WALKABOUT WEST

Sunday 3rd was another warm and sunny day. Gentle circular stroll of about a mile round the western edge of West Mersea in the afternoon delivered a nice variety and all within earshot of the built up part of the village.

This common blue butterfly posed perfectly several times low down amongst the meadow of the Feldy Woodland cemetery. The tall grasses and the low flowering white clover suited this colourful common resident. Several holly blues were seen today too but usually in the gardens or beside bushes. The common blue prefers the grassland areas.
The underside of the common blue is more heavily marked with a pretty row of orange spots showing up well. The only other butterfly enjoying the sun was a small heath.

The Feldy field / woodland-to-be, is a tranquil corner on the top of the slope with sweeping views down to the Strood Channel. Ox-eye daisies have taken over this little corner of this woodland cemetery. Whitethroats sing their scratchy songs from nearby hedgerows and on the overhead wires below the slope the corn bunting jangled monotonously away, whilst in the distance a skylark could be heard. Hawking insects over the fields here were groups of swifts, swallows and lots of house martins from the nearby houses.
In a couple of spots the hedge woundwort has recently come into flower with its dark red flowers, pictured below. Although it is commonly found in hedges, woods and other shady places on the mainland, it has a restricted range here on Mersea.
The West Mersea church of St Peter and St Paul, located close to the hub of the village, is another tranquil oasis. I scanned the area in case any spotted flycatchers may have taken up residence but without luck. This is the last place where the birds nested on the Island about five years ago. Sadly the population has declined across most of southern England and Mersea has to make do with seeing birds only on passage now. A couple of blackbirds hopped across the grass looking for worms and a greenfinch called from the trees above.
Walking along the St Peters meadow not far from the church, a reed warbler sang from the reedbed, a whitethroat flitted along some bushes and a blackcap could be heard with its loud fluty song. A pair of linnets flew over the saltmarsh and a house sparrow joined in the bird chorus too.
The typical birds noted on the walk along quiet streets and leafy avenues included several goldfinches, greenfinches, chaffinches, robins, blackbirds, song thrushes, wrens, dunnocks, house sparrows and even the high pitched song of the tiny goldcrest.
Lots of interesting wildlife on our doorsteps and lots more we don't realise is living beside us!

PRICKLES AND POPPIES

"That damned elusive Pimpernel" was how the undercover hero was described in the novel The Scarlet Pimpernel, as he tried to rescue aristocrats from the guillotine during the French revolution. A stroll in the sunshine round Willoughby car park on Saturday 2nd revealed one or two delights. On some recently disturbed ground, it wasn't too hard to find the "elusive" scarlet pimpernel with the small red flowers open wide to the sun. The plant is actually quite common on the bare ground on Mersea, as it is on the mainland.

In the cooler corner where the ground may be a bit damper, there were a handful of common spotted orchids getting ready to flower. This was the biggest specimen pictured above, which took a bit of finding amongst the tall grass. The pale pink flowers should be out in another two or three weeks time.

Flourishing on some bare soil was this large clump of common fumitory pictured below, a typical plant of waste ground and arable field margins. Supposedly if the roots are pulled up, the strong acrid smell is similar to the fumes of nitric acid and this "smoke of the earth" gives the plant its name.
It has only been in the last week that the bright red flowers of poppies have sprung up in various corners of the Island. Always eye-catching, these common plants are always a favourite with many people. They are at their most striking in a farmer's field if the herbicide misses a section, which allows them to flourish. Elsewhere we have to make do with small patches where the soil has been recently disturbed.
The diggers have been working on the corner at Waldegraves trying to build up the sea defences. The churned up soil has spurred the poppies into action where they can make the most of the lack of competition from other plants. When the diggers move out of the way, they will have a fantastic view out to sea.

It was perfect weather for enjoying the beach and many families were taking advantage of the sea, sand and sunshine. For those with an interest in the plant-life, it was really encouraging to find good numbers of sea holly plants dotted along the beach. Their very distinctive prickly leaves have a bluey-green colour and some of the bigger plants had flowers in their very early stages.

Beach lovers who enjoy lying on the sand need to know which plants could give them an uncomfortable time. Obviously the sea holly but this lone slender thistle pictured below, looks a bit vulnerable to being flattened. Slender thistle is found in a handful of sites close to the beach on the Island and currently is showing lots of tiny, compact pink flowers. One clump of flowers at the park was being enthusiastically picked over by a pair of goldfinches the other day.
The bright sun, fresh sea breeze, lots of folk and the high tide limited the variety of other wildlife on show. In Willoughby, mistle thrush, greenfinch, house martins and lots of young squawking starlings were noted along with speckled wood and holly blue butterflies.
A pied wagtail skipped amongst the beach-huts whilst out at sea small groups of oystercatchers flew past.

HIGH AND LOW

The Strood seawall had the pleasure of my company twice on Friday 1st June and with plenty of blue sky both the walks were very pleasant and peaceful. These first two photos are the same view looking towards the Dabchicks sailing club, except with a six hour difference with a high tide on the first, then low on the second. (The first also shows Monty having to cool off in the water!)


On the start of the seawall walk, a large patch of cat's-ear was the first plant to catch the eye. The tall spindly stalks each had a bright dandelion-type yellow flower waving gently in the breeze. This was the only big colony anywhere to be found on the seawall and one of the few sections that had any real colour.


Half-way along the walk a real splash of colour was provided by this small clump of poppies growing on some disturbed ground inside the seawall.
Keeping their colourful purple petals tightly wrapped up in the midday sun were lots of salsify plants. These plants must be increasing around the Island as this is the first year they have been getting noticed by people.
At certain stages during spring some grasslands turn a real red colour when carpets of sheeps sorrel flowers. When the flowers are just emerging and depending on the angle of the sun, the red can be really intense. Close up the plants are rather insignificant but at this time of year, they are always worth stopping to admire.

There was little birdlife to see along the Strood during the high tide with all the mud covered. However at low tide in the early evening it wasn't much better except for lots more black-headed gulls. One or two redshank, a handful of oystercatchers and a couple of shelduck were noted.

The best views of "sea-birds"was inside the seawall with some terns hunting along the water in the dyke. First to appear was a little tern with its very bouyant flight, it provided close views of its white body, black head with white forehead and yellow bill. It stooped down to pluck shrimp-type food off the surface. Ten minutes later a common tern did the same thing, flying effortlessly several times up and down the dyke. It too swooped several times down to the water to pluck little silvery creatures from the surface. Each swoop was virtually carried out without getting the body wet but each time rewarded with a tasty morsel.

A pair of yellow wagtails gave very close views as they fed along the top of the seawall. The bright yellow underparts of the male was a real treat to admire as it stood in an upright stance. Elsewhere the familiar jangles of three corn buntings accompanied my walk while the effortless rambling warble of three reed warblers brought some life to the thick reedbeds. Sedge warbler and a few reed buntings were also seen.

Chasing after the many airborne insects were swifts, house martins and some swallows. A cuckoo could be heard calling from Ray Island while a scan over to the distant Old Hall Marshes revealed two marsh harriers soaring high .

The first dragonfly of the area this spring was a male emperor dragonfly patrolling up and down a section of the dyke. The long blue body and fast flight is easily recognised and will be a familiar sight during this coming summer.
The sun was dropping down in the early evening casting a bright beam across the mudflats of the Strood Channel.

SUN-SHINES AGAIN

After recent wet, cold and northerly winds, the last day of May was a return to the sunny spring.
Having not really seen any adders at the park for a few weeks, managed to see four today. This very brown coloured male was snuggled under a corrugated metal sheet until I peeked underneath. Later in the day I had to check my footing on one of the paths when I noticed a second adder crossing just a few paces in front of me.

This is the peak of the wild rose bushes in flower with many of these dog-roses sporting a deep pink colour. There is wonderful fragrance in the air when you walk along certain parts of the park especially where the fast growing bushes force their way onto the paths, making you having to brush past them.
Enjoying the sunshine was the pretty green hairstreak, seen resting on some oak leaves near a path. Holly blues, common blue, red admiral, speckled wood, several small heaths and small copper were also noted. On the short grass in the car park I picked up a dead cream-spot tiger moth and put it in long grass only to find it was alive and only trying to remain motionless so as not to attract attention.

Early in the day the brightly marked male sparrowhawk with its peach coloured upper chest, hurtled through the back garden, to the consternation of the local blackbirds. A whimbrel flying past was the only wading bird of note seen during the day.

It was pleasing to see these pretty pink flowers of the ragged robin, pictured below, growing by the side of the park pond. This is the only place on the Island where it grows and it is the first time for about four years that it has reappeared here. The lack of its favourite wet meadows, marshes and damp woodlands have restricted it on Mersea. The straggly pink petals look as if they've got frayed and shredded by the wind.
The sunny weather brought a few dragonflies out and the first big emperor was seen dashing back and forwards over some long grass. There was also a black-tailed skimmer seen and lots of blue-tailed damselflies and azure damselflies basking on vegetation along the sheltered paths.
The two mute swan families are doing well so far with their broods of cygnets. Both families have six young each and these ones pictured above, are tucking into the duckweed and algae in the central ditch in the grazing fields. They'll have been relieved that ditches are once again at a nice high level after recent rains, which will help feed the cygnets for longer this summer.

A check of the wet pools and creeks for breeding waders seemed to indicate there was just the one pair of redshank and one pair of lapwing as both rose anxiously into the air calling. The thick spread of dock plants this spring has meant it's impossible to see any birds on the ground. However there was the bright outline of a little egret seen standing by one pool of water.

Although there are some cattle in the fields, the grass continues to grow at a rapid rate and one of the most eye-catching colours at this time of year is the pink of Yorkshire Fog. Normally grass does its green colours very well, but occasionally it can surprise us with other striking colours too.

Driving along the East Mersea road I had to slow down while a pair of yellow wagtails finished catching some insects. A barn owl was seen out quartering an overgrown grass field near the East Mersea pub at 8am - three hours after dawn!

In the evening, there were the usual pipistrelle bats hawking along the various lanes ahead and above the car. What was noteworthy was the sight of two larger bats near the Fox pub hunting along the road at dusk, their wingspan and body size noticeably larger than the widespread pipistrelles. It is possible these two bats could be serotine bats as I believe a small colony were found not far from here several years ago.

TURN THE TAP OFF

How grumpy can a chick look? On a day like today - very! I nearly stood on this motionless bundle of feathers in my front garden at the park on a very sodden bank holiday Monday 28th. This very young great tit chick had only just flown the nest with its fellow siblings a few minutes earlier, as it had only managed to get about 7 metres away. I could hear its young brothers and sisters calling from the bush close-by.
What a miserable introduction to the big, wild and very wet outside. It had rained almost continuously over the weekend, finally dumping around 3 inches of rain here at East Mersea.

The picture below shows the delightful "bijou-res" where the tits successfully raised a family this week. Down inside the hollow breeze-block, in the rear column supporting my fuel tank. Last year chaffinches managed to rear their family here and the year before another great tit pair were the first to use this site.
In my rear garden another pair of great tits who had evicted the regular blue tits from a nest box earlier in the season, got their young brood up and out a few days ago. Meanwhile the homeless blue tits came round to the front garden and raised their brood under the red roof tiles, just out of picture. This family chose to leave their roof over the heads on this wet day too.
It was not a day for being out and about and not surprisingly, there were neither many visitors to the park or even much wildlife to watch. A group of about ten swallows were hawking low down along some trees that offered them some shelter from the driving rain. Surprisingly the garrulous nightingale by the park entrance was even heard singing in the rain.

On the park pond the usual ducks such as tufted duck, ruddy duck and mallard revelled in the downpour. They were joined by a male pochard when I peered through the rain drops in the middle of the afternoon.
Visibility was poor for the whole day and even the opposite side of the river Colne was difficult to make out under the big grey skies. Here at East Mersea Point even the sea scouts had packed up their sailing gear and gone back to their sodden tents.

Out on the mudflats apart from the usual oystercatchers, one lone bar-tailed godwit was seen while 8 turnstones took advantage of a deserted beach to search through the seaweed on the strand-line. Many of the turnstones were sporting their bright white heads which always seems so eye-catching probably because we get so used to seeing large flocks daily here during the winter when they all have brown heads.

LIVING THE WILD-LIFE

Thursday 24th was party night for members of the local Mersea Wildlife Forum at Cudmore Grove Country Park. We know how to have a good time while we watch our wildlife - washing down various snacks with a glass of shiraz.
The local rabbits came out in their usual waves from the long grass to indulge in their own evening party, snacking on the green grass.

This is the only outdoor meeting of the Wildlife Forum held during the year and 24 members had to endure a leisurely evening stroll around the park to build up an appetite. We saw a couple of red admirals catching the late evening sun, a couple of skylarks pouring their rich songs out as tiny pin-pricks high in the sky, the swan family with cygnets, ruddy duck, tufted ducks and mallard with three ducklings. Sadly neither of the two nightingales sang for us although one did call out repeatedly and a few of us managed to catch a brief glimpse of a fox cub dashing for cover.
The warm sunshine earlier in the day brought out several butterflies such as this pretty holly blue with its ice cold blue colour to the underwings. Speckled wood, peacock, orange-tip, small heath and small white were some of the other butterflies seen. Few dragonflies have been seen so far although there was a second sighting of a black-tailed skimmer flying low over the grass.

Back to Thursday evening. After the last of the members of the Forum left, the moth trap was set out in my back garden in cloudy, warm and still conditions - perfect for moths. In fact it was the best night for variety so far this year and by the time the light was switched off at 4.15am, 37 species of "macro-moths" totalling 120 individuals had been noted. The highlights as usual were the big boys - two poplar hawkmoths and 8 cream-spot tigers. Also of note were oak hook-tip, pale tussock, silver-Y, white ermine,Shoulder-striped wainscot, common marbled carpet, blood vein, clouded sliver, white-point, 20 marbled minors, snout, willow beauty, common wave, shears, sandy carpet and treble lines.

This moth below has an easy way to remember the name as the white scribbled mark on its wing has given it the name, figure of eighty - as if it has been branded on.
This lively but eye-catching little moth below has the long name, cream-bordered green pea. The green colour makes it stand out from the other moths but amongst the foliage it is perfectly camouflaged. I think this is the first record for the Island.

THE FOX FILES

After a few dull days recently, Tuesday 22nd turned out to be sunny and warm. The beach at Cudmore Grove has been relatively deserted both for birds and people. High tide in the late afternoon saw one or two common and little terns flying past.

The moth trap was put out on Monday night and being overcast and still, it was rewarding with 30 species noted such as this common moth pictured above - the burnished brass. This average sized moth looks brownish at first glance but a second glance especially with a torch, reveals an incredible brass sheen on its wings. This dazzling shine is a marvel of nature and would beat any brass rubbing enthusiasts hands down - all without the aid of Brasso.
Other moths included two poplar hawks, four cream-spot tigers, pale oak beauty, green carpet, clouded border, Shoulder-striped wainscots, common wainscot, silver Y, peppered moth, willow beauty and light emerald.

Several vertical columns of pink stood on the cliff in the shape of foxgloves. Just coming into flower they should add some colour to the area over the two or three weeks.

In the park two green hairstreaks were seen tussling with each other near the hide, spiralling round and round in a frantic pursuit of each other. When they settled on nearby bushes, their green undersides instantly blended in with the foliage. The cuckoo was seen perched in a bush near the pond calling loudly. Four avocets were still present on the pools near the Point.

Just before dusk a fox family with the vixen and three cubs, were watched behind the pond. The cattle grazing nearby seemed to be hugely fascinating to these two-thirds from full-size cubs. They sat down with their typical upright posture, staring intently at the big cows. Every so often they would pin their little furry ears back and race round in circles as they tried to inspire their siblings to play.

Apart from the usual pipistrelle bats flying around the park at night, I was pleased to find the droppings of the lone long-eared bat in its usual night-time resting spot in the ladies toilets - where else?

Martin Cock saw the continental race of yellow wagtail called blue-headed wagtail, near Rewsalls Farm.
Martin Dence reported that he watched a spotted flycatcher near his pond at Bromans Farm- the only report of this species on the Island this spring. Also a reed warbler there and a pair of yellow wagtails in his horse paddock. The kestrels and barn owls appear to be nesting again in boxes in his barns.