MAYDAYS SEAWALL WALK

A pair of yellowhammers brightened up a bush by the Maydays farmyard on a sunny Monday 12th. Half a dozen yellowhammers in total were feeding at the edge of bushes near the yard.

Other small birds seen around the Maydays farmland were 40 linnets, pair of stonechats, calling Cetti's warbler, 10 chaffinch, 15 goldfinch, 10 meadow pipit, 4 reed bunting and ten skylarks.

One fieldfare perched in a tree at Maydays calling out a few times before flying off.

The tide was going out during the late morning walk along the Maydays seawall. Of note were 2000 dunlin feeding on the mud, also 6 black-tailed godwits were seen. In the Pyefleet channel were 8 red-breasted mergansers, great crested grebe, 100 wigeon and 70 teal with a common seal resting on the saltmarsh

On Reeveshall a common buzzard flew over, 74 greylag geese, 150 lapwing, grey heron and 25 golden plover were noted. On Langenhoe a common buzzard and a marsh harrier were seen in flight.

At West Mersea on Monday afternoon a black-necked grebe was found of St Peters by Steve Hunting. Also here were great northern diver, shag, 2 common scoter, 9 red-breasted mergansers and a Mediterranean gull. Two rock pipits were seen by the houseboats.

Earlier on Monday Steve had seen 3 Slavonian grebes and red-throated diver off Coopers Beach but no sign of the black redstart on Monday.

Also reported from West Mersea on Monday by Martin Peers were 3 great northern divers, 23 sanderling and 5 Mediterranean gulls.

On Sunday 11th at East Mersea the black redstart and grey wagtail were seen at Coopers Beach by Steve Entwistle. The black redstart and grey wagtail were seen at Coopers beach on Saturday 10th by Andy Field.

The regular red squirrel was back on the feeder in the Firs Chase garden on Sunday 11th late morning, spending a few minutes eating some of the peanuts on offer. This individual was also seen early morning on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th.