WELCOME TO MERSEA ISLAND - A GEM OFF THE ESSEX COAST. FAMOUSLY DESCRIBED IN 1880:- "A MORE DESOLATE REGION CAN SCARCE BE CONCEIVED, AND YET IT IS NOT WITHOUT BEAUTY". STILL UNIQUE TODAY, CUT OFF AT HIGH TIDES, SURROUNDED BY MUD AND SALTMARSHES, MERSEA IS RICH IN COASTAL WILDLIFE. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS -
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
SPOONBILL SURPRISE
Recent rains have topped up the pools in the park's grazing fields to the levels they were in late winter. There was more rain at the start of Tuesday 24th but then the day brightened up.
Having teamed up with Martin Cock for a walk along the seawall, we were surprised to find the juvenile spoonbill feeding on the edge of the mudflats. Martin had also seen the bird flying north over the fields yesterday so maybe it'll stay in the area for a while.
There appeared to be a small influx of wheatears with 8 birds seen in 3 different locations. By the end of the afternoon all eight were together in one of the fields with 6 of the birds being males. A swift flew east over the Point, 3 whimbrel were seen near the Point, 2 singing whitethroats were heard by the seawall, while a sedge warbler singing at the pond was a new bird in.
A male marsh harrier was mobbed by 2 common terns as it headed upriver and a great crested grebe and a common seal were seen near the mouth of the Colne. Two pairs of avocets were in the area still and two brent geese were on the saltmarsh near the Golfhouse.
Despite the shower squalls, the two nightingales were still singing on and off during the day from opposite ends of the car park. On the pools 200 black-tailed godwits roosted and also present were 6 snipe, 6 redshank, 25 teal, pair of wigeon, 2 pairs gadwall, pair of shoveler and 6 lapwing. On the pond 3 pochard and 12 tufted duck were the main ducks of note.
Two adders were noted in their regular spots on Monday.
The run of disappointing catches in the moth trap continues since the start of April. This neatly marked chocolate-tip moth was the only moth different in a haul of about 15 moths on Monday night, compared with the other recent regulars.
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