BASKING BUTTERFLIES

Late winter sunshine on Wednesday 27th saw this red admiral butterfly basking in the sunshine at St Peters meadow, West Mersea.

Two small tortoiseshells were also seen resting on the grass at St Peters soaking up the warmth.

Five Mediterranean gulls, rock pipit and a reed bunting were noted during a walk over St Peters on Wednesday.
A kingfisher was seen along the Strood seawall on Wednesday 27th by Martin Cock.
Blackcaps were being reported in the gardens of Adrian Amos in East Road, Martin Cock's at Broomhills and mine at Firs Chase.

A walk along the footpath between Meeting Lane and Shop Lane on a sunny Tuesday 26th provided views of 3 common buzzards, 2 marsh harriers, kestrel, 2 yellowhammers, goldcrest, 2 great spotted woodpeckers, green woodpecker and a peacock butterfly.
At the East Mersea vineyard, there was a flock of 50 fieldfare and 20 redwing amongst the vine rows while a goldcrest was seen in the alders. There was no sign of the four siskins seen by the Vineyard tearoom alders the previous day by Martin Cock.

The red squirrel was seen back at the Firs Chase garden feeder on Monday and Tuesday after a seeming absence of a fortnight or so.

A red squirrel was also seen at East Mersea at the north end of Shop Lane scrambling through the trees by the side of the lane on Tuesday 26th.

The pair of grey partridge was a bit nearer to look at from the Strood seawall on Monday 25th, instead of being at the very back of the fields. They were only noticeable when they stuck their heads up, as in the photo above.

Feeding in the fields were 400 brent geese, 200 roosting golden plover while a green sandpiper flew out of the dyke.

Some of the waders seen along the Strood channel during low tide on Monday were 200+ redshank and 15 black-tailed godwits, also seen were 50+ teal and 20 wigeon.