LONE AVOCET

An avocet was along the Strood channel on Friday 20th and still present on Sunday 21st. At high tide it was seen roosting in the nearby field. When it walked over the mud to feed at low tide, it was seen to have a slight limp in its left leg, pictured here with the leg slightly lifted.

Other waders noted on Friday included 3 whimbrel, displaying lapwing over the fields, single black-tailed godwit, greenshank heard calling and 50+ redshank. Three common terns were seen along the channel later in the day, at least 4 Mediterranean gulls flying about, 2 little egrets and 6 shelduck also seen.

This common buzzard was one of eight seen from the Strood seawall during the Friday late morning walk in warm conditions. The highlight was a red kite seen flying west over the Firs Chase caravan site heading over the Strood channel towards Salcott channel. Two oystercatchers and a black-tailed godwit rose up to mob it. Also seen in the area were a sparrowhawk and a kestrel.

Small birds noted were a corn bunting singing on wires at the back of the fields, 2 swallows, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, 4 linnets and four pied wagtails.

An increasingly rare sight on Mersea are breeding meadow pipits. This one was singing on Saturday 21st on a fence on the Rewsalls marshes. A sedge warbler was also singing from nearby bushes, lesser whitethroat, 5 swallows, singing yellow wagtail, 2 reed buntings, 4 shelduck, 2 little egret and 4 linnets also seen in the area.

Near Meeting Lane on Saturday a willow warbler was singing in Gyants Marsh also 2 blackcaps, chiffchaff and two red-legged partridges seen.
Also seen on the walk were a brimstone, comma, small tortoiseshell and small white butterflies.

A male wheatear was on the Strood seawall on Sunday 22nd. Also yellow wagtail flew over, 2 reed warblers heard singing in the reeds, 4 reed buntings, whitethroat, common tern, 8 whimbrel, buzzard, kestrel, 4 Mediterranean gulls were all noted during the walk. The corn bunting was heard singing on wires by Andy Field.

A brief walk late on Monday 23rd near the Firs Chase caravan site provided views of 2 common terns, swallow and 3 little egrets flying over Feldy where there also 30 distant mute swans in a field.