Three Bewick's swans visited the Pyefleet Channel for a short period on Sunday 15th. Andy Field and I watched them from a distance in the channel after Steve Grimwade had given us the heads-up about them. However as we approached along the seawall they became nervous and took off flying west along the Pyefleet, pictured here with the Fingringhoe nature reserve centre in the background.
The Bewick's were first seen late morning flying near Brightlingsea by Simon Cox, they were then quickly picked up by Steve Grimwade and the Essex Birdwatching Society birdwatching group who saw them land in the Pyefleet. After about half an hour they flew off west and were then seen by Charlie Williams flying over the traffic on the Strood. It's been several years since any Bewick's have been seen on the Island.
Whilst walking the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall on Sunday Andy and I watched a ringtail hen harrier on Langenhoe, also four marsh harriers gathering near Langenhoe Point mid afternoon, while earlier a sparrowhawk was at Maydays. Seven red-breasted mergansers were in the Pyefleet and a female eider in the Colne. Seventy avocets, 40 black-tailed godwits and 500+ knot were the waders of interest in the Pyefleet.
At the country park two Egyptian geese were in the grazing fields, 300 brent geese and 400+ wigeon.
Members of the Essex Birdwatching Society on their walk from the park round the seawall to Shop Lane noted 6 red-breasted mergansers, marsh harrier, peregrine, 2 stonechat, rock pipit, buzzard, water rail, Mediterranean gull, 7 great crested grebes, 100 avocets, 3 kestrels, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker and 3 mistle thrushes. Two red squirrels were also seen on the walk.
At West Mersea a red-throated diver, 7 Mediterranean gulls and a great crested grebe were seen by Steve Grimwade. The pale bellied brent was seen by the Hard by Matt Turner, also an avocet seen and a marsh harrier flew over. The black brant was seen behind the Dabchicks with brent geese by Charlie Williams who also reported a peregrine along the Strood Channel.
On Saturday 14th a female blackcap and the regular coal tit were seen in the Firs Chase garden.
The black brant was feeding at high tide with 200 dark-bellied brent geese over the saltmarsh in front of the Firs Chase caravan site on Friday 13th, seen here second from right.
This grey plover was seen near the Strood seawall as the tide came in during Friday 13th. Also noted were 50+ knot, 25 ringed plovers and a rock pipit. Three marsh harriers and a common buzzard were hunting over the Strood fields on Friday.
A firecrest was found in a hedgeline at the north side of the Firs Chase caravan site near Feldy View on Thursday 12th. The same area where one was found late December last year.
A red squirrel was seen at the country park on Wednesday 11th by Andy Field.
A female great spotted woodpecker was seen beside Cross Lane on Tuesday 10th.
In a nearby field a large flock of 70+ pied wagtails were seen feeding in a stubble field, one of the largest wagtail flocks seen for a few years on the Island.
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