PYEFLEET SCAUP

Enjoyed a couple of hours walk along the Reeveshall seawall beside the Pyefleet channel on Monday 26th. The rain managed to hold off and at times the sun even managed to break through the clouds.

The visibility was good and this group of 4 scaup pictured above were watched close to Pewit Island. They drifted down channel with the outgoing tide and then took to the air to fly back four or five hundred metres. Further up-channel close to the Maydays corner were three more scaup.

Also seen were 4 red-breasted mergansers, 2 goldeneye, common scoter, 3 great crested grebes, 200+ wigeon and 20+ cormorants along the Pyefleet.


A common seal swam up the channel towards Maydays.

Lots of waders spread out along the mud with this roost of golden plover, lapwing, grey plover, dunlin and knot seen. Later 1000 golden plover and 500 lapwing rose into the air off the mud at Pewit Island when a marsh harrier passed overhead. Other than lots of the regular waders 100 knot were also noted.

On Langenhoe a peregrine harrassed the waders, a barn owl was hunting just after mid-day and 8+ marsh harriers were flying about or sitting on bushes. Also on some of the Langenhoe bushes were 200 fieldfares.

The main island flock of brent geese were feeding at Reeveshall with 1000 birds seen along with one pale bellied brent goose. The flock settled back down to the field after a marsh harrier had flown by. At least three others were seen at times over the fields and ditches.


The Reeveshall pool was looking very full of water with the only bird seen nearby was a little egret flying away. On the nearby saltmarsh were 25 linnets and 5 skylarks.

Dave Allen reported having a good view at Cudmore Grove Country Park on Monday of a male hen harrier. Steve Entwistle watched from Shop Lane four male hen harriers heading into the Langenhoe roost on Sunday afternoon.

Walked the Strood seawall path from the Dabchicks Sailing Club end, pictured above, on both Saturday and Sunday. The wind had died down by early afternoon on Sunday and 3 marsh harriers were seen crossing the Strood causeway heading towards Langenhoe. A barn owl was busy hunting the long grass on Ray Island for at least an hour in the afternoon. Two little egrets flew to the trees on the Ray late afternoon.

Along the channel 12 dabchicks were amongst the moorings, while on the mud were many of the usual waders with 70 knot, 300 lapwing and 300 golden plover being of interest. A big flock of 2000 golden plover were seen in the air over Packing Shed Island.

On Saturday 30 linnets, 2 rock pipits, 4 fieldfares were seen beside the fields while gathering to roost in the bushes near the Dabchicks were 15 goldfinches and 20 greenfinches. A marsh harrier flew east along the Ray Channel where 500 brent geese were also seen.

A green sandpiper flew over the Hard and the Yacht Club calling out loudly as it headed high north-eastwards on Friday.