Numbers of waders and wildfowl along the Strood Channel were low, due to the low tide and the strong winds. Three avocets, two black-tailed godwits were the only waders of note while numbers of wigeon and teal in mid channel totalled about 50. A flock of brent geese was feeding in the wheat field beside Strood Hill. The wintering stonechat was perched on a bush out of the wind near the caravan park.
The recent strong winds had blown a tree across the footpath down the side of the Firs caravan park.
The combination of a very high tide and strong winds had left this yacht marooned on the side of the Hard car park on Monday.
A stock dove was feeding in the Firs Chase garden on Monday underneath the bird feeders.
Also feeding under the bird feeders in Firs Chase on Monday was the wintering female blackcap. One or two goldfinches, chaffinches and greenfinches have been visiting the feeders too.
A snow bunting made an unexpected appearance at the allotments on East Road on Saturday 19th and was photographed by Jane Morgan
A strong breeze blew along the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall on Saturday 19th but at least the rain held off during the morning walk. A male hen harrier was first seen in the distance on the army ranges on the mainland, before it flew and landed on Pewit Island for a few minutes. It then crossed over to Reeveshall where it flew low and westwards over the fields and over the Maydays seawall. Thirty minutes later it provided another fly-past as it returned back to the Langenhoe ranges. Seven marsh harriers and five buzzards were seen from the seawall.
A black brant pictured nearest, was feeding with a few dark-bellied brent geese in front of the Firs Caravan park on Thursday 17th. A pale-bellied brent goose was also seen nearby in another flock of dark-bellied brent geese, totalling about 25 birds. On the Feldy marshes area were 500 brent geese that flew up and landed in the Ray Channel. Two marsh harriers were noted during the walk along the Strood seawall, also a Mediterranean gull and a stonechat.
A pair of pochard was seen at the park pond at Cudmore Grove on Wednesday 16th, the male pictured here by Andy Field.
The female pochard on the park pond on Wednesday was photographed by Andy. A great spotted woodpecker was heard drumming at the park.
Andy photographed some of the 44 sanderling on East Mersea Point on Wednesday, also there were 50 turnstone. On the nearby Golfhouse saltmarsh pools were 20 shoveler, also seen were a golden plover, rock pipit, two meadow pipits in the Golfhouse paddocks and a buzzard was seen flying over.
A mistle thrush perched over the footpath east of Meeting Lane during a walk from Shop Lane on Wednesday 16th. Also seen were three marsh harriers, two buzzards, sparrowhawk, six green woodpeckers in various places, yellowhammer, two reed buntings and three song thrushes. There was also an interesting mixed flock of 200 finches and buntings feeding distantly in a game cover crop on the west side of Gyants Marsh. Two brown hares sat still in one of the fields.
Opposite the Hard six red-breasted mergansers were feeding among the boat moorings while another male was further up the Strood channel.
Steve Entwistle reported 18 fieldfares at Bocking Hall and two Mediterranean gulls at Victoria Esplanade on Monday.
On a very windy Sunday 20th along the Strood seawall, the stonechat was seen as were a rock pipit, reed bunting, two linnets and six stock doves in the fields. Two little egrets, grey heron, a single golden plover, two black-tailed godwits and five avocets were noted as was a flock of 500 brent geese on the Peldon side.
The female blackcap was seen in the Firs Chase garden again.
A great white egret flew down channel and dropped down on the lagoon on Langenhoe Point. A short while later a second great white egret was seen feeding along the rush-filled ditch inside the Reeveshall seawall. Along the Pyefleet were 16 pintail and six red-breasted mergansers while on Reeveshall were two greylag geese, 25 golden plover flying over and 200 brent geese. On Maydays 52 corn buntings were on the game crop, a stonechat was by the farm reservoir, 100 noisy jackdaws and a coot were by the Maydays farm while 50 linnets were by Haycocks Lane.
A female blackcap was seen by Andy Field in his garden in High Street North on Saturday morning.
On Friday 18th along a very stormy Strood seawall, it was difficult to see many birds in the gale-force winds. Those seen were a corn bunting, rock pipit, 18 avocets, two black-tailed godwits, 7 stock doves and five goldfinches sheltering in a bush.
A muntjac deer was seen crossing Firs Chase mid afternoon on Thursday, a female blackcap seen at the garden feeders again.
Shaun Bater had a windy walk on Thursday reporting 300 brent geese, two mute swans, 30 wigeon, 6 teal, 5 avocets along the Strood, two pochard on the fishing lakes, six redwing by Island House garden, buzzard in Dawes Lane and Med gulls with black-headed gulls by Cross Lane.
On the park's fields were 200 wigeon, 200 teal, snipe, 52 curlew and 12 black-tailed godwits.
Steve Entwistle saw a kingfisher on Wednesday afternoon flying to the Strood fishing lakes.
A female blackcap was in the Firs Chase garden on Wednesday.
A red squirrel continues to be a regular visitor to the Firs Chase garden.
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