GARDEN BLACKCAPS

The male blackcap was singing in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday 30th for the third day running. There has always been a pair of blackcaps breeding in this area in previous years, so nice to see it back again.

A female blackcap has continued to feed on the seeds at the feeding station and is presumed to be the same bird that has wintered here for the last few months. Presumably this bird will fly back to the continent to breed within the next fortnight.

A male sparrowhawk flew over the garden on Saturday morning and displayed high over neighbouring gardens. A chiffchaff was heard singing from the neighbours in Firs Chase on Friday 29th.

A slow-worm was enjoying the warmth of the compost heap in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday - the first sighting here of the year.

Three adders were sunning themselves beside the footpath to the east of Meeting lane on Saturday 30th. This female was lying on a white plastic bag, while two males were seen further along the path.

A common lizard was partially hidden in the grass beside the Meeting Lane footpath.

Amongst the several butterflies along the footpath between Meeting Lane and Shop Lane were this comma, also five peacocks and a small white seen on Saturday.

This small tortoiseshell butterfly looked in good condition beside the footpath, one of 4 seen.

Birds along the path included 3 singing chiffchaffs, 3 singing blackcaps, sparrowhawk, two great spotted woodpeckers and green woodpecker, calling red-legged partridge while a brown hare was seen too.

The regular pair of grey partridge was still at the back of the Strood fields on Friday 29th, pictured here in the crop of growing winter wheat.
Also noted in the fields were 5 brent geese, grey heron, 54 golden plover, 6 linnets, while along the Strood channel prior to high tide were 200+ redshank, 4 black-tailed godwits, 3 dunlin, 8 grey plover and a single knot.

A visit to the Rewsalls marshes at East Mersea on Thursday 28th saw 3 common buzzards and 3 sparrowhawks circling high together over Coopers Beach. A female marsh harrier hunted over the marshes and a kestrel was by the Vineyard. On the marshes were 5 brent geese, 8 shelduck, lapwing, 2 teal, 6 mallard, pair of mistle thrush, male reed bunting and six meadow pipits. Four red-legged partridge were in an arable field, Mediterranean gull flew over, 100 great crested grebes were offshore while a chiffchaff was singing at Coopers Beach. Two peacock butterflies were on the wing.

At the Strood on Wednesday 27th were a common buzzard, 64 golden plover roosting, 2 black-tailed godwits, 250 redshank, 8 teal and 10 grey plover.

A visit to the country park on Wednesday by Andy Field provided views of two singing chiffchaffs, singing blackcap and also 12 pochard on the park pond. Later from Coopers Beach two great northern divers were seen offshore.

An adult Mediterranean gull was walking over the mudflats near Cross Lane on Tuesday 26th.
Three chiffchaffs were heard singing in the spring sunshine, one at top of lane, two at beach-end. A sparrowhawk, 5 linnets, 10 goldfinches, 25 brent geese, great northern diver, 4 great crested grebes and a little egret were also noted in the area. A small white butterfly was seen at Waldegraves.

Two Mediterranean gulls were seen near Cobmarsh Island on Monday 25th, also a great northern diver and 6 great crested grebes offshore. Fifty brent geese and ten curlew were also seen on the mud while a sparrowhawk was displaying over the houses. Two small tortoiseshells were seen at St Peters and another two were in the Firs Chase garden.
A red kite flew past Andy Field's High St North garden on Monday morning.