PARTRIDGE IN PEA FIELD

A grey partridge was feeding in the recently cut pea field alongside Chapmans Lane on Friday 20th and Sunday 22nd.

Two Sandwich terns were resting on the mud as the tide began to uncover the mud near East Mersea Point on Wednesday 18th. One of the terns was already losing its black crown. Also sitting nearby was one of five Mediterranean gulls.

One of the Mediterranean gulls seen on the mud near the Point on the 18th had a numbered ring which appeared to be 3118 - possibly ringed as a chick in north-Essex.

Also seen that evening by the Point on the 18th were 2 little terns, 8 common terns, one avocet, 250 black-tailed godwits, whimbrel, 25 golden plover, 200 redshank, 50 curlew, 20 dunlin, 20 turnstone, and 4 ringed plover. Five sand martins were with 45 swallows over the park dyke, 10 linnets at the Point while four juvenile kestrels had fledged from the nestbox and perched on nearby limbs on the tree. Six mistle thrushes were seen flying over the car park.

On Thursday 19th nine greenshank were seen at Maydays by Martin Cock, also 20 brown argus, 2 painted ladies and 10 common blue butterflies along the seawall.

Seventeen little egrets perched on the trees by the park pond on Friday 20th, while 26 mallard were counted on the pond. A sparrowhawk flew low over the grazing fields and 3 juvenile kestrels were seen on the tree.
Two Sandwich terns and two little terns were seen by Andy Field at the east end of the Pyefleet on Friday 20th, also a red squirrel at Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane.

A little owl perched alongside the East Mersea road by Bocking Hall at dusk on Saturday 21st. A red squirrel was seen in Bromans Lane late afternoon on Saturday dodging the traffic. Just after nightfall a badger was seen just along from the Fox on East Road.

On a hot Sunday 22nd a big flock of 1000+ black-headed gulls were in the air over Bromans Lane after the flying ants, also at least two Mediterranean gulls. At dusk a barn owl perched by the East Mersea road near Bocking Hall.

A common buzzard was being mobbed by a kestrel over the fields near Manwood Grove by Shop Lane on Monday 23rd. A red-legged partridge was looking after her brood of six very young chicks in the field at the west end of Bromans Lane, also a purple hairstreak and a couple of hornets.

At the park on Thursday 26th a whimbrel called from the shore, 13 little egrets were at the pond, 4 Mediterranean gulls were in the air with the black-headed gulls, 2 mistle thrushes and a sand martin were noted. Fifteen swallows were on wires at Bromans Farm.

A clump of chicory was photographed at Coopers Beach by John Feaveryear.

A close-up picture by John of the chicory flower.