LAST OF THE GEESE

Numbers of brent geese continue to dwindle as spring gathers pace. This group was feeding on the saltmarsh beside the Firs Chase caravan site on Wednesday 8th, as were another forty brent geese along the Strood channel. A great crested grebe was in the Ray channel.

The highlight of the walk along the Strood seawall on Wednesday was hearing the happy twittering song of a male swallow as it flew along the dyke, the first one I've seen this spring. There have been three earlier sightings in the last few days, the first one over Andy Field's garden on Sunday 5th and also that day one seen by the Monkey Steps by Jonathan Bustard, followed by a second one over Andy's garden on Tuesday 7th.

Also along the Strood on Wednesday was a singing willow warbler down the side of the Firs Chase caravan site for the third day, also three blackcaps there too. A bright male yellow wagtail was seen again for the second day running along the seawall, hopefully the breeding bird from here last year.
A whimbrel called from the Strood channel, the first one of the spring noted passing through here.

A colourful group of 26 black-tailed godwits was feeding along the Strood channel on Wednesday. A flock of 200 knot was also feeding on the last bit of mud showing before the high tide. Two pairs of Mediterranean gulls were calling as they passed over.

In the fields was a big flock of at least 70 carrion crows feeding on the recently sown field by Strood Hill, also 100 linnets and two common buzzards. Two other pairs of buzzards were soaring over woods on the Peldon and Feldy side of the mainland. Eight peacock butterflies and a small white were seen along the seawall.

An osprey was reported on Wednesday afternoon by Jonathan Norgate, flying high towards Mersea from Fingringhoe. A male marsh harrier was seen opposite the West Mersea yacht club by Jonathan Bustard, while three buzzards were seen north of Andy Field's garden, flying near the Strood.

At Maydays a kingfisher, 3 whimbrel and a red-breasted merganser were reported on Wednesday.
Along the Esplanade Steve Entwistle saw a great northern diver, 8 oystercatchers, 10 curlews and 8 great crested grebes on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday 7th several pairs of eyes were scanning the skies from their gardens for the white-tailed eagle that had been reported flying south from Ipswich and through north Essex but sadly turned west when it reached Fingringhoe. The only birds of prey noted during the afternoon from gardens were sparrowhawks over the gardens of Andy Field, Steve Entwistle and Martin Cock.

Earlier on Tuesday five common buzzards were seen during the walk along the Strood seawall and also the unusual sound of a displaying male marsh harrier, calling as it flew down channel. Two sparrowhawks were noted too, one as it snatched a blackbird near Feldy View, also kestrel over the fields.
Three blackcaps and three willow-chiffs were in the hedge by the Firs Chase caravan site on Tuesday, while in the Strood Hill field was a big flock of 200 linnets and also three golden plover. Along the Strood channel were a dozen black-tailed godwits, fifty brent geese, Mediterranean gull and a pair of teal.

In Cross Lane four blackcaps and two chiffchaffs and three pairs of long-tailed tits were seen on Tuesday by Steve Entwistle. In his garden were a brimstone, orange-tip and peacock butterflies. Jonathan Bustard reported a great spotted woodpecker, chiffchaff and song thrush at the Legion Fields on Tuesday.

On Monday 6th the great northern diver, ten great crested grebes were seen offshore from the Esplanade by Steve Entwistle who later had two grey herons over his West Mersea garden.
Andy Field reported along the Strood, singing willow warbler, two chiffchaffs, blackcap, buzzard and two Mediterranean gulls on Monday. Two buzzards were seen over Waldegraves caravan site by Jonathan Bustard on Monday, while at Maydays two red-breasted mergansers and 70 golden plover were reported at Maydays.
Near Meeting Lane in East Mersea, the little owl has been heard calling loud and clear most late afternoons in the Thorleys' garden recently.

Along the Strood on Sunday 5th were a marsh harrier, common buzzard, ten black-tailed godwits, 40 brent geese, pair of Mediterranean gulls, chiffchaff, corn bunting and 70 linnets. A buzzard was also seen over the Firs Chase garden.
Near Meeting Lane on Sunday a different Cetti's warbler heard singing, also four chiffchaffs, three buzzards and two brimstone butterflies were reported.
Steve Entwistle saw two great northern divers offshore on Sunday, one of the birds halfway into summer plumage from the Esplanade, the other winter bird off Kingsland Beach.

On a sunny Saturday 4th the oil-seed rape field was looking very yellow behind the boating lake near the Youth Camp.

On the boating lake were a pair of Canada geese, 25 mallard, tufted duck pair, 15 shelduck, two little egrets, pair of Mediterranean gulls and nearby a pair of red-legged partridge. A marsh harrier appeared to fly in off the sea heading north over the lake.
A common buzzard, kestrel and a brimstone butterfly were by Mersea Barns on Saturday, also a meadow pipit west of the East Mersea church.
Eighty brent geese were feeding on the edge of the mud by St Peters on Saturday afternoon, while three small tortoiseshells and a peacock were on the nearby meadow

At Maydays three marsh harriers, four buzzards and 100 golden plover were seen on Saturday.

Offshore from the West Mersea Esplanade on Saturday were a red-necked grebe, two great northern divers, shag and two female eiders seen by Steve Entwistle. A sand martin was also seen later by Jonathan Bustard who also saw the shag and red-necked grebe still there. A marsh harrier passed over Andy Field's High Street North garden.

A young female sparrowhawk was photographed by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Friday afternoon.

Some of the features indicating this is a young female sparrowhawk include the orangey-yellow eyes, pale eye-stripe, rufous patch on hindneck as well as some rusty edges on the wing covert feathers.

A male corn bunting was singing along the Strood seawall on Friday 3rd, also 50 linnets in the field near Strood hill. A marsh harrier flew past, while along the channel were ten black-tailed godwits, four wigeon and four teal. Four jackdaws were watched carrying chunks of hard mud off the seawall path.

An osprey was seen on Friday afternoon by William Baker as it flew north-west over the Mersea Quarters towards Feldy Marsh.
A great northern diver was seen offshore from Seaview Avenue by Steve Entwistle. The Cetti's warbler, blackcap, four chiffchaffs and a buzzard were seen near Meeting Lane on Friday.

Four buzzards, three marsh harriers and a sparrowhawk were the highlights along the Strood seawall on Thursday 2nd. Also two avocets, 20 knot and 36 black-tailed godwits along the channel and fifty linnets were feeding near Strood Hill.
Three eider were seen offshore from the Esplanade on Thursday by Steve Entwistle.

A red kite made a surprise appearance near Feldy View on Wednesday 1st, flying low over the field before picking up height and drifting south-east over the High St North. A chiffchaff was singing near Feldy View and a blackcap seen nearby. Along the Strood seawall were 3 avocets, 31 black-tailed godwits and two buzzards.

STROOD GODWIT

This colour-ringed black-tailed godwit BB-RGf was photographed by Andy Field on Monday 30th, as it fed along the Strood Channel with 19 other godwits. The same bird was seen again on Tuesday in the same size of flock. Andy discovered from the black-tailed godwit ringing project, that this bird had just recently returned from spending the winter in the Tagus estuary near Lisbon and was on its way back to its breeding grounds in Iceland.

Also along the Strood on Tuesday 31st were two common buzzards, sparrowhawk, pair of Mediterranean gulls, great crested grebe, singing chiffchaff and a flock of 50 linnets in the field.
Later over Firs Chase a common buzzard and a sparrowhawk were seen over the garden.

Offshore from West Mersea were two great northern divers and an eider seen by Martin Cock on Tuesday.

Four common buzzards were in the air together over the Strood fields on Monday 30th and a corn bunting perched on a bush by the seawall.

This male sparrowhawk was tucking into a collared dove in Andy Field's High St North garden on Sunday 29th. A little egret was seen flying over his garden the next day.

In the Firs Chase garden a pair of goldfinches stopped off briefly, this one picking bits of grass from the lawn.

The same goldfinch was earlier perched up watching its mate strip some strands off clematis stems for nesting material.
Two goldcrests and the overwintering pair of blackcaps were in the Firs Chase garden on Monday.

Wintry weather blew across the Strood channel on Sunday 29th with stinging hail and sleet during a quick dog-walk along the seawall. In between the showers a peregrine glided along the channel heading north-east towards the Strood road. Over the fields were two kestrels, while 200 wood pigeons, 50 linnets and 10 pied wagtails were feeding in a recently sown field.
There was the rare sight of a stoat running along the path down the side of the Firs caravan site.

A female black redstart was found at the Youth Camp during a dog-walk along the beach on Saturday 28th. It flew off the tideline by a section of beach, then seemingly disappeared for a while, before being relocated along the western fence of the Camp, where it flitted from post to post.

There were some black clouds passing over on Saturday, seen by the Youth Camp beach where 30 turnstone were feeding along the strandline. On the boating lake were 150 brent geese, 20 redshank, 12 shelduck, 15 curlew and four coots.
Thirty sanderling were on the beach in front of Waldegraves at high tide while offshore were ten great crested grebes and a female eider off the Esplanade.

A corn bunting was singing from a bush along the Strood seawall on Friday 27th. Also that day a marsh harrier and five common buzzards in the air, while along the channel were 70 knot, 3 black-tailed godwits and a great crested grebe.

A merlin, three marsh harriers and eight common buzzards were reported from Reeveshall on Friday.

The regular female red squirrel was back on the nut feeder in the Firs Chase garden on Thursday 26th.
Also in the garden were a chiffchaff, pair of blackcaps and a comma butterfly.

At St Peters meadow a chiffchaff was calling and two small tortoiseshells were seen on Thursday.

Not much moth-trapping has taken place recently because of the cold nights. Among just six moths on Saturday night was this small quaker, with common quaker, Hebrew character and early grey being the others.

SQUIRREL ACTION

After a quiet start to the year for red squirrel visits to the Firs Chase garden with hardly any sightings for about six weeks, there are now daily appearances with this female the most regular visitor.

She came down the tree trunk to have a drink of water before having a few nuts from the feeder, pausing for a moment while the postman pulled his van up nearby.

The female red squirrel has been tucking into hazelnuts, peanuts and sunflower seeds.

This one scuttled along the back garden fence pausing for a moment while it wondered what to do next.

The red squirrel has also paid a visit to the bird feeders in the back garden, tucking into black sunflowers seeds.

The red squirrel ran up the cedar tree and was found peering out from the squirrel nestbox high up on Wednesday 25th. As I watched from the road, the squirrel emerged and was soon engaged in a frantic chase around the tree trunk with a second red squirrel. They both crossed high over the road above my head, scrambling through the trees. One of the squirrels then came back high over the road and returned to the feeder.

At East Mersea a red squirrel was seen foraging through the pots on the patio beside the Potifar's house in Shop Lane on Tuesday 24th.

SPRING DRUMMER

The male great spotted woodpecker has been drumming from the tree-tops in Firs Chase over recent days. This individual pictured in a tall tree in the neighbour's garden.

Two green woodpeckers were seen on Wednesday 25th in the Feldy View cemetery, during the morning dog walk from home. This male perched in a larch tree in the middle of the field with its partner flying into trees nearby.

Six buzzards were seen during the walk along the Strood seawall, probably half the birds being ones on passage. Earlier in the morning a buzzard was also seen from the Firs Chase house as it drifted west. A pair of sparrowhawks circled near the caravan site and a kestrel was also seen by the seawall.

Birds seen along the Strood channel included 60 curlew, 8 grey plover, single knot and black-tailed godwit. In the fields were 11 shelduck and five linnets noted too.

Earlier on Wednesday Andy Field reported a marsh harrier and a blackcap during his walk to the Strood seawall.

The first small white butterfly of the season was in the Feldy View field on Wednesday, also peacock seen too

The male blackcap is still visiting the feeders in the Firs Chase garden, thought to be the overwintering bird. It has been singing a subsong on occasions.

The female blackcap is also a daily garden visitor and quite often with the male bird too.

There were clear skies again on Tuesday 24th during a walk along the Strood seawall.
A large unidentified bird of prey was being mobbed by a couple of much smaller buzzards as it drifted along the Peldon fields before it headed high over Peldon church. Five common buzzards, sparrowhawk and a pair of kestrels were seen from the seawall.

Five Mediterranean gulls were resting in the field, also seen from the seawall were 4 little egrets, great crested grebe, ten wigeon, 70 brent and a meadow pipit.
A small tortoiseshell was seen by the caravan site.

Thirty corn buntings, chiffchaff and a marsh harrier were reported from Maydays on Tuesday.

On Monday 25th twelve Mediterranean gulls were watched along side 200+ black-headed gulls in the recently drilled Strood Hill field. Five buzzards, 4 little egrets, great crested grebe, black-tailed godwit were also noted with 150 brent along the Strood channel.

At Maydays four buzzards, two marsh harriers and a sparrowhawk were seen on Monday by Martin Cock.

Plenty sunshine on Sunday 22nd during the walk along the Maydays seawall on the north side of the Island. A peregrine was watched flying low over the Maydays saltmarsh scattering the waders as it headed east and then landed in a field for over twenty minutes, surveying its surroundings. A while later the peregrine was seen tussling with a marsh harrier over Reeveshall with another peregrine also in the air briefly nearby. Three marsh harriers were seen hunting over Reeveshall with another two birds over Langenhoe marsh. Two common buzzards and two kestrels also out hunting.

In the fields 60 golden plover roosted, at least eight lapwing were seen - some holding territories, 12 linnets, five yellowhammers, 6 stock doves while in the Pyefleet were 3 great crested grebes and a common seal.

At Cudmore Grove CP on Sunday, the Cetti's warbler showed well for Steve Entwistle, as it called continuously in brambles by the park pond. Also there two chiffchaffs, pair of pochard and 8 little egrets at the pond.
The male stonechat was in the eastern end of the marshes at Coopers Beach on Sunday.

Twelve Mediterranean gulls were seen along the foreshore by the West Mersea beach huts on Sunday by Jonathan Bustard.

A badger has been visiting Andy Field's garden recently in High Street North, while one was seen dead by the East Mersea road near Weir Farm on Saturday morning the 21st.
Four adders were seen at Cudmore Grove Country Park on Saturday by Martin Cock.

Marion and Piers Potifar have reported up to seven little egrets feeding in their field at the north end of Shop Lane over the previous four weeks up to 19th March, one staying till dusk most evenings. The little owl was seen in their garden on 15th and 18th March, later calling that evening from the nearby telegraph pole.

GARDEN CHIFFCHAFFS

Two chiffchaffs were photographed by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Friday 20th. A chiffchaff was also seen in the garden on Thursday 19th. These four chiffchaff photos taken by Michael.

Chiffchaffs have started turning up in several different Island locations in recent days as migrants arrive back from Africa.

Several pairs of chiffchaff breed on the Island, others seen at this time of year are just passing through.

There have been two or three overwintering chiffchaffs seen on the Island.

Despite the spring sunshine on Saturday 21st, there was a chilly north-easterly wind. Two peacocks were keeping out of the wind along the path between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane.

Tucked out of the wind but soaking up the sunshine at the base of the hedgerow were two lizards and also an adder.

Birds noted between Shop and Meeting Lanes were a pair of mistle thrush, pair of red-legged partridge, pair of kestrels, green woodpecker and a great spotted woodpecker.
A sparrowhawk narrowly avoided the traffic in Chapmans Lane whilst it hunted on Saturday.

The ditch beside Shop Lane has a nice display of lesser celandines in flower.

A flock of 300 brent geese rested on the East Mersea boating lake in between feeds on the nearby winter wheat crop on Friday 20th. Also by the lake were 12 shelduck, pair of tufted duck, pair of gadwall, 65 curlew and 10 redshank. A male and a female marsh harrier hunted low over the Rewsalls marshes an hour apart. Two chiffchaffs were at opposite sides of the Youth Camp, a Mediterranean gull flew over calling, one sanderling on the beach and two green woodpeckers also at the Youth Camp.

Earlier in the morning a male wheatear was seen at the boating lake by Martin Cock. Later a male wheatear was seen near Coopers Beach which may've been the same bird. Also a female stonechat and six little egrets at the caravan park end.

At the country park a firecrest was found near the pond on Friday by Andy Field, also a blackcap, three chiffchaffs and the singing Cetti's warbler.

On Thursday 19th a chiffchaff was heard singing at the bottom corner of the Firs Chase caravan park. Along the seawall a buzzard, kestrel, four Mediterranean gulls, 100+ brent geese, 2 great crested grebes, 4 greylag geese, 7 black-tailed godwits and 12 linnets were seen.

A ringtail hen harrier, marsh harrier, buzzard and a brown hare were seen on Thursday at Maydays farm by Martin Cock.

On Reeveshall on Wednesday 18th a male and two female marsh harriers were flying over the reedbed and nearby fields. Eight greylag geese were also on Reeveshall, two of the pairs on this pool. Also a pair of Mediterranean gulls while in the Pyefleet channel were 9 red-breasted mergansers and a great crested grebe. Small birds of interest were a corn bunting perching in a bush and five meadow pipits along the seawall.

Towards Maydays farm on Wednesday, the brambling, four corn buntings and 14 yellowhammers feeding on the spilt grain, were seen by Michael Thorley in Haycocks Lane.
Also seen on Wednesday at Maydays by Martin Cock were two green sandpipers, singing Cetti's warbler, 2 buzzards and 5 Canada geese.
In West Mersea a firecrest was seen in the back garden of Firs Chase, along with the regular blackcap pair, while two Mediterranean gulls were heard flying over Jonathan Bustard's house in the Chatsworth area.

A black redstart was found on Tuesday 17th on the houses backing onto Reymead field by Jonathan Bustard. The bird showed a silvery-grey flash with rusty-red tail seen quivering. The bird perched briefly on roof-tops on Reymead Close and was also on back garden sheds. There was no sign of the bird in the area the next day. A sparrowhawk was seen flying fast into Reymead Wood.

After a seemingly long period of little squirrel activity, it is nice to see at least one red squirrel back at the feeder in the Firs Chase garden with two sightings on Thursday 19th and one the day before.

GARDEN COMMA

The first comma butterfly of the year in the Firs Chase garden was sunning itself on a window-sill on Monday 16th. The resident over-wintering pair of blackcaps was at the bird feeders again on Monday.

Also enjoying the spring sunshine in East Mersea was a muntjac deer beside the country park pond.
Three chiffchaffs were heard singing in various locations in and near the park - one beside the park pond, another by horse paddocks to the north and a third by the Golfhouse borrowdyke. The resident Cetti's warbler was also singing by the park pond.

The sunshine on Monday also had the common buzzards in the air with ten being seen, seven birds soaring together to the north of the park, whilst calling out. An hour later three buzzards circled together over the park including one that came in over the river and crossed over the grazing fields scattering all the wildfowl. A sparrowhawk was also seen in the air near the Golfhouse.

At the park pond three pochard were noted with a few tufted duck and gadwall. In the grazing fields some of the six lapwing were getting territorial, displaying, calling and chasing off crows. Sixteen snipe were hiding in the rushes while teal and wigeon numbers have begun to dwindle. Some 500+ brent geese were resting on the edge of the mudflats after being spooked off the fields.
The pale leucistic starling was easy to spot in the flock of 200 starlings at the back of the grazing fields. A little owl was singing late morning from Bromans Farm area.

A faint rainbow hung briefly over the Maydays saltmarsh on Sunday 15th.
A pair of stonechats was seen by the seawall, 60 golden plover were on the Maydays fields, while on Reeveshall a pair of marsh harriers were together over the reedbed. Along the Pyefleet were a red-breasted merganser and two great crested grebes.

Several finches, buntings and sparrows were feeding on the spilt grain in Haycocks Lane on Sunday, although no sign of the brambling seen on Friday. At least ten yellowhammers, 8+ corn buntings, 25+ chaffinches and 20+ house sparrows were coming down to feed. Ten linnets were seen by the seawall.

At the end of Sunday Andy Field watched the harrier roost on Langenhoe and counted six marsh harriers, one ringtail hen harrier, barn owl on Langenhoe and a little owl singing by Shop Lane. A little owl was also heard calling by Michael Thorley in his garden near Meeting Lane on Sunday mid afternoon.

Along the Strood seawall on Saturday 14th a kingfisher perched over the central ditch between the fields. A Mediterranean gull was also noted in the fields.

The first summer migrant back onto the Island was a singing chiffchaff at the country park on Saturday, seen by Andy Field, who also watched the Cetti's warbler at the park pond.

The new boating lake at East Mersea has plenty of water in it and held 100 brent geese on it on Friday 13th. On the surrounding embankment and flooded marsh nearby were 3 shelduck, 25 mallard, 30 redshank, 60 curlew and a pair of coot.

A little egret, 24 mallard were at Waldegraves by the lakes while offshore were 30 sanderling and four Mediterranean gulls on the shingle island. Two great northern divers were offshore from Cross Lane while by some nearby fields a pair of red-legged partridge and kestrel were noted. Three common buzzards flew west over the area and a sparrowhawk circled over Seaview Avenue.

At Maydays farm on Friday, Martin Cock saw the brambling with 25 corn buntings, also there grey partridge, buzzard and a redwing heard calling. Later off West Mersea's Kingsland Road, two great northern divers were seen.

On Thursday 12th a firecrest was heard singing beside the Firs Chase caravan park, briefly flashing its orange crown-stripe. A chiffchaff was flitting amongst the trees at Feldy View. A buzzard and a sparrowhawk were also noted, while along the Strood channel were 20 shelduck, 4 little egrets and 16 teal.

Several moths came to the moth trap in the Firs Chase back garden on Friday 13th with sixteen individuals noted, including this early grey. This is just the second occasion the trap has been switched on this spring.

Most of the moths were common quakers.

A couple of clouded drabs were noted as was a Hebrew Character.