STROOD GODWITS

There was a nice variety of waders along the Strood Channel on a hot Thursday 6th with at least fifty black-tailed godwits still sporting their breeding colours. Other waders of interest included 3 greenshank, 10 knot, 50 grey plover, a whimbrel and avocet, also 3 Mediterranean gulls and four common terns along the channel.
A marsh harrier headed down channel, a buzzard and three kestrels were over the fields where 200 house sparrows were in the central ditch. A lesser whitethroat and willow warbler were seen by Feldy View.
A willow warbler was seen in the Firs Chase garden in the company of a large 30+ mixed tit flock, while two willow warblers were seen in Martin Cock's garden in the Coverts.

On Thursday afternoon Steve Entwistle saw 3 southern migrant hawkers near the Oyster Fishery in East Mersea - first seen by Andy Field the day before. Also three common blue butterflies and a small copper.

Andy Field discovered the first southern migrant hawkers to be seen on the Island on Wednesday 5th in the borrowdyke just to the east of the Colchester Oyster Fishery building in East Mersea.

Also known as the blue-eyed hawker, the male's bright blue eyes and abdomen and largely blue sides to the thorax are the main features separating it from the commoner migrant hawker. It has been breeding in Essex for the last ten years.

Also seen in the that part of the Pyefleet by Andy were 280 black-tailed godwits including the first colour-ringed bird (LOY-OLO), little tern, 2 common terns while 2 or 3 young sparrowhawk juveniles were calling from Fishponds Wood.

Lots of butterflies were seen on the wing along the East Mersea footpath between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane on Wednesday 5th including this brown argus one of two seen. Two purple hairstreaks were seen high up in the oaks.

A tatty small heath was feeding on a fleabane flower, as was a small copper while a common blue was also on the wing. Other butterflies seen included lots of gatekeepers, meadow browns, red admiral, speckled wood, comma, small white and large white.

A willow warbler was calling from a field hedgerow, as were two yellowhammers on Wednesday.

First visit on Tuesday 4th to the East Mersea boating lake for almost two months, there were a few birds on the flooded marsh beside the lake. A common sandpiper was of note, also 16 redshank, turnstone and a pair of oystercatchers were the only birds present, while four yellow wagtails were seen flying about nearby.

At the Youth Camp on Tuesday a 210+ gull roost on the field during high tide included among the mainly black-headed gulls, 30 Mediterranean gulls( three pictured above, near and the left) and 20+ common gulls.

The young sparrowhawk family was still being noisy in the copse at the bottom of Cross Lane, while a willow warbler was calling in Waldegraves holiday park.

At Maydays farm on Tuesday afternoon, Martin Cock reported a common sandpiper, green sandpiper,  four yellowhammer, golden plover and grey plover and four buzzards, while a willow warbler was in his West Mersea garden.

On Monday 3rd along the Strood seawall were seen a greenshank, first golden plover flock of 20 birds, also 30 grey plover, whimbrel, 200 house sparrows while two willow warblers were in Feldy View.
Between Cudmore Grove and Reeveshall on Monday Martin Cock saw 2 grey plover, 190 black-tailed godwits, 25 avocets, snipe, 3 little terns, many lesser whitethroats and common whitethroats, willow warbler, 2 chiffchaff and 3 young sparrowhawk chicks in Fishponds Wood, also a muntjac deer.

A whinchat was perched on a bush in the central ditch by the Strood on Sunday 2nd. In the nearby bushes were 200+ house sparrows, while common whitethroat and a few linnets were also seen, A hobby and common buzzard were seen, also two whimbrel, first common gull of the autumn and yellow wagtail.

On Saturday 1st along the Strood were three greenshank, six black-tailed godwits, whimbrel, 5+ Mediterranean gulls and 200+ house sparrows. By the Glebe were 20 swifts, 20 house martins and 10 goldfinches.also a six spot burnet moth flying about.
There was the unusual sighting by Martin Cock of a turnstone seen feeding beside Firs Road near High St North turning on Saturday afternoon.

Just off the Island on the other side of the Strood, a turtle dove was seen perched on wires on Saturday by Jonathan Bustard.

By the Dabchicks on Friday 31st a male marsh harrier crossed over the boat moorings and headed over to the Strood fields, also ten turnstones resting on the boats.
Ian Black along the Strood seawall on Friday reported four greenshank, common buzzard, and three yellow wagtails.

This female speckled bush cricket was photographed by Michael Thorley among his strawberry plants in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Thursday.

A male speckled bush cricket was also seen by Michael among the strawberry plants.

A male oak bush cricket was in Steve Entwistle's upstairs bathroom on Thursday.