PROWLING AT THE POINT

Andy Field took this photo recently of a grey heron fishing in the shallow waters near the East Mersea Point.

During a couple of walks to the Point during Sunday 8th, various small waders were seen close in as the tide receded. About 50 dunlin and 50 ringed plover fed alongside 5 sanderling and a turnstone. On the nearby saltmarsh pools were 3 avocets and a brent goose while 10 linnets and a reed bunting were also present close-by. Offshore 3 little terns were seen flying out of the river, the 4 eider were still present and a kestrel flew west over the Colne from Brightlingsea.

On the fields 4 gadwall, 2 wigeon, 6 greylags, 5 Canada geese, 12 lapwings, 3 redshank and 2 shoveler were noted. Two reed warblers, lesser whitethroat, yellow wagtail were noted around the fields. The first house martin over the park was seen flying west, the cuckoo stopped by in the afternoon to call and the two nightingales sang by the entrance.

Andy Field on a walk along the Shop Lane seawall on Sunday noted 22 little terns on Langenhoe Point and also 2 hobbies over the ranges. An avocet and a greenshank were on the Reeveshall pool, with a pair of marsh harriers on Reeveshall and a sedge warbler and yellowhammer singing near the Oyster Fishery.
Martin Cock had a hobby fly over his West Mersea garden during the day and 20 whimbrel over the house on Saturday.




Lots of damselflies have been seen along the path close to the fields and the pond with lots of the azure damselflies one pictured above, and also blue-tailed damselflies. A couple of hairy hawkers were also seen at the park during the day.

Amongst the usual variety of butterflies were 4 green hairstreaks, two on the cliff-top and two near the hide. Andy also saw one along the footpath west of Shop Lane towards Meeting Lane. Also had a report of one in a West Mersea garden recently at the top end of Oakwood Avenue.

Saw three adders in the morning including one of last summer's youngsters and also received sightings of two others including one near the east end of the seawall.


Masses of Alexanders cover big areas around the park especially lining the path along the seawall in the photo above. Each year the Alexanders spreads into more of the open grassland and along the nearby roadside verges.


The hawthorn bushes, or May bushes, are laden with masses of flowers. Many of these bushes at the moment around the park are buzzing with all sorts of insect life whenever the sun comes out.


Recent strong winds appeared to have washed up masses of the egg-cases of whelks. Looking like clumps of bubble-wrap, there were some big clusters lying along the high-tide line on the park beach. Also found was a mermaids purse, the washed up egg-case of a skate or similar fish.