COLD AND GREY AT THE POINT

I joined Andy Field at the East Mersea Point on a cold and grey Sunday 30th, so that I could try and see the big flock of 34 snow buntings that he'd found early in the morning. Unfortunately the birds had taken off by the time I got there and had flown east across the Colne to the beach at Point Clear. This is the biggest flock of snow buntings to have been seen so far this winter here, although there had been a report of about 25 birds seen here the day before.

In the river Colne we saw two eiders treat us to a nice fly-past as they headed up river, dropping down near Rat Island. Ten red-breasted mergansers were busy doing lots of diving under for food, with several big gulls waiting nearby to see what they brought back up. A female common scoter was seen in the outer part of the estuary and there was a fly-past from one goldeneye. About five great crested grebes were also seen in the river. One common seal swam slowly out of the river, popping up every so often to stare at us, while a bit later a second seal was seen just in the Pyefleet.

As the tide came in, many waders started to gather on the nearby mud by the Point under a dark grey sky as pictured below, Howard Vaughan with his group of birdwatchers from south Essex, managed to find a curlew sandpiper feeding on the mud - a winter rarity for Mersea. Apart from the usual frenzied wader activity in this area, there were 70 avocets seen and a roost of about 400 golden plover.

On Langenhoe 5 marsh harriers circled above the reedbed lagoon at the Point, while nearby on the Rat Island a peregrine was seen a couple of times doing some low-level flights, disturbing flocks of birds before settling down on a low post in the saltmarsh. Amongst the oystercatcher roost on the Point were a reasonable roost of godwits, the majority appearing to be bar-tailed with at least 20 birds present. On some distant bushes on Langenhoe were 50 fieldfares flying about.

On the park grazing fields most of the bird activity seemed to be around the recently flooded sections of the fields. There was a nice selection of wigeon, teal, mallard, moorhens, redshank, curlew and black-tailed godwits all enjoying the wet conditions. The regular flock of 50 goldfinches were still present and 3 stock doves were also noted.

A sparrowhawk was seen flashing low across the park in the middle of the day and then just after nightfall, there was a good view in the car headlights of a tawny owl, perched just inside the park entrance. Four winter moths gathered round the lit window after dark at the house in the park.

Off shore from the esplanade at West Mersea, Howard and his group later saw 4 great northern divers. The previous day Graham Ekins had seen 2 great northern divers, Slavonian grebe, shag, common scoter, 5 goldeneye, Mediterranean gull and 12 red-breasted mergansers. By the Strood he also noted the big flock of 3000 golden plovers and also 200 knot.

STOCKING UP FOR WINTER

As winter sets in, all the berries on the bushes around the country park are disappearing fast. These cotoneaster berries pictured above, in the car park on Thursday 27th, are virtually the last type of bushes with any fruit on show. The blackbirds especially have been stocking up for the winter by stripping the berries off as have the occasional song thrush, mistle thrush and one or two wood pigeons. There don't appear to be any hawthorn berries left on the bushes and the hungry blackbirds have even started on the rose-hips too which seems early in the season for here.

A brightly marked male sparrowhawk with peach-coloured cheeks and throat, swooped briefly onto my back garden fence to check the area out for small birds. Earlier a female sparrowhawk was seen at the back of the park pond, being mobbed by a jay. On the pond were 4 tufted ducks and a heron amongst the other regular resident wildfowl.

On the grazing fields 200 wigeon fed in one corner while in other parts of the fields 12 black-tailed godwits, 50 goldfinches and 7 stock doves were noted.

At the Point 9 snow buntings appeared from somewhere, flying over the beach, circled a couple of times and then flew eastwards across the river Colne to the beach at Point Clear. The incoming tide forced many waders into the last corner of mud with 25 avocets the most eye-catching. The biggest concentrations were 1000 dunlin and 100 knot with small numbers of grey plover and redshank. Just offshore from Ivy Dock in the river were 90 shelduck but little else in the Colne.

A cloudy, dry night on Tuesday seemed suitable for some winter moth-trapping at the park but only one winter moth showed up all night. The tawny owl was seen flying along Bromans Lane in the car headlights on the same evening.

TYPICAL WINTER WALK

A day of contrast between the morning and the afternoon on Sunday 23rd as shown in the two photographs above of the beach at the country park. There was a feeble dusting of snow in places early in the morning which struggled to settle. The biting cold wind then whipped up, stinging the face with wintry rain, followed by a torrential downpour late in the morning. By contrast the afternoon was glorious sunshine with hardly a cloud in the sky, as in the second picture above.

It was a bit unfortunate that I'd arranged that Roy Croucher, visiting from France, should come to the country park for some typical winter birdwatching on the Essex coast, along with mutual friend Bob Graves. By the end of the morning walk to the Point we were drenched and it ended up being pointless trying to peer through binoculars or spectacles as they were coated in water!

We battled our way along the beach and were finally rewarded with some waterlogged views of four snow buntings, feeding on the grassy part of the Point. A little further along we saw the snow buntings again but this time with five birds. In the rain we couldn't be sure if this was a different flock feeding 40 metres apart. However a visit back to the area in the afternoon sunshine, revealed a single flock of 8 birds. Finding some snow buntings on the morning walk provided a drenched reward for braving the elements. Andy Field had seen 5 snow buntings two days earlier, on Friday at the Point.

Some of the other birds noted at the Point were 5 sanderling, several knot and 3 bar-tailed godwits along with the other regular waders arriving to feed as the tide dropped. In the afternoon a marsh harrier glided south over the Point and then across the river Colne, as it headed for a late afternoon hunt at Colne Point. A common seal was seen in the river just off from the Point.

Along the seawall 2 stonechats, a few meadow pipits and skylarks were the main small birds noted. At least 200 wigeon were feeding either on the saltmarsh or on the grazing fields, many whistling loudly as they took to the air. Also in the fields were a handful of black-tailed godwits feeding with some curlew, while 2 snipe were seen flying away.
At the park pond a snipe flew off calling, while the usual ducks of shoveler, gadwall, teal, mallard and wigeon were still present.

One section of the grazing fields is looking like a flooded water meadow after all the recent rain, as shown in the picture above. Hopefully as winter progresses, the waterlogged fields should provide good feeding for the ducks and waders. Only a handful of brent geese were seen in the fields, as the main flock were feeding elsewhere in East Mersea.

In a field to the east of Manwood Grove near Shop Lane, there was an interesting mix of waders on Sunday morning. Fifty lapwing, 100 golden plover and about 50 curlew, along with some gulls and rooks, were busy feeding while the tide was high on nearby mudflats.

On Saturday Martin Cock saw a short-eared owl fly out of the long grass at Rewsalls Marsh near Coopers Beach. This follows a recent sighting by Michael Thorley of two short-eared owls here. Graham Ekins noted 2 great northern divers, 2 goldeneye, 4 common scoter, red-breasted merganser and a Mediterranean gull, off-shore from West Mersea on Saturday.

On the mammal front, I received an interesting report from local resident Rosemary Dickson about a muntjac deer seen early in the morning in the country park about a month ago. This is the first report of a muntjac at the country park, other than two strandline corpses in recent years.

CHILLY BLAST

The most sheltered spot from the chilly Arctic wind at the country park on Saturday 22nd, was below the cliff along the beach. The early morning was the best part of the day and as the tide headed out, there were lots of waders arriving to feed.

Many of the waders would be eager to get back to a normal day's feeding after the strange goings-on with the tides on the day before. The strong northerly winds prevented the tide from going out around the middle of the day. The sea didn't even get to its usual halfway mark and at times was even flowing back in again.

There were some big flocks of waders flying around the mudflats that were exposed such as 500 knot and 1000 dunlin, while overhead there was a prolonged whooshing sound like a gust of wind, as 1000 golden plover flew past.

The waders that were waiting for the tide to recede from the beach on the sunny Saturday morning included a group of 20 turnstones and a sanderling resting on a partially submerged pillbox. Out at sea a red-breasted merganser flew westwards low over the water.

In the grazing fields 300 brent geese and 100 wigeon grazed while 25 goldfinches fed on some of the old thistle-heads. Along the seawall the usual pair of stonechats perched up on a bush.

There seemed to be more ducks at the park pond today with nearly 200 birds on show, although many more were probably hiding amongst the reeds. Most were mallard with at least 120 seen, also 30 teal, 30 shoveler and 6 gadwall. The regular pair of mute swans, little grebes and coots added to the spectacle.

Later in the day Andy Field noted 5 snow buntings on the beach at the Point.

LAST DAYS OF AUTUMN

It turned out nice on Wednesday 19th for a walk to the Point at East Mersea with the calm conditions allowing the water in the dyke to reflect the blue sky above. A walk around the beach at this east end of the Island only produced 3 reed buntings, 2 rock pipits and a couple of linnets. The elusive snow bunting wasn't located until it was flushed off the beach back towards the park by a dog-walker, as I was returning along the seawall. The bird called out clearly as it took off and passed overhead, flashing the big white panels in the wings, as it headed back to the Point.

Despite the clear conditions there was little of interest in the river Colne, although with the tide well out, there was the usual mix of waders and wildfowl along the muddy edges of the river. Fifty avocets fed near Ivy Dock and 400 golden plover gathered just north of the Point in their usual spot. Feeding amongst the wetter parts of the saltmarsh close to the seawall were 100 wigeon.

Some of the brent geese fed quite close into the shore on the green algae growing on the mud, as shown on this patch of mud in front of the park cliff in the picture above. Up to 400 brent geese were seen in the area with most of them flying onto the grazing fields to feed later. The brent hadn't been in the fields long, when a low-flying sparrowhawk passed nearby, sending the geese away.

There was the nice but brief sight of an immature marsh harrier passing over the pond and then the grazing fields, before it drifted north over the Golfhouse. At the park pond the majority of the ducks such as mallard, teal and shoveler, stayed hidden amongst the reeds or under some of the sallow bushes. A small group of gadwall and coots gathered around a pair of diving dabchicks, picking off items disturbed from the bottom of the pond. A water vole was seen swiming along one section of pond-edge, quickly scuttling into the cover of rushes.

The cloudy and relatively calm start to Wednesday evening seemed a good opportunity to put the moth trap out at the park. There was a good showing of these December moths pictured above, with 11 found in and around the trap in the morning. Less than a handful of this species were recorded last year, so this seems quite a good showing of this late flying moth. It is getting harder to find suitable nights for moth-trapping as it is usually very chilly, too windy or maybe raining. The only other moths found in the morning included scarce umber and yellow-line quaker.

Earlier in the middle of Wednesday a red admiral flew rapidly past the park pond.

Martin Cock had visited Maydays farm on Wednesday morning and noted 9 white-fronted geese flying west from the direction of Brightlingsea towards Peldon. Also seen was the flock of twite still feeding along the side of the seawall but numbers now up to 12 birds. Two stonechats, a few corn buntings and rock pipit were also seen. On Langenhoe there were 7 marsh harriers flying around and a goldeneye was seen in the Pyefleet.

Later from the Esplanade with Andy Field, were 2 great northern divers and 2 eiders seen feeding quite close in. There was no sign of the 100+ common scoters that had been seen flying into the river Blackwater the previous day by Martin.

Many of the trees have dropped their leaves and these oak leaves pictured above, lie thick in some places. The sunny weather this week is forecasted to give way this weekend to wintry weather, so it seems likely that the autumn season will give way to winter.

Bird highlights around the park for Thursday included 700 brent feeding in the grazing fields, 200 wigeon, 40 goldfinches and 20 greenfinches also here too. Out on the mud was a feeding group of 300 knot, while passing over the park was a lesser redpoll. Four tufted ducks were present on the pond and tucked amongst the reeds were at least 20 shoveler, along with the usual mallard, teal and gadwall.

MUD-FLATS AND MUD-FIELDS

Recent rains have left flooded pools in the fields along the Strood on Monday 17th. A few birds were taking advantage of the waterlogged conditions to feed and this pool above was where a ruff was found amongst a handful of lapwing. As the tide came in, the ringed plovers were forced off the nearby mudflats and at least 40 arrived at these pools to continue feeding on the muddy field.

Another field was being grazed by 500 brent geese, heads down tucking into the winter wheat. That was until the local farmer arrived nearby and fired his gun to scare the birds off. This wasn't aimed at the brent geese although they quickly got the message but masses of wood pigeons tucking into his rape crop. It was only when the 2000 pigeons took to the air that the size of the flock could be appreciated.

Other birds seen around the fields were a flock of 30 skylarks, 25 corn buntings, stonechat, 3 reed buntings and 2 mistle thrushes. Along the sea-wall 10 meadow pipits, rock pipit, 5 greenfinches and 5 linnets were seen.

There was a notable concentration of waders at the east end of the Strood Channel on the last part of the mud to be covered by the incoming tide. The regular roost of 1500 golden plover waited until the last moment before flying off to nearby Feldy Marshes. Also on the mud were 200 knot and 1000 dunlin, along with grey plover, redshank and a few black-tailed godwits and curlew.

The usual wildfowl were seen along the edge of the Channel with brent geese spooked off from the field joining the wigeon, teal and a few shelduck.

Martin Cock was lucky enough to find a small flock of 7 twite feeding along the side of the seawall at Maydays Farm on Monday. One bird had some colour-rings on it, no doubt a bird originating from the north Pennine moors.

On Sunday Graham Ekins saw offshore from West Mersea a Mediterranean gull, 2 shags, 2 eider, red-throated diver, goldeneye and a pair of red-breasted mergansers.
Andy Field and Richard Hull visited the nearby Langenhoe Marshes and noted 2 short-eared owls, 14 marsh harriers, merlin, peregrine, 54 pintail, kingfisher, 8 red-breasted mergansers, 2 greenshank, 2 green sandpipers, 200 black-tailed godwits, 800 redshank, 800 knot, Cetti's warbler, 40 fieldfare and 4 stonechat.

FLOCKS ARRIVING

An hour along the Pyefleet just after mid-day on Friday 14th, proved lucky for seeking enjoyment with the waders. The tide was on its way out and big flocks were arriving to feed with this big group pictured above being a group of about 800 noisy dunlin. Also eager to feed were redshank, grey plover, black-tailed godwit and golden plover.

Something disturbed the waders along the Colne near the Rat Island roost and thousands of waders and ducks flew around in different directions. At least 500 avocets caught the eye, also 500 golden plover, 1000 lapwing and big mixed flocks of grey plover / knot / dunlin. A group of 27 gadwall was an interesting group.

Along the Pyefleet 9 red-breasted mergansers provided good clear views and the males showed off their colourful plumage with red eyes and bright red bills. Six great crested grebes drifted along the Channel too. Scattered along the edge of the Channel especially around Pewit Island were brent geese, wigeon, teal and shelduck with five cormorants and 2 little egrets.
A common seal drifted down the channel as the tide ebbed.

On Langenhoe a male and female marsh harriers were seen quartering the marshes. In the distance a common buzzard circled high above before drifting north towards Fingringhoe.

No sign of the 9 white-fronted geese that had been seen on Reeveshall on Wednesday by both Andrew Thompson and Martin Cock. No sign either of the 2 crossbills that had been seen by the conifer wood in Shop Lane on Monday morning. A redwing and great spotted woodpecker were seen today by the wood.
A late chiffchaff was seen by Martin in his garden on Monday, while along the East Mersea road on Thursday 4 fieldfares and a corn bunting were seen.

At the country park over the last few days the birds have been the usual mix with good numbers of ducks on the park pond especially lots of shoveler, pair of stonechats along the seawall and single redwing and fieldfare seen too.

The moth trap was put out at the park rather hopefully on Wednesday night and only 8 feathered thorns and a mottled umber were noted the next morning.