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.