SNOW BUNTING FLOCK

It was nice to see a flock of six snow buntings feeding on the beach at the East Mersea Point on Thursday 21st.

The snow buntings scurried along the high tide line pecking at seeds as they passed. They seemed reasonably settled although they did fly off a couple of times and land further along the beach.

The snow bunting flock was first found on Monday by Andrew Tilsley, when seven birds were present, and six birds were then seen yesterday Wednesday by Martin Cock in the morning and by Michael Thorley in the afternoon.

A flock of 500 brent geese was feeding on one of the park's grazing fields on Thursday. Also thirty curlew and some of the ten black-tailed godwits seen in the area. 

About 100 wigeon and a few teal were feeding in one of the park's fields too. A stonechat, 10 skylarks, rock pipit, were seen from the seawall while near the Golfhouse were six meadow pipits and two green woodpeckers.

Five shoveler were on the Golfhouse saltmarsh pools, with a few wigeon and teal, also one little egret. Thirty shelduck were on the nearby mudflats and a pair of red-breasted merganser flew into the Colne.

On Wednesday 20th there were lots of wildfowl along the Strood channel at low tide with about 200 wigeon and 300 teal, also 90 shelduck, 300 golden plover, 70 avocets and nine black-tailed godwits.

A curlew was feeding on the mud behind the Dabchicks sailing club on Wednesday. A female red-breasted merganser was near Packing Shed island.

The great white egret was feeding in the Strood dyke on Wednesday, while in the weedy fields were 200 linnets, 50 skylarks, 2 corn buntings, 30 stock doves and 2 pairs of stonechats. Two buzzards were noted while 20 fieldfares and a redwing were by the Strood reservoirs, 30 fieldfares flew over Feldy View, also a song thrush and mistle thrush were beside the caravan park.

A dead eel - minus its head, was lying at the bottom of the Strood seawall on Wednesday.

A red squirrel was watched crossing over the footpath along the top of the Firs Caravan park on Wednesday. Last week one of the nearby Strood Close residents had watched four red squirrels chasing each other round the tall poplar trees beside the footpath.

At East Mersea Point six snow buntings and a stonechat were seen by Martin Cock on Wednesday morning. In the afternoon Michael Thorley reported six snow buntings and 180 brent geese and 200 wigeon.

On Monday 18th a great white egret fed along the Strood dyke near the sluice. In the fields were 100 linnets, 3 corn buntings, also a buzzard and three marsh harriers seen during the walk. Four fieldfares were feeding on berries by the Strood reservoirs. A sparrowhawk flew over Feldy View.

Birds of note along the Strood channel were 100 shelduck, 75 avocets, 400 golden plover and a knot.

Three stonechats were seen on Monday along the seawall, this male near the Strood Hill end.

A pair of goldfinch was feeding on seed-heads beside the Strood seawall on Monday.

In East Mersea seven snow buntings were found on the beach at the Point on Monday by Andrew Tilsley.

On Sunday 17th twelve red-breasted mergansers were along the Pyefleet Channel, also a great crested grebe, 300+ shelduck, with 1000 brent geese feeding on Reeveshall. At least 200 fieldfares were feeding on Langenhoe ranges.

A peregrine flew over Bower hall, two pintail in the channel, 20 fieldfares and a redwing in the bushes by the seawall.

Martin Cock walked the Maydays seawall on Sunday and noted a peregrine, buzzard and a few redwing.

There was a colourful sunset viewed from behind the Dabchicks sailing club on Sunday 17th.

Along the Strood seawall late Sunday afternoon were seen 200 linnets, 20 corn buntings, 70 skylarks and a stonechat in the fields, also marsh harrier and 30 avocets noted, while four fieldfares were by the Strood layby. There was no further sign of any of the waxwings that had been seen by the layby the day before.