SHOP LANE STINT

Spent the last two daylight hours of Tuesday 26th on the seawall just north of Shop Lane in East Mersea. The tide was on its way in and the timing was ideal for looking at the various waders as they had one last feed before they headed off to roost. Looking from the same spot on the seawall, 12 species of waders were on show, providing plenty to look at.

The most notable wader was a little stint feeding with some of the dunlin and ringed plovers. Appearing smaller than the dunlin with a short bill and clean white underparts, the bird had the white braces on the back typical of a juvenile bird. The bird stayed in view with the other waders, feeding briskly across the mud for over an hour, until the tide came in. Little stints are scarce passage visitors to Mersea and it has been a few years since I've caught up with one on the Island.

Of the other waders 4 knot and 10 avocet were of interest, while 250 black-tailed godwits, 200 redshank and 150 dunlin were the most numerous. Also seen were 2 bar-tailed godwits, 60 ringed plover, 100 golden plover, 20 grey plover, 2 oystercatcher and turnstone. Calling as they flew across the Pyefleet were a greenshank and a spotted redshank, while a few lapwings were seen in flight.

Also along the Pyefleet were 2 grey herons, 3 little egrets, 10 common terns roosting on Langenhoe Point and 4 little terns flying along the Channel. On Langenhoe Marsh were at least 4 marsh harriers, some flying around, others perched on bushes or on top of the seawall. Thirty greylag geese flew across the Pyefleet to land on Reeveshall.

Ten yellow wagtails passed overhead, presumably disturbed from the nearby herd of grazing cattle. Also of interest was the large mixed flock of 250 rooks and jackdaws heading off Island to their night roost site near Alresford.

Martin Cock saw a curlew sandpiper, Mediterranean gull, spotted redshank, 12 yellow wagtails, stonechat, wheatear and 4 snipe amongst various other birds on his walk along the Peyfleet this morning.

Coming out of the Shop Lane wood pictured above, there was an interesting tit flock which caught my eye. Comprising mainly 30 long-tails, great and blue tits, there were about 10 willow warblers and a chiffchaff, foraging in the oaks and willow trees. The sweet autumn song of a robin provided more life to this corner of the wood and a little owl called from a nearby hedgeline.

There was no sign of the spotted flycatcher that Martin Cock had seen earlier in the day close to the wood. However a second spotted flycatcher was seen just north of the country park, perching briefly on a bush over the footpath leading to the bus turning circle.

Andy Field walked along the Reeveshall seawall on Friday 22nd and saw 11 wheatear, 5 whinchat, stonechat, curlew sandpiper, 3 green sandpiper, 5 greenshank, hobby, sparrowhawk and marsh harrier.