IBIS ON THE RAY

 The glossy ibis was back on the Ray Island saltmarsh on both Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd. Pictured above through the heat shimmer, a distant view taken from the Strood seawall about 400m away. The ibis was in the same area on both days during the high tide mid morning period, on the southern end of Ray Island. The glossy ibis was last seen a fortnight earlier flying over the Strood causeway, whilst I waited in traffic for the tide to fall off the road on 5th April.

A female pochard in the Strood dyke was also of note on Friday, as this area was the only place on the Island where they bred last summer.

Other birds noted on Friday along the Strood included 2 common buzzard, 5 whimbrel, 2 common tern, 2 greylag geese, 3 reed warblers, 2 common whitethroat, 3 reed buntings, 40 linnets and 5 swallows.
The north-westerly breeze wafted the sound from Ray Island of a nightingale heard singing briefly on Friday morning along with the songs of blackcap and lesser whitethroat.

Offshore from the West Mersea Esplanade on Friday a black-necked grebe was seen by Martin Cock.

Jackdaws seem to be continuing their recent spread into West Mersea with this small group being seen on the Strood seawall picking at the loose clay-soil on the path.

Birds noted on Saturday 22nd along the Strood included common buzzard on one of the fields, reed warbler singing, 2 common terns, whimbrel and 15 house sparrows near the caravan site.

 At the country park four wheatears were seen in the grazing fields on Saturday 22nd by Andy Field, this male pictured was perched up near the Golfhouse.

Also noted at the park were four lesser whitethroats and a singing willow warbler but no more sign of any ring ouzels.

A corn bunting was singing along Chapmans Lane on Friday 21st, also a male marsh harrier hunting over the field near Bocking Hall and Rewsalls.

At the country park on Thursday 20th a sand martin was chattering in flight above the cliff late afternoon, also a willow warbler singing from the cliff-top trees. Four new lapwing chicks were seen in the park's fields.

The cold nights have curtailed much moth trapping recently although this muslin moth was one of two found in the trap on Wednesday 19th. Other moths in the haul of 15 included Hebrew character, frosted green and common quaker.