REWSALLS RINGED PLOVERS

Four ringed plovers were waiting on the side of the seawall along from the East Mersea Youth Camp on Saturday 25th. A common sandpiper was also seen on the seawall during the high tide.

Offshore a flock of 200+ gulls and terns were feeding on a fish shoal about a kilometre out. At least 50 common terns were circling round with the gulls and repeatedly diving into the sea. Three Mediterranean gulls were resting on the Youth Camp beach at high tide.

Seen on the Rewsalls marshes were fifteen mallard, 3 little egrets, 2 kestrel, 50 goldfinches, 5 linnet reed warbler, 2 whitethroats, lesser whitethroat with a common buzzard seen near Rewsalls Lane.

The skies looked quite threatening over the Strood Channel early evening on Friday 24th during a walk along the seawall. A dark rain cloud with lightning drifted north east over Colchester and the rain missed Mersea.

A hobby with prey was followed off Island towards Ray Island by a kestrel. Ten Mediterranean gulls were roosting along the mud with other gulls, five common terns flew down channel while 4 little grebes were seen near the boat moorings.

On the mud were 50 golden plover, 30 grey plover, 2 greenshank, whimbrel and 17 carrion crows flying over to the Ray.

Twenty black-tailed godwits were seen on the mud, many losing their russet colour to the chest and neck.