STONECHAT FAMILY

A female stonechat perched on a bramble bush along the Strood dyke having just fed a couple of recently fledged chicks on Tuesday 28th. The chicks were seen briefly on the bramble bush before disappearing inside the bush. The male was looking for food in the nearby field. This is the second year running stonechats have bred here and this pair of adults has stayed in this area for the last twelve months.

The first common terns of the spring at this end of the island were seen on Tuesday resting on buoys with two in the Strood channel and another pair resting in Ray Channel. Also noted during the brief visit to the Strood seawall were 2 sedge warblers, reed bunting, six linnets, ten brent geese, two mute swans, whimbrel, two Mediterranean gulls and a buzzard. Four swifts were seen flying over the houses and two lesser whitethroats were singing at opposite sides of the Firs Caravan park.

A red kite was seen flying over the Strood fishing lakes on Tuesday afternoon by Andy Field.

A colourful carpet of cherry blossom in the Firs Road cemetery on Tuesday morning.

A Large Red damselfly was resting in the sun in Feldy View on Monday 27th - the first dragonfly/damselfly of the spring seen on the island.

Also in Feldy View were a singing lesser whitethroat and a whitethroat. Eight brent geese and a Mediterranean gull were noted in the Strood channel.

A song thrush was singing in Firs Chase with butterflies seen in the garden being a brimstone, two holly blues, small white and an orange-tip.

At East Mersea Martin Cock visited the Golfhouse area on Monday and reported 6 common terns, 5 whimbrel, 20 dunlin and an avocet.

On Sunday 26th a common crane was heard by Andy Field while he was in his garden in High Street North but sadly not seen as it called from the direction of the Strood.

Birds noted during a circuit of Feldy View and the Dabchicks on Sunday included whimbrel, curlew, 6 oystercatchers, 8 brent geese, great crested grebe, five turnstones, Mediterranean gull and four swallows.

Another sunny day on Saturday 25th on the island for a walk along the Maydays seawall. Birds noted included two marsh harriers, buzzard, a displaying meadow pipit on the saltmarsh, yellow wagtail flying over, cuckoo calling on Langenhoe, pair of yellowhammers, while singing warblers included four whitethroats, lesser whitethroat, three sedge warblers, three reed warblers and two Cetti's warblers. At least six lapwings were flying over the Reeveshall fields.

Along the Pyefleet channel were whimbrel, five curlew, two redshank, eight shelduck, a male gadwall, four greylag geese, two Canada geese, three great crested grebes.

Martin Cock visited Maydays on Saturday afternoon and noted yellow wagtail, cuckoo, two reed warblers, three sedge warblers, lesser whitethroat, two whitethroats, two whimbrel and a buzzard.

A cuckoo was photographed by Andy Field at Cudmore Grove on Friday 24th. Also noted were five common terns on a buoy in the Colne and a good count of fifteen lapwing chicks in the park's grazing field nearest the Golfhouse.

A caterpillar of a cream-spot tiger moth seen crossing the East Mersea Road, photographed by Andy on Friday.

Birds of note seen during a brief visit to the Strood on Friday included three whimbrel, curlew, two great crested grebes, yellow wagtail flying over, buzzard, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat and four swallows.

A swallow perched on an overhead cable beside the Dabchicks Sailing Club on Thursday 23rd. Other birds noted between here and the caravan park included five brent geese, two great crested grebes and two kestrels.

Butterflies noted in the Firs Chase garden were a brimstone, holly blue, orange tip and a small white.

Adrian Amos in East Road reported three more sightings of brimstone butterfly in his garden - best year he's had for them there, and also two orange-tip butterflies on Thursday morning.

Peter Marchington took this photograph of a goldfinch on Thursday on his garden wall at Shears Court.

A dunnock photographed by Peter on his garden wall.

A greylag goose photographed by Peter Marchington at Cudmore Grove from the bird hide on Wednesday 22nd in the evening.

A chiffchaff at Cudmore Grove taken by Peter near the bird hide.

A male chaffinch taken by Peter at Cudmore Grove on Wednesday evening near the hide.

Andy Field did a short walk to the Strood seawall from Feldy View on Wednesday and reported 3 swallows, 3 sedge warblers, 2 reed warblers, 3 brimstone butterflies, green-veined white, orange-tip and a peacock butterflies, as well as lots of St Mark's Flies.

Martin Cock visited the Boating Lake on Wednesday and reported a yellow wagtail, sedge warbler and two whitethroats there. In his West Mersea garden a holly blue butterfly was first seen there on Saturday 18th.

Michael Thorley saw a blackcap and a whitethroat in his East Mersea garden on Wednesday while his first St Mark's Flies were seen there on the 17th.

On Tuesday 21st Steve Entwistle visited Maydays farm and reported a cuckoo heard calling, reed warbler, sedge warbler with one in a bush and two others parachute displaying, lesser whitethroat, two whitethroats and two Cetti's warblers.

Near the West Mersea Hard on Tuesday a sand martin was being chased by a swallow, marsh harrier and two pairs of Mediterranean gull were seen along the Strood channel.

Moth trapping in the Firs Chase garden has been poor because of the cold clear nights but this Brimstone moth added a bit of colour.

 Muslin moth

Close-up of the long feathery antennae of the male Muslin moth.

REEDBED BUNTINGS AND WARBLERS

A male reed bunting was singing from a bush alongside the Strood seawall on Monday 20th - two other reed buntings were also singing along the reedbed too. The pair of stonechat was in their usual area by the corner reedbed beside the Strood seawall.

Hiding among the reeds along the Strood borrowdyke was this singing reed warbler - one of three heard, along with six singing sedge warblers, lesser whitethroat, two singing whitethroats by the dyke and another beside the Firs caravan park. The song of a nightingale was just being carrying over from Ray Island to the Strood seawall thanks to the north-easterly wind helping to waft the sound over. 

Other birds noted during the seawall walk were 2 greylag geese, 7 shelduck, whimbrel, 6 redshank, 4 Mediterranean gulls, 5 swallows and 2 kestrels. 

A red kite drifted west past Firs Chase in the morning while in the evening a muntjac deer in the Firs Chase garden was an unusual visitor here.

On Sunday 19th the male stonechat was seen carrying food in its bill beside the Strood dyke before dropping inside the nearby bramble bush where presumably its nest is. 

A cuckoo was heard calling from Ray Island while along the Strood channel 28 grey plover flew up channel, 12 turnstones were on a boat by the Hard and 20 brent geese were seen in several small flocks. A marsh harrier hunted along the Strood dyke, a buzzard and red kite were seen over the fields, while 2 sedge warblers, reed warbler and a whitethroat were along the dyke. A dead redwing was found amongst the seaweed on the tideline behind the Dabchicks sailing club.

A buzzard was seen by Carrie Horwood flying over the beach near Fairhaven Avenue on Sunday morning. 

A willow warbler was singing in some trees at Maydays Farm on Saturday 18th -  a migrant on its brief stopover before continuing its journey north. Other singing migrants here for the summer included a lesser whitethroat, 5 sedge warblers, 4 whitethroats, while a swallow and yellowhammer were seen heading north. A pair of red-legged partridge was in one field while three lapwing were in a Reeveshall field.

A calling cuckoo and a red kite were noted over Langenhoe Hall marshes, while four marsh harriers and a buzzard were also seen during the walk. Along the Pyefleet channel were five great crested grebes, 6 shelduck, two whimbrel, curlew, 3 black-tailed godwits and five redshank. A common seal swam up channel and a brown hare was seen running across a field. 

Rob Lee heard a cuckoo singing on Saturday in the Barrow Hill / Bower Hall area.

Andy Field walked the East Mersea seawall from Reeveshall round to Cudmore Grove on Saturday and reported a female scaup in the Pyefleet channel - an unusual record for April on Mersea. Also seen were 12 whitethroats, 5 lesser whitethroats, 3 swallows, whimbrel, 3 reed warblers, sedge warbler and ten lapwings in the park's grazing fields with 3 small chicks.

 

Several Nomad Bees were seen at Maydays on Saturday.

Lots of young Buff-tip moth caterpillars on a branch at Maydays on Saturday.

On Saturday a red squirrel ran alongside East Road just east of The Fox pub narrowly avoiding the car, while in the afternoon another red squirrel climbed through the trees in the Firs Chase garden on its way to the neighbours.

Carri Horwood visited Feldy View on Saturday morning and reported a siskin, possible garden warbler, green woodpecker, a few linnets, blackcaps, chiffchaff, chaffinch, as well as small white and brimstone butterflies.

On Friday 17th a cuckoo was heard calling at Maydays Farm by Martin Cock, also there six sedge warblers, 2 lesser whitethroats, 4 whitethroats and a yellowhammer.

A male adder was photographed by Simon Patient on Thursday 16th as it attempted to climb the sandy cliff face behind the beach at Cudmore Grove Country Park.

The male adder is showing its vivid zig-zag black markings having already shed its old winter skin probably earlier in the month. Another of Simon's pictures.

Simon saw a siskin flying west over Cudmore Grove on Thursday morning.

A slow-worm was basking on a log beside the footpath near the top of the Firs Chase caravan park on Thursday.

Three great crested grebes were in the Strood channel on Thursday, this one near the Dabchicks Sailing Club.

A pair of oystercatcher was doing a bit of practicing ahead of their breeding season near the Dabchicks sailing club on Thursday.

Both oystercatchers had been having a rest, before the male wakes up, has a stretch, then jumps onto the back of the female. That woke her up!

In a brief visit to the Strood seawall, birds noted included 2 sedge warblers, 2 stonechats, 6 linnets, 2 Mediterranean gulls, 3 little egrets, 4 curlew, 3 redshank, 4 swallows and a song thrush singing in the caravan park.

At Maydays on Thursday a wheatear and a lesser whitethroat were seen by Martin Cock.

Along the Strood seawall on Wednesday 15th were 21 curlew, 3 great crested grebes, 2 marsh harriers, 3 sedge warblers, reed warbler, pair of stonechats, six linnets as well as ten brent geese in the Mersea Quarters.

Shaun Bater was pleased to see a little grebe on the Sanderlings Reach pond on Wednesday.

Rob Lee saw 18 shelduck on his Barrow Hill meadow on Wednesday morning

Martin Cock walking between the Oyster Fishery and Ivy Dock reported a wheatear, 30 dunlin, lesser whitethroat and several whitethroats on Wednesday.

A cuckoo was reported calling near the Strood on Wednesday morning.

Kieren Alexander of the RSPB Old Hall reserve put up the No Landing signs on Packing Marsh and Cobmarsh Island on Tuesday 14th. An area is also roped off here on Packing Marsh to keep people away from the nesting area for birds.

One pair of ringed plover was seen on Packing Marsh and three pairs on Cobmarsh, although no nests were active yet. There was a high tide roost of fifty sanderling on Cobmarsh and also three Egyptian geese resting on one of the beaches.

Jon Ward saw the cuckoo near the Firs Caravan park on Tuesday, also two willow warblers, five Mediterranean gulls, sparrowhawk flying over, several sedge warblers and a single reed warbler along the Strood dyke.

Jack Hoy saw a brimstone and orange-tip butterflies on Tuesday in Shop Lane.

Moth activity continues to be slow because of the cold nights but this nationally scarce Sloe Carpet was a nice surprise in the Firs Chase garden on the 17th. This is just the second garden record after one in 2020.

A fresh looking Pine Beauty.

Powdered Quaker

Pale Prominent

Nut-tree Tussock

Frosted Green

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Nutmeg

Least Black Arches

ELUSIVE REDSTART

Four sedge warblers were singing along the Strood dyke on Monday 13th, as was a reed warbler although it was tucked deep inside the reedbed and a whitethroat was along the dyke too.

The highlight of the morning was a male redstart seen very briefly in Feldy View. It perched on the top of the boundary hedge for a couple of seconds - long enough to enjoy the colourful markings of the head and chest, before it disappeared. It was only seen very briefly later in the morning by Martin Cock and remained elusive for others who came to look.

Also on Monday 13th a red kite flew north-west over the Strood fields, before crossing over to Ray Island. Two buzzards and a sparrowhawk were also seen during the walk. In the channel two great crested grebes, three whimbrel and forty redshank were noted, a pair of gadwall flew into the Strood dyke while ten brent geese were seen from the Hard.

Nice to see a male wheatear in the rough Strood field on Monday, though it was a pity it was so distant in the middle of the field. The resident pair of stonechat was in their usual spot near the corner reedbed, but another male was seen halfway along the seawall by the central ditch. Two swallows were by the Dabchicks. The ring-necked parakeet was heard calling in Firs Chase earlier in the morning.

Steve Entwistle visited Feldy View a couple of times on Monday and while the redstart didn't show, he did note green woodpecker, blackcap, four robins, pair of great tits, chiffchaff and also a song thrush down the side of the caravan park. By the Strood channel there were two avocets, 15 redshank, 3 curlew, 2 lesser black-backed gulls, red-legged partridge and 8 linnets. 

Andy Field walked the Cudmore circuit on Monday morning and noted 4 chiffchaffs, 2 whitethroats, "more blackcaps than you can shake a stick at", red kite, 2 avocets on the pools, yellow wagtail flying over, 5 or 6 pairs of lapwing in the fields and 2 pairs of ringed plover at the Point.

A nightingale was heard singing by the dyke at East Mersea between the Oyster Fishery and Ivy Dock on Monday by Mark and Jane Dixon.

Michael Thorley photographed this queen wasp in his garden in East Mersea on Monday.

A False widow spider photographed by Michael on Monday in his garden.

Rob Lee reported on Monday morning a stoat nesting in his kitchen ceiling at Barrow Hill, while Carrie Horwood was pleased to see a hedgehog in her Fairhaven Avenue garden the previous night.

On Sunday 12th there were four whimbrel seen along the Strood channel, this one quite close to the seawall, while the others were flying up channel calling as they went. Three great crested grebes were in the channel and a lapwing flew to Feldy Marshes.

Three sedge warblers, whitethroat and stonechat were along the Strood dyke, also four little egrets here, while a buzzard seen, four swallows were seen flying north and two by the Dabchicks.

Martin Cock found two wheatears at Maydays farm on Sunday, also a greenshank, 35 grey plover, leucistic redshank, marsh harrier, two whitethroats and two sedge warblers.

A yellow wagtail was seen by Michael Thorley drinking from his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Rob Lee photographed this resident pheasant that comes each day to his house at Barrow Hill.

Birds noted at Maydays Farm on Saturday 11th included five marsh harriers, three buzzards, pair of red-legged partridge, ten stock doves, four great crested grebes, four grey plover, the leucistic redshank with fifty other redshank and at least six lapwing on one Reeveshall field. 

A lesser whitethroat singing was the first back onto the Island this spring, two whitethroats, three Cetti's warblers, yellow wagtail flew over, ten linnets and six swallows were the main birds noted.

Three brown hares were seen running about a cultivated field.

There was the very unexpected sight over the Firs Chase garden on Friday of a common crane flying overhead. It was only seen because it was heard doing two or three brief trumpeting calls which made me look up - luckily I was in the garden at the time.

The common crane circled round several times, gaining height as it drifted north-east, where it was luckily seen at the same time by Andy Field circling high over his garden in High Street North.

The common crane soon stopped circling and turned back to the west where it was last seen heading back over Firs Chase and The Hard in the direction of Old Hall. It was heard calling several times as it was passing overhead. A buzzard was seen heading west over the garden too.

As well as the crane, other birds seen by Andy Field on Friday while looking skywards from his High Street North garden included 2 red kites, 8 buzzards, sparrowhawk, a kestrel and also two Mediterranean gulls.

Three red kites were seen on Friday during a walk along the Strood seawall, also two marsh harriers and two buzzards. At least 30 Mediterranean gulls were seen, some in the channel while others following a tractor working a nearby field. Two sedge warblers, reed warbler, whitethroat and stonechat were seen from the seawall.

Along the Strood channel on Friday were three great crested grebes, whimbrel, 25 curlew, two black-tailed godwits, 100 redshank, two dunlin and four little egrets.

A willow warbler and whitethroat were seen by Martin Cock on Friday morning along the path in East Mersea between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane.

Rob Lee saw eight shelduck on the Barrow Hill meadow on Friday morning.

Two corn buntings perched in a tree by the Strood seawall on Thursday 9th. Also seen by the Strood were red kite, buzzard, 2 great crested grebes, 2 black-tailed godwits, 50 redshank, 5 Mediterranean gulls and stonechat.

Butterflies noted included orange-tip by Feldy View, 3 brimstones and one in the garden, peacock, small white and a comma. A slow-worm was sunning itself along the path, south side of the Firs Caravan park. Jack Hoy saw a brimstone butterfly in his Mersea Avenue garden.

Martin Cock visited the Strood earlier on Thursday morning and noted six sedge warblers, reed warbler, two whitethroats, two chiffchaff, blackcap, 2 whimbrel, red kite and several Mediterranean gulls.

Rob Lee saw five buzzards and two swallows at Barrow Hill on Thursday. 

Michael Thorley heard a blackcap singing behind his garden near Meeting Lane, also a bat flying over his garden at dusk on Thursday.

The first swallow back at the Dabchicks Sailing Club was seen perched on a boat cable nearby on Wednesday 8th - two others were seen over the Yacht Club which presumably were also the same two seen earlier over Feldy View. Birds seen along the Strood seawall were 12 brent geese, four avocets, two black-tailed godwits, 12 turnstones, Mediterranean gull, buzzard, stonechat and a sedge warbler. A willow warbler was singing at the bottom corner of the Firs Chase caravan park and a red kite was over the Peldon fields. Two brimstone butterflies were seen during the walk.

Andy Field also visited the Strood seawall on Wednesday morning and saw two sedge warblers singing along the dyke. Steve Entwistle saw a showy song thrush and four brimstones in the area of Feldy View and the side of the caravan park.

Rob Lee reported a male hen harrier flying over the West Mersea Hard towards Old Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Later a nightingale was heard singing on Ray Island - a site where one was heard last year, also on the Ray whitethroat, chiffchaff and a blackcap.

In East Mersea Martin Cock saw two whitethroats, chiffchaff, blackcaps everywhere and 38 black-tailed godwits all near the Oyster Fishery on Wednesday morning.

At Cudmore Grove Simon Patient saw an adder and grass-snake Wednesday late afternoon.

A short-eared owl was photographed by Andy Field on Tuesday 7th being mobbed by carrion crows as it crossed over the Colne at Cudmore Grove.

Later in the day Andy watched a barn owl hunting over the fields by the Strood fishing lakes in the evening.

A swallow was seen by Rob Lee flying over Barrow Hill on Tuesday evening.

Three swallows were seen by Jack Hoy at Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane on Tuesday.

Birds noted from the Strood seawall on Tuesday included ten Mediterranean gulls, two buzzards, sedge warbler singing, stonechat, ten linnets, three lapwing flying over the Peldon seawall and ten great black-backed gulls by the Hard.

A Swallow Prominent came to the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 8th.