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

DABCHICKS GODWITS

Eleven species of wader were present in the Strood Channel on Thursday 25th, including 100 black-tailed godwits. This black-tailed godwit was feeding close in to the path behind the Dabchicks Sailing Club.

Most of the black-tailed godwits were gathered on the mud as the tide came in, near the Dabchicks Sailing Club on Thursday. 

As well as 100+ redshank along the Strood channel, other waders of note were a greenshank, avocet and 28 grey plover. There were also 28 wigeon, 36 teal, 11 little grebes, five Sandwich terns, common tern and two Mediterranean gulls present. A red kite was seen flying over the fields at the top of the Strood hill.

A yellow wagtail dropped down onto the saltmarsh behind the Dabchicks briefly before flying off on Thursday. Eight swallows flew over, eight meadow pipits, 30 linnets were seen and three stonechats were along the Strood dyke. 

Four pied wagtails were feeding along the bottom of the Strood seawall on Thursday.

A clouded yellow clung to the bristly ox-tongue flowers in the moderate breeze along the Strood seawall on Thursday.

Two clouded yellows were also seen, along with a Silver Y moth on Thursday by Jonathan Norgate along the Reeveshall seawall at East Mersea.

Martin Cock watched a juvenile Arctic tern and twenty common terns off the Victoria Esplanade on Thursday.

On Wednesday 24th at Coopers Beach, Martin Cock and Steve Entwistle watched a dark phase Arctic skua flying east, also male common scoter, 15 Sandwich terns, one brent goose, two common terns and two linnets. 

Earlier on Wednesday Martin saw a juvenile gannet flying up the Colne past the East Mersea Point, then it returned back out of the river to Colne Point. Also in the Golfhouse and Point area were a peregrine, four stonechats, water rail seen well, two Sandwich terns, two swallows and a calling little owl. 

Steve Entwistle saw a merlin being mobbed by a crow near to Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane, also two chiffchaffs present on Wednesday. Earlier a tatty Wall Brown butterfly was seen by Steve at Feldy View.

Two black terns were seen by Martin Cock on Tuesday 24th flying offshore from the Victoria Esplanade, also six Sandwich terns, 20 tern sps, immature shag close in and five brent geese.

A male common darter was photographed by Michael Thorley by his garden pond in East Mersea on Friday 19th.

On Wednesday 17th, Steve Entwistle found two spotted flycatchers in Feldy View and also a third one along the path at the top of the Firs Chase caravan park. Also in the area were four willow warblers, six chiffchaffs, two great spotted woodpeckers, twenty goldfinches and a large mixed tit flock including long-tailed tits.

Stuart Reed walked the Strood seawall on Wednesday morning and reported a greenshank, wheatear, forty golden plover, thirty grey plover and a whimbrel, while at East Mersea the water rail was seen running on the dyke edge near the steps to the Point, also eight Mediterranean gulls.

On Sunday 14th Martin Cock visited the Strood and Feldy View and saw a sedge warbler, two willow warblers, ten chiffchaffs, three Cetti's warblers, forty swallows and a sand martin.

Two spotted flycatchers were in Rob Lee's garden on Barrow Hill on Thursday 11th.

Michael Thorley reported seeing in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane 18 long-tailed tits, two swallows and a great spotted woodpecker on Thursday 11th.

WEST MERSEA NIGHTJAR

There was a very unexpected sighting of a nightjar on Wednesday 10th, seen and photographed by Jenella Potter in Captains Road in West Mersea. The bird was seen resting on her neighbour's conservatory but unfortunately it flew off when a window blind was being opened to get a better look at the bird. Nightjars are active at night and spend the day resting on a tree limb or on the ground where they rely on their cryptic colouration to stay hidden. This bird will have stopped off briefly here on its way to Africa for the winter. The last and only nightjar record for Mersea was on 27th April 2003 when Richard Hull saw one in Empress Avenue during the day as he was out walking.

On Tuesday 9th Andy Field visited Cudmore Grove and took this photograph of three of the 32 Sandwich terns that he saw in the Colne.

A wheatear photographed by Andy at the East Mersea Point on Tuesday, also two stonechats seen and seven buzzards north over the horse paddocks.

Daniel Woollard photographed this great green bush cricket at Cudmore Grove Country Park on Tuesday. The last one seen at the park was two years ago on the 11th September 2023 by Jonathan Norgate which was the first record for the island since 1961.

On Monday 8th along the Strood seawall, there were two whinchats, two stonechats, wheatear, 15 linnets seen in the fields, also seen were three sparrowhawks, ten swallows, fifteen little egrets, grey heron, twenty black-tailed godwits and a Mediterranean gull. A clouded yellow flew along the seawall. Three chiffchaffs were noted in Feldy View and by the caravan park.

At Maydays farm on Monday, Martin Cock reported seeing red kite, two wheatears, Sandwich tern and a Cetti's warbler.

Moths of note seen in the Firs Chase garden moth trap during the first week of September included this Barred Red on 7th. The second garden record.

Rosy Rustic on the 7th.

Ruby Tiger on 6th.

Mint Moth during the day on the 7th.

Burnished Brass on the 5th.

Old Lady on 5th.

Dusky Thorn on the 5th.

L-album Wainscot on 5th and 6th.

WALL BROWN SUMMER CONTINUES

 

The wall brown butterfly continues to have a good summer on the island with the latest sighting being in my back garden in Firs Chase on Sunday 7th. The butterfly was sunning itself in the sheltered corner by the back-door.

The wall brown was quite a flighty individual in the garden and at one point flew onto the garage roof to soak up the sun. I think this location is at least the fifth one on the island - two in East Mersea and three in West Mersea. Three of these locations are also in gardens.

Also enjoying the Sunday morning sunshine in the garden were two hummingbird hawkmoths visiting at the same time. The first time two have been seen together in the garden.

One of the hummingbird hawkmoths was sunning itself on the roof of the house on Sunday. Individuals have been visiting the garden most days in the last fortnight.

On Sunday along the Strood channel were three Sandwich terns flying up and down, sometimes resting on tall posts in the water.

As well as the Sandwich terns hunting and flying overhead during the high tide, two common terns also seen. Twenty little egrets were feeding on the saltmarsh during the high tide and one flock of twenty black-tailed godwits flew about. A hobby flew along the Strood seawall and then crossed over to Ray Island.

Two chiffchaffs were noted by the Strood on Sunday, also two wheatears, stonechat, ten swallows and fifteen linnets.

A brightly coloured peacock butterfly rested beside the Strood seawall on Sunday. Two clouded yellows were seen tussling near the sluice, while in Feldy View there were ten small heaths and a common blue.

A male common darter rested on a memorial plaque in Feldy View on Sunday.

On Saturday 6th the kingfisher was seen on five different occasions during a three hour walk along the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall. As well as perching on the regular seawall sluice, it was seen twice checking out this recently cleared out ditch. 

Three wheatears were seen at Maydays on Saturday, also whinchat and stonechat at Maydays and also another whinchat and stonechat 400m away on Reeveshall. A marsh harrier was seen over the Pyefleet, a hobby circled high over Langenhoe and thirty swallows were over Maydays with twenty house martins. In the fields were 36 golden plover, while 140 grey plover gathered on the mud as the tide receded. Five common terns and three Canada geese were in the Pyefleet channel, as were three common seals on the saltings.

A clouded yellow flew along the seawall.

A screen-grab of a video clip taken by Andy Field of a moulting adult curlew sandpiper seen on the mud behind the East Mersea Point on Friday 5th. It was only seen on the one day. Steve Entwistle joined Andy and others and reported seeing 100's of swallows and house martins on wires and flying about between Bromans Lane and the bus turning circle. Also a buzzard, then a blackcap, lesser whitethroat and willow warbler along track to Golfhouse seawall. At the Point were the curlew sandpiper, wheatear, 48 grey plover, 500 black-tailed godwits, 300 redshank, 18 turnstones, 27 Sandwich terns, 17 ringed plover and five Mediterranean gulls.

Daniel Woollard also reported on Friday at Cudmore Grove seeing a nice mixed tit flock in the car park containing eight willow warblers, four chiffchaffs, four blackcaps and a whitethroat. Two reed warblers and a clouded yellow butterfly along the borrowdyke, wheatear also seen by others, two flyover yellow wagtails as well as the curlew sandpiper.

The water rail showed nicely along the Golfhouse borrowdyke for Andy to photograph it on Friday.

An osprey was seen by Martin Cock on Friday afternoon flying over his house heading towards the Strood, also a swift over his house.

Two swifts were also flying over Queen Ann Drive on Friday, presumed late breeders.

In Cross Lane on Friday a spotted flycatcher was showing nicely beside the new pond by the Sanderlings estate.

The spotted flycatcher perched up on some dead branches along Cross Lane on Friday.

By the East Mersea boating lake, two willow warblers were calling to each other on Friday. One of them even gave out a brief song from bushes behind the boating lake.

As well as the willow warbler by the boating lake, there was a sedge warbler here while by the Youth Camp entrance were four chiffchaffs in a tit flock along with goldcrest.

Overhead there was a mass migration taking place on Friday morning of 300 swallows, 300 house martins and six swifts heading west over the Rewsalls fields. One timed count had 100 birds passing in a minute. Twenty meadow pipits and six yellow wagtails were also noted flying west.

Not surprisingly a hobby was seen circling high over the Rewsalls fields with a group of hirundines keeping a close-eye on it.

A common sandpiper was feeding on the plastic grass around the East Mersea boating lake on Friday.

Waders gathered on the nearby side lake included 100 turnstones, 130 redshank and six dunlin. A kingfisher was seen perched on the posts along the old Rewsalls borrowdyke at high tide.

Three wheatears were by the boating lake on Friday - this one on the perimeter path, while two others were on the broken down seawall. A whinchat was on thistles in the field west of the Youth Camp. Also noted were fifteen linnets, four buzzards circling, ten Mediterranean gulls, six common gulls, three teal, ten little egrets and ten little grebes.

Offshore from Waldegraves were 30 common terns and 140 ringed plovers on the shingle island. A marsh harrier flew west over the island and spooked all the gulls, terns and waders into the air.

This willow emerald damselfly was just inside the entrance to the boating lake on Friday, one also on the Sanderlings pond by Cross Lane too. A clouded yellow, brown argus and common blue were by the boating lake and another clouded yellow by Waldegraves, also a painted lady flying past here.

At least ten Firebugs were at the back of the beach to the west of Waldegraves holiday park on Friday.

Michael Thorley also reported 200 house martins passing west over his East Mersea garden on Friday, also a buzzard seen.

On Thursday 4th Martin Cock saw the spotted flycatcher near Feldy View between the rain showers. Also two willow warblers, sand martin and twelve swallows.

Two swifts were seen by Steve Entwistle flying over Queen Anne Drive in West Mersea, presumed late breeders as they were swooping low down to the houses.

A spotted flycatcher was present for its second day in the Feldy View area on Wednesday. A willow warbler and 15 goldfinches also seen, while ten swallows flew over. Seventy black-tailed godwits were by the Dabchicks and ten ringed plovers seen on the mud from the Hard.

A brown argus was in Feldy View on Wednesday.

On Tuesday 2nd the spotted flycatcher was first seen in Feldy View, later staying for three days. A willow warbler, blackcap and lesser whitethroat were also present while a sedge warbler was by the Strood dyke. Two yellow wagtails and two swallows flew over, while two kestrels and a sparrowhawk were noted too. Fifty black-tailed godwits, common tern and two ringed plovers were noted along the Strood.

Along the Strood seawall on Monday 1st were seen a hobby flying south-west, 15 swallows, six sand martins, yellow wagtail and ten linnets. Thirty-six lapwings and five golden plovers were feeding in a field after the overnight rain. In the channel were a greenshank, forty black-tailed godwits, two ringed plovers, common tern and eight Mediterranean gulls. Two willow warblers were in Feldy View.

In Firs Chase the ring-necked parakeet was heard and a hummingbird hawkmoth was in the garden.

At East Mersea Point on Monday Daniel Woollard reported 12 common terns, 23 Sandwich terns, six avocets, 62 curlew, 73 grey plovers, 2 dunlin, 223 black-tailed godwits and 150 redshank.

On Sunday 31st a fairly fresh wall brown butterfly was seen visiting the flowers by the seawall at the corner of the Firs Chase caravan park. A worn individual was seen near here four days earlier.

A clouded yellow was seen resting on the Strood seawall on Sunday, earlier a paler individual flew past without stopping that might have been the Helice pale form.

Birds along the Strood on Sunday included a greenshank, common tern, two marsh harriers, 80 black-tailed godwits, 15 linnets, five swallows and four reed buntings. 

The ring-necked parakeet was heard calling again from the Firs Chase area on Sunday.

Jonathan Norgate found this Firebug on the Strood seawall on Sunday as he was walking along.

At Maydays on Sunday morning a female redstart was found on a mound of earth close to the seawall, although it wasn't seen in the afternoon. Also six greenshank, common sandpiper, two wheatears, two marsh harriers, buzzard and sparrowhawk.

Steve Entwistle looked for the redstart in the afternoon without luck but did see the wheatear, song thrush, twelve stock doves and a common blue butterfly.

Andy Field visited the Golfhouse and Stone Point on Sunday and reported 12 Sandwich terns, four common terns, 200 black-tailed godwits, six bar-tailed godwits, 100 curlew, 30 grey plover, 20 ringed plovers, three marsh harriers ( two over the river from Colne Point), hobby over the river from Brightlingsea and two stonechats in the fields. The biggest surprise was the sight of five red-breasted mergansers flying past the Point and out of the Colne - in August!

Daniel Woollard did an evening watch from the Cudmore Grove cliff meadow on Sunday and reported eleven great white egrets flying east to the Colne, also a Sandwich tern and twelve Mediterranean gulls.

The ring-necked parakeet was heard in the Firs Chase gardens again on Sunday.