BLACK REDSTART BRIEF VISIT

A black redstart was found at the East Mersea Oyster Fishery on Saturday 18th by Alan Reynolds, photographed here by Andy Field. It was only reported during the middle of the day.

The black redstart pictured by Andy, looked like a first winter male. There have been nearly forty previous records of black redstart on the island over the last forty or so years, so nearly annual. There have been a few previous sightings here at the Oyster Fishery over the years.

Andy also photographed this female kingfisher at the Oyster Fishery on Saturday. A drake goldeneye was seen by Andy in the Colne and eleven common scoter seen offshore from Cudmore Grove.

Also at Cudmore Grove a redwing drinking at the garden pond of the park bungalow and red squirrel in the garden too, were reported on Saturday by Mollie Kirk.

At Coopers Beach on Saturday a drake common scoter flew east offshore, while ten brent geese, 12 golden plover, 4 little egrets, 20 skylarks, rock pipit, Cetti's warbler and a reed bunting were seen beside the caravan park.

On Friday 17th these three brent geese were photographed by Jon Ward as they flew past East Mersea Point. A kingfisher was seen along the park borrowdyke.

A common gull also photographed by Jon as it flew past the Point on Friday.

A meadow pipit perched up for Jon to photograph on Friday during his visit to East Mersea Point.

A brief visit to the Strood seawall on Friday revealed 20 brent geese, 30 black-tailed godwits, Cetti's warbler, fifty turnstones perched on the boats, also two goldcrest and two chiffchaffs by the Firs Caravan park.

On Thursday 16th a male stonechat was by the Strood seawall, also three other stonechats present along the bushes by the dyke. Birds seen in the fields included 100 linnets, two buzzards, 30 skylarks and thirty meadow pipits, while rock pipit was on the saltmarsh and two swallows flew north-west over the channel. 

Along the Strood channel on Thursday were 13 little egrets - one pictured here with a redshank, also 70 wigeon, 20 teal, 30 ringed plover, 30 dunlin, 50 black-tailed godwits and 13 little grebes.

Some of the meadow pipits on Thursday were feeding on the mud and saltmarsh beside the Strood seawall.

Glen Moore heard a woodlark flying over the Dabchicks sailing club on Thursday morning, although the bird itself wasn't seen.

On Wednesday 15th a dark phase Arctic skua was seen by Andy Field for the second day, offshore from Kingsland Road flying about and then resting on the water early afternoon. Clive Pickering also saw the same bird a bit earlier in the afternoon as he walked along the beach by Seaview Avenue. He heard loud anxious calls coming from some Sandwich terns and when he looked over, an Arctic Skua was in close pursuit, forcing the tern to regurgitate its food. The skua was then seen resting on the sea just offshore.

The Arctic Skua was watched later in the afternoon by Steve Entwistle as it flew about as well as spending long periods on the water. 

A red-throated diver and eight great crested grebes were offshore from the Esplanade on Wednesday afternoon, while Steve reported a peregrine on Bradwell power station and 28 brent geese on Cobmarsh Island. 

Clive Pickering reported a swallow flying along the beach near Waldegraves holiday park on Wednesday.

Along the Strood seawall on Wednesday birds of interest were a greenshank, 30 black-tailed godwits, 15 ringed plovers, five Mediterranean gulls, five stonechats and 30 linnets. Two siskins flew north-east along the seawall near the caravan park and a chiffchaff was in Feldy View.

Hummingbird Hawkmoths were reported on Wednesday in Martin Cock's garden in the Coverts and also in Clive Pickering's garden near Lower Kingsland Road.

A redwing perched briefly beside the Firs Chase caravan park on Tuesday 14th, also two chiffchaffs in the Feldy View area.

Along the Strood seawall there were three Sandwich terns, nine shelduck, 70 wigeon, two marsh harriers, sparrowhawk, four stonechats, two rock pipits and fifty linnets.

Andy Field watched an Arctic Skua offshore from the Esplanade on Tuesday, as it flew high towards Old Hall Marshes. Later it was seen chasing gulls distantly off Bradwell.

At Cudmore Grove a siskin was seen by Daniel Woollard drinking at his garden pond at the park bungalow on Tuesday. 

On Monday 13th a great skua was seen flying up the Blackwater by Martin Cock, also 20 common scoter flying east and two Sandwich terns noted too. Later Steve Entwistle reported nine cattle egrets flying west in front of the Bradwell power station, a peregrine chasing a bird by the power station, also ten brent geese, nine great crested grebes and a Mediterranean gull seen from the Esplanade.

From the West Mersea Hard on Monday late afternoon, Steve Entwistle saw nine cattle egrets flying over Copt Hall, barn owl hunting the same area, two marsh harriers, a Sandwich tern, 30 brent geese were noted from the Hard too.

Birds noted along the Strood on Monday included a redwing over Feldy View, fieldfare calling from bushes by the dyke and five siskins calling as they flew north-east. Also two marsh harriers, buzzard, sparrowhawk, four stonechats, fifty linnets and a rock pipit, while along the channel were 70 wigeon, 15 teal, ten ringed plovers and forty black-tailed godwits.

A male blackcap was in the Firs Chase garden.

Jack Hoy saw a flock of magpies fly over his Mersea Avenue garden.

At East Mersea on Monday a great spotted woodpecker, 8 long-tailed tits and a chiffchaff were seen in Fishponds Wood, Shop Lane by Steve Entwistle.

Near Meeting Lane Michael Thorley reported in his garden buzzard, kestrel, two great spotted woodpeckers, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tit, chaffinches male and female, male blackcap, carrion crows, jackdaws, magpies and wood pigeons. A tawny owl was heard calling on Sunday night.

Two Merveille du Jour moths were in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 16th.

First garden record of Small Mottled Willow, on the 16th.

Spruce Carpet

Beaded Chestnut

Another autumn garden record of Variable Cockroach in the garden moth trap with two noted on the 14th.

PINGING BEARDIES

Two "pinging" bearded tits flew along the Strood seawall towards the Firs Chase caravan park on Sunday 12th, passing over the heads of Steve Entwistle and I. A couple of minutes later a male came back along the seawall and perched on a nearby bush.

The male bearded tit was calling continually with its distinctive pinging calls, as it tried to make contact with its mate, which sadly didn't re-appear. The male continued back along the reedbed to the main corner, still calling and showing for the next hour or more, up near the top of the reeds and when it was in flight.

Further along the Strood seawall on Sunday, a kingfisher perched on the sluice for a few minutes before flying along the dyke. A peregrine flew over the Firs caravan park, four buzzards and a marsh harrier were noted, while in the fields were 30 linnets, four stonechats and 15 meadow pipits, while a rock pipit flew along the seawall.

In the Strood channel there were three Sandwich terns, three greenshank, 80 black-tailed godwits, 100 wigeon, 30 teal, 15 little grebes, three avocets, two brent geese and two Mediterranean gulls.

A crossbill was heard calling from the pine trees in the garden between the Dabchicks and the Firs Caravan park. The crossbill was seen flying out of the trees, circling round as it gained height, before heading back over gardens towards The Lane.

Steve Entwistle saw a small flock of nine siskins in Feldy View on Sunday, also a chiffchaff and clouded yellow seen. Earlier on the seawall there were three clouded yellows and a small copper.

At Maydays farm on Sunday morning Martin Cock reported a great white egret in the borrowdyke, two marsh harriers and a stonechat.

The Firs Chase ring-necked parakeet provided nice views in the garden on Sunday.

The ring-necked parakeet spent a bit of time preening before flying into the nearby holly bush to eat some berries.

This ring-necked parakeet has been in this part of West Mersea for over two months now.

When the parakeet isn't squawking, it's difficult to spot as it blends in well with the green foliage.

Also in the Firs Chase garden on Sunday morning was a red squirrel seen here darting away through the trees after having a drink in the bird-bath. The first garden sighting here since the early spring.

A walk along the Bower Hall seawall on Saturday 11th produced two Sandwich terns, 30+ Mediterranean gulls in the fields, marsh harrier, red kite, rock pipit and a calling yellowhammer, also a brown hare and common seal.

Jack Hoy saw a wheatear and a peregrine at Maydays on Saturday morning.

A Chinese water deer was photographed by Andy Field at Maydays farm on Friday 10th, while we carried out the monthly wetland bird count for the back of the island. 

Highlights from the seawall walk from Maydays to Cudmore Grove included a kingfisher at Maydays and two others by the Oyster Fishery, a water rail seen at the Oyster Fishery and another on the park dyke, five marsh harriers, three buzzards, five Sandwich terns, greenshank, 25 avocets, five stonechats, 48 golden plover, 20 Mediterranean gulls, 30 stock doves, two corn buntings Maydays, four bar-tailed godwits on the Golfhouse saltings, two male blackcaps by the Oyster Fishery, four great crested grebes in the Pyefleet and eight in the Colne / sea.

Charlie Williams during his count from Maydays to the Strood and Esplanade reported merlin over Bonners saltings, green sandpiper Bower Hall, 70 Mediterranean gulls, three Sandwich terns and two common terns Strood channel and a red-throated diver from the Esplanade.

Martin Cock had two possible crossbills seen flying and a red squirrel at Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane on Friday.

Along the Strood seawall on Thursday 9th, four Sandwich terns were feeding, also peregrine, two marsh harriers and 25 avocets, 25 ringed plover, five stonechats, fifty linnets and five corn buntings. Three chiffchaffs and a blackcap were also noted Feldy View and along the seawall.

Martin Cock saw four ravens flying from Colne Point and then passing over the Golfhouse before heading to Brightlingsea on Thursday morning. Also in the Golfhouse area were three blackcaps, two chiffchaffs and a water rail showing well along the dyke.

Michael Thorley visited the Golfhouse area on Thursday afternoon and saw 71 curlew in the park fields, 25 black-tailed godwits on the Golfhouse paddock and also 12 little egrets on the marsh.

A red squirrel was seen in Bromans Lane on Thursday by Charlie Coltman. Possibly the same red squirrel seen by Daniel Woollard in his garden at Cudmore the previous week.

A black-tailed godwit was feeding in the channel behind the Dabchicks sailing club on Wednesday 8th. Also along the channel were five brent geese, 25 avocets, 25 golden plover, two Sandwich terns, while sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, buzzard, four stonechats and fifty linnets also noted flying about. Four chiffchaffs also seen during the walk.

Martin Cock saw two redpolls and two chiffchaffs in Feldy View on Wednesday. Later at the Oyster Fishery there was a kingfisher, stonechat and a water rail showing well in the dyke.

An adder was found dead at Maydays farm by Jack Hoy on Wednesday, while a grey squirrel was found dead on the road near Meeting Lane by Michael Thorley.

A grey wagtail stopped off briefly to feed along the Strood seawall tideline at high tide on Tuesday 7th, seen during a walk along the Strood seawall with Charlie Coltman. Other birds of note seen included nine redpolls, ten corn buntings, eight stonechats including an immature male singing, three swallows, rock pipit, water rail calling, two Sandwich terns, 30 Mediterranean gulls following a tractor, red kite, three marsh harriers, 25 avocets, five brent geese and four chiffchaffs. In the flycatcher corner near Feldy View were five chiffchaffs and a blackcap.

In the Firs Chase garden the ring-necked parakeet was heard calling nearby, also a hummingbird hawkmoth seen at salvia flowers.

A tawny owl was heard by Michael Thorley calling near Meeting Lane on Tuesday evening.

A Tooth Tiger Ichneumon Wasp was seen in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on the 7th - a fairly widespread parasitic wasp.

Mallow moth

Brick moth

A late showing of an Orange Pine Tortrix.

BIRD OF PREY DAY

Six species of bird of prey were seen on Monday 6th during a walk along the Strood seawall. One of the eight buzzards noted, circled overhead providing great views. Eleven marsh harriers was a notable tally too for the morning walk, especially as they all seemed to be heading in the same south-westerly direction. Two of the males were seen close-by from Feldy View as they quartered the field. 

Three red kites also noted on Monday along the Strood, this one circled over the Dabchicks sailing club. Other raptors included a peregrine swooping low over the Strood fields and then crossing over to Ray Island, also two sparrowhawks and two kestrels over the fields.

Six stonechats were easy to spot on the tops of bushes beside the Strood seawall on Monday. Two swallows flew west, twenty corn buntings, seventy linnets, 150 meadow pipits were seen over the fields, while five chiffchaffs, rock pipit and a goldcrest were noted at various points on the walk.

In the Strood channel the first brent geese of the autumn here were noted, twenty Canada geese flew past, four shelduck, 25 avocets, forty ringed plovers and a common gull were of interest while a great spotted woodpecker was seen flying over Ray Island.

Andy Field saw at least two redpolls in Feldy View on Monday, while from the Esplanade three Sandwich terns and 100 meadow pipits heading west in small groups were of interest.

On Sunday 5th two crossbills were seen and heard calling as they flew south-west over the Strood seawall. Eight pintail flew over the Strood channel and flew inland in the direction of Abberton reservoir. Other birds noted were two Sandwich terns, 24 little egrets, two marsh harriers, sparrowhawk, eighty linnets, two rock pipits and a stonechat. Two great spotted woodpeckers were in Feldy View.

Four swans, possibly whooper swans, were seen and heard calling by Rob Lee as they flew over the Bower Hall fields, before turning south over Barrow Hill and in the Glebe direction. 

Charlie Coltman walked the Cudmore Grove circuit on Sunday and photographed two of the three mute swan cygnets on the dyke. At the park pond were 6 little egrets, little grebe, Cetti's warbler, kingfisher and two shoveler. In the fields and by the dyke were green woodpecker, 12 wigeon, 24 curlew, while at the Point were two meadow pipits, flock of linnets, three reed buntings and 200 redshank. At the Golfhouse there were 22 black-tailed godwits, ten goldfinches and a pied wagtail seen.

At Maydays on a very windy Saturday 4th, 34 shelduck in the Pyefleet appeared to be newly arrived in the last few days. 25 avocets, 50 Mediterranean gulls feeding in the grass fields, marsh harrier and buzzard noted too. Two common seals were on saltmarsh in the Pyefleet.

On a damp and breezy Friday 3rd, the only birds noted on the walk between Feldy View and the Dabchicks included a marsh harrier, 32 black-tailed godwits, kestrel, 30 goldfinches, blackcap and a goldcrest.

Jack Hoy shared a photo of one of the three barn owl boxes recently installed on his daughter Emma's field in Shop Lane. Shouldn't be long before the local barn owls take up residence.

On Thursday 2nd along the Strood seawall, birds of note included 24 wigeon, 25 golden plover, 50 ringed plover, 70 black-tailed godwits, three greenshank, two Sandwich tern, common tern, 25 Mediterranean gulls, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier, red kite, 20 corn buntings, six stonechats, forty linnets, while goldcrest and four chiffchaffs were by Feldy View.

Four redpolls were seen by Andy Field in Feldy View earlier on Thursday, although these were flushed when the strimming of the cemetery began.

Birds seen along the Strood seawall on Wednesday 1st October included 50 wigeon, 15 teal, 95 ringed plovers, 21 golden plover, two greenshank, 24 dunlin, 3 swallows, 5 stonechats, rock pipit, 50 linnets and a siskin flying over the Firs Road cemetery.

Martin Cock walked the Cudmore Grove circuit on Wednesday and saw blackcap, 3 goldcrests, 4 chiffchaffs, 3 stonechats and 2 Sandwich terns.

On Tuesday 30th Martin walked the seawall between the Oyster Fishery and Ivy Dock and reported a red-throated diver in the Colne, kingfisher, water rail, four chiffchaffs, lesser whitethroat and six Cetti's warblers. Earlier three Sandwich terns were seen from the Victoria Esplanade.

 Steve Entwistle saw ten red-legged partridges by Bocking Hall farm, while at East Mersea Point six stonechats were seen and an avocet.

A redwing was seen by Mollie Kirk in her Cudmore Grove garden on Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday 30th, a golden plover was feeding on the mud in the Strood Channel.

The redstart was seen again, still present for its third day near the Firs Chase caravan park, except it had moved locations to the small trees beside the dyke at the start of the Strood seawall.

In the Strood channel on Tuesday were 55 wigeon resting on the mud, also 15 teal, 25 grey plover, 100 black-tailed godwits, 20 Mediterranean gulls and three shelduck. Two marsh harriers, red kite, 8 buzzards, kestrel and two sparrowhawks were the raptors seen, while six stonechats, 70 meadow pipits, redpoll flying over, four goldcrests, three Cetti's warblers, five chiffchaffs and blackcap also noted.

Up to five clouded yellows have been seen along the Strood seawall in recent days, this one on the 30th, when a sixth one was by the caravan park. On the 6th there were five along the seawall, three in the weedy field and two reported by the caravan park. A painted lady was along the same seawall on the 2nd and a small copper on the 6th.

The strikingly green-patterned Mervielle du Jour moth was noted in the Firs Chase garden on 1st October.

Red-green Carpet

An interesting record of a small Variable Cockroach nymph was found in the garden moth trap on the 2nd. A species that has been slowly spreading in the south of England since its first UK discovery in 2011 in Kent. There have been just a few records in Essex so far.

PASSAGE REDSTART

A common redstart was present for its second day near the Firs Chase caravan park on Monday 29th, stopping off here on its autumn passage south. It was still feeding in the small paddock beside the lower entrance of the caravan park, perching in the handful of hawthorn and apple trees, as well as along the nearby hedgelines. The bird appeared to be an immature male showing a small white patch on the wings.

Whenever the redstart was in flight, the orange tail showed well. Most of the time the bird stayed in view, although sometimes chased off by a local robin. 

 

A red kite circled over the Strood seawall with five buzzards and then they drifted south over Feldy View before dispersing on Monday. A peregrine flew across the Strood channel heading south-west and two sparrowhawks were also noted.

 

A rock pipit perched on a post beside the seawall, newly arrived for the winter in the Strood channel on Monday. Also along the channel were two greenshank, 64 wigeon, 15 teal, 14 little grebes, four avocets, 100 black-tailed godwits, forty grey plover, thirty golden plover, one knot, thirty Mediterranean gulls and two Sandwich terns.

Only five swallows and five house martins were seen flying through, while five stonechats, 15 meadow pipits, and a corn bunting were seen by the Strood fields. Five chiffchaffs were seen at various points between Feldy View and in bushes along the borrowdyke.

Five clouded yellow butterflies, fifty small whites and a small copper were the butterflies enjoying the sunshine along the Strood.

In Firs Chase the ring-necked parakeet was heard squawking from gardens on Monday late afternoon, also a goldcrest in the trees.

At East Mersea on Monday morning, Andy Field walked the Cudmore circuit and saw the water rail at the back of the park pond, three goldcrests, chiffchaff, wheatear by the old fort, five stonechats, two Sandwich terns, fifty dunlin, 16 black-tailed godwits on the Golfhouse paddock, buzzard and three common scoter that flew up the Colne.

A kingfisher was seen by Steve Entwistle at dusk on Monday in a bush by the Golfhouse borrowdyke, possibly it was about to roost here for the night. Later a badger was seen in Shop Lane crossing the road in front of Steve's car.

On Sunday 28th the common redstart was first found in the small paddock beside the lower entrance of the Firs Chase caravan park, opposite the old wooden jetty. The bird was perching in the small trees and along the hedgeline, flashing its orange tail whenever it flew.

A big flock of swallows was noted over the Strood fields with a hundred birds perching on the telegraph wires in between feeding forays over the fields. A further hundred swallows passed over with thirty house martins and a sand martin. Ten meadow pipits, twenty linnets and six stonechats were also seen in the Strood fields.

Along the Strood channel on Sunday were 42 wigeon, three shelduck, 35 grey plover, 25 golden plover, 25 ringed plover, three greenshank, one knot, ten dunlin, seventy Mediterranean gulls and a common tern. Two chiffchaffs also noted, and four clouded yellows along the seawall.

A red kite drifted across the Pyefleet Channel on Saturday before slowly drifting over the Reeveshall fields. Eight buzzards were seen in the air in various places both on the island and over Langenhoe, while three sparrowhawks were also noted.

Over Reeveshall were 150 swallows, some of them passing south-east, others hunting low over the fields, six stonechats, eight meadow pipits and three singing Cetti's warblers heard. In the Pyefleet Channel were 20 avocets, 60 grey plover, common tern, while seventy golden plover flew overhead.

A wall brown rested beside the Maydays seawall on the sunny Saturday - the species has had a good summer on the island this year.

Two common blues were along the Maydays seawall on Saturday.

A small copper also along the Maydays seawall on Saturday, as were small heath, a late meadow brown, and a few small whites too.

On Saturday late evening a male tawny owl was calling in the Firs Chase area of West Mersea.

On Friday 26th at least 35 little egrets were counted on the Golfhouse saltmarsh at East Mersea, as high tide approached. A further twenty were seen at the east end of the Pyefleet channel, as were a common tern and Sandwich tern. 

The leucistic redshank with its creamy colouring was resting on the Golfhouse saltmarsh pool for the Friday high tide. It was later seen near the Oyster Fishery. Other birds seen on the saltmarsh pools included 45 wigeon, 15 teal and five shoveler.

An avocet fed near the East Mersea Point on Friday, on the nearby mud were 200 black-tailed godwits, four bar-tailed godwits, 50 grey plover, four ringed plover and four shelduck flying up river. A sparrowhawk flew over to Brightlingsea, as did 150 swallows and a sand martin, although twenty swallows crossed west over the Colne. A rock pipit, ten linnets were at the Point while four stonechats were in the grazing fields and a lesser whitethroat by the Golfhouse.

 

A water rail fed in the dyke by the East Mersea Oyster Fishery on Friday. Twenty avocets were on the mud near Reeveshall, two marsh harriers, two lesser whitethroats, forty linnets were seen from the Shop Lane seawall while five chiffchaffs were calling in Fishponds Wood.

Late Friday afternoon an osprey was seen by Mollie Kirk flying north over the East Mersea Point.

A beefsteak fungus was growing on an oak tree in Shop Lane by Fishponds Wood on Friday.

Moths of interest recorded at the Firs Chase garden moth trap during the last week of September included this Black Rustic.

A Hummingbird-Hawkmoth was seen in the garden during Friday.

Barred Sallow

Scarce Bordered Straw

Autumnal Rustic

Deep-brown Dart