STROOD SEAL

On Monday 29th a common seal was seen in the Strood Channel for the second day running. It was seen resting on the edge of the Ray Island saltmarsh just after the high tide. The day before it was seen in the channel at low tide near the last of the boat moorings. It had left a trail of marks across the mud where it had slid back down to the water from the saltmarsh. I've not seen a seal in this part of the Strood channel before, although I think this individual is the one recently photographed at the Hard near the crabbers.

Four common terns were seen in the Strood channel on Monday, this one perched on a post waiting to be fed by her partner.
A cuckoo was heard calling from Ray Island and a common buzzard glided high south west off the Island and over the Ray.

Three reed warblers were heard singing from the dense cover of the reeds as was one sedge warbler.

The pair of yellow wagtails was seen again feeding inside the Strood seawall.
A pair of gadwall, two grey herons and four little egrets were also noted.

The weather on Sunday 28th was drizzly with a cold northerly wind, a dark cloud pictured over Peldon from the Strood seawall.
A female marsh harrier was seen flying low over the fields and a common buzzard was mobbed by crows as it flew south-west over the Firs Chase caravan site. Later in the afternoon another common buzzard was mobbed by crows as it flew west over Firs Chase.

A sedge warbler and two reed warblers were singing from the Strood dyke. Four common terns, pair of Mediterranean gulls and 5 whimbrel were seen along the Strood. A lesser whitethroat and whitethroat were singing near the caravan site.

On Friday 26th a fulmar was an unexpected sight seen flying from the Strood channel heading east up Strood Hill past Wellhouse farm. The distinctive flight of rapid wing beats followed by the occasional glide on straight wings were the distinguishing features.

Twelve pochard were present on the country park pond on Thursday 25th as were 6 tufted ducks and a mute swan. A reed warbler and the Cetti's warbler were singing in the reeds, while whitethroat and lesser whitethroat were singing in the park. On the grazing fields were a wigeon, single lapwing and a golden plover while on the mudflats were 4 whimbrel and 4 little egrets. Two avocets were on the saltmarsh, 8 black-tailed godwits on the mud and 2 common terns were fishing in the Colne.
A cuckoo called from trees near the Oyster Fishery, yellow wagtail and sparrowhawk seen nearby while 12 brent geese were feeding in two small groups in the Pyefleet. A pair of red-legged partridge was seen near Bromans Lane.

At the park and nearby area on Wednesday 24th Andy Field noted 2 yellow wagtails, 8 common terns, 4 lapwing, 2 house martins, whimbrel, 3 avocets and 4 black-tailed godwits.

On Tuesday 23rd a raven was seen by Jane Dixon near the Dabchicks sailing club, being mobbed by carrion crows early morning. The deeper call and the larger size alerted Jane to this bird being a raven. This is the first sighting on the Island since 1958 although raven sightings have been increasing in north Essex in the last couple of years.