START OF SPRING

It was a sunny but chilly start to Tuesday 8th but there were a couple of signs of the start of spring. Two swallows perched up on roadside wires along the East Mersea road by Blue Row. Although several swallows have been seen for some time now at the nearby Abberton Reservoir, these are the first ones I know of on the Island.

Later in the morning whilst walking around the park, I discovered a male redstart amongst the scattered bushes on the clifftop. Finding this colourful summer migrant in the park was a real bonus and again, another sign that spring had started.

The bird was first seen flying across the path showing off its bright orange tail as it headed into a bush. As it perched up, the tail could be seen quivering in typical redstart fashion. The chest and belly were bright orange, contrasting with dark grey upperparts and a black face. On the forehead was a small patch of white. The bird was watched flying from bush to bush, keeping low down as it paused to look for food.

Although the occasional redstart stops off briefly on Mersea each year, this is the first male here in spring for many years. The bird was not seen again despite searches in the late afternoon.

The only other summer migrant in the area was the now familiar singing chiffchaff by the pond, seen foraging in the willow bushes. Also at the pond were the usual 5 pochard and 10 tufted ducks, whilst nearby a fox snoozed in the sunshine.

In the grazing fields, pictured above, the main birds were 25 teal, 20 shoveler, pair of greylag geese, 15 shelduck and three pairs of lapwing. Skylarks and meadow pipits sang out loudly along from various places along the seawall. One avocet was on the mud near the Point.

In the park a trio of green woodpeckers passed over the car park, 3 adders and a common lizard were also seen.