MERSEA WILDLIFE: BLACK REDSTART BRIEF VISIT

A black redstart was found at the East Mersea Oyster Fishery on Saturday 18th by Alan Reynolds, photographed here by Andy Field. It was only reported during the middle of the day.

The black redstart pictured by Andy, looked like a first winter male. There have been nearly forty previous records of black redstart on the island over the last forty or so years, so nearly annual. There have been a few previous sightings here at the Oyster Fishery over the years.

Andy also photographed this female kingfisher at the Oyster Fishery on Saturday. A drake goldeneye was seen by Andy in the Colne and eleven common scoter seen offshore from Cudmore Grove.

Also at Cudmore Grove a redwing drinking at the garden pond of the park bungalow and red squirrel in the garden too, were reported on Saturday by Mollie Kirk.

At Coopers Beach on Saturday a drake common scoter flew east offshore, while ten brent geese, 12 golden plover, 4 little egrets, 20 skylarks, rock pipit, Cetti's warbler and a reed bunting were seen beside the caravan park.

On Friday 17th these three brent geese were photographed by Jon Ward as they flew past East Mersea Point. A kingfisher was seen along the park borrowdyke.

A common gull also photographed by Jon as it flew past the Point on Friday.

A meadow pipit perched up for Jon to photograph on Friday during his visit to East Mersea Point.

A brief visit to the Strood seawall on Friday revealed 20 brent geese, 30 black-tailed godwits, Cetti's warbler, fifty turnstones perched on the boats, also two goldcrest and two chiffchaffs by the Firs Caravan park.

On Thursday 16th a male stonechat was by the Strood seawall, also three other stonechats present along the bushes by the dyke. Birds seen in the fields included 100 linnets, two buzzards, 30 skylarks and thirty meadow pipits, while rock pipit was on the saltmarsh and two swallows flew north-west over the channel.

Along the Strood channel on Thursday were 13 little egrets - one pictured here with a redshank, also 70 wigeon, 20 teal, 30 ringed plover, 30 dunlin, 50 black-tailed godwits and 13 little grebes.

Some of the meadow pipits on Thursday were feeding on the mud and saltmarsh beside the Strood seawall.

Glen Moore heard a woodlark flying over the Dabchicks sailing club on Thursday morning, although the bird itself wasn't seen.

On Wednesday 15th a dark phase Arctic skua was seen by Andy Field for the second day, offshore from Kingsland Road flying about and then resting on the water early afternoon. Clive Pickering also saw the same bird a bit earlier in the afternoon as he walked along the beach by Seaview Avenue. He heard loud anxious calls coming from some Sandwich terns and when he looked over, an Arctic Skua was in close pursuit, forcing the tern to regurgitate its food. The skua was then seen resting on the sea just offshore.

The Arctic Skua was watched later in the afternoon by Steve Entwistle as it flew about as well as spending long periods on the water.

A red-throated diver and eight great crested grebes were offshore from the Esplanade on Wednesday afternoon, while Steve reported a peregrine on Bradwell power station and 28 brent geese on Cobmarsh Island.

Clive Pickering reported a swallow flying along the beach near Waldegraves holiday park on Wednesday.

Along the Strood seawall on Wednesday birds of interest were a greenshank, 30 black-tailed godwits, 15 ringed plovers, five Mediterranean gulls, five stonechats and 30 linnets. Two siskins flew north-east along the seawall near the caravan park and a chiffchaff was in Feldy View.

Hummingbird Hawkmoths were reported on Wednesday in Martin Cock's garden in the Coverts and also in Clive Pickering's garden near Lower Kingsland Road.

A redwing perched briefly beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Tuesday 14th, also two chiffchaffs in the Feldy View area.

Along the Strood seawall there were three Sandwich terns, nine shelduck, 70 wigeon, two marsh harriers, sparrowhawk, four stonechats, two rock pipits and fifty linnets.

Andy Field watched an Arctic Skua offshore from the Esplanade on Tuesday, as it flew high towards Old Hall Marshes. Later it was seen chasing gulls distantly off Bradwell.

At Cudmore Grove a siskin was seen by Daniel Woollard drinking at his garden pond at the park bungalow on Tuesday.

On Monday 13th a great skua was seen flying up the Blackwater by Martin Cock, also 20 common scoter flying east and two Sandwich terns noted too. Later Steve Entwistle reported nine cattle egrets flying west in front of the Bradwell power station, a peregrine chasing a bird by the power station, also ten brent geese, nine great crested grebes and a Mediterranean gull seen from the Esplanade.

From the West Mersea Hard on Monday late afternoon, Steve Entwistle saw nine cattle egrets flying over Copt Hall, barn owl hunting the same area, two marsh harriers, a Sandwich tern, 30 brent geese were noted from the Hard too.

Birds noted along the Strood on Monday included a redwing over Feldy View, fieldfare calling from bushes by the dyke and five siskins calling as they flew north-east. Also two marsh harriers, buzzard, sparrowhawk, four stonechats, fifty linnets and a rock pipit, while along the channel were 70 wigeon, 15 teal, ten ringed plovers and forty black-tailed godwits.

A male blackcap was in the Firs Chase garden.

Jack Hoy saw a flock of magpies fly over his Mersea Avenue garden.

At East Mersea on Monday a great spotted woodpecker, 8 long-tailed tits and a chiffchaff were seen in Fishponds Wood, Shop Lane by Steve Entwistle.

Near Meeting Lane Michael Thorley reported in his garden buzzard, kestrel, two great spotted woodpeckers, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tit, chaffinches male and female, male blackcap, carrion crows, jackdaws, magpies and wood pigeons. A tawny owl was heard calling on Sunday night.