TWO BLACK REDS

Two black redstarts were found on the Island on Sunday 10th with the first one, pictured above, discovered by the beach huts at West Mersea by Steve Entwistle early morning.

This adult female black redstart, pictured by Andy Field, at times fed along the strandline on the beach and at other times disappeared amongst the beach huts dodging the many dog walkers.

Around the middle of the day a second female black redstart was found in horse paddocks to the north of the country park by Andy who managed this picture of the bird. Unfortunately the bird wasn't seen after a pair of kestrels flew overhead.

Three brightly coloured yellow wagtails were seen along the track to the west of the East Mersea church. This one above drinking from a puddle with a pied wagtail, one of half a dozen feeding in the area.

The little owl at the Youth Camp entrance was keeping a close eye on Steve and I. It flew from one tree to this pine tree pictured, where it tried to hide amongst the branches and pine needles.

Also noted around the Rewsalls marshes area were a common buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, Cetti's warbler, two pairs of Mediterranean gulls calling overhead, 25 golden plover, male wheatear, one displaying meadow pipit, 2 reed buntings, 10 shelduck, 2 swallows, 25 linnets while on the nearby sea were a dozen great crested grebes.

One pair of coots have already got a brood of chicks at the country park pond, pictured here by Andy.

Three or four pairs of coot nest at the pond each year so more chicks should be appearing here soon.

By Meeting Lane a blackcap and five singing chiffchaffs were noted by Steve on Sunday afternoon. The corn bunting was singing along the East Mersea road near Bocking Hall on Sunday morning.

A blackcap was singing on Saturday in trees at St Peters meadow in West Mersea.