MERSEA WILDLIFE: BRENT RETURN TO STROOD

The first brent geese of the winter in the Strood Channel were two birds present in mid-channel on a hot Tuesday 10th. Also along the channel were 20 wigeon, 150 golden plover, greenshank, Sandwich tern and two common terns. Five little grebes were in the dyke and three others in the channel. Six buzzards and a marsh harrier were seen during the seawall walk.

A pair of stonechat perched up on bushes near the seawall close to the Firs Caravan park on Tuesday. A fieldfare perched beside the caravan park calling loudly before flying off, six siskins, lesser redpoll flew west while a rock pipit, 30 skylarks, Cetti's warbler were noted. Three chiffchaffs and 25 goldfinches were seen near the caravan park. A clouded yellow flew along the Strood seawall but not seen to settle, also six red admirals flew west and a brown argus and ten small whites seen. A holly blue was flying around the Firs Chase garden. Several migrant hawkers and common darters seen along the Strood seawall and dyke.

Andy Field and Charlie Coltman walked the Cudmore circuit on Tuesday morning and noted two chiffchaffs, goldcrest, two Cetti's warblers, 25 meadow pipits, 60 grey plovers, 100 dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, Mediterranean gull, buzzard, 30 brent geese, 30 wigeon, 20 teal, six shoveler and a yellow wagtail in the Golfhouse paddock.

Rob Lee reported seeing two spoonbills flying over Old Hall Point on Tuesday morning.

A record shot of a distant female pintail in the Strood channel on Monday 9th - earlier four other pintail were seen flying down channel. Other birds were 30 wigeon, 20 teal, 200 golden plover, five ringed plovers, greenshank, two Mediterranean gulls and 80 black-tailed godwits by the Dabchicks.

A curlew was feeding on the mud in the Strood channel on Monday. A red kite circled over the Peldon fields before drifting east, while six buzzards, two marsh harriers, two sparrowhawks and two kestrels were all enjoying the warm weather.

A common tern perched on a buoy in the Strood Channel on Monday, also two Sandwich terns fishing in the channel.

Eight lesser redpolls flew west in two small flocks, 26 siskins flew west over the Hard, rock pipit and 20 meadow pipits were noted along the seawall, while a chiffchaff and a song thrush were by the caravan park.

A peacock was seen along the Strood seawall on Monday, also eight red admirals seen flying west.

At Maydays on Monday, Martin Cock watched two red kites displaying, five buzzards, stonechat, yellowhammer, chiffchaff and a Cetti's warbler.

A greenshank was feeding along the Strood channel on Sunday 8th, as were 200 golden plover, 15 ringed plovers and eight Mediterranean gulls.

A flock of sixty fieldfares with at least one redwing flew high over the Channel and then headed to West Mersea.

Three buzzards were seen on Sunday during the seawall walk, also a marsh harrier. Two Cetti's warblers and chiffchaff were along the dyke, while at the Nothe near the Dabchicks five chiffchaffs and a goldcrest were with a tit flock.

The warm conditions in the middle of Sunday saw a very noticeable red admiral passage west over the Strood fields/ seawall/ channel with 80 being counted in a 90 minute period whilst walking the seawall.

A goldcrest, blackcap and two chiffchaffs were in Martin Cock's West Mersea garden on Sunday morning.

Four willow emerald damselflies were resting along a hedgerow at Maydays farm on Saturday 7th. Red admirals were seen flying south over the Reeveshall and Maydays fields with 15 seen during two hours.

A kestrel perched on a kissing gate on the Maydays seawall on Saturday.

A single cattle egret was seen walking among the cattle on Reeveshall, although views very distant in a heat haze. Also three marsh harriers, two buzzards, swallow, 15 stock doves, Cetti's warbler and 15 meadow pipits.

In the Pyefleet channel were greenshank, 18 knot, whimbrel, 160 grey plover, 3 bar-tailed godwits, 10 dunlin and a great crested grebe.

Three red-legged partridges were seen near Dawes Lane by Steve Entwistle on Saturday morning.

On Friday 6th birds seen during a walk along the Strood seawall included 200 golden plover, 60 grey plover, 100 black-tailed godwits, 6 Mediterranean gulls, Sandwich tern, sparrowhawk, two kestrels, swallow, 30 linnets, two corn buntings and also a common seal in the channel. Ten red admirals flew west.

Wigeon numbers continue to build up slowly in the Strood Channel with 24 seen on Thursday 5th, also 10 teal and three shelduck. A large flock of 350 golden plover was gathered on the mud, greenshank, two Mediterranean gulls, two Sandwich terns were seen too, while three buzzards, sparrowhawk also.

A male stonechat was feeding beside the Strood seawall at the Strood Hill end on Thursday, two Cetti's warblers were singing along the dyke, four chiffchaffs by the caravan park and 30 linnets in the fields.

Twelve red admirals were seen flying west over the Strood fields during the walk.

One of the highlights of autumn moths is the Merveille du Jour, single individuals seen at the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 5th and 6th October.