BREEZY REWSALLS

Despite the strong breeze, one or two butterflies were still on the wing on Tuesday 2nd. It was still worth noting this small heath pictured above,one of two seen, flitting along the ground at Rewsalls marshes during a quick lunchtime visit there. The season for small heaths doesn't stretch much into October so this might be the last sighting of the year.
Also seen here were a comma and a couple of small whites.

Martin Cock found a male stonechat, the first of the autumn here on the Island, on the Rewsalls marshes. Also present were two wheatears sitting on the big round bales and a late whinchat. A kestrel was also seen perching on the big bales and a couple of linnets and goldfinches flew over the fields.
Earlier in the morning there was a steady passage of 80+ meadow pipits and several swallows with a few house martins too over Rewsalls. One brent goose flew along the coast.

There was a more noticeable swallow passage at the country park with a steady westwards flow over the Colne of 150+ birds along with 20+ house martins during the first part of the morning. However only a handful of meadow pipits were noted at the park. Nine jays flapped up high to the edge of the saltings near Ivy Farm but didn't have the courage to cross the Colne to Brightlingsea. One collared dove did make the eastward flight across the river.

In the river 6 common terns hunted over the water, while 70+ avocets flew past the Point up-river, while a common seal was also noted.

On the pools 120 wigeon, 200 teal and 14 shoveler were the main ducks here, while 5 tufted ducks were seen on the dyke.

Other birds on the park included 2 goldcrests calling from the trees, as did 2 chiffchaffs, 2 blackcaps by the pond and 5 mistle thrushes on the rowan trees in the car park.