Friday, 22 December 2017

GLOOMY AT GROVE

Recent dull and gloomy weather at the park and the fewer people visiting has allowed the wigeon to graze the grass on the side of the seawall. This small group on one section were part of 400 seen near and on the grazing fields on Thursday 21st.
At the park pond two water rails scuttled around the edge with one chasing the other, also 4 tufted ducks, ten gadwall and 70 mallard were on the water.

A winter male reed bunting perched on the seablite bushes at the East Mersea Point on Thursday.

The male stonechat was also perching on the bushes beside the saltmarsh at the Point, a robin at times chasing it about. A rock pipit was flying about the saltmarsh too.

A common seal peered through the mist over the Colne as it swam up-river at the Point on Thursday morning.


On Wednesday 20th at the park a sparrowhawk perched in a tree to the north, ten chaffinches, ten blackbirds in the car park and 50 shelduck offshore at high tide.


At Maydays on Tuesday 19th a ringtail hen harrier flying over the saltmarsh towards the Strood was seen by Martin Cock, also a Cetti's warbler at Maydays.
The Langenhoe harrier roost count on Monday 18th by Andy Field and Darrell Stile produced views of 17 marsh harriers and a merlin. The previous day 5 red-breasted mergansers were in the Pyefleet.


The Swallow Birding boat trip from West Mersea into the nearby creeks and Blackwater produced a scaup, 16 common scoter, 30 goldeneye, 35 red-breasted mergansers, 5 great northern divers, 2 black-necked grebe, 2 shag, glossy ibis, red kite, common buzzard, 9 marsh harriers, 170 avocet and a guillemot.


A great northern diver was close into the Hard at West Mersea on Friday 15th, also a great crested grebe, little grebe were amongst the boats while a marsh harrier flew over the mouth of Salcott Channel.

Lots of winter moths have been gathering shortly after dark on the office windows and nearby toilet building at the park with 78 counted on Wednesday 20th.

A mottled umber was found resting amongst a pile of wood at the park the pervious week.

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