FEEDING LINNETS

A couple of flocks of linnets were feeding at the country park on Monday 24th, this one pictured above feeding on golden samphire seedheads with ten other linnets beside the ramp down onto the beach. Another flock of 40 linnets was feeding on the seablite bushes at the Point.


A whinchat was in the park's grazing fields on Monday, as was a small covey of 5 grey partridge, also 20 swallows, 5 house martins and 2 sand martins flying over the fields. A yellow wagtail flew over the fields calling while 25 meadow pipits were in the long grass at the park.


A sparrowhawk unsettled waders on the mudflats at the Point having crossed west over the Colne, 50 avocets and 40 golden plover were noted on the mud along with the usual other waders and there was a common tern in the river. A Mediterranean gull was in the grazing field, another over the mudflats, 10 teal with 4 gadwall on the pond and also 78 little egrets roosting in the trees.
At the end of the day a little owl called loudly at dusk from the top of one of the tall posts in the childrens play area - trying to respond to another little owl calling from the Cosways caravan site.

A very wet Sunday 23rd saw 35 little egrets resting in the trees at the park pond.
In the grazing fields were 100 black-tailed godwits, 70 curlew and a Mediterranean gull. In bushes near the car park were several small birds including five chiffchaffs and five blackcaps. As the rain was petering out in the afternoon 100+ house martins drifted west over the park.
A red squirrel was in trees by the park buildings first thing on Saturday 22nd.


On Wednesday 19th an osprey was seen flying past the East Mersea Oyster Fishery by Martin Cock.

SQUIRREL AT HORNBEAM SEEDS

A red squirrel was feeding on hornbeam seeds again beside the toilet building at the country park first thing on Thursday 6th.
Unfortunately a grey squirrel was seen by Andy Field on Tuesday 4th on the northern edge of Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane.

Five sanderling were seen at the East Mersea Point on Tuesday 4th, also seen in the area were 400 golden plover, 30 ringed plover and 20 dunlin along with 25 little egrets. Ten teal were on the saltmarsh pools and 14 linnets were flying around the sueda bushes. Eight common terns were fishing in the river and a Med gull flew past.
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Following the baling of the park's grazing fields on Monday, the next day 120 curlew and 80+ black-tailed godwits were feeding in the fields. A hobby raced across the fields past the Golfhouse and headed west up the hill, earlier a common buzzard also crossed the fields being mobbed by crows.
 Four pochard were in the dyke while at the park pond were 50 mallard, shoveler and 10 teal.

On Monday 3rd a cuckoo was seen perched briefly in a tree near the bird hide at the park, two wheatears in the fields, a water rail squealed from the pond, snipe flew over while 30 swallows and 10 house martins also passed over the park.

At the country park on Wednesday 5th Andy Field reported seeing three common scoters offshore, 16 common terns in the outer Colne, nine wigeon, wheatear, 2 willow warblers, a water rail swimming across the pond while in the big fields were 140 curlew and 160 black-tailed godwits.
Also at the park were 30 house martins while 34 little egrets roosted at the pond.

On Thursday 6th a marsh harrier flew over the park and 30 little egrets were roosting at the pond. In the bushes were a blackcap, willow warbler and a lesser whitethroat while 10 yellow wagtails were in the grazing fields. Seven lapwing were feeding in the stubble field near the car park.

A young common lizard soaked up the last of the evening sun on Monday 3rd.

Despite the unexpected drizzle over night on Tuesday 4th, there were 300 moths of 25 species in the trap by the morning including this neatly patterned feathered gothic - a regular in early autumn in small numbers.

Half the catch were setaceous Hebrew characters, while the other interesting moth was a red underwing.

YOUNG PIGEONS

There are still one or two young wood pigeons still fledging at the park this late into the summer. This youngster sat on a path and didn't seem concerned at anyone approaching.


A spoonbill flying west along the park coast was a nice surprise on Tuesday 28th. The long bill and outstretched neck gave it a different profile in flight to the more familiar little egrets.
Four common buzzards were soaring together over Shop Lane  while a willow warbler was heard calling from Bromans Lane on Tuesday.
Thirty swallows hawked over the park pond on Wednesday 29th where 30 mallard, two gadwall and a shoveler were present also 30 goldfinches circled over the park early evening.


Two whinchats were seen in the park fields by Andy Field on Thursday 30th, also 2 yellow wagtails while a large count of 70 little egrets roosted in the trees at the park pond.
Two spotted flycatchers were seen by Michael Thorley in trees between Meeting Lane and Weir Farm on Friday 31st. Two painted lady butterflies were seen by Adrian Amos feeding on his buddleia in his West Mersea garden on Friday.


Ian Black reported seeing from his safety boat on duty during Mersea's sailing week, a common scoter on Wednesday, a great white egret in flight over the channel on Thursday and a red kite heading west on Friday.


On Saturday 1st a juvenile cuckoo flew across the middle of the park and landed in the clifftop trees.
Six teal were on the park pond on Sunday 2nd and a Mediterranean gull flew over Bromans Lane. A willow emerald damselfly was seen by Bromans Farm resting on a bush beside the lane on Sunday afternoon.

Signs of red squirrels recently feeding at the park with lots of these hornbeam seeds found nibbled near the park buildings. A red squirrel was seen feeding on the hornbeam seeds first thing on Tuesday 28th. Other hornbeam trees around the park have recently dropped green hornbeam seed clusters lying on the ground where squirrels have been feeding on them in the outer branches.
A red squirrel was seen trotting down the middle of Bromans Lane on a busy Sunday 2nd carrying a walnut. It made it safely into the entrance of Bromans Farm.

The moth trap at the park on Thursday 30th produced 180 macro moths of 30 species. The lilac beauty was a nice surprise in the moth trap at the park, a species that's quite a scarce moth here. The leading edge of their wings always have a crumpled appearance to them. This individual showed a bit of lilac on the wings.

A centre-barred sallow is a regular late summer in small numbers.

A bald frosted orange with some scales missing from the back of the head.