GOLFHOUSE GODWITS

A black-tailed godwit photographed by Andy Field, as it fed in the Golfhouse horse paddock in East Mersea on Sunday 27th. 

Andy also photographed this skulking Cetti's warbler during his walk at Cudmore Grove on Sunday - one of four birds heard. Also noted were two stonechats, a water rail crossing a path at the start of the park seawall, buzzard, 800 dunlin, 120 curlew and a Mediterranean gull.

A black-tailed godwit at the Golfhouse paddock was also photographed by Michael Thorley on Sunday.

Two black-tailed godwits were photographed by Michael, also a Cetti's warbler heard at the Golfhouse, while at his Little Paddock garden near Meeting Lane a male sparrowhawk was seen.

A male tufted duck was an unusual visitor to the Strood channel on Sunday, keeping company with some wigeon. 

Along the Strood channel on Sunday there were 130 wigeon, 150 teal, 17 little grebes, four avocets, three bar-tailed godwits, 80 black-tailed godwits, 80 dunlin and ten Mediterranean gulls. The sunny weather saw a movement of buzzards with 15 noted mainly heading north-west off the island, also a marsh harrier, while a red kite circled over Peldon fields. 

Three bearded tits were seen in the corner reedbed flying about and calling, then two birds flew up high, circled round a bit then headed high west to the Feldy Marsh, leaving one bearded tit still pinging and flying about as if trying to locate where the other two birds went to! Three stonechats, three rock pipits and a Cetti's warbler were noted too.

Nine buzzards were seen flying west over Martin Cock's West Mersea house in The Coverts during the middle of Sunday.

On Saturday 26th at Maydays, a peregrine was seen standing in the middle of a ploughed field surveying the surroundings. Three marsh harriers were seen during the seawall walk, while in the Pyefleet were 70 avocets, 15 knot, 15 black-tailed godwits and 3 great crested grebes. Along the dyke were three stonechats, thirteen corn buntings, three Cetti's warblers, three rock pipits and a goldcrest in a copse near the seawall.

 

Jon Ward spent a couple of hours along the Strood seawall on Friday 25th and photographed this corn bunting. 

A male stonechat photographed by Jon along the Strood on Friday - one of five birds noted, but no sign of the bearded tits.

Earlier on Friday three bar-tailed godwits were seen along the Strood channel, one pictured, also 45 black-tailed godwits, 100 golden plover, ten ringed plover, 15 Mediterranean gulls, four avocets, three marsh harriers, two Cetti's warblers, four stonechats, 100 linnets and five corn buntings.

Two Sandwich terns were seen offshore from the Victoria Esplanade by Andy Field on Friday, while at Bocking Hall six red-legged partridges were seen in a field by Steve Entwistle.

Along the Strood channel on Thursday was this small flock of wigeon, also 100 brent geese, 12 little grebes, 22 avocets, 200 golden plover, two bar-tailed godwits, a knot, 30 dunlin, 12 Mediterranean gulls, five mute swans, marsh harrier, two buzzards, sparrowhawk, two bearded tits in the main reedbed, six stonechats, fifty linnets and five corn buntings.

Andy Field also walked the Strood seawall on Thursday and saw a kingfisher. In addition to most of the birds listed above, also seen were 50 wigeon and 50 teal.

An osprey was reported at the Strood fishing lakes by the water bailiff there, seen catching a fish there on Thursday.

On Wednesday 23rd at least five bearded tits were seen flying about the main central reedbed by the Strood seawall. Four bearded tits were later seen flying up high from the corner reedbed, circling round a few times before flying west over to Feldy Marsh. Also along the channel were 52 shelduck, 28 avocets, ten black-tailed godwits, a snipe flying, 100 brent geese and twelve little grebes. Inside the seawall were two stonechats, 50 linnets, sparrowhawk, lesser redpoll flying south-west and also six redwing flying south-west over the caravan park.

A large white butterfly was enjoying the morning sunshine in Feldy View on Tuesday 22nd. 

At least one bearded tit was heard calling from the Strood dyke reedbed, also two stonechats, 50 linnets, six corn buntings and two swallows flying south-west over the seawall. A peregrine hunted over the Strood channel, scattering some of the 200 golden plover, 22 avocets, 15 ringed plover and 70 black-tailed godwits.

A Feathered Thorn came to the garden moth trap in Firs Chase on the 25th.

The first Marbled Fern micro-moth on the 25th, is the first record for the Island, a species native to Australia and New Zealand, it is rapidly colonising southern England after first been found in 2009.

A Red-line Quaker on the 25th.

Barred Sallow on the 23rd.

A Gem seen on the 23rd.