LAST OF THE GEESE

Numbers of brent geese continue to dwindle as spring gathers pace. This group was feeding on the saltmarsh beside the Firs Chase caravan site on Wednesday 8th, as were another forty brent geese along the Strood channel. A great crested grebe was in the Ray channel.

The highlight of the walk along the Strood seawall on Wednesday was hearing the happy twittering song of a male swallow as it flew along the dyke, the first one I've seen this spring. There have been three earlier sightings in the last few days, the first one over Andy Field's garden on Sunday 5th and also that day one seen by the Monkey Steps by Jonathan Bustard, followed by a second one over Andy's garden on Tuesday 7th.

Also along the Strood on Wednesday was a singing willow warbler down the side of the Firs Chase caravan site for the third day, also three blackcaps there too. A bright male yellow wagtail was seen again for the second day running along the seawall, hopefully the breeding bird from here last year.
A whimbrel called from the Strood channel, the first one of the spring noted passing through here.

A colourful group of 26 black-tailed godwits was feeding along the Strood channel on Wednesday. A flock of 200 knot was also feeding on the last bit of mud showing before the high tide. Two pairs of Mediterranean gulls were calling as they passed over.

In the fields was a big flock of at least 70 carrion crows feeding on the recently sown field by Strood Hill, also 100 linnets and two common buzzards. Two other pairs of buzzards were soaring over woods on the Peldon and Feldy side of the mainland. Eight peacock butterflies and a small white were seen along the seawall.

An osprey was reported on Wednesday afternoon by Jonathan Norgate, flying high towards Mersea from Fingringhoe. A male marsh harrier was seen opposite the West Mersea yacht club by Jonathan Bustard, while three buzzards were seen north of Andy Field's garden, flying near the Strood.

At Maydays a kingfisher, 3 whimbrel and a red-breasted merganser were reported on Wednesday.
Along the Esplanade Steve Entwistle saw a great northern diver, 8 oystercatchers, 10 curlews and 8 great crested grebes on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday 7th several pairs of eyes were scanning the skies from their gardens for the white-tailed eagle that had been reported flying south from Ipswich and through north Essex but sadly turned west when it reached Fingringhoe. The only birds of prey noted during the afternoon from gardens were sparrowhawks over the gardens of Andy Field, Steve Entwistle and Martin Cock.

Earlier on Tuesday five common buzzards were seen during the walk along the Strood seawall and also the unusual sound of a displaying male marsh harrier, calling as it flew down channel. Two sparrowhawks were noted too, one as it snatched a blackbird near Feldy View, also kestrel over the fields.
Three blackcaps and three willow-chiffs were in the hedge by the Firs Chase caravan site on Tuesday, while in the Strood Hill field was a big flock of 200 linnets and also three golden plover. Along the Strood channel were a dozen black-tailed godwits, fifty brent geese, Mediterranean gull and a pair of teal.

In Cross Lane four blackcaps and two chiffchaffs and three pairs of long-tailed tits were seen on Tuesday by Steve Entwistle. In his garden were a brimstone, orange-tip and peacock butterflies. Jonathan Bustard reported a great spotted woodpecker, chiffchaff and song thrush at the Legion Fields on Tuesday.

On Monday 6th the great northern diver, ten great crested grebes were seen offshore from the Esplanade by Steve Entwistle who later had two grey herons over his West Mersea garden.
Andy Field reported along the Strood, singing willow warbler, two chiffchaffs, blackcap, buzzard and two Mediterranean gulls on Monday. Two buzzards were seen over Waldegraves caravan site by Jonathan Bustard on Monday, while at Maydays two red-breasted mergansers and 70 golden plover were reported at Maydays.
Near Meeting Lane in East Mersea, the little owl has been heard calling loud and clear most late afternoons in the Thorleys' garden recently.

Along the Strood on Sunday 5th were a marsh harrier, common buzzard, ten black-tailed godwits, 40 brent geese, pair of Mediterranean gulls, chiffchaff, corn bunting and 70 linnets. A buzzard was also seen over the Firs Chase garden.
Near Meeting Lane on Sunday a different Cetti's warbler heard singing, also four chiffchaffs, three buzzards and two brimstone butterflies were reported.
Steve Entwistle saw two great northern divers offshore on Sunday, one of the birds halfway into summer plumage from the Esplanade, the other winter bird off Kingsland Beach.

On a sunny Saturday 4th the oil-seed rape field was looking very yellow behind the boating lake near the Youth Camp.

On the boating lake were a pair of Canada geese, 25 mallard, tufted duck pair, 15 shelduck, two little egrets, pair of Mediterranean gulls and nearby a pair of red-legged partridge. A marsh harrier appeared to fly in off the sea heading north over the lake.
A common buzzard, kestrel and a brimstone butterfly were by Mersea Barns on Saturday, also a meadow pipit west of the East Mersea church.
Eighty brent geese were feeding on the edge of the mud by St Peters on Saturday afternoon, while three small tortoiseshells and a peacock were on the nearby meadow

At Maydays three marsh harriers, four buzzards and 100 golden plover were seen on Saturday.

Offshore from the West Mersea Esplanade on Saturday were a red-necked grebe, two great northern divers, shag and two female eiders seen by Steve Entwistle. A sand martin was also seen later by Jonathan Bustard who also saw the shag and red-necked grebe still there. A marsh harrier passed over Andy Field's High Street North garden.

A young female sparrowhawk was photographed by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane on Friday afternoon.

Some of the features indicating this is a young female sparrowhawk include the orangey-yellow eyes, pale eye-stripe, rufous patch on hindneck as well as some rusty edges on the wing covert feathers.

A male corn bunting was singing along the Strood seawall on Friday 3rd, also 50 linnets in the field near Strood hill. A marsh harrier flew past, while along the channel were ten black-tailed godwits, four wigeon and four teal. Four jackdaws were watched carrying chunks of hard mud off the seawall path.

An osprey was seen on Friday afternoon by William Baker as it flew north-west over the Mersea Quarters towards Feldy Marsh.
A great northern diver was seen offshore from Seaview Avenue by Steve Entwistle. The Cetti's warbler, blackcap, four chiffchaffs and a buzzard were seen near Meeting Lane on Friday.

Four buzzards, three marsh harriers and a sparrowhawk were the highlights along the Strood seawall on Thursday 2nd. Also two avocets, 20 knot and 36 black-tailed godwits along the channel and fifty linnets were feeding near Strood Hill.
Three eider were seen offshore from the Esplanade on Thursday by Steve Entwistle.

A red kite made a surprise appearance near Feldy View on Wednesday 1st, flying low over the field before picking up height and drifting south-east over the High St North. A chiffchaff was singing near Feldy View and a blackcap seen nearby. Along the Strood seawall were 3 avocets, 31 black-tailed godwits and two buzzards.