WET STROOD CIRCUIT

After a dull start with some very light rain on Sunday 23rd, more persistent rain fell for the rest of the day. It was not the best sort of weather for using binoculars or cameras whilst on a long circuit walk around the fields by the Strood.
This little egret was watching the tide cover the mudflats along from the Dabchicks Sailing Club. Five other little egrets were seen alongside the Strood Channel.

The biggest gathering of birds was the brent geese flock which seemed to number 2500 birds feeding right at the back of the wheat fields, next to the edge of West Mersea. I had hoped there was a close view from the back of Whittaker Way, but the geese were just below the brow of the slope and so were out of sight from here.

On the muddy and waterlogged fields next to the Strood seawall, 200+ waders were arriving for the high tide. These included a mix of ringed plover, grey plover, golden plover, lapwing, turnstone, curlew, redshank, black-tailed godwit and dunlin.
Also feeding in the fields were 50 linnets, 30 skylarks, 2 rock pipits and 200 starlings, while a kingfisher was glimpsed through the rain as it sped low across the fields to a nearby pond.

A quick look at the Strood reservoirs produced a nice variety of waterbirds. A water rail which flew away from the path in front of me as I walked along, was the most interesting thing of note. Two great crested grebes, little grebe, 3 cormorants, grey heron and the call of a kingfisher were birds all here for the fish. Also 3 tufted ducks, 25 mallard as well as a few coots and moorhens were the other waterfowl seen.

This male kestrel perched high in a tree at the country park on Saturday 22nd.