Wednesday 7 February 2024

SLAVONIAN ON CALM SEA

A Slavonian grebe was photographed by Andy Field on flat calm waters offshore from Kingsland Road, West Mersea on Wednesday 7th, also four great northern divers seen too.

Later in Feldy View Andy photographed one of the three lesser redpolls that he found on Wednesday morning. At Cudmore Grove Andy saw goldcrest and pochard but only heard little owl, water rail and a Cetti's warbler at the park on Wednesday.
A red squirrel was seen by Daniel Woollard in the back garden of the Cudmore Grove bungalow on Wednesday.

Steve Grimwade visited East Mersea on Wednesday and reported six snow buntings at the Point, two eider, seven red-throated divers, six red-breasted mergansers, three marsh harriers, two sparrowhawks, four rock pipits, two buzzards and a Cetti's warbler.

At Maydays farm four marsh harriers, three buzzards, sparrowhawk and two Cetti's warblers were reported by Martin Cock on Wednesday.

Along the Strood channel on Wednesday morning the tide was just starting to recede and this redshank waited near the seawall.

Two black-tailed godwits had just flown into the Strood channel to feed, as had 40 avocets nearby.

A small flock of dunlin was waiting for the tide to drop on Wednesday along the Strood channel.

A buzzard crossed over the Strood channel flushing off some of the waders feeding on the mud on Wednesday. In the fields 20 linnets, 14 stock doves and a singing Cetti's warbler in one of the bushes.

The regular mistle thrush was high in the poplar trees beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Wednesday, also a song thrush here too. In the Firs Chase garden the song thrush continues to sing each day and a male blackcap was seen on Wednesday.

A flock of 100 brent geese dropped onto the small pond at the bottom of the Strood Hill field, for a bathe and a preen on a very windy Tuesday 6th. The only birds noted during the walk at high tide were 24 avocets, 35 black-tailed godwits, 12 knot with 500 brent geese seen in total. A sparrowhawk flew over Firs Chase.

A female pochard was on the country park pond on Monday 5th, having been hiding in the reeds earlier.

Twelve gadwall were seen on the park pond on Monday with an additional bird seen on the nearby grazing fields. A buzzard, green woodpecker, pair of mute swans, tufted duck and also a grey squirrel were seen from the bird hide overlooking the pond.

On the park's grazing fields on Monday were about 300 wigeon and thirty teal, also one black-tailed godwit feeding.

At East Mersea Point an oystercatcher stood on the water's edge on Monday. Only two snow buntings could be found late morning, although six had been reported earlier. Six ringed plovers were seen close to the beach with some showing signs of territorial behaviour in three locations. A red-breasted merganser was seen in the Colne.

A muntjac deer was seen in a field beside Manwood Grove close to Shop Lane on Monday.

The buck muntjac deer was happily grazing the field during the middle of the day and was photographed from the car.

Caroline White had a walk at Cudmore Grove late on Monday afternoon and reported 150 wigeon, 3 shoveler, 6 tufted ducks, 13 mallard and a pair of mute swans on the park pond.

A neighbour of Caroline White in Dawes Lane photographed this tawny owl at 2am Sunday 4th perched on their house.

At Cudmore Grove Daniel Woollard reported 250 wigeon, 15 shoveler, six tufted ducks, 27 teal, 11 curlew, three little grebes, a brent goose and also six snow buntings at the Point on Sunday.

Birds of interest seen along the Strood seawall on Sunday included 300 brent geese, 70 shelduck, 65 avocets, four black-tailed godwits, bar-tailed godwit, three little egrets, 15 stock doves, 100 linnets, corn bunting and a pair of stonechats.

On Saturday 3rd a black-necked grebe was found by Andy Field off the West Mersea Esplanade, later a great northern diver was seen offshore. At Cudmore Grove Andy saw a dozen siskins feeding in the alders near the park pond with some goldfinches and chaffinches, also a pochard on the pond.

Stunning sunset photographed by Michael Thorley looking west over the Rewsalls Marshes from Coopers Beach on Saturday 3rd.

Another photograph of the red sunset by Michael looking west from Coopers Beach on Saturday evening.

Michael photographed this snow bunting at East Mersea Point on Friday 2nd

A worn red admiral photographed by Michael at East Mersea on Friday 2nd.

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