MUNTJAC MISCHIEF

It was a bit of a surprise to see a pair of muntjac deer out in the open field beside Feldy View mid morning on Wednesday 9th.

It appeared the buck muntjac had the scent of spring in the air and was chasing the doe around, who ran about with her tail lifted up. The two deer ran down the side of the Firs Caravan park and one of them ran onto the seawall then back into the caravan park - keeping away from the various dog-walkers in the area.

Earlier a red squirrel was seen in a tree just inside the Firs Caravan park on Wednesday morning, while one was also reported in the same area the day before on Tuesday as it ran along a fence beside the caravan park southern folly footpath.

A small charm of five goldfinches was feeding on elm buds near Feldy View on Wednesday.

A green woodpecker was feeding on the ground in Feldy View, briefly perching on a wooden cross.

Only a small number of waders along the Strood channel on Wednesday during the low tide with 100+ redshank the most widespread seen. Also present were 500 brent geese, 150 teal, 50 wigeon, 100 lapwing and ten golden plover, while three buzzards were seen passing over.

The shag was seen swimming opposite the Dabchicks sailing club and then hopped onto a buoy.

On Reeveshall on Wednesday Martin Cock reported seeing a greenshank, great white egret in Broad Fleet, three buzzards, five marsh harriers, a distant male hen harrier, twenty greylag geese and six red-breasted mergansers in the Pyefleet.

Steve Entwistle saw two red-legged partridges at Blue Row, then later from the Esplanade there were 125 great crested grebes and three great northern divers offshore.

An early brimstone butterfly was seen flying in Shop Lane on Wednesday by Nicola. An early red admiral was seen in Shop Lane on Tuesday by Steve Entwistle. 

On Tuesday 8th along the Strood seawall the stonechat was seen again after an absence of a fortnight, also 800 brent geese mainly in the Ray Channel, 25 golden plover, 15 avocets, 8 stock doves, 15 goldfinches, a sparrowhawk through Feldy View and four reed buntings by the dyke.

Andy Field photographed this male pintail at the country park pond on Tuesday 8th.

The male pintail has been present for over a fortnight on the park pond.

A male gadwall was also photographed by Andy on the country park pond on Tuesday. Also seen at the park of interest were a buzzard, Mediterranean gull, three stonechats and 14 greylag geese.

At Maydays on Tuesday afternoon Steve Entwistle had good views of a merlin on one of the Reeveshall fields, three maybe four short-eared owls, eight marsh harriers to roost, red-breasted merganser, rock pipit and six greylag geese. Two Chinese Water Deer were seen playing together along the paths among the game cover crop at Maydays. Earlier in the day a goldcrest was seen by Steve in Shop Lane.

Along the Strood channel on Monday 7th were 40+ curlew, some just resting on the mud like this one pictured. Also present were 400 lapwing, 250 golden plover, 66 avocets, 150 teal, 15 black-tailed godwits, 28 shelduck, pair of swans in the dyke, two marsh harriers, two buzzards, five rock pipits and two corn buntings. A mistle thrush was beside the Firs Caravan park and the shag was on a buoy near the Lifeboat station.

Three marsh harriers were seen flying over the Yacht Club on Monday by Paul Rowe looking from Old Hall. A sparrowhawk was seen being mobbed by crows over Empress Drive by Steve Entwistle.

Martin Cock reported from East Mersea seeing a pochard on the park pond, goldcrest in Shop Lane and also a green colour ringed brent goose which David Low informs us was ringed in Terschelling in the Netherlands in May 2018. Previous visits by this brent goose to Essex have included to the south side of the Blackwater estuary in February 2019 and to Titchmarsh marina at Walton on the Naze in February 2020.

The shag wasn't too hard to find on Sunday 6th as it was standing on the edge of the mud only twenty metres from the jetty at the West Mersea Hard. It later headed up channel to feed with some gulls in the water.

Also at the West Mersea Hard on Sunday was the regular black brant with a dozen brent geese - the main flock of 600 brent geese were in the Ray Channel.

Along the Strood Channel a peregrine crossed over to harass a few birds and then headed fast into the strong wind over Ray Island. Also seen were a buzzard, 66 avocets, Mediterranean gull, six golden plover, five black-tailed godwits.

Perched over the East Mersea road by Bocking Hall was a buzzard on Sunday morning.

On Saturday 5th, birds of interest at Maydays were 25 pintail, 3 red-breasted mergansers, 130 avocets, 300 lapwing, 600 brent geese, two greenshank, 20 black-tailed godwits, sparrowhawk, three buzzards, forty corn buntings and twenty reed buntings.

Two red-legged partridges were seen near Blue Row, while a buzzard was seen near Dawes Lane.

At the East Mersea Golfhouse on Saturday morning, Steve Entwistle reported 42 shoveler, 200 wigeon, rock pipit, red-breasted merganser in the Colne, pair of stonechat, 300+ avocets on the mud, two black-tailed godwits and five greylag geese.

A peregrine was watched by Colin Mackenzie-Grieve from Old Hall, as it flew north over West Mersea carrying prey being chased by a succession of herring gulls trying without luck to get it to drop its prey. Four great northern divers were seen just off Old Hall beach by Paul Rowe.

Just after midnight in the early hours of Friday 4th, a barn owl was watched in the car headlights while driving past the layby at the Strood fishing lakes. The owl was hunting along the grassy bank beside the fishing lakes.

A mild night on Tuesday 8th evening seemed worth putting the moth trap out in the Firs Chase garden for the first time this year. These two oak beauties were noted, one with a slightly darker form.

One of two pale-brindled beauties were trapped.

A dark spring usher was also noted, as was a common quaker.

An angle shades was also noted.