GARDEN VISITOR

This kestrel visited the Thorley's garden along the East Mersea road near Meeting Lane, seen here plucking its prey. 

At least three kestrels have been seen during the last fortnight perched at various intervals beside the East Mersea road.

There were more wigeon in the park's grazing fields on Saturday 9th with 1000 seen feeding with 600 brent geese. Most of the brent geese flew off late morning to feed in some nearby wheat fields.

Two ruff were feeding in the grazing field as were 2 black-tailed godwits and ten curlew. Forty linnets fed in the fields as did a few goldfinches.

On the beach the male stonechat was still present, also two rock pipits and 12 skylarks. From the Point 50 avocets on the mud, 5 great crested grebes, a common seal in the river Colne while later in the afternoon a marsh harrier flew over the Point heading back to the Langenhoe roost.

At the park pond 75 mallard, 8 gadwall, 18 little egrets were noted, the Cetti's warbler fed in bushes beside the hide and the little owl perched near the alders late morning.

The water rail was seen scuttling through the grass around the edge of the pond on Friday 8th. In the grazing fields 115 lapwing were seen along with 20 greylag geese.

At West Mersea on Friday, an unidentified tern was seen distantly by Richard Allen fishing creeks towards Tollesbury and then a flypast Packing Shed. Also seen were 3 great northern divers, black-necked grebe, black brant, 3 common scoter and two Mediterranean gulls.

Offshore from the park on Tuesday 5th was a great northern diver in the outer Colne, red throated diver and five Slavonian grebes. The stonechat was along the seawall, two sparrowhawks seen during the day, 10 little egrets and 8 gadwall on the pond.

A kingfisher was seen at Ivy Dock on Monday 4th by Michael Thorley.