XMAS DAY SUNSHINE

Happy Christmas to everyone.
 Christmas Day morning was spent checking the waders and wildfowl on the country park's grazing fields. Fine winter sunshine with little wind provided good conditions for a walk along the seawall to the East Mersea Point. There were plenty of birds on the fields during the late morning high tide period.

The waterlogged fields provided ideal conditions for 200 black-tailed godwits to feed, the largest flock seen here for a couple of years due to last winter being so dry. Other waders in the fields were 70+ redshank, 25 curlew, 30 lapwing and a grey plover.

A flock of 500 brent geese was grazing one of the fields, as were 400 wigeon. Among a flock of 500 starlings was the regular leucistic individual with cream coloured wings and head.
A common buzzard perched in a tree near the park pond, while on the pond were 10 gadwall, 3 tufted duck and 50 teal.
To the north of the park a chiffchaff was seen and heard calling from a hedgerow beside the horse paddocks.

Nine sanderling were feeding on the beach at East Mersea Point just after high tide on Xmas Day, this individual trying to have a quick snooze before the mud is uncovered.
Also at the Point were a rock pipit and the pair of stonechats perching on the sea-blite bushes.

At West Mersea two great northern divers, a red-breasted merganser and a Mediterranean gull were seen by Andy Field offshore from the Esplanade on Xmas day morning.
A little egret was feeding with horses in a field beside Chapmans Lane.

On Tuesday 24th along the Strood seawall, the pair of stonechats was beside the dyke near the very wet fields. Two marsh harriers were seen flying over Ray Island saltmarsh. The main flock of 700 brent geese was feeding on fields on the Peldon side.

In the Firs Chase garden on Tuesday, a male blackcap fed briefly on some fat balls, also the coal tit still present. A tawny owl called close to Andy Field's house in High St North on Monday night.

Two Slavonian grebes and a great northern diver were seen offshore from the Esplanade on Saturday 21st by Andy.
David Allen on Wednesday 18th, reported a great northern diver, ten common scoter, 15 great crested grebes, 60 brent geese and a sparrowhawk from the Esplanade.