STALKING THE SHALLOWS

A couple of little egrets were feeding in the park's grazing fields on a bright but chilly Wednesday 14th. This one was stalking one of the corners of the main pool.

There has been a nice number of waders and wildfowl over the last few days on the fields, especially during the high tide period. Today the main flocks before the high tide peak were 1000+ wigeon, 200 teal, 300 golden plover, 50 black-tailed godwits, 40 curlew and 50 redshank. Three common snipe were feeding amongst the rushes on the main pool.

At the park pond, two tufted duck and 10 gadwall were the main ducks of interest during Wednesday.

Big numbers of dunlin gathered on the mud behind the East Mersea Point as the tide came in, with up to 2000 present, some pictured above. Also forced closer to the shore in front of the park by the incoming tide were 500 knot. Two red-breasted mergansers flying out of the river were the birds of note seen from the Point.

The jack snipe was seen on the saltmarsh near the Point on Monday 12th by Martin Cock along with 25 common snipe too.
On Sunday 1000 golden plover were seen in the fields while at the end of the afternoon 30 stock doves  and five redwing gathered to roost in the copse by the pond.

Donna Moncur reported seeing a nice variety of wildlife on Wednesday afternoon near the East Mersea village shop. A red squirrel ran through the gardens of houses opposite the old shop. A barn owl flew over the fields and a muntjac also showed in one of the fields.

At Maydays a wintering spotted redshank was seen by Martin on Wednesday. The day before there were four corn buntings perched on wires by Chapmans Lane.

Up to two shags have been seen in the Mersea Quarters in the last few days with two seen near Packing Shed on Monday 12th by Andy Field. A single shag and a goldeneye were seen by Martin at the weekend.
The first great northern diver of the winter was seen in the middle of the mouth of the Blackwater on Friday 9th by Andy.

A peregrine, two pintail, two stonechats and a green sandpiper were noted at Maydays on Tuesday 6th by Martin.