SCUTTLING BUNTINGS

Three snow buntings were found on Friday 2nd feeding on the beach on the East Mersea Point. They scuttled about on the shingle like mice and were very well camouflaged until they moved.

Three linnets joined them later, also at the Point were a pied wagtail and a rock pipit, while in the Colne was a great crested grebe.

Two snipe and ten shoveler were on the Golfhouse pools and a stonechat perched nearby on the bushes.

On the park's grazing fields on Friday were 400 wigeon and also 400 brent geese. A buzzard was mobbed by crows as it flew over the fields.

A grey heron stalked alongside the park dyke on Friday. On the park pond there were fifty mallard, tufted duck, twenty teal and four shoveler. A goldcrest was in trees along the horseride path.

A flock of 36 skylarks flew over fields to the north of the park, and a mistle thrush was in horse paddocks here.

Eight red-legged partridges were in a field by Weir Farm earlier on Friday morning.

A red squirrel ran across the path behind the bird hide and then shot up a tree at the country park on Friday.

The red squirrel waited for a few minutes in a tree before deciding to scramble away through the branches and off through the trees.

At Maydays on Friday Martin Cock reported two green sandpipers, nine red-breasted mergansers, 60 knot, buzzard, three marsh harriers, while later at the West Mersea Esplanade two eider and a great northern diver were seen. A merlin was seen flying north to West Mersea from Bradwell by Colin Mackenzie Grieve from Old Hall. 

On Thursday 1st along the Strood seawall a peregrine was watched chasing a stock dove over Ray Island with the dove escaping when it reached the safety of the trees there. Two marsh harriers and a buzzard were seen, also 700 brent geese, and three stonechats, while along the channel were 25 little grebes and twenty avocets. A green woodpecker was seen out on the seawall and in trees alongside the dyke.

Offshore from the Esplanade on Thursday morning, two eider, great northern diver, three red-throated divers, two red-breasted mergansers, seven common scoter, 17 great crested grebes, three sanderling, 43 dunlin and two Mediterranean gulls were reported by Steve Entwistle with contributions from Andy Field, Martin Cock and Daryl Rhymes.

Ten red-legged partridges were seen on Thursday morning by Steve Entwistle near the East Mersea Road by the Old Rectory, Weir Farm.

Offshore from the Monkey Beach on Wednesday 30th a goldeneye flew west into the Mersea Quarters and headed possibly towards Salcott channel. A great northern diver was close to Cobmarsh and fifteen great crested grebes were offshore. A grey wagtail was feeding close to the Coast Road amongst the flotsam washed up on the saltmarsh near the houseboats. A pale-bellied brent goose was with a handful of dark-bellied brent geese along from the Hard.

Martin Cock saw two red-throated divers, at least two great northern divers and an unidentified auk offshore from the Esplanade on Wednesday. Earlier two lesser redpolls flying over Maydays were seen by Martin.

The regular black brant was feeding with a few dark-bellied brent geese near the West Mersea Hard on Tuesday 29th. In the wheat field near Feldy View there were 600 brent geese feeding while along the Strood channel were 350 wigeon, 100 teal, 24 little grebes, 48 avocets, two knot, also a snipe flying over. Four grey herons and ten little egrets seen too.

A male hen harrier was glimpsed briefly as it hunted the Peldon seawall behind Ray Island, also a peregrine seen flying over Ray Island, a marsh harrier, two buzzards and a kestrel noted. 

In the fields were a stonechat, 50 skylarks, twenty meadow pipits and a Cetti's warbler calling from the reedbed.

Offshore from the West Mersea Esplanade on Tuesday afternoon were two great northern divers, a red-throated diver, twenty great crested grebes and two marsh harriers seen crossing the river Blackwater north to Mersea / Old Hall.

Steve Entwistle also at the Esplanade reported in addition, three red-throated divers, red-breasted merganser, eight mute swans and six shelduck.

The red-throated diver was still feeding in the Strood channel on a nice sunny and still Monday 28th - present for its second day. The diver was feeding as far up the channel beyond the seawall sluice before drifting back down channel, feeding as it went.

Along the channel were 1000 golden plover, 200 lapwing, forty avocets, forty black-tailed godwits, four knot, ten little egrets and two Mediterranean gulls. Three marsh harriers and a sparrowhawk were seen too, while on the fields were 50 skylarks, 30 linnets, ten reed buntings, two Cetti's warblers, stonechat and a lesser redpoll flying west over the channel.

Several of the skylarks were feeding on top of the Strood seawall on Monday.

Offshore from the Esplanade on Monday late afternoon, Steve Entwistle was pleased to see the very rare sight here of a puffin as it drifted out from Tollesbury Fleet where it had been reported earlier in the afternoon. Also six great crested grebes. Martin Cock saw a great northern diver and three red-throated divers offshore.

A common scoter was seen distantly by Andy Field offshore from Cudmore Grove on Monday morning.

On a grey and overcast Sunday 27th, a red-throated diver was seen feeding in the Strood channel, feeding on the far side beside the Ray Island saltings.

The pale-bellied brent goose was feeding with some dark-bellied brent geese in front of the Firs Caravan park on Sunday.

The flock of 1000 brent geese were flushed off the wheat field beside the Whittaker Way houses and landed in the Strood channel for a bathe and preen on Sunday. Also along the channel were 800 golden plover, 90 grey plover, 48 avocets, 40 black-tailed godwits, 15 shelduck and four knot.

Three marsh harriers flew separately over Ray Island, while over the Strood fields were two stonechats, seven corn buntings, fifteen linnets and a Cetti's warbler calling in the reeds. 

A great white egret was seen on the Maydays saltmarsh on Sunday by Martin Cock.

STROOD WADERS

There was a good showing of various wader species along the Strood channel on Saturday 26th such as this grey plover which looked like it had eaten something unpleasant!

 A curlew was seen walking along the edge of the mud close to the Strood seawall.

Twenty black-tailed godwits were seen along the Strood channel on Saturday.

At least 200 dunlin were scuttling about on the Strood mud on Saturday. Other waders of interest were 800 golden plover, 200 lapwing, 55 avocets and also a snipe flying over the fields.

The main flock of brent geese flew off the fields near the houses at Whittaker Way and after landing in the Strood, 940 geese were counted. 

A sparrowhawk flew over the fields where 50 skylarks were feeding, a stonechat, 30 linnets, two corn buntings and ten reed buntings. A Cetti's warbler was calling from the corner reedbed and four rock pipits along the seawall. A brown hare was resting in the middle of one of the fields.

Twelve goldfinches flew over Firs Chase.

A red squirrel visited the feeder in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday.

This red squirrel is a slightly darker individual than one of the other recent visitors to the feeder.

Another red squirrel was also seen by the path at the top of the Firs Caravan park on Saturday morning.

A colourful male shoveler was seen on the saltmarsh pools near the East Mersea Golfhouse on Friday 25th. On the park's grazing fields there were 300 brent geese, 300 wigeon, 130 curlew and a singing Cetti's warbler.

As the tide began covering the saltmarsh near the Point, at least fifteen snipe flew off calling, with two birds being seen later at the back of the one of the pools.

The high tide covered all the saltmarsh by the Golfhouse pools and by the Point on Friday late morning. In the Colne seven red-breasted mergansers flew up river, while three others were seen in the Pyefleet. A red-throated diver had been feeding close to Ivy Dock and then flew up the Pyefleet where it dropped down opposite the Shop Lane seawall. 

A male stonechat was by the Golfhouse sluice on Friday, while near the Oyster Fishery a pair were seen there. A mistle thrush was seen by the Golfhouse flying from the poplar trees with the mistletoe clumps.

Two great crested grebes were preening near the East Mersea Point on Friday, also eight sanderling on the beach at high tide.

In the Pyefleet on Friday there were 140 avocets, 30 shelduck, 1500 dunlin roosting on Langenhoe Point, 100 turnstone roosting on a pontoon and six marsh harriers over Langenhoe. A water rail and Cetti's warbler called near the Oyster Fishery.

At Maydays on Friday Martin Cock reported a pintail, two red-breasted mergansers, four marsh harriers, 30 reed buntings and a yellowhammer.

A grey wagtail was seen by the Strood causeway on Friday just before high tide by Steve Entwistle.

A common buzzard was hurriedly photographed through the car windscreen, as it perched beside the road at Weir Farm on Friday.

The black brant was feeding with the big flock of dark-bellied brent geese in the winter wheat field close to Whittaker Way on Thursday 24th.

Around 1000 brent geese were feeding in the field by Whittaker Way on Thursday on the top of the fields above the Strood - pictured in the background. 

The pale-bellied brent goose was seen feeding with a handful of dark-bellied brent geese in front of the Firs Caravan park on Thursday. This is likely the same bird that has returned for the third winter running.

A distant kingfisher perched on a culvert pipe along the Strood dyke on Thursday.

Along the Strood channel were 300 wigeon, 150 teal, 20 shelduck, 55 avocets, 500 dunlin and a snipe passing over. A marsh harrier, buzzard, stonechat pair, fifty skylarks and fifty linnets were also noted. 

A buzzard was seen flying low over Firs Chase on Thursday morning.

Near the East Mersea Oyster Fishery a kingfisher, buzzard, four marsh harriers and red-breasted mergansers were seen by Martin Cock on Thursday morning.

At Cudmore Grove on Thursday morning Andy Field reported three song thrushes, redwing, two stonechats, an auk flew out of the Colne, 20 sanderling, snipe, knot, 95 curlew, 300 brent geese, 200 wigeon and three marsh harriers.

Steve Entwistle on Thursday saw six goldcrest and eight long-tailed tits in Shop Lane, a sparrowhawk sitting on the road in Meeting Lane while at Coopers Beach four gannets, two red-throated divers, six common gulls, four sanderling, 78 redshank and twenty black-tailed godwits were seen.

A grey heron stalked a field between Cross Lane and Waldegraves caravan park on Wednesday 23rd. In another field nearby four red-legged partridge and a buzzard were seen.

The Waldegraves little owl perched in its regular hawthorn tree although partially obscured by the branches. On the fishing lakes and ponds were 75 mallard, three little egrets, twenty moorhens and a coot.

Thirty-five sanderling were feeding on the beach just after high tide near Waldegraves, also five Mediterranean gulls and ten ringed plovers there on Wednesday.

Two rock pipits were feeding along the beach by the Youth Camp on Wednesday.

The black brant was seen feeding with 1000 dark-bellied brent geese in the wheat field behind the Rewsalls marshes on Wednesday. A kingfisher and 28 little grebes were near the boating lake, 190 cormorants flew past in a single file, while a sparrowhawk, buzzard and kestrel were noted in the area.

REWSALLS BLACK BRANT

 

A black brant was feeding with 1000 dark-bellied brent geese in a wheat field behind the Rewsalls marshes on Tuesday 22nd.

The flock of brent geese was spread out across the Rewsalls wheat field, also in the field were 40 lapwing, five shelduck, 130 curlew and eight black-tailed godwits.

A variety of waders was roosting on a couple of small islands in the side lake at Rewsalls on Tuesday with dunlin, turnstone and an oystercatcher shown here.

Waders roosting on the Rewsalls marshes and the side lake on Tuesday during the high tide included 30 grey plover, 200 dunlin, ten ringed plover, 30 turnstone and 100 redshank. Little grebe numbers have climbed to 32 on the side lake, single Cetti's warblers were in bushes at opposite corners of the boating lake, also five meadow pipits and four reed buntings noted. Six sanderling were on the beach while four great crested grebes were offshore and a long line of 190 cormorants was counted as they passed in single file.

A red kite was seen over Langenhoe by Martin Cock during his visit to Maydays on Tuesday morning, also four marsh harrier and a buzzard seen.

Two great northern divers and a few great crested grebes were seen offshore by Steve Entwistle from Kingsland Road on Tuesday morning.

At Cudmore Grove on Monday 21st there were 150 wigeon feeding in the park's grazing fields, also there were 50 lapwing and two stonechats. On the park pond were six gadwall, tufted duck, a water rail and Cetti's warbler heard calling.

A pair of oystercatchers was at the East Mersea Point beach at high tide on Monday as were 15 sanderling. An immature gannet was seen flying towards the mouth of the Colne before it turned back and headed away. Two red-breasted mergansers flew up the Colne, two avocets were on the Golfhouse pools with 12 shoveler. A mistle thrush and sparrowhawk were seen near the Golfhouse.

 

A shaggy ink-cap was seen beside the track to the north of the country park on Monday.

From the Victoria Esplanade on Monday morning, Martin Cock saw two red-throated divers, then later at Coopers Beach saw five common scoters, Sandwich tern, immature gannet which was also seen passing Cudmore Grove, a red-throated diver and also the black brant in the Rewsalls fields.

A female marsh harrier was hunting over the Bower Hall saltmarsh on Sunday 20th.

Several marsh harriers were seen on Sunday afternoon during a walk along the seawall from Shop Lane to the Strood with ten birds being noted. Single buzzards were noted at Shop Lane, Langenhoe and over the Strood fields.

A flock of 1000 brent geese was grazing Reeveshall on Sunday, while in the Pyefleet were a red-breasted merganser, 80 avocets, 400 knot, 28 shelduck. Three stonechats were at Maydays, one at Reeveshall, one at Bower Hall and two along the Strood. Fifteen linnets were on Reeveshall, 100 skylarks were on Maydays, and a corn bunting flew over Bower Hall.

In the Strood there were 400 golden plover, 40 avocets and also a flock of 100 cormorants heading over to Abberton.  A brown hare was seen crouched down in one of the Strood fields.

A kingfisher was seen on the Maydays seawall sluice on Sunday by Martin Cock.

Later on Sunday afternoon Andy Field counted 18 marsh harriers heading into the Langenhoe roost, also 886 brent geese on Reeveshall, red-breasted merganser in the Pyefleet and a pair of stonechat near the Shop Lane seawall.

Offshore from the Esplanade on Sunday, Steve Entwistle saw a red-throated diver and a distant possible female eider.

A brief walk along the Strood seawall on a dull Saturday before the rains arrived. A grey seal was an unusual visitor to the channel.

Another unusual sighting was an Egyptian goose flying in front of the caravan park towards the Hard. Also seen were 400 brent geese, 38 avocets, 400 golden plover, 50 black-tailed godwits, three marsh harriers, buzzard, forty skylarks, 15 linnets and two stonechats.

Two red squirrels were seen having a brief chase round the large cedar tree in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday. One of them popped briefly inside one of the squirrel nest-boxes in the tree which was a good sign.

GRAZING GEESE

A large flock of at least 800 brent geese was grazing on the Reeveshall grass fields on Friday 18th.

Some of the brent geese were also feeding on the saltmarsh alongside the nearby Pyefleet channel.

A flock of 55 noisy greylag geese flew over Reeveshall coming from the east and then turning north over the Pyefleet and Langenhoe.

A male hen harrier was watched as it flew low west over Reeveshall and Maydays, then crossing the seawall as it headed towards the Strood. The bird stayed very low to the ground as it flew, dropping out of sight behind the reed-filled ditches and hedgelines. On Langenhoe the marsh harriers were constantly in view with at least five birds seen. A buzzard was being mobbed by crows near Shop Lane. 

Along the Pyefleet were 55 avocets, 50 lapwing, 100 dunlin, 15 knot, two bar-tailed godwits, 100 wigeon, fifty teal, eight great crested grebes and two common seals on the mud.

A pair of stonechat was by the Shop Lane seawall and a single bird along one of the Reeveshall hedgelines. A flock of 25 linnets was on the saltmarsh, 15 stock doves on Reeveshall, while two siskins were seen flying into Fishponds Wood.

The water levels have risen quickly in the Reeveshall pool, following recent rains.

At Maydays on Friday morning Martin Cock reported a peregrine, four marsh harriers, buzzard, two stonechats, five pintail, a green sandpiper heard calling, yellowhammer and a lesser redpoll flying over.

A flock of 600 brent geese was along the Strood channel on Thursday 17th with some of the flock feeding in one of the fields. Also in the fields were 20 skylarks, stonechat and twenty linnets and also a brown hare.

Several grey plover were seen along the Strood channel, also 38 avocets, 100 black-tailed godwits, 11 knot and a bar-tailed godwit. Fifteen little egrets and a marsh harrier were on the Ray saltings,

The black brant was seen with a handful of dark-bellied brent geese at the West Mersea hard on Thursday by Martin Cock.

Along the Strood channel on a sunny Wednesday 16th were a merlin hunting low over Ray Island and then perching on one of the trees there, also along the channel were 300 brent geese, 400 golden plover, 38 avocets, 150 wigeon, marsh harrier, and sparrowhawk. A stonechat, fifty skylarks and a brown hare were in the fields, with a green woodpecker on the seawall.

At Maydays on Wednesday two marsh harriers, buzzard, 200+ skylarks and a fieldfare heard calling, were reported by Martin Cock.

A kestrel hovered over Feldy View in poor weather on Tuesday 15th. Two redwing were seen flying into the birch trees. In a brief walk on the Strood seawall a stonechat, 300 brent geese, 20 avocets, and nine stock doves were noted.

There was lots of fog on Monday 14th which lasted all day with visibility less than 100 metres. A chiffchaff was calling in Feldy View and a second bird was calling from trees in a garden behind the Dabchicks. A red squirrel was seen high up in a poplar tree along the top side of the Firs Caravan park.

A distant record shot of a ruff standing among a flock of lapwing, was a rare sight to the Strood channel on Sunday 13th. It was only seen for five minutes before flying off as the tide came in during the afternoon.

A large flock of 1000 golden plover were in their usual spot in the Strood channel beside the causeway.

Something spooked the flock and they all took off and headed to the Feldy / Copt Hall area.

Other birds seen on Sunday along the Strood were 200 lapwing, 70 grey plover, 500 dunlin (some grey plovers and dunlin pictured), two knot, 500 dunlin, 300 brent geese, 200 wigeon, 15 avocets, five Mediterranean gulls, marsh harrier while in the fields were a buzzard, stonechat, fifty skylarks and two Cetti's warblers - one at the Strood layby and the other in the corner reedbed.

On Saturday 12th at Maydays the kingfisher was on the seawall sluice, four yellowhammers, corn bunting, five stonechats, 20 stock doves, 100 skylarks and ten reed buntings also noted. A flock of 600 brent geese was on Reeveshall, while in the Pyefleet were two red-breasted mergansers, six great crested grebes, 36 avocets, 70 golden plover, 250 knot, 10 bar-tailed godwits, 1000 dunlin. Four marsh harriers were on Langenhoe.

Andy Field saw a red-throated diver off Coast Road on Saturday morning, while in the afternoon at Cudmore Grove four sanderling, three stonechats, two snipe, fifty wigeon and 100 curlew were noted.

A male blackcap was seen briefly in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday morning.

A good murmeration of starlings was reported by Martin Cock in the Windsor Road area on Saturday early evening.

A Bloxworth Snout was a surprise moth in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on Sunday 13th. It appears this is just the fourth record for Essex. On a clear night with a heavy dew the only other moths were a mottled umber, large wainscot, diamond-back and five light-brown apple moths.