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.