SNOW BUNTS

The snow buntings were at the East Mersea Point on Saturday 9th as photographed here by Andy Field.

Three birds were seen feeding at the Point with a fourth bird on the small beach closer to the park.
A thousand golden plover were on the mud near the Point.

Martin Cock saw 16 pintail fly into the Colne estuary on Monday, while the day before, a common buzzard was seen being mobbed by crows near the top of Strood Hill. At Maydays farm on Sunday morning eleven pink-footed geese flew off Reeveshall and across Langenhoe heading north-west. There was a notable count for the Island of 110 collared doves seen beside the Maydays farm buildings.

Neil Mortimer watched a impressive influx of wood pigeons heading west over the Island early on Sunday morning with an estimated 6000+ birds passing over in a continuous stream of many big flocks.
A red admiral poignantly fluttered past the West Mersea war memorial in the bright sunshine right on 11 o'clock, passing over the heads of the many people paying tribute there on Remembrance Sunday.

On Saturday 9th a green sandpiper and red-breasted merganser were seen along the Pyefleet, as well as the big flock of brent geese on Reeveshall which included the pale-bellied brent.

A couple of walks along the Strood Channel seawall on consecutive days provided similar birds but contrasting weather with bright sunshine on the Sunday but dull on the Monday. The tide was out on both occasions with the usual variety of waders and wildfowl. Ducks included 150 wigeon, 50 teal and 20 shelduck on Monday.

This black-tailed godwit was one of fifty seen with at least one bar-tailed godwit seen too. The picture below shows the black tail and white wing-bar of the godwit as it flies away. Other waders of note were 10 knot on Monday and 1000 golden plover in the air over the Peldon fields.

A stonechat showed briefly along the borrowdyke and sixteen skylarks flew over one of the fields on Sunday while in the channel 20 little grebes amongst the moorings had increased on Monday to 24 birds.

Another bush confused by the mild autumn weather is this holly in Firs Chase with a number of fresh flowers appearing well out of season. These should normally be sprouting in the spring, ideally with the holly blue butterflies looking to lay their eggs on them.