ROADSIDE BUZZARD

Several common buzzards were flying about the middle of the Island, making the most of the sunshine on Friday 11th. This individual pictured above was along the usual section of the East Mersea road, perched near Bocking Hall.

The common buzzard luckily switched telegraph poles to this one on the north side of the road that showed it in better light.

Another common buzzard circled over the East Mersea road near Manwood Grove by the pub, while at the north end of Shop Lane the regular pair were calling to each other as they flew around. 

This female kestrel was peering down from the top of a telegraph pole along Shop Lane, before flying off.

Some sheep kept me company during a quick visit to the Reeveshall seawall on Friday morning. Very little of note with a near high tide along the Pyefleet.

On Reeveshall only 20 greylag geese, 5 Canada geese, 20 wigeon and 15 coot were noted with a redshank and a pair of mallard seen on the main pool.

In the Pyefleet 5 great crested grebes in the channel while 500+ dunlin, 100 redshank and 25 grey plover along the near side of mudflats.

At the country park earlier in the day three adders were snuggled up with each other, the previous day just two were noted. Five little egrets roosted during high tide on the park pond on Friday.

At the end of Friday afternoon a barn owl was hunting by the Strood road junction.

The Cetti's warbler showed itself and 20+ siskins were seen by Martin Cock feeding in alders by the park pond on Wednesday. A stoat was seen along the top-edge of the saltmarsh during the very high tide near Cosways, seen by Annie Gordon.

On Tuesday 8th the barn owl was flying over the fields on the north side of the park at the end of the day.

At the Youth Camp a little owl, 20+ siskin, lesser redpoll, green sandpiper, 5 Mediterranean gulls and a Slavonian grebe were seen by Martin and Andrew Tilsley on Tuesday 8th.

At the country park on Monday 7th, the rare sight of a house sparrow was chirping happily by the park entrance. Also noted at the park were 8 sanderling, 1000 wigeon, 8 tufted duck, 200 black-tailed godwits, 100 redshank, 400 golden plover and 50+ shelduck.

By Bromans Lane three hares were boxing in the wheat field and a pair of red-legged partridge was still present on Monday