REWSALLS MARSHES

A pair of shelduck was in the dyke near Rewsalls marshes on a sunny Thursday 2nd. On the nearby marshes were 3 whimbrel, 12 mallard, wheatear, 3 singing reed warblers, 2 singing reed buntings and 3 meadow pipits. Also in the area were kestrel, sparrowhawk, 8 swallows, 8 linnets, 5 yellow wagtails, 18 whitethroats and 3 lesser whitethroats.

Four little egrets were seen on the Rewsalls marshes on Thursday, 3 of them feeding together along the dyke. Offshore a pair of common terns flew close-by.

Several butterflies were enjoying the warm weather on Thursday with this small copper near the Youth Camp the first one of the season. Other butterflies also noted in the Rewsalls area were speckled wood, 3 orange-tip, 5 small white, 2 holly blue and 4 peacock.

Near Meeting Lane on Thursday a hobby provided good views for Martin Cock as it hunted over the fields. The Cetti's warbler was also heard singing from Gyants Marsh. A green hairstreak was seen in its usual small field just west of Shop Lane - the first Island sighting of the year.

On Wednesday 1st along the Strood, there was a sedge warbler singing from a rape crop again, 4 reed warblers, singing corn bunting, yellow wagtail, 4 swallows, 2 whimbrel, grey heron, 4 little egrets and the pair of gadwall.

A Sandwich tern was seen sitting on Langenhoe Point by Martin Cock on Wednesday.

A walk along the footpath between Meeting Lane and Shop Lane on Tuesday 30th produced views of two swifts flying north over the fields, 5 common buzzards, 2 yellowhammers, 6 blackcaps, 4 whitethroats and 2 lesser whitethroats.
Andy Field noted the first swift over the Island on Tuesday morning as it passed over his house in High St North.

A pair of greylag geese was feeding on the saltmarsh by the Reeveshall seawall on Tuesday 30th. Ten brent geese were also feeding nearby on the saltmarsh. On the Reeveshall pool a lapwing, black-tailed godwit, teal and pair of shoveler were noted. A marsh harrier was hunting over Reeveshall and two more on Langenhoe. A cuckoo flew over the Pyefleet and started calling from a tree behind the Oyster Fishery.

As the tide receded at Reeveshall a group of 21 bar-tailed godwits was seen, also 2 dunlin while in the Pyefleet were a pair of common terns and four great crested grebes.

At Maydays on Tuesday 30th, Martin Cock reported a hobby, greenshank, 9 whimbrel, 2 bar-tailed godwits, 11 grey plover, 2 common terns, 3 corn buntings, yellow wagtail and 5 reed warblers but no sign of the sedge warbler.

The family of red squirrels have continued to spend time in the Firs Chase garden with this youngster seen looking at the unripe fruit in the cherry tree. At least four individuals have been seen in the last few days with the female and three young being noted.

The moth trap was put out in the Firs Chase garden on Thursday evening as it seemed quite still cloudy. Twenty moths were caught including half a dozen brimstone moths.

A spectacle moth was also noted as were turnip moth, pale-mottled willow, pine beauty, oak tree pugs and half a dozen shuttle-shaped darts.

A spruce carpet was also noted on Thursday night.