CUDMORE SNOW BUNTING

A male snow bunting was photographed on the beach at East Mersea Point by Jon Ward on Monday 30th. It was first found earlier in the day by Jack Hoy feeding on the gravel path near the main park ramp onto the Cudmore Grove beach. The bird then flew to East Mersea Point where it spent the rest of the day.

A grey wagtail was found by Martin Cock feeding with some pied wagtails in the Golfhouse paddock on Monday - the first one seen on the Island this year.

At West Mersea two red-throated divers and two Mediterranean gulls were seen by Andy Field on Monday from the Esplanade, while earlier in Feldy View there was a mobile flock of 15 lesser redpolls seen by Andy in Feldy View.

Two immature eider and a great northern diver were seen in the Mersea Quarters by Colin Mackenzie-Grieve seen from Old Hall on Monday.

In the wheat field next to Coopers Beach on Monday was a black brant feeding with 220 dark-bellied brent geese, which in turn had a count of 52 juvenile geese among them suggesting a good breeding season.

In the same wheat field beside Coopers Beach a peregrine was found standing, preening and doing some looking around for a good-while before flying off west over the Vineyard. A sparrowhawk and kestrel were were seen also. As the tide covered the nearby Rewsalls marshes 120 curlew dropped into the field to roost, while 26 golden plover were seen flying overhead.

The high spring tide covered all of the Rewsalls marshes on Monday. Birds noted included the kingfisher, 22 little egrets, 3 shoveler, 6 wigeon, 70 redshank, 5 Mediterranean gulls, 2 little grebes, while offshore were a pair of mute swans and a great crested grebe.

A noisy flock of 50 siskin flew west over Coopers Beach, Cetti's warbler singing and 3 reed buntings noted too.

On Sunday 29th along the Strood a peregrine flew along the channel and had a stoop at a wigeon which escaped by dropping onto the water, also 20 avocets, two stonechats near the dyke while two Sandwich terns were opposite the Hard.

A great white egret was stalking along a distant ditch at the back of Reeveshall on Saturday 28th. A barn owl flew along the Maydays dyke and perched in a tree, possibly disturbed away from the nearby Bower Hall area where a pheasant shoot was taking place. A short-eared owl was seen flying briefly before landing on the Bower Hall seawall for a few minutes. Three marsh harriers, sparrowhawk and a buzzard were also noted.

Six great crested grebes were feeding in the Pyefleet Channel on Saturday close to the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall at high tide. Two snipe flew off the saltmarsh and 1000 dunlin were flying about. A kingfisher was seen twice in an hour perched on the Maydays seawall sluice. Eighty stock doves were feeding on Reeveshall, 3 stonechats, fieldfare, chiffchaff, 20 chaffinches and two singing Cetti's warblers heard.

Off the West Mersea Esplanade on Saturday morning there were two immature eider off Cobmarsh, 9 common scoter, 8 great crested grebes, Arctic tern feeding off Kingsland Road, red-throated diver, short-eared owl flying from St Peters area low over the Blackwater to Bradwell, three sanderling, while 12 siskin and a skylark were seen flying west.

In Feldy View four chaffinches were seen on Saturday by Steve Entwistle.

At Feldy View on Friday 27th a brambling was photographed by Andy Field in the birches, also there a mixed flock of about twenty lesser redpolls and siskins in the birch trees, before they all flew off over the caravan park.

From the Esplanade Andy then saw two red-throated divers, 14 common scoter in the Blackwater. Two female / immature eiders were seen in the Mersea Quarters near Packing Shed by Colin Mackenzie-Grieve from Old Hall on Friday afternoon.

A green woodpecker perched beside the Firs Caravan park on Friday morning. A green sandpiper was seen briefly dropping down onto a pond at the back of the Strood fields. A lesser redpoll flew over calling, 100 golden plover flew over, sparrowhawk, Cetti's warbler heard singing from the dyke and a great crested grebe in the Strood channel.

A red admiral was photographed by Jack Hoy on Friday.

A lesser redpoll was photographed by Jon Ward in Feldy View on Thursday 26th - one of three seen feeding in the tops of the birch trees.

Along the Strood Channel on Thursday were 15 avocets, 30 golden plover, 30 ringed plover, two knot, 500 dunlin, two marsh harriers, peregrine and 100 brent geese.

Five Mediterranean gulls were in the Strood Channel on Thursday, while inside the seawall were three stonechats, 40 linnets and five corn buntings. A goldcrest and song thrush were by the Firs caravan park.

Off the Esplanade on Thursday two Arctic terns were seen feeding offshore by Martin Cock, also red-throated diver, two male common scoters and a Mediterranean gull.

On Wednesday 25th a lesser redpoll and a siskin perched on top of the same birch tree in Feldy View. A chiffchaff and a fieldfare were noted near the Firs Caravan park. No sign of yesterday's ring ouzel.

A great white egret was seen flying into the Strood dyke and dropped out of view. A peregrine, four marsh harriers and two buzzards were noted during the walk along the seawall, while in the channel were 25 avocets, three snipe flying over, five Mediterranean gulls, great crested grebe, 10 little grebes and 170 wigeon.

A redshank and a grey plover alongside the Strood seawall as the tide came in on Wednesday.

There were lots of small birds feeding in the weedy grass Strood fields on Wednesday including 40 corn buntings,(some pictured above), 200 linnets, ten reed buntings, five stonechats, 20 meadow pipits and two rock pipits along the seawall.

At Maydays on Wednesday afternoon, Steve Entwistle reported 28 avocets, 25 grey plover, 30 dunlin, four Mediterranean gulls, lesser black-backed gull, grey heron, 12 skylarks, 25 meadow pipits, 2 rock pipits, 25 chaffinches, four yellowhammers and a corn bunting.

Michael Thorley at Ivy Dock in East Mersea saw 46 brent geese, cormorant, 11 curlew, 63 dunlin, grey plover, two little egrets and five redshank on Wednesday afternoon.

A red-throated diver was seen offshore on Wednesday by Martin Cock from the West Mersea Esplanade.

The male ring ouzel was still in Feldy View cemetery on Tuesday 24th for the second day.

The ring ouzel had been seen earlier on Tuesday morning by Martin Cock in Feldy View, although later in the morning it took a while to find it, eventually showing in a holly bush beside the Firs Road cemetery. It then flew around showing very well before heading to the birch tree in Feldy View. A siskin and a brambling were seen flying over calling, 12 blackbirds, goldcrest and a song thrush were also noted. Also from Feldy View a short-eared owl was seen flying high over the Strood channel.

Birds noted during a walk along the Strood seawall were greenshank, 10 avocets, 70 wigeon, 8 shelduck, great crested grebe, sparrowhawk, while Cetti's warbler, and 30 goldfinches were by the seawall.

Several meadow pipits were feeding beside the Strood seawall on Tuesday.

In East Mersea by the Youth Camp, 15 lesser redpolls were feeding in the alders by the Vineyard, also a chiffchaff, few goldcrests, two Cetti's warblers, mistle thrush and ten Mediterranean gulls were noted by Martin Cock on Tuesday morning.

There was a small number of immigrant moths found in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the night of Sunday 22nd including this dainty Olive-tree Pearl.

Another immigrant Scarce Bordered Straw on the 22nd too.

A couple of another immigrants, Delicates on the 22nd.

Merveille du Jour, third record this month of this resident.

Green-brindled Crescent, another resident.

Brick moth, another resident.

Couple of the small immigrant micro Rusty-dot Pearls on the 22nd, also one Diamond-back moth.

FELDY RING OUZEL

A male ring ouzel was found in Feldy View on Monday 23rd, being showy at times, but also hiding away for periods too. It perched up high on a birch tree for Andy Field to photograph it. It's assumed to be a different bird to the one seen in the nearby Firs Cemetery seven days earlier, as the area had been checked every day since last Monday, except Saturday, with no sign of it in that period.

The ring ouzel was first tracked down by its loud chacking call from the hedge alongside the Firs Caravan park. It flew around and then perched on a silver birch tree at the back of the cemetery.

The ring ouzel performed for a few of the local birders to admire, this photo taken by Shaun Bater later in the morning. Two buzzards seen by Shaun flying over Feldy View.

Also over Feldy View on Monday morning were a lesser redpoll and six siskins. Along the Strood seawall were two pairs of stonechat, 100 linnets in a field, ten reed buntings and forty goldfinches feeding on the side of the seawall. Four marsh harriers were seen over the fields and saltmarsh during the walk, while in the channel were 125 wigeon, 20 avocets, 17 little grebes and a great crested grebe.

Sunny and still conditions on Sunday 22nd for a walk along the north side of the Island from the Golfhouse back to West Mersea. On the Golfhouse saltings 100 brent geese and 50 wigeon were feeding, also ten teal and six shoveler, while a stonechat and mistle thrush were near the Golfhouse. A chiffchaff was heard calling at Ivy Farm.

A migrant hawker with tatty wings was hawking for insects alongside the Golfhouse track on Sunday.

In the Pyefleet channel a common seal was seen resting on a pontoon on Sunday.

A female red-breasted merganser was seen flying down the channel and dropping onto the water near the Oyster Fishery, also seven great crested grebes in the Pyefleet. A pair of stonechat was by Shop Lane, a single near Reeveshall pool and another pair on another hedgeline. Thirty linnets and a rock pipit were on the saltmarsh.

A second common seal was lying on the Pyefleet mud opposite Maydays on Sunday. Forty avocets were noted along the channel, while a Cetti's warbler and two more pairs of stonechat were noted

A marsh harrier, buzzard and greenshank were of note on the Bower Hall section.

As well as this redshank along the Strood channel on Sunday, also of note were two marsh harriers, 23 avocets, two singing Cetti's warblers and two pairs of stonechat - bringing the day's total to 14 birds on the north side of the island.

The late afternoon sun over the Strood channel on Sunday, where a great crested grebe was feeding amongst the boats.

A lesser redpoll was photographed by Andy Field in the birches in Feldy View - one of two seen there on Sunday. Also seen there were a lesser whitethroat, goldcrest and lots of blackbirds. Later along the Strood channel was a greenshank and two pairs of stonechat in the fields.

A common tern, Sandwich tern and red-throated diver were seen off West Mersea by Steve Grimwade and his Swallow Birding group whilst aboard the Thistle barge trip along the Blackwater on Sunday.

On Saturday 21st at Maydays a green sandpiper flew over calling, two great crested grebes, 70 wigeon and 20 avocets were of note along the Pyefleet. Two marsh harriers, 20 meadow pipits, two rock pipits, Cetti's warbler were noted as was a Chinese water deer seen running across a rape field.

On Friday 20th after the heavy rain had finished in the morning, a short-eared owl was seen flying low over the grass Strood field, possibly flushed off by a dog. The owl circled over the fields, picking up height while being mobbed by crows, it headed high towards West Mersea, where Andy Field saw it flying right over his house as it flew south over the town. 

Whilst watching the short-eared owl flying, a great white egret flew into view, passing over the fields and across the Channel and Ray Island.

At least one kingfisher was seen along the Strood on Friday, the first sighting was a bird flying low towards the Hard, then ten minutes later this kingfisher, possibly a different bird, was watched perching and feeding alongside the Strood seawall at high tide. A green sandpiper flew about calling, along the channel were 25 avocets, 20 ringed plovers, 3 Mediterranean gulls, four marsh harriers and two singing Cetti's warblers. At the Hard 150 turnstones were roosting on boats near the jetty at high tide, while in the air over Feldy Marsh were 700 golden plover.

Twenty-five meadow pipits, one pictured above and two rock pipits were noted along the Strood seawall on Friday.

Two pairs of stonechat were seen at opposite ends of the Strood fields on Friday.

In Feldy View and the nearby Firs Road cemetery, two green woodpeckers, great spotted woodpecker, song thrush, ten blackbirds and a goldcrest were seen.

On Thursday 19th along the Strood seawall were 300 golden plover, 30 ringed plover, 25 avocets, bar-tailed godwit, 50 black-tailed godwits, two knot, 15 Mediterranean gulls, 9 little grebes, sparrowhawk, three stonechats, two rock pipits and ten linnets.

Michael Thorley discovered an old abandoned clutch of great tit eggs laid in the spring in a nestbox in his East Mersea garden on Wednesday, maybe something happened to the parents.

On Wednesday 18th two siskins flew over the Feldy View cemetery and three goldcrests were heard at various points round the Firs caravan park.

Along the Strood seawall, 25 Mediterranean gulls were resting in the channel, also 100 wigeon, 25 avocets, 30 ringed plover, bar-tailed godwit, knot, buzzard, stonechat and Cetti's warbler singing. A green sandpiper was seen flying over the Feldy Marsh then dropping down inside the seawall there.

Along the Strood seawall on Tuesday 17th, forty brent geese, 25 avocets, two shelduck, 50 golden plover, knot, buzzard and a peregrine were seen, while a sparrowhawk flew over Firs Chase.

A red squirrel was resting in the cedar tree in the Firs Chase garden on Tuesday 17th.

A worn Dark Swordgrass was seen in the moth trap in the Firs Chase garden on 17th - an immigrant moth, I think its the first one here this year.

A Yellow-line Quaker was at the garden moth trap on 17th.

A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen visiting flowering salvia plants in the Firs Chase garden on a very dull Thursday 19th.

THRUSH ARRIVAL

A male ring ouzel proved elusive in the Firs Road cemetery on Monday 16th, pictured here in a eucalyptus tree. It was first spotted feeding with a few blackbirds on the grass beside some gravestones, before flying into the nearby hedge and staying out of sight. Steve Entwistle spent nearly six hours at the site to see the ring ouzel and was treated to just two good sightings in that time.

It seemed to be a morning of thrushes arriving, as well as the ten blackbirds in the Firs Chase and Feldy View area, up to fifty redwings appeared, some of them landing in the Feldy trees before flying off in small flocks. A siskin flew over calling as did a brambling which flew west calling with a chaffinch over the caravan site and then the Strood Channel.

Two newly arrived fieldfares paused for a while beside the Strood dyke before flying to the back of the fields on Monday morning. A stonechat was feeding on the seawall and a Cetti's warbler sang from the dyke.

A few waders such as this redshank were on the last of the mud along the Strood channel just before high tide on Monday. In the ploughed Strood field were 190 golden plover and 55 ringed plovers. A distant marsh harrier and a buzzard were seen during the walk.

A black-tailed godwit was feeding near the Strood seawall on Monday, while 16 avocets, forty wigeon and five teal were also noted.

One of the regular Sandwich terns was back on the marker post in the Strood channel on Monday, also a common tern too.

Three rock pipits, 15 meadow pipits and eight reed buntings were seen beside the Strood seawall on Monday.

An arctic skua was seen flying past the Esplanade by Charlie Williams on Monday morning.

Andy Field walked from Maydays to Cudmore Grove during Monday carrying out the monthly WeBS count and noted a fieldfare, two pairs of stonechats, peregrine, two marsh harriers, common scoter and a red-breasted merganser.

An adult white-tailed eagle flying overhead was photographed by Peter Patis when he was at East Mersea on Sunday 15th. Presumably one of the birds from the Isle of Wight.

A red-throated diver was an unexpected find in the Strood Channel on Sunday, providing quite close views from the seawall near the sluice. Also along the channel were 30 wigeon, 7 little grebes, 10 avocets, ten Mediterranean gulls, marsh harrier, four buzzards, stonechat and a rock pipit. 

A Sandwich tern was on a marker post in the Strood channel on Sunday, while three common terns were seen flying near the Hard.

A great skua was watched chasing a black-headed gull in Salcott Channel on Sunday, before it then headed low up the channel. Five minutes later it came back out, passing close to Packing Shed and Cobmarsh Islands as it made its way back out to sea. Amongst various birds spooked by the marauding skua, was a flock of 50 brent geese that took to the air.

A siskin flew over the Firs Chase garden calling on Sunday.

Five cattle egrets were seen flying low over the Pyefleet Channel from Reeveshall to the Langenhoe Ranges and kept going north-west on Saturday 14th. Also in the channel were two great crested grebes, six avocets while on Langenhoe were a peregrine, swallow and a marsh harrier. Three common seals were seen resting on saltmarsh from Maydays. 

Also in the picture above is the Thames barge with the Swallow Birding group sailing up the Colne from Brightlingsea on Saturday with birds of note being an immature spoonbill seen flying north-east into Brightlingsea creek and three Sandwich terns in the river Colne

A wheatear was by the Reeveshall seawall on Saturday, a stonechat, yellowhammer, two buzzards, 20 meadow pipits and a Cetti's warbler were at Maydays. 

A pair of willow emerald damselflies coupled together in tandem were at Maydays along with another individual on Saturday.

In the breezy conditions on Saturday a red admiral rested out of the wind at Maydays.

Andy Field and Charlie Coltman visited Shop Lane / Reeveshall on Saturday and reported goldcrest, two pairs of stonechats, wheatear, 20 meadow pipits, marsh harrier, peregrine, five bar-tailed godwits and a grey squirrel by Fishponds Wood.

Earlier at Cudmore Grove they heard the water rail and Cetti's warbler at the park pond, common tern and Sandwich tern offshore.

Charlie was pleased to see a red squirrel in Fairhaven Avenue on Saturday morning.

A male siskin was seen by Steve Entwistle in the alder trees below the East Mersea Vineyard.

On Friday 13th along the Strood, there were 100 golden plovers, two Sandwich terns, three swallows, two Mediterranean gulls and nine brent geese, while near Feldy View were two goldcrest and a chiffchaff.

At East Mersea on Friday morning Martin Cock saw six swallows near the Golfhouse before the rain got heavier.

A common tern perched on a marker post in the Strood channel on Thursday 12th, also another common tern and a Sandwich tern also present. In the ploughed field were 150 golden plover, 50 ringed plover, while a snipe flew off the side of the seawall, six dunlin and a greenshank also of note.

Along the Strood seawall on Thursday were a stonechat, rock pipit, Cetti's warblers heard singing in three different locations, two buzzards, while by the Firs Caravan park were siskin, redpoll flying west, two chiffchaffs, goldcrest and a song thrush with ten blackbirds.

Martin Cock saw a blackcap and two chiffchaffs by the East Mersea Golfhouse on Thursday morning.

Michael Thorley photographed this chiffchaff in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Thursday.

Common gull photographed by Michael at Coopers Beach.

Flowering Hogs Fennel plant photographed by Michael at Cudmore Grove on Thursday, also three bar-tailed godwits seen there in the afternoon.

On Wednesday 11th Martin Cock visited the East Mersea boating lake / Rewsalls marshes and saw common sandpiper, five greenshank, three Cetti's warblers singing, 22 little grebes and many other waders.