WEEDY FIELD WHINCHAT

A whinchat was photographed by Andy Field in the "weedy-field" inside the Strood seawall on Friday 29th. The weedy field is a wild flower grassland mix sown by the farmer last winter.

Other birds seen by Andy during his walk along the Strood seawall included two greenshank, 251 golden plover, 100 grey plover, two bar-tailed godwits, 100 black-tailed godwits by the Dabchicks, two Sandwich terns, three common terns, Mediterranean gull, dead mute swan under power lines in the field and two chiffchaffs beside the caravan park.

On Thursday 28th Martin Cock saw two yellow wagtails at the Reeveshall pools, while a marsh harrier, three Sandwich terns and ten meadow pipits were seen from the seawall.

A common tern perched on a marker post in the Strood Channel on Wednesday 27th.

Two Sandwich terns were seen in the Strood Channel on Wednesday, also 4 wigeon, two shelduck, teal, 5 Mediterranean gulls, while raptors seen were a hobby towards Bower Hall, 3 buzzards, 3 kestrels and a sparrowhawk. Twenty meadow pipits, two singing Cetti's warblers, and 20 swallows were noted, also chiffchaff and blackcap near the Firs Caravan park.

At East Mersea Martin Cock reported the first five brent geese of the winter in the Colne on Wednesday, also 15 Sandwich terns, two common terns, 13 wigeon and the leucistic redshank.

Twenty meadow pipits were seen on Tuesday 26th during a walk along the Strood seawall. In the channel were 18 wigeon,100 golden plover, 20 ringed plover, Mediterranean gulls, Sandwich tern and 200 black-tailed godwits near the Dabchicks. A buzzard, 15 linnets and 6 reed buntings also seen.

Along the path at the top of the Firs Caravan park, there were twenty red admirals nectaring at the ivy flowers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ivy bees were also seen at the ivy flowers by the Firs Caravan park.

A Fox moth caterpillar was crossing the Strood seawall on Tuesday.

Michael Thorley photographed two pairs of common darters ovipositing in his East Mersea garden pond on Monday 25th.

As well as the two pairs of common darter, an unattached male was also in Michael's garden.

A Lunar Yellow Underwing came to the Firs Chase garden moth trap on 22nd and 23rd September.

The only Delicate moth of the year so far was recorded on the 23rd.

A Clancy's Rustic was recorded on the 22nd September.

Feathered Ranunculus was seen on the 23rd.

A Black Rustic on the 23rd.

The immigrant moth - Gem on the 25th September.

Mallow on the 25th.

L-album Wainscot on the 25th.

Red-green Carpet on the 25th.