PLOVERS AT POINT

Two ringed plovers were on the beach by the muddy bay behind the East Mersea Point on Tuesday 2nd. There was no sign of any chicks or interest in any nest in this area of the beach.

The adult ringed plovers didn't seem to be showing any interest in this nest with eggs about fifty metres away. It was first spotted seemingly abandoned about two weeks previously. It is in a section of beach where a pair managed to raise three chicks three years ago. It's strange that these abandoned eggs haven't been predated yet.

A recently fledged pair of avocet chicks with a parent was also seen inside the bay at East Mersea Point on Tuesday. These youngsters have not bred on the Island and have come from elsewhere.

Three avocets were sitting on their nests on the island in the saltmarsh lagoon near the Point on Tuesday. The following day three chicks from this sitting adult were seen by Martin Cock recently hatched and feeding in the lagoon.  On Thursday two other new avocet chicks were also seen on the second lagoon by Martin.

Amongst the roosting flock of 50+ black-headed gulls on the saltmarsh lagoon on Tuesday, was a pair of Mediterranean gulls, one in the middle of this picture with the black head.
Also on lagoon were 2 black-tailed godwits, with 4 lapwing, 2 dunlin and a curlew noted nearby.
In the Colne were 2 common terns, great crested grebe and a common seal swimming out of the river.

Two pairs of tufted ducks were in the park dyke, while 2 reed warblers were singing from the reeds and a reed bunting singing from the saltmarsh.
A sand martin flew around the Golfhouse on Tuesday morning with 10 swallows, 4 house martins and 2 swifts.

Several large clumps of sea holly were in flower on the beach at East Mersea Point on Tuesday,

On Monday 1st a skylark was seen on the Strood seawall, several others in song over the fields.
A hobby flew over the Strood fields and crossed low over the channel towards Peldon. A yellow wagtail was also noted near the seawall.

The jangling song of this corn bunting was heard coming from bushes near the Maydays seawall on Sunday 30th. Two yellowhammers and two reed warblers were also heard singing along the dyke and three yellow wagtails by the seawall.

Three marsh harriers, 3 common buzzards were seen during the walk along the Maydays seawall while a hobby was seen distantly flying towards Bower Hall farm. The flock of 50 sand martins flying over the fields and Maydays marsh was probably the reason the hobby made an appearance.
Thirty house martins were seen around the Maydays farm buildings.

The tide was coming up along the Maydays creek during the middle of Sunday. In the Pyefleet 5 great crested grebes, common tern, 3 curlew, 5 redshank, 5 little egrets and 20 shelduck along with 3 young ducklings. A common seal stuck its head up briefly in the Pyefleet.
A painted lady was seen by the seawall.