The pied blackbird has been present all winter in the garden in Firs Chase, West Mersea and was photographed here through the kitchen window as it fed under the bird feeder on Monday 4th. It has a striking white head as well as various other white patches over its body.
Also seen at West Mersea on Monday were the shag by the jetty at the Hard and a sparrowhawk circling over The Lane. Offshore two great northern divers were reported by Robin Burroughs on Monday.
These two photographs of a tiny goldcrest were taken by Michael Thorley as it fed in his garden near the East Mersea road on Monday. A number of fieldfares have also been in his garden recently too.
On Sunday there were 6 waxwings seen perched high in the beech tree again in the High Street in West Mersea by Steve Entwistle and Ian Black
A visit to the Maydays farm with Andy Field on a sunny Sunday provided views of one brambling with 50 chaffinch, 100 linnet and 5 yellowhammers on the farm. Along the Pyefleet were 3 male goldeneye, one Mediterranean gull, 15 knot, 40+ avocet, while over Langenhoe were 5+ marsh harriers and a sparrowhawk.
In a field near Bocking Hall were 100+ fieldfares feeding amongst the rape crop, but no sign of the red-legged partridges.
Offshore from West Mersea one eider, 16 common scoter, 38 red-breasted mergansers, 1 red-throated diver, 3 great northern divers, 45 great crested grebes and 5 Slavonian grebes were seen by Graham Ekins who also saw by the Strood 2 white fronted geese, one marsh harrier and 25 knot.
Thanks for passing on an observation about a pied blackbird by the Dormie houses in East Mersea some time ago. Blackbirds with some white feathers are occasionally seen although very white birds and albino ones are certainly much rarer. There used to be a pied blackbird near Blue Row a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteRegards Dougal