GREEN STROOD CHANNEL

There were at least fifty Mediterranean gulls seen during a walk along the Strood seawall on Thursday 26th. A few were on the mudflats - such as this one, while the rest were feeding in a grass field, probably after craneflies. 

 

Since I've been away on a two week break, the mudflats along the Strood Channel have become carpeted in green algae.

The Strood mudflats have never had this amount of algae on them before, so it has been a striking transformation!

A small flock of nine teal was seen along the Strood channel, also 24 wigeon, 30 ringed plover, 70 golden plover, 60 lapwing, 30 black-tailed godwits and a Sandwich tern. Two marsh harriers circled high over the channel, four kestrels and a sparrowhawk were hunting by the Strood fields.

A pair of stonechat was by the Strood central ditch, while 20 meadow pipits, 50 swallows and five house martins flew south-west. Nine chiffchaffs were seen by the Firs Caravan park and along the dyke, also a whitethroat. A blackcap and chiffchaff were in the Firs Chase garden.

At East Mersea on Thursday morning, Martin Cock walked between the Golfhouse and Ivy Dock and saw a lesser whitethroat, 3 chiffchaff, Cetti's warbler, six Sandwich terns, 3 brent geese, nine bar-tailed godwits, two wigeon and a few swallows.

Andy Field visited Cudmore Grove on Thursday and reported 13 Sandwich terns and a calling water rail at the park pond. Two willow emerald damselflies were seen by the Golfhouse borrowdyke.

Jack Hoy saw a wheatear on the Cudmore Grove beach on Thursday.

A Dark-bush Cricket photographed by Andy Field at Cudmore Grove on Thursday.

At Bower Hall marsh on Wednesday 25th, three marsh harriers and a kingfisher sitting on a nearby post were seen by Rob Lee. 

A spotted flycatcher near the East Mersea Golfhouse was reported to Jack Hoy by a visiting birder on Wednesday.

 

A Fisher's Estuarine moth was photographed at Cudmore Grove by Daniel Blyton. One of ten seen during an evening survey on Sunday 22nd.

A Fisher's Estuarine moth on a snail at Cudmore Grove on Sunday evening photographed by Jonathan Norgate.

Michael Thorley saw 22 little egrets and 11 curlew near the East Mersea Golfhouse on Sunday.

Shaun Bater walked the Cudmore circuit on Saturday 21st and saw 8 pied wagtails, 2 brent geese, Cetti's warbler and chiffchaff near the park pond, 4 swallows, mute swan and cygnet, buzzard, waders on the mud included redshank, oystercatcher, curlew and grey plover, 100 little egrets including 70 at the pond and four linnets. At West Mersea two Sandwich terns were seen off Seaview Avenue.

On Friday 20th Steve Entwistle at Coopers Beach counted 20 Mediterranean gulls, 6 Sandwich terns, great crested grebe and two sand martins.

Later on Friday at Coopers Beach Michael Thorley reported 250 golden plover, 65 turnstone, 28 curlew, 4 black-tailed godwits, 15 little egrets, 12 common gulls, 2 redshank, 9 oystercatchers as well as herring gulls and black-headed gulls.

Andy Field on Friday visited Feldy View and saw a mixed flock of 40 swallows / house martins. Later at Cudmore Grove, there were 4 chiffchaffs, 45 little egrets at the pond, 25 common scoter flew in then out of the Colne, 125 grey plover, 18 dunlin, 3 bar-tailed godwits, 92 curlew, knot and three Sandwich terns.

A hobby was seen flying over Martin Cock's West Mersea garden on Thursday 19th.

A young song thrush was photographed by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden pond on Wednesday 18th.

Michael says the song thrush is a one-off for his East Mersea garden. It has been seen feeding on small ripe fallen plums. A yellow wagtail was also seen there.

On Tuesday 17th Andy Field visited Feldy View and saw six chiffchaffs and a few goldfinches. Later along the Strood channel there were four stonechats, whinchat, 30 linnets, 24 teal, 12 wigeon, 20 lapwing, 30 grey plover, 40 golden plover, 12 ringed plover, 32 curlew, 50 redshank and 3 black-tailed godwits.

Martin Cock visited Shop Lane on Tuesday and saw 3 chiffchaffs, wheatear, 36 avocets and a sparrowhawk. 

A wheatear was photographed by Shaun Bater during his visit to Cudmore Grove on Monday 16th - one of two seen. Also six linnets, two reed buntings at the Point, mute swan cygnet and 3 little grebes in the dyke.

Martin Cock on Monday morning saw 10 chiffchaffs, green woodpecker and 20 goldfinches at Feldy View, while later in Meeting Lane there were seven red-legged partridge, six house martins and two chiffchaffs.

On Saturday 14th Andy Field saw two spotted flycatchers, willow warbler and a few chiffchaffs at Feldy View. Later at Reeveshall two ravens were seen by Andy circling towards Gyants Marsh before flying east, two wheatears, marsh harrier, red kite also spotted flycatcher in Shop Lane.

At Maydays on Saturday Martin Cock saw four buzzards, red kite (later seen by Andy), 3 marsh harriers, hobby, two Egyptian geese, 9 wigeon, 100 grey plover, greenshank, four stonechat and a Cetti's warbler.

Shaun Bater at Feldy View saw a spotted flycatcher, kestrel and a mixed flock of swallows and house martins.

Four buzzards were seen by Andy Field on Friday 13th drifting north over Whittaker Way.

On Thursday 12th at Feldy View a spotted flycatcher, six chiffchaffs, willow warbler and a yellow wagtail were seen by Martin Cock. Later at Shop Lane a spotted flycatcher, two chiffchaffs, Sandwich tern and a marsh harrier were seen by Martin.

One of the two spotted flycatchers in Feldy View on Wednesday 11th was photographed here by Andy Field, also six chiffchaffs seen - but no sign of the tree pipit. Later at Maydays with Martin Cock a greenshank, common sandpiper, wheatear, two marsh harriers and a buzzard were seen.

An osprey was seen by Rob Lee hunting over the Pyefleet near Maydays then headed inland to Bocking Hall on Wednesday.

A peregrine was seen by Jack Hoy on Wednesday flying west over Cudmore Grove 

TREE PIPIT TREAT

The Feldy View tree pipit was seen again in Feldy View Cemetery on Tuesday 10th. It has been present here for three days which has been a real treat - this picture taken on Monday after it flew off the ground to perch in a low branch for a couple of minutes. This is the seventeenth record of a tree pipit on the island and none of them previously have stayed more than a morning. A tree pipit was also seen in Feldy View on the 25th August by Steve Entwistle and Martin Cock.

On Tuesday the tree pipit was seen again flying off the ground where it had been feeding in the grass, it perched for a couple of minutes and then dropped back down where it seemed quite confiding walking among the long grass and small memorial crosses at the back of the cemetery. 

Also in the cemetery on Tuesday were the two spotted flycatchers also present for their third day - one has been present for four days. A chiffchaff, five yellow wagtails, great spotted woodpecker and a flyover buzzard were also noted there, while forty goldfinches were feeding beside the Firs Chase caravan park.

Earlier on Tuesday a pair of ravens was seen swooping low and calling loudly as they flew south-west over the Firs Chase gardens, passing just under tree-height and providing close views. They had come from the direction of the caravan site and maybe Feldy View. A sparrowhawk also passed over Firs Chase.

A kingfisher was photographed by Michael Thorley on Tuesday by the East Mersea Golfhouse borrowdyke. Also seen in the area were a dabchick with two young, tufted duck, two pochard and mallard, while at the Point were three wheatears, eight linnets and two Sandwich terns.

Jon Ward also visited East Mersea Stone Point on Tuesday morning and noted five wheatears, two Mediterranean gulls, two Sandwich terns and 25- 30 linnets.

On Monday 9th the tree pipit was unexpectedly still present for its second day in Feldy View, seen flying off the ground and then perching in a tree. After flying off to the nearby hedge, it was seen back ten minutes later on a grassy path feeding, pictured here.

Also in Feldy View were the two spotted flycatchers for at least their second day, one was seen on Saturday too. The flycatchers were busy feeding in and around the trees that were sheltered from the fresh north-westerly wind. A flock of fifty sand martins passed quickly east over Feldy View.

Along the Strood channel on Monday was a common sandpiper, greenshank, 30 golden plover, 90 black-tailed godwits, Sandwich tern, ten Mediterranean gulls, also wheatear, two yellow wagtails and thirty linnets.

Martin Cock did a short walk at Maydays on Monday and saw two whinchats, two stonechats, greenshank and a sparrowhawk.

Michael Thorley photographed a chiffchaff on Monday in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane.

The chiffchaff was visiting the pond in Michael's garden.

Another picture of a chiffchaff by Michael in his East Mersea garden on Monday.

On Sunday 8th, this tree pipit was found and photographed by Andy Field in the Feldy View Cemetery.

The bird was first seen flying off the path to land in a low branch where it stayed long enough for Andy to take this picture of it. It was seen by several other local birders during the morning, although I don't believe it was seen in the afternoon, although it reappeared the following morning.

Two spotted flycatchers were busy feeding in the birches and oak trees of Feldy View - first found here by Andy, and they were also at the nearby aptly named "flycatcher-corner." Daniel and Mollie Kirk thought there may've been four birds present in the area on Sunday morning. A willow warbler, reed warbler and chiffchaff were also seen in Feldy View.

Andy saw a stoat briefly at flycatcher-corner on Sunday morning.

A sand martin perched on wires beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Sunday.

Among the flock of fifty swallows beside the Firs Caravan park on Sunday was this juvenile swallow.

Some of the fifty swallows perched on wires over the path beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Sunday. A hobby was seen flying fast as it headed east, passing close to this flock of swallows. Three yellow wagtails were heard flying over.

A wheatear was feeding along the bottom of the Strood seawall on Sunday, while in the fields two whinchats and four stonechats were along the central ditch with forty linnets.

Daniel Woollard saw five corn buntings along the central ditch earlier on Sunday.

A redshank fed near the Strood seawall on Sunday, with other waders of note in the channel being 20 black-tailed godwits and seven grey plover. Two Sandwich terns were in the channel with a common tern near Packing Shed island.

A flock of at least ninety Mediterranean gulls was counted on Sunday, first on the Strood mud and then again on the nearby field as the tide came in. There were more to be confirmed as Mediterranean gulls but either they were too distant on the mud, or were asleep at an angle that made their ID difficult.

A peregrine scattered all the gulls when it headed across the channel towards the Strood causeway.

In the ploughed field a murder of 65 carrion crows was counted.

A painted lady was seen nectaring on flowers on the seawall.

On Sunday late afternoon 15 wigeon flew south over the Firs Chase garden, also fifteen sand martins with a flock of fifty swallows passed over south-west.

At East Mersea a common scoter was seen by Mollie Kirk and Daniel Woollard flying towards Stone Point before turning back out to sea again. Also two wheatears on the path to the Point.

An osprey flew slowly down the Pyefleet Channel on Saturday 6th, every so often circling high over the water before continuing down channel passing Maydays where it was pictured here. Earlier on Saturday it had been seen perched on a post on the Geedons saltings, then came for a fly-around in the Pyefleet before returning to the post on the Geedons later in the afternoon.

A whinchat, three stonechats and a wheatear were seen at Maydays on Saturday. A hobby and five kestrels hunted over Langenhoe, a greenshank, bar-tailed godwit, eight black-tailed godwits and 130 grey plover were the main waders of note in the Pyefleet. Three Cetti's warblers sang, four house martins were by the farmhouse and five Mediterranean gulls noted too.

Ten small heaths and a common blue butterfly were inside the Maydays seawall on Saturday.

Four common seals were on the saltmarsh up the Pyefleet and a brown hare was at Maydays.

At Feldy View a spotted flycatcher was found by Steve Entwistle in Feldy View on Saturday morning. Also in Feldy were six willow warblers, two chiffchaffs, eight goldfinches, ten blue tits, two long-tailed tits and five chaffinches.

At Rewsalls marsh on Friday 6th four Sandwich terns, lots of waders roosting on the side lake, also a dead guillemot washed up on the beach, were seen by Martin Cock.

At Coopers Beach on Friday afternoon, Michael Thorley reported 20 little egrets, nine common gulls, two herring gulls, a few black-backed gulls, 30 golden plover, 15 oystercatchers, 13 turnstones, five ringed plovers, female common scoter, pied wagtail and wood pigeons. In the morning a great spotted woodpecker was seen near Blue Row.

Late on Friday night a tawny owl was heard calling in Firs Chase. 

A great tit was photographed by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden feeding on sunflower seeds.

On Thursday along the Strood there was a big flock of 80+ Mediterranean gulls on the mud, also eight Sandwich terns hunting the channel, 15 golden plover, 50 black-tailed godwits, hobby, wheatear, four stonechats and a "murder" of 58 carrion crows feeding in a field.

At East Mersea there was a spotted redshank reported on Birdguides, that was seen at the end of Ivy Lane on Thursday afternoon.

Andy Field walked the Cudmore circuit on Wednesday 4th and found five wheatears on the East Mersea Point - pictured here by Andy.

Two of the wheatears photographed by Andy on the sign at the East Mersea Point on Wednesday. Also seen were the leucistic redshank among 200 redshank, 20 grey plover, six ringed plover, dozens of terns flying into the estuary mainly common terns with some Sandwich terns. Also eight common terns were on the mud with a Sandwich tern. Four sand martins and thirty swallows seen flying about. A brief view of a barn owl at the park early in the morning and a little owl calling from the Golfhouse.

Five common seals were reported at Langenhoe Marsh Point on Wednesday by Rob Lee.

A grey squirrel was seen at the barn owl box by Daniel Woollard early on Wednesday.

By the Dabchicks on Wednesday 30 ringed plovers, ten black-tailed godwits, two grey plovers and two turnstones were seen. 

A Feathered Gothic was in the garden moth trap in Firs Chase on 7th September.

A Brindled Green seen on 7th.

Two Dark Sword-grass on 6th.

Two Silver Y's were on the 6th.

A smart looking Gold Spot is the first record for the garden.

An Olive-tree Pearl was seen on four nights between the 2nd and the 7th and may've been the same individual.

A Dusky Thorn was seen on both 2nd and 7th September.

WARDY'S WHEATEAR

Three wheatears were found by John Ward on the seawall near the East Mersea boating lake on Tuesday 3rd - one pictured here by John. Two were also seen in a field near the Bower Hall seawall sluice by Rob Lee on Tuesday, and there was also a wheatear seen along the Strood seawall on Tuesday too.

A flock of 120 black-tailed godwits was in the Strood channel near the Dabchicks sailing club on Tuesday, also in the channel were  21 ringed plovers, greenshank, 150 golden plovers, two Sandwich terns and 32 Mediterranean gulls. 

A curlew was feeding on the mud near the Strood seawall on Tuesday. A marsh harrier was also seen, while near the weedy field were three lesser whitethroats, two whitethroats, two stonechats and 12 linnets.

A peregrine, sparrowhawk and two swifts flew over Martin Cock's West Mersea garden on Tuesday.

Rob Lee reported a possible osprey heading east near Bower Hall on Tuesday morning.

Michael Thorley saw a chiffchaff, willow warbler, two house martins and 30 barn swallows from his East Mersea garden on Tuesday. Later at the Strood 70 black-tailed godwits and a bar-tailed godwit were noted.

On Monday 2nd along the Strood there were two Mediterranean gulls - one yawning here.

Four Sandwich terns were hunting up and down the Strood channel on Monday, also a common tern resting on a pontoon. A little stint flew along the borrowdyke calling as it continued south west, two greenshank and 70 black-tailed godwits were seen. Along the seawall were a whinchat, three stonechats, 15 linnets, two yellow wagtails, lesser whitethroat, two reed warblers, 30 carrion crows, buzzard and fifty swallows.

James Taylor walked the Strood seawall on Monday and reported a hobby, buzzard, redshank, curlew, black-tailed godwit, turnstone, sparrowhawk, kestrel, stonechat, reed warbler and whitethroat.

At Maydays on Monday a kingfisher was seen at the seawall sluice by Jack Hoy.

A swift flew over Martin Cock's house on Monday.

A badger was found dead by the side of the East Mersea road near Blue Row on Monday.

On Sunday 1st along the Strood channel there was a red kite flying slowly north-east over the fields, Sandwich tern, sparrowhawk, 100 black-tailed godwits, two stonechats and ten linnets.

Jack Hoy also saw a red kite that seemed to have come from Mersea, passing over Langenhoe ranges, also a buzzard.

A kingfisher was on its usual perch on the seawall sluice at Maydays farm on Saturday 31st.

The kingfisher remained at the sluice for over an hour watching the water flowing through the sluice for any fish.

Also seen at Maydays were three Sandwich terns, Mediterranean gull, 8 Canada geese, four teal, 30 grey plovers, one knot, two marsh harriers, three house martins and a chiffchaff. Three common seals were on the saltmarsh at the top end of the Pyefleet.

A buck muntjac deer was captured on a trail camera in Michael Thorley's East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Saturday. This male showing antlers in velvet.

A different buck muntjac deer seen on Michael's trail camera with its bare antlers. 

On Friday 30th a spotted redshank was found roosting with other waders next to the East Mersea boating lake on Friday 30th. This has become a rare bird on Mersea in recent years - and this is the first time one has been seen on the Rewsalls marshes area.

Other birds seen on the side lake were 230 redshank, 120 turnstones, 21 ringed plovers, 3 common sandpipers, whimbrel, 24 Mediterranean gulls, 8 little grebes, 20 little egrets and two grey herons. Also seen in the area were marsh harrier and four buzzards soaring high, two kestrels, 20 swallows, four house martins, two yellow wagtails, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat and willow warbler.

Earlier on Friday morning a kingfisher was seen by Sarah Thorley at the Rewsalls sluice near the boating lake.

Martin Cock walked the Golfhouse to East Mersea Stone on Friday and reported a Sandwich tern and two common terns, blackcap, willow warbler, Cetti's warbler and three lesser whitethroats.