RAZORBILL RETURNS

After a week's absence, the razorbill reappeared at the West Mersea Hard on Monday 27th and again on  Tuesday 28th, when it was close enough for Andy Field to take this picture from about 15 feet away. The razorbill was diving repeatedly, spending more time underwater than above and being difficult to follow when it disappeared among the moored boats. Later on Tuesday morning it had drifted up channel and was opposite the Firs Caravan park.

Andy also saw the great northern diver and the black brant from the Hard on Tuesday. Later from the Esplanade, either a guillemot or razorbill was seen by Andy flying up the Blackwater river past Bradwell. A red-necked grebe was seen at the east end of Salcott Channel from Old Hall marshes by Colin Mackenzie-Grieve. A kingfisher was seen at the West Mersea Hard by Martin Cock.

There was another very high spring tide on the Tuesday, which covered all of the saltmarsh in front of the Firs Caravan park with 100 brent geese feeding on the flooded marsh.

A short-eared owl was being mobbed by a kestrel over the Strood fields on Tuesday morning and a great white egret stalked the weedy field. Lots of small birds were feeding in the weedy fields such as 150 linnets, 100 skylarks, 15 corn buntings and two stonechats.

Of note along the Strood channel on the Tuesday high tide were 94 shelduck, 200 wigeon, 100 teal, two great crested grebes and 30 avocets.

Later on Tuesday afternoon a short-eared owl was seen hunting the Strood fields by Steve Entwistle.

On Monday 27th a great northern diver was feeding close to the hammerhead causeway at the West Mersea Hard. The razorbill was also seen very close to the seawall path behind the Dabchicks sailing club during the high tide in the middle of the day. It quickly dived back under the water and disappeared for a long period, briefly resurfacing before diving again not to be seen again that day.

Birds of note along the Strood seawall included great white egret in the fields, two marsh harriers, three snipe, two pairs of stonechat, 25 corn buntings and a high tide wader roost in the ploughed field of 25 grey plover, 200 dunlin and 30 ringed plovers.

A red squirrel was seen beside the footpath along the top of the Firs Caravan park.

On Sunday 26th a short-eared owl was watched hunting over the fields by the Strood. In between being mobbed by a kestrel, it paused for a while in the grass field. A merlin flew low over the weedy field scattering all the small birds in its path, before it perched in a tree at the back of the field for several minutes. Two marsh harriers also passed over the field early in the afternoon and three kestrels were also over the fields. The great white egret was also walking about the fields looking for food.

Among the small birds in the fields were 50 linnets, 30 corn buntings, 15 reed buntings, ten meadow pipits and three stonechats. Along the channel at high tide were 60 shelduck, 300 wigeon, 100 teal, 2 great crested grebes, 30 avocets and a snipe flying off the fields.

A female pied wagtail was feeding along the edge of the Strood seawall, as were three rock pipits on Sunday.

Duncan Bulling visited the Island on Sunday and reported seeing the short-eared owl flying over the Strood fields in the afternoon. Earlier two red squirrels and a grey squirrel were seen by him in Fishponds Wood in East Mersea.

Michael Thorley visited Ivy Dock Sunday mid-day and noted a pair of red-breasted mergansers, 30 brent geese, a few wigeon and five little egrets.

On Saturday 25th along the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall, birds of note seen during the high tide period were five marsh harriers, 1000 golden plover and 200 lapwing in the air, five great crested grebes, 50 avocets, Cetti's warbler, a fieldfare as well as three common seals.

Later Martin Cock saw a fieldfare and redwing at Maydays on Saturday afternoon.

At the West Mersea Esplanade on Saturday afternoon, Andy Field saw a red-throated diver offshore.

A goldfinch was feeding in a birch tree in Feldy View on Friday 24th.

A grey plover was waiting near the Strood seawall as the tide came in, on Friday. Also seen from the seawall were a marsh harrier, three stonechats, 70 linnets, 8 corn buntings, 40 avocets and three great crested grebes.

A kingfisher was seen at the West Mersea Hard on Friday by Martin Cock. Later at East Mersea two grey squirrels were seen by Martin near the Oyster Fishery.

On Friday afternoon an escaped cockatiel landed on the house roof in Firs Chase, calling loudly when it arrived. It only stayed for a few minutes, pecking the rose leaves beside it, looking around and then flying off.

The regular and very hungry immature herring gull was pictured by Andy Field on a car roof at the Hard car park on Thursday 23rd. Maybe it knew that Andy often carries pasties around with him!

The black brant was seen by Andy opposite the Hard on Thursday but no sign of the razorbill. A great northern diver was seen flying into the estuary and then landing on the water just off Kingsland Road.

A visit later on Thursday to the East Mersea Golfhouse by Andy enabled him to photograph this male stonechat in the horse paddock, two pairs of stonechats here, also a grey wagtail and a rock pipit here.

A turnstone was feeding near the Strood seawall on Thursday. Other birds noted during the walk along the seawall were 700 golden plovers, marsh harrier, 30 avocets, two great crested grebes, three stonechats, 100 linnets and ten corn buntings.

A female great spotted woodpecker perched up a tree in Feldy View on Thursday.

PARK WIGEON

A pair of wigeon swam along the borrowdyke at Cudmore Grove Country Park on Wednesday 22nd, while nearby a small flock of fifty was grazing the park fields. 

At the park pond six gadwall, ten mallard and thirty teal were seen, by the Golfhouse the grey wagtail flew over, while three green woodpeckers, thirty brent geese and thirty moorhens were in the horse paddock. A little owl was heard calling from the Ivy Farm area.

A female stonechat was in the bushes at the East Mersea Point on Wednesday, while along the edge of the nearby grazing field a pair of stonechat was feeding. Two reed buntings and two rock pipits were at the Point too. On the nearby mud 25 avocets, ten shelduck and six knot were of note, with a sparrowhawk flying east over the river. In the Colne were three red-breasted mergansers, five great crested grebes, 400 brent geese on the east bank and common seal in the mouth of the river.

At Maydays farm on Wednesday Martin Cock reported seeing several hundred knot, four red-breasted mergansers and four common seals in the Pyefleet while a red kite and a Cetti's warbler were also noted.

On a drizzly Tuesday 21st during the middle of the day, a razorbill was seen from the West Mersea Hard feeding among the boats in the Mersea Quarters. It drifted down channel towards Packing Shed Island, diving repeatedly to feed and even allowed very close views to Geoff Wass who motored slowly past it in his dinghy. This bird is presumed the same one that was first seen in Tollesbury Channel three weeks earlier by Paul Rowe. For several of us long-time Island birders, this was our first ever razorbill sighting for the Island!

During a walk along the Strood seawall on Tuesday morning, lots of small birds were flying around and dropping to feed into a couple of long grass / "weedy" fields. These included 70+ skylarks, 70+ linnets, 20 corn buntings, ten reed buntings, five meadow pipits, while round along the dyke were two pairs of stonechats and a singing Cetti's warbler. A male marsh harrier quartered the fields, with a female seen over Ray Island, also two buzzards.

In the Strood Channel on Tuesday were good numbers of wildfowl with 500 wigeon and 500 teal, also 12 little grebes, a great crested grebe and a single shoveler. The large flock of 1000 brent geese was flitting between Ray Channel and the nearby wheat field. Also of note along the Strood were 800 golden plover, 70 lapwing, ten black-tailed godwits, 300 dunlin, 30 avocets and two knot.

Nice and sunny along the Strood seawall on Monday 20th saw lots of birds along the mud such as this redshank. A large flock of 1500 golden plover rested on the mud near the causeway, while 30 avocets and five knot were other waders of interest. Amongst the large number of 300 wigeon and 200 teal were a flock of 12 shoveler which flew off to the Ray Channel, also 15 little grebes in the Strood channel.

Whilst scanning distant birds circling over the mainland near Copt Hall on Monday, a flock of eight red kites were watched for several minutes as they slowly drifted south to the West Mersea Hard. They circled round briefly before returning to the mainland and then lost to view. Along the Strood seawall, the regular great white egret arrived to feed in the weedy field, also a marsh harrier and three kestrels  over the fields and four buzzards noted during the walk.

Small birds noted included 30 skylarks, stonechat pair, 20 corn buntings, ten reed buntings, 70 linnets and two singing Cetti's warblers.

A speckled wood was enjoying the November sunshine in Feldy View on Monday- the latest ever date for a speckled wood to still be on the wing on the Island!

A sparrowhawk flew over the Feldy View on Monday morning.

A red squirrel showed briefly in a tree as I passed along the footpath at the top of the Firs Caravan park on Monday morning.

Andy Field visited the Shop Lane seawall on Monday late afternoon to watch the harriers going into roost on the Langenhoe ranges and counted 12 marsh harriers, although a low passing army Chinook helicopter disturbed another half dozen or so marsh harriers that flew away to the west to roost, possibly to Old Hall Marshes. Andy's picture above shows two distant marsh harriers perched on bush-tops.

Also in the area were 700 brent geese, 2000+ dunlin and 70 avocets.

Earlier on Monday Martin Cock saw a common scoter and two pintail from the East Mersea Oyster Fishery.

On Sunday along the Strood channel a female goosander flew down channel, while 1000 golden plover, 1000 brent geese, two shoveler and thirty avocets also noted here. A kingfisher perched briefly at the sluice outflow, a great white egret fed in the weedy field, also marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, two stonechats and two corn buntings seen.

A short-eared owl on Saturday 18th, made a couple of brief appearances over the weedy field early afternoon possibly because a male marsh harrier was quartering close-by. A second marsh harrier was seen too, while the great white egret was feeding in the field as well. 

Small birds included ten corn buntings, 40 linnets and two pairs of stonechat - each pair at either end of the seawall.

Along the Strood channel were 200 wigeon, 200 teal, 300 dunlin, 40 black-tailed godwits, 30 avocets and ten knot. On the mainland 2500 golden plover rose into the air above Feldy Marsh, while 1000 brent geese flew off the fields at Peldon.

Late on Saturday afternoon just after dark, a tawny owl called from a neighbours garden in Firs Chase.

A corn bunting was photographed by Andy Field beside the Strood seawall on Friday 17th - one of 25 birds noted in the fields. At least one pair of yellowhammer was seen by Andy at the back of the Strood fields and also a second male, so maybe two pairs present which is a scarce sighting for the area. Andy also watched a marsh harrier, buzzard and sparrowhawk during his walk, while a red squirrel was seen at the top of the Firs Caravan park.

A merlin was watched on Friday flying over the Strood channel from Ray Island and then hurtling at speed into the flocks of small birds feeding in the weedy field without catching anything. A peregrine was tussling with a marsh harrier near the Peldon seawall, also a second marsh harrier and buzzard also noted.

Along the channel on Friday were 1000 golden plover, 37 avocets, forty shelduck and great crested grebe, also a pair of stonechat, fifty linnets and a Cetti's warbler noted too.

A brent goose stood close to the path near the Dabchicks sailing club on a dull Thursday 16th.

Three goosanders including one male flew down the Strood Channel towards the Hard - an unexpected sighting for here. Also in the channel were 300 wigeon, 100 teal, two shoveler, 30 shelduck, great crested grebe, 35 avocets, 500 golden plover, two knot and two snipe flying over.

A great white egret was feeding beside a ditch in the Strood fields on Thursday, four marsh harriers were seen too with some hunting over the fields, also three kestrels here as well. Small birds in the weedy field were 70 linnets, 20 corn buntings, 30 skylarks, two pairs of stonechats, ten meadow pipits and a Cetti's warbler. A goldcrest was seen near the Firs Caravan park and two more in the Firs Chase garden.

Oliver Cottis braved the drizzle on Thursday morning for half an hour to walk the Strood seawall and noted 16 corn buntings, two rock pipits, 6 reed buntings, 200 dunlin, 50 distant golden plover flock, 20 turnstone, 6 ringed plover and a pair of stonechat.

The great white egret was also seen by Shaun Bater being chased off by a grey heron first thing on Thursday morning in the Strood fields, also the kestrels there too - but no sign of any short-eared owls.

At Cooper Beach on Thursday Simon Patient saw a grey wagtail fly over the clubhouse, a common scoter offshore and also a peregrine hunting a redshank along the front of the caravan park.

MORNING OF SUNSHINE

A pair of stonechat was enjoying the morning sunshine near the East Mersea Golfhouse on Wednesday 15th. The grey wagtail was still in the horse paddock as were three green woodpeckers and a few brent geese.

On the nearby mudflats by the Point were 1500 dunlin, 20 avocets, ten ringed plover, 15 sanderling, five knot, while offshore from the park was a female common scoter. 

Fourteen little egrets were roosting at the country park pond on Wednesday during the early afternoon high tide. On the pond were 90 teal, ten mallard and three gadwall, also there was a goldcrest in trees nearby. To the north of the park 16 pied wagtails were feeding in a horse paddock.

Half a dozen common darters including a pair in tandem, were seen at the country park enjoying the late autumn sunshine on Wednesday. Two red admirals were also seen around the Cudmore circuit.

Along the Strood fields on Wednesday, two short-eared owls were seen flying about late afternoon by Andy Field.

Martin Cock reported seeing at Maydays a great white egret, three rock pipits, chiffchaff and also four common seals.

A short-eared owl stood inside the Strood seawall on Tuesday 14th. It had been hunting the nearby weedy field late morning before having a rest, then headed back over the fields and dropped down out of view.

The kingfisher perched at the end of the Strood dyke, a great white egret was stalking the back of one of the ditches, two Cetti's warblers singing, three corn buntings seen, and a yellowhammer flew west. Of note along the channel were 200 brent geese, 100 golden plover and a great crested grebe. 

Dark clouds passed over the Strood channel on Monday 13th. A merlin flew along Ray Island during high tide and dived into a wader roost on the saltmarsh but without catching anything. Also noted were a  marsh harrier, 20 avocets, 100 golden plover, 20 ringed plover, stonechat, 100 linnets and four corn buntings. A sparrowhawk flew quickly over Feldy View.

A flock of 800 brent geese was feeding on Reeveshall on Sunday 12th, also there were 100 lapwing, 20 stock doves, 50 curlew, pair of stonechats and four corn buntings flying to Langenhoe where 20 fieldfares were feeding on berry bushes. Four marsh harriers were seen over Reeveshall and Langenhoe. .

Along the Pyefleet were greenshank, 1000 dunlin, 20 knot, the leucistic redshank, four great crested grebes and two common seals.

At Maydays there were 20 meadow pipits, 15 linnets, stonechat and a Cetti's warbler, while a sparrowhawk and marsh harrier were seen along the Bower Hall seawall.

Two short eared owls were hunting over the weedy Strood fields Sunday afternoon, also 700 wigeon and a male shoveler along the channel. A stonechat and marsh harrier were also noted.

On Saturday 11th a siskin flew west over The Lane calling, a marsh harrier and buzzard were flying over Feldy Marshes and a great crested grebe was seen from the Dabchicks sailing club.

Offshore from the Victoria Esplanade on Saturday, Steve Entwistle saw two red-throated divers and a female eider.

At East Mersea on Saturday, Martin Cock reported a kingfisher and red breasted merganser at the Oyster Fishery, while Andy Field reported a great white egret, 300 brent geese, five marsh harriers and a buzzard from Reeveshall.

Eighty sanderling were counted feeding along the edge of the beach at Waldegraves as the tide began to recede on Friday 10th.

As well as the sanderling here, there were ten turnstones feeding with them while ten Mediterranean gulls were on the offshore shingle island. A little owl was seen in Waldegraves, ten skylarks and a buzzard were over nearby fields behind Waldegraves.

At Rewsalls marshes on Friday, there was a kingfisher perched on the old fenceposts, 70 curlew, 100 brent geese, 80 mallard, two black-tailed godwits, 70 curlew, 17 little grebes, 30 great crested grebes offshore, two Cetti's warblers, lesser redpoll flying west, also two green woodpeckers and a buzzard at the Youth Camp.

Michael Thorley visited Coopers Beach on Friday and reported a great northern diver, eight great crested grebes, 30 brent geese, 3 little egrets and the regular waders including redshank, turnstone and dunlin, also mallard, herring gull and black-headed gull noted.

From the Esplanade on Friday two red-throated divers were offshore and the distant peregrine perched on Bradwell power station.

A redshank was feeding close to the Strood seawall on Thursday 9th, also along the channel were 150 brent geese, 100 wigeon and a great crested grebe.

Ten black-tailed godwits were along the Strood on Thursday.

Several turnstones and a couple of dunlin were waiting for the tide to drop along the Strood channel on Thursday. Also of note seen from the seawall were a marsh harrier, buzzard, two grey herons, pair of stonechats, and a Cetti's warbler.

An eider was seen by Steve Entwistle from the West Mersea Esplanade on Thursday.

On Wednesday 8th a peregrine was watched mobbing a marsh harrier over the Strood fields. A great white egret stood by the Strood dyke for a while before flying over to the nearby saltmarsh at the bottom of the Strood Hill. Also two pairs of stonechats, fifty linnets, ten reed buntings, two grey herons and 7 stock doves all in the fields. Thirty avocets, 150 brent geese and fifty golden plover were noted along the channel.

An Angle Shades moth was in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on a chilly and clear night on Tuesday 7th, also two Yellow-line Quakers too.

GREY WAG AT THE GOLFHOUSE

The grey wagtail that has been at the East Mersea Golfhouse for over a week, was photographed there on Tuesday 7th by Andy Field. Also seen during his walk there were 400 dunlin, 60 knot, pair of stonechats, two duetting little owls and 100 brent geese on the fields.

Earlier on Tuesday morning at the West Mersea Esplanade, Andy saw three red-throated divers, Mediterranean gull and a female eider offshore.

Along the Strood seawall on Tuesday morning there were 150 brent geese, great crested grebe, 20 avocets along the channel, with a buzzard, kestrel, stonechat, fifty linnets, lesser redpoll flying west and 22 stock doves flying west over the channel by the caravan park. Nine siskins flew west over the Firs Chase garden in the morning.

A red squirrel was watched at the nut feeder in the Firs Chase garden on Tuesday.

After a few minutes it was joined by a second red squirrel and a frantic chase around the tree then followed for several minutes before calm was restored once again.

On Monday 6th birds noted along the Strood seawall included this skylark, although a highlight was watching a peregrine unsettling all the waders and wildfowl along the channel. Birds taking to the air included 400 wigeon, 300 teal and 150 brent geese. Other birds noted were 33 avocets, ten black-tailed godwits, ten little grebes, two great crested grebes, two marsh harriers, four buzzards, two kestrels, Cetti's warbler, three stonechat, corn bunting, with flyovers of seven siskin and a brambling over Feldy View. A red squirrel was seen at the top end of the Firs Caravan park.

Along the Strood Channel on Sunday 5th were three very vocal greenshank standing on the mud calling repeatedly. Also 200 wigeon, 250 teal, 200 golden plover, 18 avocets, 80 lapwing, three marsh harriers, 100 linnets and 20 skylarks.

On Saturday 4th after the rain stopped in the morning, a walk past the East Mersea Golfhouse revealed 100 brent geese feeding on the horse paddock, also the grey wagtail feeding with a few pied wagtails and meadow pipits. On the nearby saltmarsh and mudflats were 100 teal, 50 wigeon, 12 shelduck, four shoveler, five avocets, 35 ringed plover and 500 dunlin while a passing marsh harrier helped to flush everything. Also six linnets at the Point but no sign of the recent snow bunting.

A grey squirrel had been reported earlier on Saturday near the park clifftop.

Michael Thorley also visited the East Mersea Point on Saturday noting 12 turnstones, also 200 golden plover flying over.

Steve Entwistle saw 14 common scoter fly west past Coopers Beach on Saturday.

Birds of note along the Strood on Friday 3rd were 400 golden plover, 28 avocets, 200 wigeon, 100 teal, great crested grebe, four knot, five Mediterranean gulls, two singing Cetti's warblers, two pairs of stonechats, 100 linnets, four corn buntings and ten reed buntings, also a coot in the dyke was unusual.

Two goldcrests and a redwing were seen beside the Firs Caravan park.

On a wet Thursday 2nd a handful of colourful Fly Agarics were seen under the birch trees in Feldy View.

Along the Strood seawall were 25 avocets, great crested grebe, 50 golden plover, three marsh harriers, two stonechats, 1000 golden plover over Feldy Marsh on the mainland, also 100 turnstones roosting on boats by the Hard. A red squirrel was seen along the footpath at the top of the Firs Caravan park.

The Feldy View Fly Agarics were also photographed by Steve Entwistle.

At Coopers Beach on Thursday afternoon Steve noted a sanderling, 6 common gulls, 100 black-headed gulls, three great black-backed gulls, 20 mallard and 15 teal.

This distant kingfisher was photographed along the Strood dyke on a wet Wednesday 1st - so wet the damp camera packed up before I'd finished trying to get closer shots of this kingfisher. Luckily the camera came back to life after a few days submerged in a bowl of basmati rice!

Other birds noted along the Strood seawall on Wednesday were a Sandwich tern fishing, 18 shelduck, 18 avocets, ten knot, bar-tailed godwit, 200 golden plover, two marsh harriers, two buzzards, three kestrels, three stonechats, two Cetti's warblers, also 20 stock doves flying over Feldy Marshes

Michael Thorley visited the East Mersea Golfhouse and Point areas on Wednesday, photographing this roost of 60+ redshank on the saltmarsh, also the grey wagtail, two pied wagtails and two green woodpeckers, 20 moorhens in the Golfhouse paddock.

One of two linnets at the Golfhouse that was photographed by Michael on Wednesday.

Martin Cock watched the snow bunting again on the Point on Wednesday late afternoon that was so tame he nearly stood on it while looking for it. Also a rock pipit, five sanderling and a young common seal on the beach.

Steve Entwistle at Coopers Beach reported four common gulls, three great black-backed gulls and an adult Mediterranean gull.

The snow bunting was photographed by Michael Thorley on Tuesday 31st in the afternoon on the beach at East Mersea Point.

The snow bunting was showing well on Tuesday morning feeding on the seeds at the top of the beach.

Other birds seen during the Cudmore Grove circuit included grey wagtail by the Golfhouse, peregrine over the Colne, red-throated diver offshore, marsh harrier, 8 avocets, knot, 700 dunlin and 11 shelduck.

Roosting in the grazing fields were 145 curlew, while at the park pond were 15 shoveler, 70 teal and 20 mallard. Twenty little egrets were seen roosting, some at the pond and others on the saltmarsh.

A late chiffchaff calling from the sea-blite bushes at the East Mersea Point was an unusual spot for it when seen on Tuesday. Three stonechats, rock pipit, 15 meadow pipits, six linnets, three Cetti's warblers were noted also two siskins in alders by the park pond.

In the sunshine a red admiral, common darter and a migrant hawker were flying about at the park.

Steve Entwistle watched a mixed flock of eight lesser redpolls and siskins flying around Feldy View on Tuesday morning.