Saturday 5 October 2019

MERSEA HUMMER

A hummingbird hawkmoth was photographed by Andy Field as it visited his garden in High Street North on Friday 4th.

A short video clip is -    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kfNRcGQU-Q&feature=youtu.be

On Friday 4th at Cudmore Grove a Sandwich tern was seen on a buoy in the Colne, also 200 brent geese beside the Brightlingsea outflow. Two Mediterranean gulls, ten wigeon, 2 great crested grebes and 25 golden plover were seen near the East Mersea Point. A kingfisher and a rock pipit were seen near the Golfhouse while 25 goldfinches and 20 linnets were also in the area and 50+ swallows passed through.
At the park pond the Cetti's warbler was showing well while it sang, four gadwall and 8 wigeon present, while in nearby trees were 2 blackcaps and 3 goldcrests calling.
A red squirrel crossed the path near the hide at the park.

A great spotted woodpecker was seen in trees alongside Cross Lane on Thursday 3rd. A green woodpecker was seen in flight near the Lane, while 3 goldcrests and 8 chiffchaffs were heard calling in various places towards Waldegraves. A little owl was seen and heard calling near the fishing lakes, a grey heron was standing in the small lake near the seawall and twenty goldfinches also seen.

A fox trotted down Cross Lane mid morning on Thursday.

A colour-ringed black-tailed godwit was watched along the Strood on Wednesday 2nd. Hopefully we can find out if this bird was ringed on its breeding grounds in Iceland or somewhere in this country. It was feeding with 200+ other black-tailed godwits during low tide. Also 8 avocets, 1000 golden plover, 12 shelduck and 15 little grebes in the channel.

A meadow pipit perched on a post in the mud along the Strood channel on Wednesday. In the fields were 20 skylark while 3 chiffchaffs were heard on the walk.

A spotted flycatcher was seen in the scrubby corner by the Firs Chase caravan site on Tuesday 1st. This area has been a favourite spot for them this autumn. Five chiffchaffs were also noted here and nearby too. A stonechat and a rock pipit were seen along the Strood seawall while there was a steady passage during the morning of 200+ swallows and house martins along with a sand martin.
A buzzard was over Ray Island, a sparrowhawk flew over the houses. Along the Channel were 1000 golden plover, 200 black-tailed godwits, 2 avocets, 12 shelduck, greenshank and 15 ringed plover.

At Maydays on Tuesday 1st, two wheatears and a rock pipit were seen by Martin Cock.

Nice to see this female red squirrel visiting the feeder in the Firs Chase garden on Wednesday 2nd and Friday 4th.

This migrant hawker was photographed at the country park by Andy Field on Wednesday 2nd.

No comments: