MOBBED BUZZARD

 

A very tatty common buzzard  appeared over the copse at the back of the park pond being mobbed by a carrion crow on Saturday 22nd. The buzzard drifted off to the north with the crow still hounding it.
A short while later a sparrowhawk flew past the pond which led to 100+ swallows to flock together for safety.

The kingfisher was seen a couple of times on Sunday morning at the pond, perching on willow branches at the back. Two tufted ducklings are still at the pond and at least one brood of noisy little grebe chicks is still being fed by the parents.

Three common snipe were on the main pool in the grazing fields on Sunday feeding along the muddy edge.

A poor shot of a distant ruff at the back of the park pool in the fields -surprisingly the first ruff sighting in the fields this year. This bird didn't stay for long and was soon off on the Sunday morning.
A green sandpiper flew off calling on Sunday morning too, while 20+ black-tailed godwits continued to feed.

Teal numbers on the pools have increased in the last few days with new arrivals coming in for the winter. From half a dozen through the summer, 24 birds were seen on Sunday and then up to 30 on Monday 24th. The first wigeon was also spotted on Friday 21st.

Up to fifty starlings and ten mistle thrushes have been stripping the rowan berries from the trees in the country park. Here a young starling moulting into the speckled plumage of an adult, with a plucked berry.

Two wheatears were at the Point on Monday 24th in the morning along with 100+ linnets, while two yellow wagtails were also noted.
On the mud 80+ ringed plover, 300 golden plover, 250+ black-tailed godwits and 25+ little egrets.

As the wind picked up in the early afternoon a couple of flocks of swifts drifted north-east over the park totalling about 60 birds. Also over the park and nearby fields were 100+ swallows and 10+ house martins.

On Sunday 23rd the osprey was seen by Martin Cock and Andy Field to the north of the Island sitting on a distant post on the Geedons. A wheatear, common buzzard, marsh harrier and a couple of clouded yellow butterflies were seen on the north side of the Island on Sunday.

At West Mersea eight swifts drifted west over Upland Road early on Sunday morning while at Bocking Hall on Saturday 1000 starlings were feeding in the fields.

This Webb's wainscot was one of the scarcer moths found in the trap during Saturday night's trapping session at the park. One or two Webbs are noted at the park each summer.
Amongst the thirty other species noted, two poplar hawkmoths and a sandhill rustic were of interest.

During the day the hummingbird hawkmoth was still visiting the buddleia on Sunday while the red underwing was seen resting on the outside of the toilet building through Monday.