STROOD SEAWALL WALK

 

Ten avocets were feeding along the Strood Channel on Thursday 11th. Other waders of note along the channel were nine black-tailed godwits and a calling whimbrel on Ray Island. Twelve Mediterranean gulls flew up the channel in several pairs, calling distinctively.

A pair of shoveler was on the pool at the bottom of the Strood Hill field as was a pair of shelduck.

A nightingale was heard singing loudly from the bushes on Ray Island- the breeze from the north-west just wafting the song across the channel.

At least six buzzards were seen in the air over the Strood fields, some of the birds resident, others passing through. A red kite flew over the Ray Channel and drifted west to Copt Hall. Two sparrowhawks were circling over Triangle Wood, near Victory Road and the two kestrels were by the Firs Caravan park - where the Cetti's warbler was here too.

Andy Field photographed this sedge warbler singing by the Strood seawall on Thursday.

As well as Andy photographing this sedge warbler, a reed warbler was more elusive in the reeds as it sang on Thursday morning along the Strood dyke. Other birds noted during his seawall walk were 18 black-tailed godwits, two whimbrel on Ray Island, 20+ Mediterranean gulls, three buzzards as well as the red kite flying to Copt Hall. A chiffchaff, blackcap and Cetti's warbler were near the caravan park.

A Tawny mining bee photographed along the Strood seawall by Andy on Thursday.

An early St Mark's fly photographed by Andy.

A parasitoid wasp Ischnus inquisitorius was in Andy's garden.

Andy watched the parasitoid wasp go after a moth larva in his greenhouse.

Martin Cock walked between the Golfhouse and Shop Lane in East Mersea on Thursday morning and reported a whitethroat, sedge warbler, 6 blackcaps, 6 chiffchaffs, three marsh harriers, cuckoo heard only, 500 black-tailed godwits, also a red squirrel and holly blue butterfly.

In the Shop Lane and Reeveshall area on Thursday Michael Thorley reported two blackcaps, three barn swallows, two chiffchaff, while on the Reeveshall pool were an avocet pair, seven shelduck, 20 redshank, two curlew, kestrel, five greylags and three marsh harriers on Langenhoe.

Michael Thorley photographed this Bee fly in his East Mersea garden on Wednesday.

A drake mallard visited Michael's garden pond again on Wednesday.

An area of beach on Packing Shed Island was roped off on Wednesday to protect any nesting birds over the coming months. Kieren Alexander RSPB site manager for the nearby Old Hall Marshes reserve organised the roping and signing of this island and also Cobmarsh Island.

As well as lots of herring gulls and three pairs of lesser black-backed gulls, the other birds noted were four ringed plovers, 20 oystercatchers, pair of gadwall, 70 brent geese, an avocet, two Mediterranean gulls, great crested grebe, little egret and a marsh harrier.

After visiting the islands in Jim Pullen's boat, we stopped at the old dinghy behind the Dabchicks sailing club to check on the oystercatcher nest-box - an old fish-box filled with shingle which the birds have used for the last few years.

A speckled wood butterfly was resting on Wednesday morning beside the Firs Caravan park. Two blackcaps, kestrel, two chiffchaffs and eight Mediterranean gulls noted on a brief morning walk.

Caroline White visited Cudmore Grove and the Golfhouse area on Wednesday morning and reported two blackcaps, 11 linnets, green woodpecker, two meadow pipits, Cetti's warbler on the Golfhouse track, then tufted duck pair near Ivy Dock, pair of avocets and five brent geese on the Golfhouse pools, shoveler, shelduck, pair of lapwings on the grazing field, five tufted ducks and two pairs of greylag geese on the dyke, pair of ringed plovers on the beach.

Three siskins and great spotted woodpecker were on the path to the bird hide at Cudmore, pair of kestrels on their tree, while at the pond were a pair of mute swans, tufted duck pair, five pochard, Cetti's warbler singing, stock dove, barn owl inside the nestbox, four sand martins over the park, redwing on the Golfhouse track. 

Later a chiffchaff was in Caroline's West Mersea garden. Shaun Bater saw two siskins in his West Mersea garden on Wednesday morning.

Rob Lee saw two swallows on wires at Rewsalls on Wednesday morning.

A wheatear was photographed by Daniel Woollard at East Mersea Point on Tuesday afternoon, after being found by Caroline White. Daniel also saw four ringed plovers, five brent geese, three Mediterranean gulls and a swallow.

Caroline reported seeing during her Cudmore walk on Tuesday 11 linnets, pair of avocets, greylag geese pair, tufted duck pair, male kestrel on tree, three swallows, the wheatear, five chiffchaffs, three blackcaps singing and a water vole at the Golfhouse dyke. Two Canada geese were seen by Andy Field.

Along the Strood seawall on Tuesday late morning approaching high tide, the only birds noted were 20 brent geese, eight shelduck, two avocets, 60 redshank, while fifty linnets were feeding in the field near Feldy View.

A swallow prominent was in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the night of Thursday 11th, also yellow-barred brindle, shuttle-shaped dart and early grey.

A lunar marbled brown was noted on the 5th, also a pine beauty, oak nycteoline, common quaker, small quaker, hebrew character, red chestnut and early grey.