This group of tufted ducklings was following their mother along the park dyke on Thursday 14th. I think this brood started off with seven youngsters, so possibly they've lost one. There are a couple of other families although one of those comprises just one duckling now, which was on the park pond on Wednesday.
The common tern pair was still feeding a chick on the saltmarsh lagoons near the East Mersea Point. Two pairs of redshank chicks were walking around the lagoons, two of the chicks are recently hatched out with the parents looking on anxiously as they walked across some floating algae. The other pair is about three weeks old and starting to look like the adults.
During the early morning high tide roost, 100 black-tailed godwits were gathered by the lagoon, pictured above with a few black-headed gulls. A singe avocet, oystercatcher, shelduck and a handful of lapwing were also present.
A skylark was feeding on the seawall path as I walked along on Thursday - one of a handful seen during the day at the park. Three kestrels were sat on the tree at the back of the fields.
Thirty sand martins passed over the park, and another ten were seen earlier in the morning by Fen Farm. A red-legged partridge was seen in Bromans Lane at the start of the day, while two common buzzards were seen circling in the sky to the north-west of the park.
On Wednesday there was the interesting sighting of two water rails on a reedy island at the park pond being seen chased off by a coot by Helen Mussett.
The on-going sand martin passage was noted again on Tuesday when fifty passed over westwards as did 5 swifts and also two house martins were over the fields.
A sparrowhawk was seen by the overflow car park, 13 long-tailed tits followed each other through the bushes while 2 mistle thrushes made their first appearance at the ripening rowan berries in the car park.
Fifty swifts flew west over the park on Monday and three green woodpeckers were seen together near the car park.
Along the Pyefleet on Sunday 10th seven little terns, 3 common terns, and a Sandwich tern were seen by Andy Field along with five marsh harriers on Langenhoe including three juveniles.
At the East Mersea Point on Saturday 9th a Mediterranean gull, common gull and a brent goose were seen. At Maydays on Saturday a big flock of 500 sand martins was seen by Martin Cock and also 2 greenshank here too.
Thirty sand martins passed over the park, and another ten were seen earlier in the morning by Fen Farm. A red-legged partridge was seen in Bromans Lane at the start of the day, while two common buzzards were seen circling in the sky to the north-west of the park.
On Wednesday there was the interesting sighting of two water rails on a reedy island at the park pond being seen chased off by a coot by Helen Mussett.
The on-going sand martin passage was noted again on Tuesday when fifty passed over westwards as did 5 swifts and also two house martins were over the fields.
A sparrowhawk was seen by the overflow car park, 13 long-tailed tits followed each other through the bushes while 2 mistle thrushes made their first appearance at the ripening rowan berries in the car park.
Fifty swifts flew west over the park on Monday and three green woodpeckers were seen together near the car park.
Along the Pyefleet on Sunday 10th seven little terns, 3 common terns, and a Sandwich tern were seen by Andy Field along with five marsh harriers on Langenhoe including three juveniles.
At the East Mersea Point on Saturday 9th a Mediterranean gull, common gull and a brent goose were seen. At Maydays on Saturday a big flock of 500 sand martins was seen by Martin Cock and also 2 greenshank here too.
This small red-eyed damselfly was resting on a bush near the park dyke on Thursday 14th.
A brown hawker was seen in the park on Thursday and black-tailed skimmer has been seen a couple of times this week by the dyke.
There are good numbers of gatekeepers on the wing now along with lots of meadow browns and ringlets to be seen around the park too. Fifty skippers, showing a mix of small and Essex were feeding on a clump of tufted vetch at the park on Thursday. A painted lady was flying about the park seawall on Saturday 9th.
Three adders were noted on Thursday.
A brown hawker was seen in the park on Thursday and black-tailed skimmer has been seen a couple of times this week by the dyke.
There are good numbers of gatekeepers on the wing now along with lots of meadow browns and ringlets to be seen around the park too. Fifty skippers, showing a mix of small and Essex were feeding on a clump of tufted vetch at the park on Thursday. A painted lady was flying about the park seawall on Saturday 9th.
Three adders were noted on Thursday.
This greenfinch sat up nicely for Andrew Neal to photograph on a bush near Rewsalls on Sunday 10th.
A long-tailed tit perched long enough for this photo to be taken by Andrew near Rewsalls.
On a warm night on Monday 11th the moth trap at the park recorded about 150 moths of 40 macro species.
This early thorn was one of the distinctive moths to be seen inside the trap.
This early thorn was one of the distinctive moths to be seen inside the trap.
A couple of buff-tip moths were noted, looking like a bit of snapped-off twig when at rest.
Two sharks were also noted that night, a species noted most years here.
This July highflyer with it's green and black markings was found resting on the side of the trap.
Other moths noted included common emerald, scorched wing, buff arches, bordered beauty, poplar hawkmoth, pale prominent, L-album wainscot and a rusty dot pearl.
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