SEAL PUP

This common seal pup was resting on the mud close to East Mersea Point on Thursday 15th. It looked about two-thirds the size of an adult seal and seemed happy enough basking in the morning sunshine. After a while it edged back to the water and swam into the river Colne. Most summers there's usually a seal pup seen somewhere round the Island usually along the Pyefleet.

Also at the Point as the tide came in were 25 avocets and 50 black-tailed godwits and some of the other regular waders. A couple of common terns flew past and a distant marsh harrier was seen on Langenhoe Point.

The westerly breeze dropped during the morning and the increasing sunshine meant the passage of birds slowly reduced. A common buzzard was reported flying west over the car park. A few meadow pipits trickled westwards as did some swallows, while the calls of lesser redpolls flying over were heard on two occasions during the morning.

On the park pond 100 mallard were gathered along with a gadwall and 2 tufted ducks. On the fields 150 teal, 2 wigeon and 4 shoveler were the main wildfowl along with 6 black-tailed godwits, 20 lapwing and 2 snipe. A green sandpiper was heard calling as it flew over the fields and pond.

In the hedges 2 song thrushes perched up high with several blackcaps being the main warbler in the bushes with a handful noted.

The bright sunshine was ideal for butterflies with a couple of late peacocks, one pictured above, seen along the seawall along with a common blue and 20 small whites. Others seen around the park included 3 small coppers, small heath, speckled wood, meadow brown, red admiral and comma. Common darters and migrant hawkers were the dragonflies seen.
Also basking at the park during the morning were at 6 common lizards and 2 adders.