WARDY'S WHEATEAR

Three wheatears were found by John Ward on the seawall near the East Mersea boating lake on Tuesday 3rd - one pictured here by John. Two were also seen in a field near the Bower Hall seawall sluice by Rob Lee on Tuesday, and there was also a wheatear seen along the Strood seawall on Tuesday too.

A flock of 120 black-tailed godwits was in the Strood channel near the Dabchicks sailing club on Tuesday, also in the channel were  21 ringed plovers, greenshank, 150 golden plovers, two Sandwich terns and 32 Mediterranean gulls. 

A curlew was feeding on the mud near the Strood seawall on Tuesday. A marsh harrier was also seen, while near the weedy field were three lesser whitethroats, two whitethroats, two stonechats and 12 linnets.

A peregrine, sparrowhawk and two swifts flew over Martin Cock's West Mersea garden on Tuesday.

Rob Lee reported a possible osprey heading east near Bower Hall on Tuesday morning.

Michael Thorley saw a chiffchaff, willow warbler, two house martins and 30 barn swallows from his East Mersea garden on Tuesday. Later at the Strood 70 black-tailed godwits and a bar-tailed godwit were noted.

On Monday 2nd along the Strood there were two Mediterranean gulls - one yawning here.

Four Sandwich terns were hunting up and down the Strood channel on Monday, also a common tern resting on a pontoon. A little stint flew along the borrowdyke calling as it continued south west, two greenshank and 70 black-tailed godwits were seen. Along the seawall were a whinchat, three stonechats, 15 linnets, two yellow wagtails, lesser whitethroat, two reed warblers, 30 carrion crows, buzzard and fifty swallows.

James Taylor walked the Strood seawall on Monday and reported a hobby, buzzard, redshank, curlew, black-tailed godwit, turnstone, sparrowhawk, kestrel, stonechat, reed warbler and whitethroat.

At Maydays on Monday a kingfisher was seen at the seawall sluice by Jack Hoy.

A swift flew over Martin Cock's house on Monday.

A badger was found dead by the side of the East Mersea road near Blue Row on Monday.

On Sunday 1st along the Strood channel there was a red kite flying slowly north-east over the fields, Sandwich tern, sparrowhawk, 100 black-tailed godwits, two stonechats and ten linnets.

Jack Hoy also saw a red kite that seemed to have come from Mersea, passing over Langenhoe ranges, also a buzzard.

A kingfisher was on its usual perch on the seawall sluice at Maydays farm on Saturday 31st.

The kingfisher remained at the sluice for over an hour watching the water flowing through the sluice for any fish.

Also seen at Maydays were three Sandwich terns, Mediterranean gull, 8 Canada geese, four teal, 30 grey plovers, one knot, two marsh harriers, three house martins and a chiffchaff. Three common seals were on the saltmarsh at the top end of the Pyefleet.

A buck muntjac deer was captured on a trail camera in Michael Thorley's East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Saturday. This male showing antlers in velvet.

A different buck muntjac deer seen on Michael's trail camera with its bare antlers. 

On Friday 30th a spotted redshank was found roosting with other waders next to the East Mersea boating lake on Friday 30th. This has become a rare bird on Mersea in recent years - and this is the first time one has been seen on the Rewsalls marshes area.

Other birds seen on the side lake were 230 redshank, 120 turnstones, 21 ringed plovers, 3 common sandpipers, whimbrel, 24 Mediterranean gulls, 8 little grebes, 20 little egrets and two grey herons. Also seen in the area were marsh harrier and four buzzards soaring high, two kestrels, 20 swallows, four house martins, two yellow wagtails, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat and willow warbler.

Earlier on Friday morning a kingfisher was seen by Sarah Thorley at the Rewsalls sluice near the boating lake.

Martin Cock walked the Golfhouse to East Mersea Stone on Friday and reported a Sandwich tern and two common terns, blackcap, willow warbler, Cetti's warbler and three lesser whitethroats.

AUGUST MOTHS

 

Moth trapping took place in the Firs Chase garden during August on nine nights. Generally there have been fewer moths around this year than previous years with very few migrants recorded. There's been a reasonable number of species but for many species just one or two individuals were usually noted.

Pictured is a rather worn Old Lady moth seen on 28th.

Centre-barred Sallow - first one on the 28th.

Second generation of Light Emeralds appeared during the last week of August with up to ten on several nights.

The coastal species Sandhill Rustic was seen on 21st.

One Cream-bordered Green Pea was seen on the 16th.

A Sallow Kitten was seen on the 11th.

A few Gypsy Moths were seen during August with four on the 5th being the highest count.

An Oak Processionary was noted on the 5th.

Tree-lichen Beauties seemed to be a bit later this summer with the first ones not seen until 30th July, then peaking at 15 on 5th August.

A Swallow Prominent noted on 11th August.

A Tawny-barred Angle was seen on 30th July.

Always nice to see the dainty Olive-tree Pearl, this one on 27th July.

Two Ruby Tigers on 27th July.

Only one Black Arches was seen in the garden this summer - on 26th July.

POND VISITORS

A few birds were making the most of the Thorley's garden pond in East Mersea during a hot Thursday 29th with this chiffchaff photographed by Michael.

The chiffchaff was photographed by Michael at the edge of his garden pond.

A yellow wagtail was also photographed by Michael having a bathe at his garden pond on Thursday. A skylark was heard nearby too.

From the Shop Lane seawall on Thursday, Martin Cock saw two little stints and a curlew sandpiper briefly on the Pyefleet mud, also 12 avocets, 12 black-tailed godwits, two buzzards, marsh harrier and a sparrowhawk.

Along the Strood seawall on Thursday were two fresh looking painted lady butterflies, also a red admiral seen flying low and direct over the Strood fields on its autumn migration.

A greenshank was seen along the Strood channel on Thursday, also seen were 100 black-tailed godwits, golden plover, Sandwich tern, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, six buzzards, three kestrels, 3 yellow wagtails, sand martin and twenty swallows.

A whinchat was in the weedy field by the Strood on Thursday, spending some of its time in the nearby hedgeline. Also reed warbler, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat and 12 linnets.

Andy Field and Martin Cock were along the Strood seawall on Wednesday 28th and reported five stonechats, corn bunting, whitethroats, lesser whitethroat, two yellow wagtails, 21 linnets and also 4 willow warblers by the side of the Firs Caravan park.

In East Mersea on Wednesday Steve Entwistle saw ten long-tailed tits and three lesser whitethroats in Meeting lane, while in West Mersea two willow warblers were in his Empress Drive garden.

Michael Thorley heard a yellow wagtail near his East Mersea garden by Meeting Lane on Wednesday.

At Cudmore Grove two wheatears were seen on the beach on Wednesday evening by Caroline White.

On Tuesday 27th a greenshank was feeding along the bottom of the Strood channel at low tide. Five avocets were in the channel, also 42 golden plover, 6 grey plover, 170 black-tailed godwits and two Sandwich terns. Two sparrowhawks and a marsh harrier were seen on the walk.

In the Strood fields on Tuesday were a whinchat, three stonechats, 12 linnets, three whitethroats and a sand martin, while three willow warblers were feeding in Feldy View.

A willow emerald was on an oak bush in the Feldy View cemetery on Thursday - the first sighting for here.

Andy Field reported that the last of his two swift chicks had fledged from the nestbox on the side of his High Street North house on Tuesday afternoon,

A pair of mute swans was on the dyke by the Strood on Monday 26th, the first sighting here since early spring. The pair of little grebes was still busy feeding their two chicks in the dyke.

In the Strood fields were a whinchat, two stonechats, five corn buntings, 12 linnets, two whitethroats, lesser whitethroat, also thee yellow wagtails and two house martins flying over.

In the Strood channel were 230 black-tailed godwits, three Sandwich terns, Mediterranean gull, five grey plover, while in flight were a hobby, two marsh harriers and buzzard. Five willow warblers were feeding in Feldy View.

Martin Cock visited Maydays on Monday and saw two stonechats and a yellow wagtail. 

Mollie Kirk saw a green sandpiper, wheatear, yellowhammer and two lesser whitethroats while walking the seawall near Maydays on Monday.

The first swift chick fledged from the nestbox on Andy Field's house in High Street North on Monday.

A hornet hoverfly was feeding on ivy, along with a second individual, near the Firs Chase caravan park on Monday.

Andy Field found a spotted flycatcher in Feldy View on Sunday 25th, taking these two photographs of it.

The spotted flycatcher didn't stay around for long and was only seen late morning - probably moving on after it had done this spot of preening. A willow warbler tried to get in on the show too, seen in this picture as it fed in the birch trees.

Martin Cock and Steve Entwistle saw a pipit in Feldy View on Sunday which was either meadow pipit or tree pipit but the views were brief, into the sun and the bird didn't call, so ID unconfirmed.

In the Pyefleet Channel at Maydays on Sunday a large flock of Mediterranean gulls were seen for the second day running. Having seen at least 100 on Saturday resting on the mud, there were at least 150 counted on Sunday. There were some black-headed gulls mixed in and as some of them were asleep and others roosting at angles that made ID difficult, the final count could've been higher.

Also noted here on Sunday were a peregrine flying low along the Langenhoe seawall, four buzzards, two marsh harriers, 2 sparrowhawks, six golden plover, stonechat, two house martins and a lesser whitethroat.

On Saturday 24th it began raining late morning and continued for most of the afternoon. Before the soaking whilst at Maydays farm, 100+ Mediterranean gulls were counted on the Pyefleet mud and some on the water too. On Langenhoe a flock of a dozen egrets were seen standing distantly on a line of fence-posts beside a herd of cattle. Presumably these were cattle egrets along the fence, having a break from feeding on the ground while it was drizzling.

Other birds noted at Maydays were 60 grey plover, whimbrel, 90 black-tailed godwits, greenshank, common tern, marsh harrier, willow warbler, stonechat and two reed warblers.

A mallard and her seven ducklings were seen in the Strood borrowdyke on Friday 23rd. A pair of little grebes continued to feed their two young chicks in the same dyke.

In the weedy field beside the central ditch-line were a whinchat, three stonechats, ten linnets, whitethroat and lesser whitethroat. In the Channel were 130 black-tailed godwits, 13 golden plover, seven grey plover, common tern, two Mediterranean gulls, also a buzzard seen while in Feldy View a willow warbler was seen. 

In Firs Chase a willow warbler and a goldcrest were feeding in a birch tree in the garden.

Martin Cock saw two two Sandwich terns along the Strood, also a swift over his house.
 

STROOD SEAWALL

Amongst the birds of interest seen from the Strood seawall on Wednesday were a few curlew feeding nearby as the tide came in. Waders noted were ten curlew, 30 black-tailed godwits, whimbrel, grey plover, 70 redshank and 20 turnstones.

There was a bit of small bird action taking place along the central hedgeline beside the main weedy field. A linnet perched up on one bush- one of a small flock of eight, while a whinchat and two stonechats were also seen feeding along this hedge. The whinchat stayed hidden out of sight for periods before flying onto the field to feed and then going back to the bush.

Whilst watching the birds along the hedgeline a hobby raced low along the hedge towards the back of the fields and headed towards West Mersea. Five minutes later a second hobby flew fast across the same hedge heading south-west in the same direction as the earlier hobby.

A chiffchaff was calling near the Firs Caravan park.

On Wednesday afternoon Steve Entwistle walked the Strood seawall and saw a curlew sandpiper flying along the outer edge of the seawall, flashing its white rump as it went away. In the Strood fields were 20 linnets, corn bunting, goldfinch, two whimbrel, ten black-tailed godwits, swallow, two lapwings, five curlews, 100+ starlings, sparrowhawk and 15 little egrets.

Martin Cock and Andrew Tilsley walked the seawall near Shop Lane on Wednesday and reported seeing a hobby, juvenile marsh harrier and six common terns.

There were half a dozen Migrant hawkers near the Firs Chase caravan park on Wednesday.

A dead little owl was found beside the East Mersea Road by Sarah Thorley, just west of her house on Tuesday 20th.

Along the Strood channel on Tuesday were seen 100 black-tailed godwits, some of them beside the seawall, others near the Dabchicks sailing club. A peregrine circled over the West Mersea Hard before flying over to Salcott Channel. A buzzard and three kestrels were noted from the Strood seawall, also a stonechat and four house martins.

This herring gull was tucking into a flat-fish, presumably a flounder, in the Strood Channel on Tuesday.

A gatekeeper was seen beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Tuesday.

A common blue was seen in Feldy View on Tuesday.

A pair of little grebes was busy feeding their two noisy chicks in the Strood borrowdyke on Monday 19th. Also in the dyke was a mallard with a brood of seven small ducklings. A mute swan was seen flying over Ray Channel.

A male kestrel perched on a bush by the Strood seawall on Monday. Waders noted in the Strood Channel included 100 black-tailed godwits, ten turnstones, two grey plover and two golden plover. A willow warbler was seen in Feldy View.

Near Meeting Lane on Monday Martin Cock saw a willow warbler, chiffchaff and a lesser whitethroat.

On Sunday 18th at East Mersea boating lake there was a nice selection of waders roosting on the side-lake including 110 ringed plovers - some pictured here, also a little ringed plover flew around calling, 220 redshank, 120 turnstones, black-tailed godwit, dunlin, while a common sandpiper flew along the edge of the sea.

Also noted were 14 little egrets, four little grebes, grey heron, four Mediterranean gulls, 100 swallows and ten house martins flying west - as was a hobby passing the Youth Camp. A buzzard and lesser whitethroat were also noted.

At Cudmore Grove twenty little egrets, whitethroat and a calling water rail were reported by Daniel Woollard on Sunday. By the Golfhouse a little tern, two Sandwich terns and six Mediterranean gulls were reported by Ed.

Four willow warblers were seen in Feldy View on Sunday by Steve Entwistle and there was a willow warbler seen in the Firs Chase garden.

FELDY FLYCATCHERS

Jon Ward visited Feldy View cemetery in West Mersea on Saturday 17th and was rewarded with finding a pied flycatcher and a spotted flycatcher - his photographs shown here.

The pied flycatcher was found by Jon on Saturday morning and several local birders managed to see it over the next few hours as it fed in the birch and oak trees. It wasn't seen the following day.

Jon was fortunate to find a spotted flycatcher in Feldy View on Saturday but it soon disappeared after he found it, luckily photographing before it vanished.

Also seen feeding in the trees of Feldy View were up to ten willow warblers and a chiffchaff.

Two sand martins flew past Feldy View on Saturday, also 100 black-tailed godwits roosting by the Strood Channel.

A swift was seen over West Mersea on Saturday evening.

A herring gull on Packing Shed Island was seen with symptoms of bird flu - unable to fly while flapping its wings. Fortunately there haven't been many or any cases locally of bird flu this summer, compared with the previous couple of years. The bird was spotted while taking down the rope and signs from the island and Cobmarsh Island that were put up with the RSPB in the spring to protect nesting birds.

Birds seen in the Mersea Quarters on Friday were 20 ringed plover, 30 curlew, 20 turnstones, Sandwich tern, two little egrets and a buzzard - and lots of gulls too.

Near Meeting Lane in East Mersea on Friday, Martin Cock reported seeing three willow warblers, chiffchaff, lesser whitethroat and two blackcaps.

On Thursday 15th a kingfisher was seen near the East Mersea boating lake by Steve Entwistle. The bird flew over the side lake towards the reed-filled pond at the rear - the first kingfisher sighting on the island since the winter.

A buzzard flew past Feldy View on Thursday, also a 100 black-tailed godwits, mute swan, Mediterranean gull seen by the Strood during high tide.

A lapwing was feeding close to the Strood seawall on Wednesday 14th, also grey plover, 50 black-tailed godwits, grey heron, while by Feldy View were a sparrowhawk and willow warbler. A willow warbler was also in the Firs Chase garden.

Male ruddy darter near Feldy View on Wednesday.

Crab spider waiting to pounce on a passing pollinator on a knapweed flower in Feldy View.

At the East Mersea boating lake on Wednesday, Martin Cock reported 200 redshank, two greenshank, common sandpiper, ten turnstones, two whimbrel on beach and 20 little egrets.

Michael Thorley watched a juvenile green woodpecker in his East Mersea garden on Wednesday, while in West Mersea Steve Entwistle saw a willow warbler and six long-tailed tits in his garden.

Michael Thorley photographed a willow warbler at his garden pond in East Mersea near Meeting Lane on Tuesday 13th.

The willow warbler enjoyed visiting Michael's pond.

The willow warbler enjoying a cool bathe in the hot weather.

The willow warbler having a bathe and preen in Michael's pond. An immature yellow wagtail was also seen in his garden.

Male ruddy darter photographed by Michael in his garden.

Pair of common darters ovipositing in Michael's pond.

Also in East Mersea Steve Entwistle saw three willow warblers in Meeting Lane and another in Shop Lane. Jack Hoy saw two wheatears near the East Mersea Youth Camp on Tuesday.

More willow warblers were seen on Tuesday at West Mersea with four seen in Feldy View by Andy Field and there were also three in the Firs Chase garden too.

Along the Strood seawall Andy noted two willow warblers, two sedge warblers, two reed warblers, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, two stonechats, reed buntings, 20 linnets, 60 golden plover and 50 black-tailed godwits.

Later on Tuesday morning two swifts were seen over the houses, yellow wagtail flew over the Strood seawall, 100 black-tailed godwits, Mediterranean gull and two kestrels were noted.

Andy Field photographed this young sparrowhawk chasing another young sparrowhawk around his West Mersea garden on Monday 12th.

Two willow warblers were in Feldy View and another in the Firs Chase garden on Monday. In a brief visit to the Strood a swift, house martin, grey plover, 100 black-tailed godwits, common tern and a whitethroat were seen.

On Sunday 11th there were five willow warblers and a whitethroat in Feldy View, while by the Strood were a grey plover, 100 black-tailed godwits, 100 redshank, sparrowhawk, buzzard and 30 swallows.

On Saturday 10th Andy Field photographed this southern migrant hawker, one of ten seen near Shop Lane in East Mersea.

Male ruddy darter photographed in East Mersea by Andy on Saturday.

Common blue butterfly photographed in East Mersea by Andy on Saturday.

Birds noted by Andy near the Golfhouse on Saturday were 100 common terns, Sandwich tern, 16 Mediterranean gulls, 200 black-tailed godwits and a willow emerald damselfly.

Martin Cock walked the Golfhouse to Ivy Dock seawall on Saturday and saw willow warbler, sedge warbler, 2 yellow wagtails, 400 black-tailed godwits, knot, grey plover, 12 common terns, buzzard and two marsh harriers.

Daniel Woollard near Cudmore Grove on Saturday evening saw 100 turnstones, 10 golden plover, 32 grey plover, 20 dunlin, 119 curlew, whimbrel, 28 common terns and a great crested grebe.

At Maydays farm on Saturday ten little egrets were noted, this one feeding in Maydays creek. Also noted along the Pyefleet were 42 grey plover, greenshank, 15 Mediterranean gulls, common tern, two golden plover and ringed plover. A marsh harrier, buzzard, four sand martins, willow warbler and four yellow wagtails were also noted.

An emperor dragonfly rested by the Maydays seawall on Saturday.