TERN RETURNED

Joined Martin Cock by the Esplanade at West Mersea on Monday 19th to watch the arctic tern which he had found again for the second day. This juvenile bird displaying the distinctive white trailing edge to its wings, was flying around just offshore as the tide was just receding. The previous day it had been seen resting on a buoy about a 100 metres from the beach. Earlier today there had been a common tern resting on the same orange buoy just to add a bit of confusion.

The first great northern diver of the winter was also seen offshore and a summer plumaged red-throated diver was seen drifting past late morning. A dozen great crested grebes were noted offshore and a couple of common scoter were seen flying earlier in the day.

As the tide receded various waders and wildfowl were arriving with 50 brent geese the most noticeable along with numbers of curlew, oystercatcher and turnstones. A couple of little egrets flew along the beach.

A brief visit to the seawall by Coopers Beach at East Mersea provided views of one or two things although the tide was in. A pair of stonechat, wheatear, 3 meadow pipits were noted and 6 skylarks were seen flying south out to sea. A kestrel perched up on a hedgeline while a marsh harrier drifted west along the seawall. A goldcrest was heard near the church and a yellowhammer flew overhead.

There was little wind the day before on Sunday 18th for an enjoyable walk along the Strood seawall, pictured above, in the morning as the tide came in. There was a late autumn feel to the day with a chill in the air but the Channel full of various waders and wildfowl.

The most unusual sight was an immature gannet flying north-east up the Channel from the direction of the Hard towards the Pyefleet. The sight of a large bird flapping along the Strood Channel, certainly surprised all the other birds as they were sent scattering ahead as it passed. It crossed over the causeway and one or two cars, as it continued on its presumed circuit of the Island. I just happened to be on the phone to Andy Field at the time, who was standing with telescope at East Mersea Point but the bird was not seen completing its lap of Mersea.

Numbers of brent geese were arriving with about 150 birds present but only 2 young seen in a brief scan. About 300 wigeon and 80 shelduck were seen along with a number of teal. Three greenshank, 100 knot, 20 ringed plover and 10 black-tailed godwits were some of the 12 species of wader noted along with a snipe flying over.

Other birds noted included a marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, stonechat, 3 corn bunting, 15 skylark, 2 lesser redpoll flying over and 5 rock pipits along the bottom of the seawall.

On Saturday 17th by Firs Chase 16 fieldfare flew over calling, a sparrowhawk was seen and a goldcrest and chiffchaff were also noted.