FOGGY MORN

Fog descended mid morning on West Mersea, reducing visibility to about 40 metres in places such as this scene along from the Dabchicks sailing club.
Three fieldfares were calling from a tree top in the caravan site before flying off. A bar-tailed godwit was feeding in the fog near the Dabchicks along with a few dunlin, grey plover and redshank.

Much of the snow that fell overnight on Tuesday had already melted by Wednesday mid-morning such as this field in the Firs Road cemetery.

There was plenty of blue sky above the Strood channel during a walk along the seawall on Wednesday 30th. A redshank waded across the mudflats to feed during low tide. Among the usual waders on show, the ones of note were a couple of avocets, 20 knot and 20 black-tailed godwits.

Amongst the wildfowl along the Strood were 500 brent geese, some flying onto the nearby field to feed, also 50 wigeon and 100+ shelduck.
A marsh harrier flew over the saltmarsh near the Strood while a buzzard was high over Bonners Barn on the mainland side.

Amongst the small bird noted were pair of stonechat, 50 linnet in two flocks, 20 skylarks, 20 reed buntings, 10 goldfinch and 2 meadow pipit.

On Tuesday 29th a pair of red-breasted merganser were in Besom Channel near Cobmarsh Island, 2 rock pipits on St Peters saltmarsh, marsh harrier near Old Hall Point, 200 brent geese, 8 black-tailed godwits and a bar-tailed godwit feeding on the mud.

Several of the ten reed buntings seen along the Strood seawall on Monday 28th were feeding on the edge of the mud in the Strood channel, like this male.
The pair of stonechat was still by the corner of the dyke, as was a snipe, also 25 linnet, 15 goldfinch while 30 greenfinches were gathering to roost in Firs Chase late afternoon.

This common buzzard was flying over the Strood field on Monday, also a marsh harrier seen, grey heron, 200 golden plover, 5 avocet, 5 knot, 600+ brent geese and 500 dunlin seen from the Strood seawall.