Friday 14 December 2018

SHORELARK AT POINT

A shorelark made an unexpected appearance on the beach at East Mersea Point on Wednesday 12th allowing Andy Field to take these three photos of the bird. The bird was still present on Thursday 13th.

The shorelark has been feeding on the seeds washed up on the tideline as well as picking at some of the small plants on the higher part of the beach. It has been elusive at times and maybe when it crouches low down among the shells and shingle, it can be hard to see.
Also at the Point were a couple of rock pipits, two skylarks and two linnets.

The last shorelark here was eight years ago and was only seen for a few minutes before flying off.

 Alan Reynolds made a successful visit from Hertfordshire to East Mersea on Thursday to take these two photos of the shorelark.



Also on Thursday 13th two redwings and a pair of great spotted woodpeckers were in car park while near the Point a lone avocet was on the saltmarsh pool.

In the park grazing fields there were 400 wigeon and 500 brent geese, while over the mudflats a peregrine flew south-east towards Colne Point on Wednesday.

On Tuesday 11th a buzzard flew over the car park being mobbed by crows, a snipe flew over calling, while by the pond a water rail showed briefly, 14 gadwall, 5 redwings and 15+ blackbirds were seen. On the fields 400 brent geese, 300 wigeon, 10 black-tailed godwits and 30 greylags were present. In the Colne 40 avocets flew past the Point and two common seals were in the river.

Two marsh harriers flew over the Point late on Monday 10th on their way to the Langenhoe roost. Offshore 16 great crested grebes and a common seal were seen from the park.
A common buzzard was seen by the East Mersea road at Bocking Hall early on both Monday and Tuesday mornings. A kingfisher was seen at Maydays by Andy Field on Monday.

The great northern diver and black brant were seen offshore from West Mersea on Monday 10th by Paul Chamberlain.

A red squirrel was seen scampering along the hedgeline beside the car park at the country park early on Tuesday 11th.

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