FUNGAL FORAY

Several of these large parasol toadstools have sprouted up in various spots around the country park during the last week in October. This parasol picured above is nearly the same size as a dinner plate, as are most of the other parasols in the park. As there seemed to be a reasonable number of them at the park, one large parasol was taken home to make a tasty addition to a pasta sauce!

A morning walk along the West Mersea beach to St Peters Marsh pictured above on Saturday 31st, provided views of one or two things although the incoming tide had moved many birds on. Offshore 10 great crested grebes and a couple of cormorants were noted while around the nearby Cobmarsh Island and the Mersea Quarters were 100 brent geese, 50 oystercatchers with a few redshank and turnstones.

A flock of 25 redwings flew west over St Peters before having second thoughts about crossing the water to Old Hall. They came back to settle in some trees in a Coast Road garden. However two lesser redpolls flew west over the water calling as they went. A meadow pipit and a rock pipit were also seen but not much else here.

Bushes near the Firs Chase caravan site on the Saturday morning seemed to have more thrushes around them with 20 blackbirds noted. Another flock of about 12 redwings started to leave the Island westwards but turned back at the prospect of crossing the water. A lesser redpoll was noted again as it called on its westwards journey. Other finches in the area included small numbers of chaffinches, goldfinches and greenfinches.
A sparrowhawk was seen near Kingsland Road dashing between gardens and a second bird seen circling above Firs Road.

Also on Saturday Martin Cock saw 10 siskins and 15 fieldfares over his garden in Broomhills Road, while Martin Dence watched a peregrine fly west over Bromans Farm towards the East Mersea church.

Andy Field and Richard Hull visited Langenhoe Marshes on Saturday and saw peregrine, common buzzard, 6 marsh harriers, 4 green sandpipers, 8 stonechat, Cetti's warbler, 300 greenfinches and 6 red-breasted mergansers.

On Thursday 29th a male hen harrier and a pair of stonechats were seen through the fog at Maydays Farm by Martin Cock.
Heard a report that 2 woodcock were flsuhed during a recent pheasant shoot at East Mersea.

The moth trap was put out at the park on Wed 28th on a still but cool night. Amongst the 20 moths of six species were 4 feathered thorns, one pictured above. Other moths noted were streak, large yellow underwing, mallow, common marbled carpet and November sps.