CHILLY WIND OVER THE COLNE

A cold north-easterly wind blew across the country park for the visit of members of the local Colchester RSPB group on Sunday 7th. It wasn't a day for standing around for too long.
Two pairs of red-breasted mergansers were seen flying past the Point as they headed back up river. A great crested grebe was the only other bird seen on the river while on the mud were 200 golden plover and 100+ avocets. A stonechat showed briefly amongst the saltmarsh at the Point.

On the grazing fields 700 wigeon, 100 brent geese and 100 lapwing were the main birds on Sunday morning. A water rail was seen flying across the park pond in the morning, and one also showed in the afternoon.
Two muntjac deer were seen at the start of the Sunday near the park entrance.

At West Mersea 7 common scoter, 16 red-breasted merganser, 2 great northern divers, 5 sanderling and 7 Mediterranean gulls were seen by Steve Grimwade on Sunday.

On Saturday 6th the water rail was feeding beside the park pond, also 7 little egrets roosted, 50 mallard, 10 gadwall and five tufted ducks present.
A muntjac was seen in Bromans Lane just after dark on Saturday.

Offshore from West Mersea on Saturday were 10 common scoter, 3 great northern divers, 100 great crested grebes, shag, peregrine and a Mediterranean gull seen by Graham Ekins.

 The high spring tide on Friday 5th covered most of the saltmarsh in front of the park seawall early in the afternoon. In the nearby grazing fields 800 wigeon, 15 redshank, 9 grey plover and 100 lapwing were noted while at the park pond were 7 tufted duck and 5 little egrets.

The beach at East Mersea Point was completely under water during the very high tide on Friday. The small bit of exposed beach at the very Point had a mixed flock of 500 waders waiting for the water to recede. A pair of stonechat was also seen on the bushes.

The glossy ibis was seen on Ray Island on Friday 5th by Andy Field, also noted were 2 marsh harriers and a kingfisher along the Strood Channel while 10 common scoter, 4 red-breasted mergansers and great northern diver were off the Esplanade.

On Tuesday 2nd the glossy ibis was seen roosting on Ray Island by Martin Cock while offshore from the Esplanade was a great northern diver seen by David Allen.

A male blackcap was found by Ian Black on Christmas Eve in his garden shed in Mersea Avenue, it was later released back into the garden.