COOPERS GREY WAG

A grey wagtail provided a close view at the Coopers Beach Holiday Park, landing beside a ditch near the football pitch on Wednesday 13th. It began preening for a couple of minutes before perching briefly on a railing and then flew over to the clubhouse. Earlier a kingfisher had also perched beside this ditch for a couple of minutes too.

On the Rewsalls Marshes at high tide on Wednesday, wildfowl were feeding on the flooding marshes including 100 mallard, 100 teal, 30 brent geese, four wigeon, four shelduck and two little grebes. Other birds seen were 3 snipe, 2 little egrets and a small number of waders such as grey plover, turnstone, dunlin and redshank, while 70 curlew were in the nearby fields. A reed bunting and two rock pipits were noted too. 

Offshore a steady passage of 40+ red-throated divers were passing, most of them distantly on the horizon. Although some were seen heading west, the general movement was east - becoming north up the Essex coast. Two common scoter and 28 great crested grebes were seen on the sea.

Amongst a flock of gulls feeding in fields near Rewsalls farm were at least four Mediterranean gulls, also 50+ fieldfares in a hedgeline opposite the south end of Meeting Lane in East Mersea.

The immature herring gull at the West Mersea Hard turned its attention to Jack Hoy's car on Wednesday.

The hungry herring gull stared down into Jack's car, while he took a few photos!

Andy Field visited Cudmore Grove Country Park on Tuesday 12th, photographing this rock pipit on the beach at the Point, also four sanderling there. In the grazing fields were 1000 brent geese, the largest flock seen here this winter, also 300 wigeon, 100 teal, 55 curlew present too. A pair of stonechat and two Cetti's warblers were noted as well.

At Maydays on Tuesday morning Martin Cock reported seeing three marsh harriers, great white egret, two Cetti's warblers, three yellowhammers, stonechat there along with 300 fieldfares on Langenhoe.

The regular Strood great white egret on Tuesday was seen feeding along the path in front of the Firs Caravan Park. First time its been seen on this path, although it soon flew off when a walker approached.

A turnstone was resting on a post along the Strood channel on Tuesday. Also of interest were 30 avocets, two snipe, two marsh harriers, great crested grebe, while in the fields were 70 skylarks, stonechat, 50 linnets and a corn bunting, also Cetti's warbler and a rock pipit noted.

The regular mistle thrush was seen high in the poplar trees with mistletoe clumps, at the Firs Caravan Park on Tuesday.

As the high tide covered the saltmarsh in front of the Firs Caravan Park on Monday 11th, the black brant was seen feeding close-by with 100 dark-bellied brent geese.

The broad white collar round the front of the neck showed nicely on the black brant on Monday.

Along the Strood channel were 30 avocets, marsh harrier, three kestrels, two snipe, stonechat, 1000 golden plover and 30 linnets.

On Monday the great white egret feeding in the field close to the Firs Caravan park was seen catching a vole to eat, pictured here. The grey herons have also been seen catching voles recently in the nearby grass field. A red squirrel was seen along the path at the top of the Firs Caravan Park.

Two bar-tailed godwits were seen feeding on the mud behind the Dabchicks on Sunday 10th.

On Saturday 9th birds noted during a walk along the Strood seawall were great white egret, two marsh harriers, 300 wigeon, 100 teal, 72 shelduck, 75 avocets, ten knot, a shoveler, while in the fields were 100 skylarks, 300 starlings, two stonechats and a Cetti's warbler. A common seal was seen in the Strood channel, sticking its head up briefly before vanishing.