GULL COLONIES

There was more sailing activity than wildlife activity at the Hard at West Mersea on Sunday 18th. Nothing of real note in the Mersea Quarters during the high tide with most bird activity concentrated around the gull colonies on the various islands.

Cobmarsh Island had the main concentration of herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls while most of the black-headed gulls seemed to be on Sunken Island. Packing Shed Island had a few herring gulls and one or two pairs of oystercatchers. A few common terns were seen flying up and down the channels and these are probably nesting on Cobmarsh Island. Several cormorants were also seen at various times flying past.

Even Monty thought the display of thrift on St Peters was worth stopping by to admire. Where the thrift grows on the saltmarsh here, it seems to flourish in small carpets rather than just one or two scattered plants, making it more eye-catching.

The nearby reedbeds had the songs of a couple of reed warblers coming from them. In the bushes alongside St Peters Meadow, the chattering song of a lesser whitethroat was heard, along with some brief blackcap songs. A couple of pairs of linnets and some house sparrows were the only other birds seen here.

The sunshine brought a few butterflies out on the sheltered slope including small white, orange- tip and holly blue.