PYEFLEET VISITS

Waders, wildfowl and a few other birds along the north side of the Island came under the monthly scrutiny by Glyn Evans and Andy Field on Monday 8th. This female kingfisher pictured above was one of two, possibly three birds, seen on the walk. One was seen at Maydays, another one near the Oyster Fishery, possibly the same bird that was photographed a short while later, near the seawall at the Point.

Two stonechats were seen, this one photographed by Glyn at the country park and an earlier one seen at Maydays farm. A small flock of linnets and a couple of yellowhammers were also seen in fields near here.

A common buzzard was mobbed by a crow over the Shop Lane wood and a goldeneye was seen in the Pyefleet.

A small group of 7 sanderling were feeding on the beach at the Point, these two above photographed by Glyn.

Two other sanderling pictures, these ones taken by Andy also at the Point.

At least one green sandpiper was noted along the Pyefleet, possibly a second bird seen near here too. A goldeneye was seen in the Pyefleet and four red-breasted mergansers seen too.

Keeping a sly watch on proceedings was this fox showing off his thick winter coat.

Other bird counts made on Monday at East Mersea were by Martin Peers who noted a male goldeneye, 2 red-breasted mergansers, 350 avocets, 400 grey plover, 750 lapwing and 2000 dunlin along the Pyefleet.
At the country park there were 410 brent geese, 470 wigeon, 118 teal, sparrowhawk, 2 sanderling, 268 black-tailed godwits, 8 redwings, as well as the already reported kingfisher and stonechat.

Brian Cooper on Monday noted along the Strood seawall a huge flock of 5000 golden plover and also two stonechats.