AUTUMN SUNSHINE

Another clear blue sky on Saturday 11th and this eyecatching rowan tree in the country park is showing off its bright red autumnal colours. The bright red berries on several of the rowan trees are slowly being taken by the mistle thrushes and other birds. Up until a couple of years ago, all the local mistle thrush families totalling up to 30 birds, would home in on the trees and strip the berries within a fortnight or so. A handful of them a few days ago, is about the largest group around at the moment.

On the park pond the usual mix of ducks included about 50 mallard, 25 teal, 2 tufted duck, 5 shoveler, gadwall and 4 wigeon. The regular coots, moorhens, mute swan pair and little grebes were present too.

On the grazing fields, the wigeon numbers are quickly building up as they arrive for the winter here with 55 noted. No sign of the more familiar brent geese yet and the only ones seen were a pair out on the mudflats at low tide. Also in the fields were 80 curlew roosting during the high tide.
Along the edge of the outer reaches of the river Colne were two feeding flocks of 70 avocets and a few distant groups of black-tailed godwits too.

The still conditions reflect the blue sky onto the short section of dyke near the Golfhouse at East Mersea. A water vole decided to break cover when it swam from the right-hand side to the left side, disturbing the still water and breaking up all the reflections. A tufted duck also created lots of splashes when it took off and a little grebe's movements were easily traced by the patterns of ripples.

Along the side of the other dykes nearby, a stonechat perched up and 3 reed buntings were seen in the reeds. A rock pipit flew over the saltmarsh calling.

The sunshine brought a few butterflies out with small copper, large white, red admiral and speckled wood all noted, along with several southern hawkers and common darter dragonflies.

During the day a couple of common lizards were seen in their usual grassy spot, while at dusk at least four pipistrelle bats were seen hunting around the car park.

This L-album wainscot moth above, was one of several moths found in the trap on Saturday morning. Around half a dozen of them have been recorded on recent nights, as in previous autumns suggesting that there may be a local population. The country park provides ideal habitat for them as they like coastal grasslands. The moth has been listed as scarce for Essex but I believe it has been more widely recorded in recent years.

The moth catch was low due to the clear sky with a bright moon along with a heavy overnight dew. The streak moth was the most interesting one noted also the mallow, barred sallow, feathered ranunculus, lunar underwings, setaceous hebrew character, large yellow underwing and black rustic.

DUSK BESIDE PYEFLEET

Enjoyed the last hour of daylight on Friday 10th, overlooking this pool, pictured above, along the Reeveshall seawall. The sun shone throughout the day and with a gentle breeze blowing, it was another peaceful and picturesque end to the day.

On the pool were 180 teal resting along the edges but after they flew off, the only other birds here were 2 black-tailed godwits. There was a nice sight of three marsh harriers flying over the nearby fields as they headed back to the evening roost on Langenhoe. Three marsh harriers were already flying around Langenhoe and later on in the evening, six harriers sat along the top of the seawall in different spots. At least one other marsh harrier was seen over Reeveshall but the count of at least 7 birds in total seen, is probably an underestimate.

One barn owl hunted over a well grazed sheep field with its white wings appearing translucent as they flickered in flight against the setting sun. Later on it joined up with a second barn owl beside a tree plantation. A kestrel hunting over the fields was the only other bird of prey seen.

The peace was shattered when several flocks of geese arrived to graze the grass with 100 greylags the noisiest. Three Canada geese and a barnacle goose were also mixed in with the greylags, as they settled down to feed in the fading light.

Other birds noted were a stonechat, 14 meadow pipits, snipe, 3 avocets and also lots of grey plovers on the nearest mud in the Pyefleet. There was the usual steady evening flow of little egrets heading eastwards to their St Osyth roost with at least 30 seen.

As the light faded nine brown hares could be seen feeding in various parts of the field, having spent the day crouching low to the ground to stay hidden.

Earlier in the day a kingfisher flashed past the park pond as it headed westwards while four swallows and a siskin flew over the park.

Other birds seen around Mersea in the last few days include more osprey sightings to the north and the west of the Island. The Salcott Channel osprey was seen fishing along the length of the channel on Thursday while on Friday one was seen over the river Colne from Fingringhoe. Hugh Owen reported seeing a short-eared owl and peregrine from the Langenhoehall marshes in the north-west corner of the Pyefleet on Wednesday. Martin Cock had a peregrine tussling with two marsh harriers over Maydays Farm on Friday.

This pine carpet above is probably of little excitement outside of Essex as it appears to be common in many parts of the country where there are pinewoods. However having checked the Essex records it appears that this moth is a rare visitor to the county with only two records since 1990 with the last one recorded six years ago at St Osyth. This latest moth above was found resting on the outside of the trap at the country park early on Thursday morning and was bundled into a small pot because it looked "slightly different". Having had a busy day, the first opportunity to examine the moth wasn't until about 11 o'clock in the evening, so it was lucky I hadn't dismissed it earlier in the day.



The moth trap was run on Wednesday night and despite the clear sky and cool conditions, about 70 moths of 15 species were noted. Pictured above is this strikingly marked green-brindled crescent with its bright green sheen, one of the more colourful ones found. Other moths found, included several L-album wainscots, November moth, black rustic, brindled green, silver Y, barred sallow, frosted orange, feathered ranunculus, autumnal rustic and angle shades.

This young adder was found under one of the tin sheets with an adult, while a second adult was found nearby basking in the sun. The adders will be around for another two weeks before heading into hibernation. A couple of common lizards were seen basking on some long grass tussocks.

PECKER ATTACK

This is now the view from the hide onto the pond at the country park as seen on Tuesday 7th. No need to open the flaps to look out, just peer through the small holes that have been getting bigger over the last fortnight. I finally caught the culprit in the act of hammering into the hide - a female green woodpecker! It sounded like someone was hitting the side of the hide with hammer the noise was so loud. I was able to creep into the hide and watch the destruction in action close-up. Now I now what it must feel like for a brood of tits in a nestbox when a woodpecker decides it is time for lunch!

Later in the day once the woodchips had settled, 2 little egrets were seen roosting and amongst the teal and mallard were two shoveler. In bushes nearby in the tit flock were 3 chiffchaffs and a blackcap, while passing over the car park in the morning were 3 lesser redpolls and swallow.
Along the seawall a male stonechat perched up, while nearby a rock pipit flew around the saltmarsh calling.

Whilst working on the computer in my house in the park at dusk, I heard the sound of a little owl very close. I quietly opened the back door and slowly peered up to my roof where the bird was seen nervously standing next to the chimney pot! Despite my efforts not to be noticed, it soon saw me and flew away.

The weather was better than forecasted, staying dry for most of the day. This red admiral was resting on a branch during a dull spell. The underwing is normally very dark brown but with the camera flash, all the intricate markings show up nicely in the bright light. Two other red admirals and a speckled wood were also noted.

Martin Cock heard the Cetti's warbler again in the ditch at Maydays farm along with a stonechat and a rock pipit. Unusually he watched 2 grey wagtails land briefly on the roof of his house in West Mersea, before they continued their passage over the Island.

MORE CETTI'S

After the 24 mms of rain that fell on Mersea throughout yesterday, it was a relief to get out for a dry walk along the Strood seawall on Monday 6th. I had stopped at this point in the photo above to listen to the rare sound of a Cetti's warbler singing as it foraged through the reeds in the dyke. At that moment Martin Cock phoned me to say he had heard a Cetti's warbler as well, earlier in the morning in the reed-filled dyke at Maydays Farm. Like waiting for a bus, none for a few years and now three in the space of a week!

It will be interesting to see if either of these two birds stays around, as the one last week at the country park appears to have moved on. It was last seen on the Monday, having stayed for only two days.

The lack of wind seemed to inspire all the small birds into activity, which was in sharp contrast to the last walk along here on the windy Friday. The best sight and sound was a sky-full of 80+ skylarks that rose off the fields in two flocks, all calling as they circled overhead. A short while later 50 corn buntings flew around calling too as they moved between ditch, hedge, fields and reedbed. A small group of 20 house sparrows were also seen along one of the field hedges.

A pair of stonechats were still present as were 8 linnets on the seawall side. A rock pipit flew along calling and about 12 meadow pipits passed over too. A mixed group of ten house martins and swallows crossed onto the Island from Ray Island. Near the caravan site 3 chiffchaffs and a blackcap were feeding with a tit flock.

The most interesting wader was seen circling over the fields, a ruff - the first on the Island for a couple of months. Feeding for a short while on the fields were 25 lapwing and 50 golden plover. They later moved onto the mudflats to join groups totalling 150 lapwing and 200 golden plover.
Also of note along the channel were ten little grebes, 2 greenshank and one avocet.


The day brightened up early in the afternoon with the sun shining and a light breeze, making it a pleasant visit to the beach at St Peters. Just offshore from here on Cobmarsh Island were 12 brent geese and a couple of common terns. A wheatear flew from the St Peters onto Cobmarsh.



The wonderful red colour of the glasswort (locally called samphire), adds some colour to the saltmarsh on the edge of West Mersea. Many new plants appear to have colonised the bare mud alongside the boardwalk, now that walkers are keeping off the mud.
A rock pipit flew over calling but there was no sign of a recently reported lame little egret.



This big colourful hornet with the reddy-brown and yellow markings, was resting on the ground beside some thick ivy bushes in flower alongside St Peters meadow. Hornets seem to be scarce on the Island and not often seen.

The ivy bushes around this bench were alive with insect activity - bees, wasps, hoverflies, flies and a few others. Not many butterflies except for one resting comma, although nearby two large whites and a red admiral flew past.

OSPREY DISPLAY

The saltmarsh around the Island has turned an autumnal red of the glasswort in many places such as this scene pictured above, along the Pyefleet on Saturday 4th. I was glad I walked along the exposed Reeveshall seawall in late morning as the wind got much stronger in the afternoon.

Within half an hour I located the large and distinctive outline of a distant osprey flying about a kilometre away, above the Geedon Creek, just to the north of the Langenhoe Marshes. The bird flew back and forwards along a short section of the channel for about ten minutes and performed a couple of stoops down to the water. Both times it reappeared into view without anything in its talons. For the duration of its flying around, hovering and stooping, a couple of carrion crows repeatedly mobbed the bird.

Whilst following the bird through the telescope, there appeared to be continual pandemonium in the background of the field of view. Flocks of waders and wildfowl scattered in different directions as the osprey passed overhead. The bird then crossed south over the Langenhoe Marshes and proceeded to scatter all the waders and wildfowl in the Pyefleet Channel. It circled a few times and then drifted off west, where it was watched disappearing into the distance. The last glimpse of the bird was low down to a seawall just to the north of the Strood causeway.

This osprey may be the bird that has stayed around the Salcott Channel area for the last three weeks. It was probably the same bird that was seen only two days ago by Hugh Owen perched in a tree near the Langenhoehall marshes - nearly where the bird was last seen today.

For the duration of the walk there were several marsh harriers flying about with 4 birds on Langenhoe and 3 seen over Reeveshall.

Although there was plenty of mud on show along the Pyefleet and lots of waders, the wind buffeting the telescope didn't make for easy viewing of the smaller waders on the far side of the channel. Waders of note included 30 knot, 200 black-tailed godwits, one avocet while 2 snipe flew overhead.


There was no sign over the Reeveshall / Maydays fields of any of the 3 short-eared owls seen last weekend. However there was a great view of a peregrine which glided low over the sheep field and landed on a large clod of earth. It gazed around for a few minutes and then flew a short way to spend several more minutes on a fence-post. I didn't see it when it finally decided to take off.

Three kestrels were out hunting above the various fields in the area and also seen were 2 stonechats, 10 stock doves, 10 goldfinches, wheatear and about 25 meadow pipits. Flying out of Broad Fleet when a marsh harrier passed nearby were at least 100 teal.

Martin and Ann Cock arrived on the seawall after all the excitement had finished. However we did see the first red-breasted merganser of the winter, a female consorting with a group of 6 great crested grebes in the Pyefleet. Martin also saw 3 stonechats, 2 wheatears and 2 common seals from the Maydays Farm end of the seawall.

Later in the afternoon he reported seeing a peregrine and a Mediterranean gull, whilst at the Waldegraves golf driving range!

Andy Field had some excitement of his own at the country park in the afternoon, when he watched 2 juvenile gannets land on the water of the outer Colne. They then took off and headed up river where I believe one was seen from the Fingringhoe Nature Reserve. The last gannet to get close to the Island, sadly was a poorly one in the spring that ended up being carried away in a cardboard box from the beach.

AUTUMNAL WIND

It was a cold morning walk along the Strood seawall on Friday 3rd. Not many small birds to see over the fields in the strong wind although pair of stonechats along the edge of the dyke were a sign of autumn. A grey heron stood in the middle of one of the big fields and was strangely joined by a kestrel, who stood nearby for company for several minutes. Four kestrels were seen hovering and hunting over various fields to the east of the Strood Hill area.
A few meadow pipits flew past and 10 linnets also headed off the Island.

In the borrow-dyke a pair of mute swans were present as were a couple of the resident little grebes.



It was a bit windy to scan all the waders along the Channel thoroughly but in the brief search, only the usual selection of species were noted. Several hundred redshank were scattered along the length and were the most numerous. Grey plover numbers seemed higher than recent visits with over a hundred present. Small numbers of the other regulars were noted too such as black-tailed godwits, golden plover, lapwing, ringed plover, curlew, oystercatcher, dunlin and turnstone.

There was the familiar winter scene of wildfowl resting along the bottom of the Channel with at least 30 wigeon and 50 teal counted, along with a few shelduck. Three little egrets were noted as were 2 common terns flying past. Five little grebes were seen amongst the boat moorings just up-channel from the Dabchicks.

SKULKERS IN THE SUN

This young adder was found curled up and enjoying the warmth under a sheet of tin at the country park on Thursday 2nd. Although it was sunny enough to bask out in the open, this small adder I suppose, had some added protection with the sheet of tin over it - until I came along and peeked underneath.

This adder was only about 8 inches(20cms) long and was nearly able to hide itself under a single bramble leaf when I first lifted the tin. However it soon slid away and disappeared into the long grass. There was no sign of the three adults found huddled together under the tin a few days ago.


Whilst checking out the little reedy pool where the Cetti's warbler had been a few days previously, I was amazed to see a water rail feeding out in the open. It provided some of the best views for many years here at the park with the bird being reasonably confiding, out in the sunshine and being in view for about ten minutes.

For a bird that is notorious for skulking amongst the reeds and rushes around water, this one had me pointing my small camera at it from just over 5 metres away. The bird was being obliging enough, that one of the regular dog-walkers to the park was able to see what a water rail looked like. There was also the sight of a brown rat also skulking amongst the reeds

Hugh Owen and Philip Smith were enjoying the birds on the pond from the hide and at one point we got closer views of a passing siskin as it circled above us after some poor siskin call-note imitations lured it over. Also at the pond were the usual selection of wildfowl of mallard, teal, wigeon and at least one shoveler. Two great spotted woodpeckers flew over the pond.
Earlier in the day a small bird flashing low across the car park in the direction of the pond, may have been the kingfisher.

At least 30 meadow pipits were passing westwards over the park in small groups, as they followed the coastline. Three blackcaps were seen in the bushes and foraging with the tits were five goldcrests. A sparrowhawk flew into the park scattering a small group of goldfinches as it came and then later in the day, a fine view of another one flying along the East Mersea road, alongside the car.


The end of the summer has meant the end of one of the areas of long grass on the park. The area used to be managed as a hay crop but demand for hay locally has disappeared, so for the last five years, it has received an annual mow in late summer instead. Most of the insects should've finished using the long grass, flowers will have set seed and skylarks have finished nesting.

Out in the sunshine were small copper, 6 red admirals, 2 speckled wood butterflies and also southern hawkers and common darter dragonflies.

Two little owls called out to each other in a little duet from Bromans Lane during the morning.
The previous evening just after nightfall, the resident tawny owl was seen perched in a dead bush as I drove past.

Hugh Owen reported seeing an osprey perched in a tree near the north-west corner of the Pyefleet Channel, by the Langenhoehall marshes earlier this Thursday morning. It was being mobbed by one or two carrion crows.