ACTION IN THE SUNSHINE

Sunshine returned on Monday 29th after the dull and showery yesterday. Best conditions were in the middle of the morning when the clouds cleared and before the breeze picked up. East Mersea Point was peaceful and calm. Amongst the autumnal colours on display near the beach is this wild Japanese rose-bush with its reddish-pink leaves. Having a bit of sunshine seems to make many of the autumn colours richer and brighter.


The recent high tides have left lots of water on the saltmarsh, which struggles to drain away like it used to because the beach erosion is blocking up the main creek. However the ducks don't mind these pools and a few wigeon, teal and mallard were all happily feeding here.

On the seawall 10 reed buntings were feeding with a few meadow pipits and three stonechats. In the sea-blite bushes at the Point was another small group of reed buntings. Overhead a yellowhammer decided to leave the Island, flying strongly across the river to Brightlingsea. Five skylarks and a rock pipit were also seen in the air near the Point. A flock of 20 goldfinches fed on the thistles in the grazing fields. A flock of 20 curlew gathered in the fields to roost during the high tide.

A family of mute swans swam serenely along the dyke surveying the scene. The three brownish youngsters showed off their flying skills as the family took to the air and headed away.

There was a fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher hurtling eastwards low along the dyke. By the time I reached the park pond another kingfisher appeared from the west, so I reckon these were two different birds. The one on the pond signalled its arrival with some loud whistling and there was a split second view of the dazzling turquoise colours on the back as it headed to a branch overhanging the water.

The incoming tide in the morning resulted in the usual wader fly-pasts as they changed feeding grounds. The regular mixture of at least a dozen different wader species around the Point, provided plenty to look at. The most noteworthy were two flocks of golden plover totalling about 1000 birds, all hunched up on the mud having their daytime snooze. There are often quite a few golden plover that feed on the park at night, so I guess these roosting flocks are catching up on sleep.

Twenty knot were quite close in while scattered as far as the eye could see were several hundred dunlin. Some of the ten avocets counted were resting in a small group, while other avocets fed nearby. Small numbers of both black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits were seen probing the mud with their long bills. Other waders seen were curlew, redshank, grey plover, lapwing, turnstone and oystercatcher. Also feeding on the mud were about 25 shelduck.

At the entrance to Brightlingsea Creek a red-throated diver was enjoying the still waters with some fishing. All round the mouth of the Colne were up to 400 brent geese, dotted along the edges of the shore. Up to 100 were grazing the saltmarsh near the Point, until something spooked them and they all flew off.

Back to the pond, 7 little egrets rested in the willows above the water and down below 20 shoveler, 6 gadwall, 12 teal and 10 mallard could be seen.

In the hedge near the pond a female sparrowhawk suddenly slipped into view without any commotion from the other birds. The sun shone into its bright yellow eyes as it stared intensely around looking for some small bird activity. After a few minutes it left the area and flew up high to the top of a poplar tree pursued by a crow.

Small numbers of siskins and redpolls passed over the park during the day with up to 10 of the former and 2 of the latter although Ian Black saw a handful late in the day by the car park.
There was the strange sound in late morning of the local tawny owl calling, followed ten minutes later by a nearby little owl.

There are still several common darter dragonflies to be seen around and 2 red admirals flew past the pond.

QUIET FEW DAYS

After some recent chilly nights the moth trap was operated at the country park on Thursday 25th. A typically low autumnal catch resulted in twenty-six moths of only eight species. There were several of these feathered thorns, pictured above, with their rich brown colouring. The feather-shaped antennae that give the moth its name, can just be seen here on this male.

The other moths included several November / Pale November moths (identification too tricky to separate), mallow, green-brindled crescent and black rustic.

The suitably named streak moth displays its long white flashes on each wing. This moth was also seen at the park last autumn but its distribution generally in Essex appears to be scarce because of the thinly scattered distribution of broom, which is the food-plant of the caterpillars.

The overcast weather of the last few days have not been ideal insect conditions but the sun on Saturday 27th saw several common darters flying about.

Only one or two bits of bird interest for the last few days. A brambling flew west over Firs Chase calling just after dawn on Tuesday morning and later, five siskin flew east over the park.
In the grazing fields 250 brent geese were feeding, which is the first group to start using the fields this autumn. It is always a welcome sound hearing all the geese chattering excitedly and noisily to each other as they munch their way across the grass.

Martin Cock was on a stonechat count for the Island and with his two at Maydays and another two also at Rewsalls, this brings the tally in recent days to 14 for the Island which is the highest count there's ever been here.
There was also a grey wagtail at Rewsalls on Wednesday and one flew over the park on Friday heading west.

GREY BACKDROP

After the blue skies of recent days, it was back to the grey backdrop of an overcast day on Monday 22nd. A walk alongside the Strood Channel in the middle of the day provided views of plenty of mud with the tide well out. The picture above, looking over to the Ray Island, shows barely a trickle of water in the base of the channel, although there was a good variety of bird interest here.

Four greenshank were the most interesting with their whiter underparts making them easier to spot against the brown surroundings. Fifty dunlin, 50 redshank, curlews, grey plovers and black-tailed godwits were busy feeding, while 20 brent geese, 50 wigeon and 20 teal were the wildfowl clustered along the base of the channel. Four little egrets stalked the shallow waters here too.

Lots more waders could be seen on the main expanse of mud and this uninspiring view above, looking towards the Strood causeway, doesn't convey all the bird activity going on. The regular group of 500 golden plover stood hunched up in the distance with 70 lapwing nearby. I saw this large group of "goldies" on one occasion recently whilst driving along the causeway, trying to continue their snooze while the tide came in lapping round their feet. For the keen eyed drivers passing over the Strood, the yellow-legged gull continues to be seen near the road, often on its favourite lump of concrete.

Fifty knot plodding around the mud appears to be the beginnings of the wintering feeding flock here. In recent years they have become a familiar sight along the channel. As always the redshank were the most widespread here with at least 200 dotted around.

The recently sown arable fields sloping up to the houses, seemed to be popular with various groups of birds. The biggest flock being 2000 starlings feeding noisily and furiously together. Fifty lapwings, lots of wood pigeons, a few carrion crows were also joined by several small brown birds. These were too far off to be positively identified but some were skylarks but others could've been meadow pipits with maybe corn buntings also present. Twenty linnets sat up on nearby wires while close to the seawall, a rock pipit flew over calling.

AUTUMNAL SUN

Sunday really was a day of sun from dawn till dusk. The photo above is just after sun-rise and provided a memorable start to a clear, wind-free and endless blue-sky day. The first part of the sun-rise was a spectacular bright red orb slowly climbing over the horizon. Sadly I wasn't in a position to reach for the camera at that stage.

The calm conditions stayed all day and made it easy to hear many of the birds all around as well as being able to scan the waters of the river Colne and out to sea for birds or seals. As the tide receded in the morning there were fine views of the hundreds of waders feeding close in to the shore.
Staring into the bright sunshine at times, the challenge of identifying many of the waders in silhouette comes down to scrutinising several features such as body shapes, size of bird, bill shape, leg length, feeding action and maybe their calls. Despite lots of scanning of mudflats and checking the various wader flocks, it was all pretty much routine species and of course, enjoyable to watch.

There was one large mixed group of about 500 waders near the Point that were having a snooze as if they had been up all night feeding. A mixture of dunlin, grey plover, knot, golden plover and redshank were enjoying the sunny start to the day.

In the river 16 great crested grebes could be seen scattered along some of its length but no sign of any seals despite the perfect conditions.

More red saltmarshes on view above, at the eastern end of the Island - adding some autumnal colours to the coastal scene. Four little egrets stood hunched up as they waited for the tide to drop, a couple of rock pipits flew around calling while a high flying grey wagtail crossed over the river as it headed west.

The kingfisher was spotted hiding in a blackthorn bush close to the water of the dyke near the Golfhouse. The tell-tale turquoise colour of its back reflected down onto the water. A second view of the kingfisher was seen flying low over the grazing fields but whether this was the same bird, I couldn't say. Ann Cock saw two kingfishers together near here four days ago.

Five stonechats at various locations along the seawall was a good count for this end of the Island and it turned out that Martin Cock saw five more birds at Reeveshall today too. Also from Reeveshall he saw a male merlin on Langenhoe and in the Pyefleet a red-breasted merganser.

In the grazing fields, 120 wigeon were busy feeding on the grass and nearby 12 goldfinches fed on the few remaining thistle seed-heads. The brent geese have not started to feed in the fields yet although there were probably 300 in the mouth of the estuary this morning.

Some trees at this time of year catch your eye and this silver birch in West Mersea certainly did when the sun shone through the leaves.

I've lost count how many times I've walked along the seawall near East Mersea Point but this year is the first time I have noticed the colourful fruit, pictured above, on this bush in the reeds by the dyke. It is a type of cherry plum bush and with very tasty "plums" and yet the fruit is much smaller and rounder than regular cherry plums. Most cherry plums fell off the trees about two months ago too. Also investigating the fruit was a very tame reed bunting and a wren.

Following a recent enquiry about oak apple galls, here is what one looks like at this time of the year. Lots of the oak trees in the country park have all sorts of growths caused by the many different types of gall wasps. The wasps aren't as fiercesome as they sound and are more like small ant-like insects. This old "apple" was green and spongy in late spring and would've provided a home for many gall-wasp grubs, that have since emerged as adults during the summer.

Earlier in the week on Thursday night I had to slow down whilst driving near the East Mersea shop while a brown hare hesitated about crossing the road.

BLOG ACTION DAY

September 15th was decreed Environmental Blog Action Day - so here is an update a few days late from the little island off the Essex coast.

Chill in the air today, Thursday 18th but at least the sun shone all day. As the leaves drop off the trees, a lot of the seeds and berries become more noticeable such as these ripe whitebeam berries in the country park. I'm sure the blackbirds and starlings will have their eyes on them and it won't be long before the trees are stripped bare.

In recent days the jays have been busy flying around the park with great big acorns in their beaks. The acorns are buried in the ground as a food-store for later in the winter - assuming the jays can remember where the acorns are buried.

The blue skies above the park brought the skylarks to life and amongst the handful that were present, was one that rose into the air singing as if it was springtime again. A fieldfare was heard calling from the car park in the morning and there was also a lesser redpoll that flew over.

I noticed lots of birds rise into the air above the recently sown arable field near the car park. Thirty golden plover, 100 lapwings, lots of wood pigeons and 250 starlings which spiralled higher and higher into the air. After lots of scanning I picked out a high gliding sparrowhawk which was obviously the reason the birds took to the air.

On the park pond there was an influx of shoveler ducks with 24 seen which is a sizeable group for here. Twenty mallard were busy displaying noisily to each other at one end of the pond, while a dozen teal snoozed under willow bushes at the other end. The loud flight call of the kingfisher was heard but not seen and later in the day two little egrets dropped in to roost during the high tide.

Despite the sunshine no butterflies were noted, a few common darters and a migrant hawker were seen, while the local adders appear to have retreated for the winter already as none have been seen for three weeks or so.

Walked to the Point for the last hour of daylight and enjoyed the calm waters of the high tide. On the shingle one of the last plants still in flower at this time of year were several clumps of sea mayweed, pictured above. A plant that has a precarious life on the shingle beaches of the Essex coast where they have to adapt to the increasing coastal erosion taking place.

The only small bird noted was a rock pipit that flew into the air calling. However I was treated to a good view of a marsh harrier passing overhead. The anxious mobbing calls of a black-headed gull high above made me glance upwards to see the harrier gliding at least 200 feet overhead, as it headed back to the nearby Langenhoe Marsh for the night.
Three large dark silhouettes of grey herons passed slowly overhead as they crossed the Colne and continued high westwards over the Island.

The setting sun provided some memorable skies which changed colours gradually over the last half hour of light. The view above is looking back west from the Point, where the high tide was just starting to uncover some mud.

Ten species of wader could already be seen feeding on the narrow strip of newly uncovered mud. The fading light was making identification tricky but there was no shortage of the familiar and excited calls from the curlews, both godwits, oystercatcher, grey plover, lapwing, redshank, turnstone, dunlin and knot.

The pink clouds were reflected in the borrowdyke with one or two coots and little grebes sending ripples across the still water. Across the dyke were the regular group of fifty wigeon in the central ditch and a few mallard.

The tranquil scene of the park beach with the flat sea and the pinkish sky reflecting on the water. It had been an eyecatching sunset that was obviously repeated elsewhere in the country because I even heard presenters on the national radio talking about it when I got back into the house.

The last bird of note for the day in the park was a little owl in silhouette, that I saw land on my bungalow chimney for a couple of minutes. After its brief survey of the surroundings, it flew off calling.

I was passed this photo of this strange corpse found recently washed up on the beach here on Mersea. Found by Professor Jules Pretty on September 12th, this is Mersea's first record of mink. It is unlikely to be the last one recorded here as there have been one or two recent sightings of mink close to the Island. It will not be good news for our local wildlife especially the water voles, if mink take up residence here.

Other recent sightings include a wheatear and fieldfare at the Youth Camp on Monday and also the regular tawny owl was seen flying along Bromans Lane on Monday night.

WEB-SIGHTS

One of those foggy starts to the morning of Sunday 14th with a very heavy dew. It wasn't long before the sun was blazing down from a blue sky and with no wind, it ended up being a wonderful autumnal day.

The still conditions at East Mersea Point made it easy for this family of mute swans to paddle across the river Colne from Brightlingsea. It's not often you get to admire the flat surface of this part of the river and even the swans will have enjoyed seeing their own reflections.

A few small birds feeding at the Point included a wheatear, pair of stonechats, 12 meadow pipits and 5 skylarks. A group of 7 avocets flew close-by with their black and white wings flickering in the sunshine as they headed back up river.
On the nearby mud there were the usual large numbers of regular waders such as dunlin, ringed plover, grey plover, golden plover, redshank, curlew, both godwits and avocets. In amongst one group of 15 brent geese were two juveniles and elsewhere around the mouth of the Colne were another 200 brent geese.

The familiar sound of pebbles being knocked together alerted me to the regular pair of stonechats in the grazing fields who seemed to be calling anxiously over the arrival of a third stonechat onto their regular patch. This brought the tally of stonechats for this morning to five. The group of fifty wigeon were crammed into the central ditch with many involved in lots of displaying and calling to each other.

In the main park were two chiffchaffs, the last of the summer migrants still present here.

The heavy dew early in the morning coated all the spiders' webs and silk threads everywhere you looked. Webs that had remained well concealed in bushes or in the long grass suddenly became very visible and quite eyecatching this morning.

The dew-drops on these near invisible lines of silk have separated out into individual droplets of varying sizes.

Even the spiders were coated with dew-droplets such as this common garden spider, showing its distinctive white cross on its back Last month these large spiders and their webs seemed to be everywhere, especially amongst the long grass.

The clearer night sky on Saturday night meant there weren't as many moths in the trap on Sunday morning as the previous evening's haul. The most colourful one seen was this green-brindled crescent with its bright metallic green markings. It should be a regular visitor to the trap in small numbers during the rest of October. There was even the dark form of the moth seen on Friday night here, where the white cresent mark stood out clearly on the dark brown wings.

Other moths seen included black rustic, large wainscot, L-album wainscot, yellow-line quaker, dark chestnut, mallow, treble lines, brindled green and the red-green carpet.

MILD AUTUMNAL NIGHT

Saturday 13th began with a check of the moth traps. For once the Friday night-time weather appeared ideal for insect activity as the wind had dropped, no rain was forecast, there was no bright moon and it was cloudy. As a result 140 moths of about 30 species was a worthwhile return from the two traps operating at the park. One of the daintiest and attractive of the autumn moths is this red-green carpet pictured above with its combination of green and subtle red colours.

Other moths recorded were large wainscot, L-album wainscot, mallow, angle shades, barred sallow, satellite, black rustic, streak, green brindled crescent, yellow-line quaker, common marbled carpet, mottled umber, autumnal rustic and lunar underwing.
One of the moths with the richest brown markings is this dark chestnut, pictured below.

The mild night-time weather brought out all the crane-flies who swarmed into the trap, along with several fiercesome looking ichneumon flies and thousands of tiny flies that collected in heaps at the bottom of the traps.

Birdwise on the park, the first fieldfare of the autumn was heard "chacking" but not seen, while a group of 12 blackbirds and 2 song thrushes along one of the hedges were probably new immigrants. The male sparrowhawk was glimpsed flying through the trees and the local kestrel continued to hunt over the neighbouring "weed-field". A yellowhammer called as it flew over the park, whilst at the Point a wheatear was seen on the beach.

As there was a sunny end to the day the last hour of daylight was spent along the Pyefleet. The sun set low over the pool at Reeveshall where the only ducks on view were plastic decoys, put in place by a couple of wildfowlers who hid nearby for the real ducks to fly over.

The regular pair of stonechats perched up on the fence near the Shop Lane seawall. Martin Cock earlier in the afternoon had a pair of stonechats at the west side of Reeveshall and a third bird at Maydays farm. He also saw a merlin and was able to hear some bearded tits calling from Broad Fleet on Reeveshall in the still conditions.

The only other birds seen on Reeveshall were 150 lapwings and a handful of golden plover. No real waders or wildfowl of note along the Pyefleet other than the usual suspects. One marsh harrier flew over Langenhoe Point and once the sun had dropped down, 250 rooks and jackdaws headed off the Island north-eastwards to their roost near Alresford. A little owl called from somewhere to the west of Shop Lane.