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 -
Friday, 9 November 2012
BUNTING CHASE
Two snow buntings were seen on the West Mersea beach next to St Peters early on Friday 9th by Ray and Lyn Hempstead. However by the time I was able to have a look later in the morning, the birds had gone. Not sure if these birds are the ones from East Mersea Point.
Other birds of interest seen in the area were 3 rock pipits, 10 bar-tailed godwits, 400 golden plover, 50 brent geese and 10 great crested grebes.
Other bird news over recent days from the country park, include the jack snipe being seen on Thursday 8th amongst 70+ common snipe by Howard Joliffe. A lapland bunting flew west over the car park first thing in the morning and a redpoll sp, was heard later over the park. At dusk a pipistrelle bat flew over the car park.
Phil Carter reported seeing 3 snow buntings and 12 red-breasted mergansers at the Point on Wednesday 7th. Two common scoter were reported in the Colne near Langenhoe Point and there was also one seen off West Mersea too.
The kingfisher was back on its usual perch at the park pond posing in the bright sunshine on Tuesday 6th. A female sparrowhawk flew into the top of the willows behind the pond. Three lesser redpolls were feeding on nearby alder cones with a few goldfinches. A comma butterfly flew over the park late in the morning and late in the season too.
On Monday 5th the two jack snipe were showing in the grazing fields while at the Point Andy Field and Rob Burgess saw 2 snow buntings.
There was a single figure count of moths in the trap during overnight on Wednesday at the park. This December moth pictured above quite often turns up in November - as well as in the month it's named after. Four November moths were also in the trap, a lot less than the peak of a fortnight ago. A green-brindled crescent and a yellow-line quaker were the only other moths noted.
This angle shades moth was easy to spot as it rested on a nettle leaf at St Peters meadow on Friday 9th. It wouldn't have been spotted if it rested amongst some dead leaves.
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