CRANE IN THE RAIN

More excitement on the north side of the Island on Tuesday 27th when Martin Cock discovered the first ever common crane to be seen feeding on Mersea. The bird was found in the early evening feeding in an uncultivated field at Maydays Farm. Following kind permission from the local farmer, Ian Black and Andy Field pictured above, and myself, were able to get to the area reasonably quickly. Ian was lucky enough to see two cranes fly over East Mersea a couple of years ago.

The local breeding lapwings didn't like the crane in their field and after constant mobbing, the crane flew off and landed on the mud in the Pyefleet. This was our first view of the bird when we arrived as it looked rather wary and apprehensive 100 metres ahead of us. After half an hour on the mud, it took off with huge wing-beats and headed back over the fields but was immediately harassed by lapwings, gulls and a flock of up to 18 shelduck. It landed in a distant field near Reeveshall Farm where it became harder to watch in the increasingly gloomy conditions.

Amazingly Graham Ekins drove to Mersea in record time from Chelmsford and after a long and speedy hike along the seawall and lots of fruitless scanning through the mist and drizzle, the crane was eventually spotted through the murk. Graham's Essex bird list for this year now stands at the very impressive tally of 198!

Graham's comments posted on the Essex Birders Forum are copied below.

Reeves Hall Marsh, Mersea island 20.25-21.00
Thanks to Andy Field and Dougal Urquhart who delayed their evening meal to help me refind the immature Common Crane. It had moved further to the E, Dougal picked it up flying in to an area behind the largest sheep field c.1km away, a great find in the gloom. It then spent the next 10 minutes wandering around apparently feeding. I really thought that we had little chance in the gloomy and wet conditions. Thanks guys. (Essex 198).

Two common seals kept watching us with curiosity from the nearby Pyefleet Channel. Two marsh harriers flew around Reeveshall and at least one other on Langenhoe. The northerly breeze wafted the loud song of a Cetti's warbler over to us on Mersea from Langenhoe along with the calls of the cuckoo. A common sandpiper flying overhead was the only wader of note and a couple of singing corn buntings, gadwall and a yellow wagtail were also noted.

At dusk the two grasshopper warblers were still singing from opposite ends of the large wheat field near Cosways. Earlier in the day, a second nightingale was heard calling near the male by the park entrance, which is reasonable confirmation that there's a pair here.