WOODLARK WALK

This mega-sized and striking caterpillar was found in the garden of Glenna Russell in Woodfield Drive, West Mersea on Sunday 17th. This is the privet hawkmoth caterpillar and is one of the largest in the UK. Judging by the frequency of privet hawks caught in the moth trap at the park, the moth is reasonably common on the Island and is itself, one of the biggest moths in the country.

The bright green caterpillar with distinctive diagonal stripes and the curved horn at one end, was probably about 8cms (3+ inches) long and judging by its appetite, still had some growing to do. This caterpillar was originally feeding in a guelder rose bush and despite being offered some privet leaves later, was only interested in more guelder rose leaves.

The sunny periods brought out a few butterflies onto the buddleia bushes such as the comma, pictured above. There were four commas on the bush by the hide, photo below, on Monday 18th. The red admirals still outnumber all the other butterflies on the buddleia with 12 seen on the bush in the car park, along with a couple of small tortoiseshells also of note. A holly blue and green-veined white were also seen nearby.

Not much to report from this hide overlooking the pond except the noisy little grebe chicks and at least one young tufted duck still present. The plaintive calls of the young sparrowhawks can be heard across much of the park and at least two birds are often seen flying about. They may be keeping an eye on a large mixed tit flock of mainly long-tailed tits with about 25 birds foraging through the bushes. At least one willow warbler had joined the blue, great and long-tails. A blackcap was seen on the Sunday morning as well as the usual whitethroats, while 2 greenshank flew off the mud as the tide came in.

Glyn Evans had a very rewarding walk along the north side of the Island, as he carried out the monthly wildfowl count. He called me several times with his mobile to give me the latest exciting sightings. Starting near the Strood, he discovered a wasp spider in the long grass, the first sighting for the western end of the Island. Then a ringtail hen harrier was seen over Reeveshall, which soon dropped down out of sight. Bruce Cock reported a possible hen harrier a week ago near West Mersea.Whilst continuing along, a short-eared owl unexpectedly took off having been resting on the seawall. Over on Langenhoe a buzzard was seen flying around, the first there for a few weeks.

On the Reeveshall pool a wood sandpiper was still present along with 7 green sandpipers. Few waders were seen along the Pyefleet with the high tide, although two common seals were seen near Maydays. Four wheatears were noted along the seawall walk.

Walking back into the country park, a woodlark was tracked down by its call as it fed in the long grass. There have been only two other Island records of woodlark, both in the autumn, one of which was flying over the park three years ago, calling as it went. Despite Glyn showing me the area of long grass where it was seen a short while earlier, there was no sign of the bird in the middle of the afternoon. He had saved the most interesting bird till the end of his walk.

Ian Black phoned me from his Mersea Avenue home to say that he had seen 3 crossbills pass over his garden at the beginning of Monday. This follows the two I had seen in East Mersea a fortnight ago.

Martin Cock reported peregrine, shag and 70 common terns in the Mersea Quarters for Sunday.


The combination of warmth and rain has encouraged some fungi to appear such as this colourful boletus along one of the paths in the park. Puffballs have been out for a few weeks and the first parasol has just emerged in the long grass.

A badger crossed the entrance track at dusk as I walked to close the park on Friday night. Two adders were present in their usual spot, although both kept out of the strong wind.

The moth trap was operated on both Saturday and Sunday nights despite the strong breeze and the drizzle. In total about 25 species were noted such as white-line dart, oak hook-tip, silver Y, latticed heath, flounced rustic, spectacle, lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing, common swift, dingy footman and several brimstones.

One of the recently admired red underwing moths continued to hang around the toilet building in the mornings and on both Sunday and Monday mornings, it had to be collected and released outside. As it flew away the big red, black and white wings flickered rapidly, a sight reminiscent of a hoopoe's wings.

Alan Burgess at the East Mersea Pick Your Own field, pointed out several dense swarms of what appeared to be midges around some of the trees. At times the swarms appeared like thick smoke, wafting in the wind. We both remarked how we hadn't noticed this on the Island before and maybe the unusually damp summer has boosted the population.