Three pairs of yellow wagtail were present in the wheat fields to the east of Rewsalls Farm on Saturday 30th. This male here is carrying food for its chicks and is showing a metal ring on its leg - it would be interesting to know where it was ringed.
At least five yellow wagtails including the three males were feeding in one part of the wheat field, perching on the tops of the corn whilst catching insects.
Nearby a pair of house martins is nesting on the side of the Rewsalls House.
On the boating lake by the Youth Camp were a pair of Canada geese, pair of shelduck, twelve mallard, pair of reed buntings and meadow pipit while a sparrowhawk was seen at the Youth Camp.
At West Mersea two common terns and a pair of Mediterranean gulls were seen from the Hard. A common buzzard flew over High Street North being chased by a crow.
On Friday 29th along the Strood seawall, both male and female marsh harriers were seen quartering the fields at different times, also a buzzard seen too. Two cuckoos were flying together calling as they passed over the seawall. A meadow pipit rose up into the air singing and then drifted across the Strood channel to Ray Island.
Along the Strood dyke were one singing sedge warbler, four reed warblers and three reed buntings, also two emperor dragonflies and three four-spotted chasers.
In the skies above the houses and the fishing lakes were at least sixty swifts which is the biggest gathering for several years. Ten house martins were flying about Strood Hill.
Nearby a pair of house martins is nesting on the side of the Rewsalls House.
On the boating lake by the Youth Camp were a pair of Canada geese, pair of shelduck, twelve mallard, pair of reed buntings and meadow pipit while a sparrowhawk was seen at the Youth Camp.
At West Mersea two common terns and a pair of Mediterranean gulls were seen from the Hard. A common buzzard flew over High Street North being chased by a crow.
On Friday 29th along the Strood seawall, both male and female marsh harriers were seen quartering the fields at different times, also a buzzard seen too. Two cuckoos were flying together calling as they passed over the seawall. A meadow pipit rose up into the air singing and then drifted across the Strood channel to Ray Island.
Along the Strood dyke were one singing sedge warbler, four reed warblers and three reed buntings, also two emperor dragonflies and three four-spotted chasers.
In the skies above the houses and the fishing lakes were at least sixty swifts which is the biggest gathering for several years. Ten house martins were flying about Strood Hill.
Three grey partridges were seen near Meeting Lane on Friday by Michael.
Earlier at the country park on Friday several sand martins nest building at the cliff with another six flying up and down the nearby dyke. Two pairs of pochard were at the park pond.
Birds noted by Andy Field between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane on Friday included cuckoo over Reeveshall, pair of sparrowhawks in Fishponds Wood as well as the usual chiffchaff, blackcap, whitethroat and lesser whitethroat. Two common terns were in the Pyefleet.
A Mediterranean gull was seen by Jonathan Bustard on the West Mersea beach in the evening eyeing up some chips!
On Thursday 28th along the Strood seawall, the usual male marsh harrier was seen over the fields, three cuckoos were seen /heard, a pochard flew past, also eight yellow wagtails, sedge warbler, three reed warblers, three reed buntings and a lesser whitethroat were all noted.
At Cudmore Grove on Thursday, Steve Entwistle reported seven sand martins by cliffs, two lapwings in the fields, also five male tufted ducks and four male pochard on the dyke and pond.
A pair of grey partridge was seen in a field between Meeting Lane and Weir Farm by Michael Thorley.
A pair of swifts peered out of the nestbox in Andy Field's house in High Street North on Wednesday 27th. A few days earlier there was a bit of a dispute witnessed on his camera when a third bird came into the box.
Next to Cobmarsh Island on Wednesday were four little terns seen fishing in Besom Fleet in late morning. One bird initially spent a bit of time fishing close to the boat moorings, diving down to catch fish. It was then joined by three other little terns and after a brief fly-about they then dispersed. It's likely these four birds are the same ones seen recently by the beach at Old Hall point.
Steve Entwistle was pleased to pick out two very distant peregrines sitting on top of the Bradwell power station.
Six common terns and two whimbrel were seen in the Mersea Quarters, a pair of ringed plover displayed on Cobmarsh Island, a cuckoo flew from Feldy Marsh over to the Dabchicks, while at St Peters a reed warbler was singing near the boardwalk.
In the evening Ian Black reported seven whimbrel over the Hard and a great spotted woodpecker over The Lane. Two cuckoos flew over Andy Field's garden in the morning.
Next to Cobmarsh Island on Wednesday were four little terns seen fishing in Besom Fleet in late morning. One bird initially spent a bit of time fishing close to the boat moorings, diving down to catch fish. It was then joined by three other little terns and after a brief fly-about they then dispersed. It's likely these four birds are the same ones seen recently by the beach at Old Hall point.
Steve Entwistle was pleased to pick out two very distant peregrines sitting on top of the Bradwell power station.
Six common terns and two whimbrel were seen in the Mersea Quarters, a pair of ringed plover displayed on Cobmarsh Island, a cuckoo flew from Feldy Marsh over to the Dabchicks, while at St Peters a reed warbler was singing near the boardwalk.
In the evening Ian Black reported seven whimbrel over the Hard and a great spotted woodpecker over The Lane. Two cuckoos flew over Andy Field's garden in the morning.
The male stonechat was photographed by Shaun Bater near Coopers Beach play area on Wednesday 27th. The pair presumed to be breeding has been seen carrying food in recent days.
Both birds are pictured here close to the hole by Phil's trail camera.
The male great spotted woodpecker with the red on the back of the head seen here at the hole in the cherry tree. Phil has commented that the chicks are making a lot of noise from the hole.
Both male and female great spotted woodpecker pictured here, the male bottom left corner.
A spotted flycatcher showed briefly on Tuesday morning in the rough scrubby corner down the side of the Firs Chase caravan site. It switched perches a handful of times before disappearing down the hedge at the back and not reappearing. This area seems to be a favoured stop-off spot in the autumn for flycatchers.
Over the Strood fields on Tuesday were a marsh harrier, common buzzard, cuckoo, seven yellow wagtails and a singing sedge warbler in the dyke.
At Reeveshall on Tuesday Andy Field reported two avocets and a sedge warbler, while two common terns were in the Pyefleet, marsh harrier on Langenhoe and in Shop Lane were two buzzards and a singing chiffchaff.
In Firs Chase a cuckoo flew over calling in the evening, also a goldcrest singing and two great spotted woodpeckers and five swifts seen flying over.
A speckled wood resting along the path at the top end of the caravan site on Tuesday 26th.
No comments:
Post a Comment