BUZZARD ON THE HUNT

This common buzzard was photographed by Michael Thorley as it sat in a tree beyond his back garden, to the west of Meeting Lane in East Mersea.

Michael watched the buzzard drop down to the ground but lost sight of it after that.
This bird is most likely one of two birds that have become resident in this area of East Mersea for at least a year now.

Martin Cock got a good view of a merlin on Wednesday 13th catching a skylark at Maydays Farm.

Andy Field had a very rewarding visit to the West Mersea beach when he saw a black-throated diver offshore, first located by Steve Hunting whilst he was at Old Hall. At the same time as the diver was being watched a guillemot was seen on the sea and then an Arctic tern flew past, which is late record for mid November.
A red-throated diver was seen by Martin off the Esplanade but there was no sign of the great northern diver seen from Old Hall that would have made up the full set.

At the country park a sparrowhawk flew past the pond and a water rail called on Wednesday late afternoon, then a couple of little owls duetted at dusk to the north of the park. A marsh harrier flew over the fields on Thursday afternoon.

There was a report of a woodcock found dead beside a path earlier this week, possibly lying under some overhead wires, which it may've flown into near the bus turning circle at the end of the East Mersea road.