Merry Xmas to the followers of Mersea Wildlife!
The incoming tide was already on the beach at the East Mersea Point by mid-morning on Xmas Day with this pair of oystercatchers resting alongside some of the 30+ turnstones.
The breeze was picking up during the morning with waves breaking past some of the waders beside the Point.
A female marsh harrier flew west from Point Clear across the river and passing the Mersea coastline well out to sea as it continued heading westwards. In the river a couple of great crested grebes and 70 shelduck were seen.
Five reed buntings were feeding amongst the sea-blite bushes at the Point including this female, and where rock pipit and 3 skylarks were also present.
Brent geese numbers were building up during the morning with this pale-bellied brent seen amongst the 400+ dark-bellied in the grazing fields.
Also noted in the fields were 700+ wigeon, 500+ black-tailed godwits and 130 lapwing.
Small flocks of brent geese were feeding on the algae on the foreshore first thing in the morning before the tide came in.
On the park pond ten gadwall were feeding in separate pairs, a sparrowhawk flew to the back of the pond and at least five siskin flew off the alders as did several goldfinches.
During Thursday 24th the sparrowhawk was seen flying past the pond and over the grazing fields a couple of times. Also on the pond was a pair of tufted duck.
A covey of seven red-legged partridge was feeding in the field to the north of Bromans Lane on Xmas Day. The previous day they were seen in the field on the south side, as were 110 curlew.
As Xmas Day was dawning a woodcock was seen in the car headlights standing briefly on the East Mersea road near Meeting Lane. It quickly rose vertically into the air with the dark silhouette of the broad wings and a long bill soon disappearing over the roadside hedge near the old PYO field.
The common buzzard was also on a roadside pole as it began to get light near Bocking Hall.
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