates in the mornings.

Richard Hull reported seeing the great northern diver on Tuesday 22nd near the entrance into the West Mersea quarters. He also enjoyed seeing a peregrine the same day at the Strood whilst waiting in the bus, for the high tide to drop down.