BREEZY ALONG THE STROOD

It was nice and sunny during the morning walk along the Strood seawall on Monday 5th, although there was a strong breeze blowing. The tide was out so there were plenty of waders to look at on the mud, as long as the binoculars could be held still in the wind.

The redshank were the most numerous with about 300 birds scattered along the channel. Three greenshank were noted but no sign of any spotted redshanks here. Twenty knot and four bar-tailed godwits were seen and there was a mixed group of 100 golden and grey plovers feeding on the mud. Very few small waders were found although 50+ ringed plovers were seen on mud opposite the Hard.

Also seen along the channel were 6 shelduck, 3 common terns, one grey heron and 5 little egrets along the edge of the Ray saltings. On the Ray Island 1500 starlings were flying around in a big foraging flock. A small flock of 10 house martins crossed over the channel towards Mersea.

Inside the Strood seawall a wheatear was still in the middle field, 10 skylarks, 30 house sparrows and 10 linnets were seen but otherwise relatively quiet here. Two common lizards were basking by the Feldy View field.

Martin Cock saw two curlew sandpipers along the Pyefleet near Maydays farm on Monday.