END OF THE YEAR

The last two days of the year have been chilly although the sun managed to shine on the Tuesday but not on Wednesday 31st. There was another nice sunset to admire from the park beach, pictured above on the Tuesday late afternoon.

On the sea there was the notable count of 6 Slavonian grebes, snoozing in a small group on Tuesday but no sign of them on Wednesday. Instead there were 10 red-breasted mergansers and 25 great crested grebes offshore, as well as 200 wigeon.

The 27 snow buntings were seen on both days both on the beach and also on the frozen flooded section of grazing fields. Also seen on the fields were 500 wigeon, stonechat, 50 goldfinches, 15 black-tailed godwits, 3 snipe and a little egret. There was also the unusual sight of a green sandpiper flying over the fields on Wednesday, calling as it passed over.

From the Point 130 avocets were roosting on the mud near Ivy Dock on Tuesday and a common seal was seen in the outer river. Amongst the 50+ turnstones along the beach at least 8 sanderling were noted.

The park pond wasn't completely frozen over and on Wednesday 14 gadwall, 70 mallard, 25 shoveler were the main ducks on show. A fox caused a minor panic at the back of the pond amongst the waterfowl, before it wandered away. Five stock doves flew into the trees to roost late on Wednesday, 3 snipe fed in the nearby field, two water rails called and a sparrowhawk dived into the hedgerow.

The barn owl was seen early on Wednesday morning flying along the East Mersea road near Meeting Lane. On Tuesday morning the barn owl was still out hunting fields near Bromans Lane.
Martin Cock saw 2 short-eared owls at Rewsalls Marshes on Wednesday, stonechat and a little owl. There was also a little owl perched along Chapmans Lane in the early evening on top of a speed-limit sign. When I reversed the car back for a closer look, it had switched road-sides and provided close views as it perched on a fence.

Although the temperature was close to freezing, 4 winter moths were noted just after dusk in the car park on Wednesday evening - the last species of any kind noted at the park for 2008!

REWSALLS OWLS

Visited the Rewsalls Marshes next to the Coopers Beach caravan site in East Mersea on Monday 29th. The sight of some motorbikes scrambling across one of the fields suggested it was going to be a disappointing visit as I'd hoped to see some short-eared owls.
However I needn't have worried as I was quickly rewarded with telecope views of 2 distant short-eared owls hunting low over one of the long grass fields.

After watching the two short-eared owls, one pictured above, for several minutes from the top of the seawall, another much closer owl was spotted flying away from the nearest corner, only 50 metres from me. It must've been hiding in the long grass nearby before it got up and did some flying around. Walking along the seawall for 800 metres, I got very good views of one of the other owls, which was active for at least half an hour. At one point it flew fast and low, chasing away one of the other owls from its favourite field. The owl came back and sat on a fence-post for five minutes, providing good close views.

A pair of stonechats were the only other birds of interest on the lower marshes, along with 4 meadow pipits, kestrel, 5 greenfinch and one goldfinch. In the adjacent dyke there were 18 mallard, 2 teal, little egret and 2 redshank.

The biggest concentration of birds was on a big wheat field behind the marshes where 1000 golden plover, 500 lapwing, 60 turnstone, along with one or two grey plover, curlew and dunlin. Some of these waders were using the field because of the high tide.

No mud on show during the walk along the seawall. The only bird of interest at sea was the usual group of great crested grebes with at least 50 noted.

STROOD STROLLS

Managed two walks along the Strood seawall on Saturday 27th and then again on Sunday 28th. There was no mud on show on either walk, although the tide was just starting to turn on the Saturday, whilst the next day the walk coincided with the approaching high tide.

Dotted along the edge of the saltings were groups of mixed waders especially redshank, grey plover, knot and dunlin. As the tide began to drop, several small flocks of knot totalling about 150 birds flew up from the south-west towards the Strood causeway. Three black-tailed godwits were noted on the first walk but strangely 3 bar-tailed bar-tailed godwits were seen on the following walk.

The most eyecatching flock was a big brent goose flock of about 2500 birds feeding on the Peldon fields opposite Ray Island. On both days geese were arriving from surrounding areas, especially Salcott Channel direction, to join this main gathering in the area. On several occasions the geese were disturbed and the huge black mass rose up in the air calling loudly. A female marsh harrier on one occasion and then a small yacht sailing up Ray Channel sent all the birds flying off in different directions.

Amongst the mass melee were 6 pintail flying about, as well as 700+ wigeon, 200 teal, 100 shelduck and 1000 golden plover. To add to the confusion and the need for the birds to stay alert, a peregrine was seen flying over the saltings at the north-east end of the Ray Channel on the Saturday. A male marsh harrier was also seen on this walk flying high above the Channel towards Old Hall to the south-west.


Most bird interest inside the seawall was on the Saturday walk with a kingfisher briefly glimpsed dipping into the reedbed in the dyke the main highlight. The pair of stonechats were seen along the side of the seawall while in the big grass field pictured above, 25 linnets were feeding with a small group of starlings and lapwing. Six reed buntings were noted and also 3 meadow pipits.
A female marsh harrier was seen hunting over these fields at the start of the first walk which was nice to see. A little egret stood briefly in the field, later seen feeding along the Channel side. On Sunday a pair of stock doves flew onto the Island from the Feldy direction to the west.

MANDARIN MARVEL

A little bit of local excitement at the country park pond on Christmas Day when this very colourful male mandarin duck was found, on the left slightly blurred in the photo above. The males are unmistakable with their red bill and a general light brown plumage with ornate feathers. The most eye-catching part of the plumage are a couple of brown sails that stick up from the back of the body.

This mandarin was first seen swimming across the midle of the pond but soon hid itself inside one of the willow bushes for over an hour. It could easily have remained undetected amongst the low branches, although after a while it emerged to give good views when it stood on a low branch.

This is the first sighting of a mandarin duck on Mersea and luckily a few of the local birdwatchers were able to put their Xmas lunches on hold, so that they could marvel at the sight of this new bird for the Island. The duck is normally native to the region of China and Japan but has been bred in captivity in this country for some time. Some birds have escaped into the wild with a small breeding population now established in many places including Essex.

Other birds seen at the pond today included male and female sparrowhawk, 3 fieldfares, lesser redpoll flying over and a water rail calling.


Walking along the seawall towards the East Mersea Point, it didn't take long to track down the regular flock of 28 snow buntings feeding on the beach. At one point they flew round and landed only about ten metres in front of me, providing me with very good views.

In the river Colne, 5 red-breasted mergansers were noted and a couple of common seals but not much else. On Langenhoe Point a male marsh harrier was seen flying along the seawall. Something spooked masses of lapwing into the air with about 1500 rising up, being joined by 1000 golden plover over the Pyefleet Channel.


Five hundred wigeon were feeding in the grazing fields, some pictured in flight above. Also in the fields were 20 black-tailed godwits, 10 redshank, 2 snipe and a few brent geese.
Not many waders to be seen during the morning as the tide was covering the mud. Fifty turnstone were seen resting on the tops of the wooden posts opposite the park, as the tide came in.


This is the moth trap at first light in the back garden at the country park on Xmas Day morning - empty! The cloudy sky during the night and the still conditions seemed to be worth putting the trap out. However the slight drop in temperature kept the moths away. There was one mottled umber seen nearby and four winter moths near the windows of the house. A late night walk also provided glimpses in the torchlightof two mottled umbers fluttering under the shelter of some trees.

The most unexpected sighting during the midnight walk for Monty the canine companion and myself, was coming across a badger near the car park, opposite the information room. The badger seemed very surprised in the torchlight and quickly sprinted away.

SLAVONIANS ON THE SEA

Another dull and cloudy day at the country park on Xmas Eve but as usual a walk around the place was brightened up by several interesting bird sightings. This group of alder trees in the picture above, have provided food for a dozen goldfinches. The trees were only planted 5 years ago, putting on some very impressive growth and laden down with cones and catkins. The male sparrowhawk perched up in one tree in the morning, no doubt on the look-out for a finch lunch, and then a female sparrowhawk flew past the hedge in the afternoon. At dusk 25 goldfinches gathered in the car park bushes for their regular night roost.

Offshore the morning high tide provided the highlight of the day with views of a small group of Slavonian grebes for the second day running with at least 4 seen just to the west of the park, opposite the Fen Farm caravan site. A scan of the calm sea also produced 30 great crested grebes and 2 distant eider but not much else. Yesterday there was the notable count of 5 Slavonians in the same area and also 6 red-breasted mergansers.

At the Point 3 snow buntings flew around and settled on the beach to feed. On the return walk along the seawall the regular flock of 28 snow buntings were watched flying unusually from the west, back towards the Point. Also at the Point were the stonechat pair, rock pipit, sanderling and a reasonable count of 110 shelduck on the high tide with a further 24 off the park. The female sparrowhawk was also hunting low across the saltmarsh here in the morning. In the distance a female marsh harrier was seen quartering Langenhoe Point.

Even as night falls, the huge windfarm jacking-up rig, the Excalibur, towers over the grazing fields from its mooring in the river Colne. The flooded areas still attracted at least 500 wigeon, 100 teal, 20 black-tailed godwits and yesterday 34 shoveler were also present. On the pond 2 male pochard were new in, joining the 5 tufted ducks. A hundred curlew were disturbed off a nearby field and passed over the pond. The loud squealing duet of two water rails were heard on Tuesday from the thick reedmace stands around the pond.

An initial view of a peregrine was nearly dismissed until it passed over the grazing fields and sent all the wigeon into a panic. The peregrine kept heading inland and calm soon returned to the area. A kestrel had a very vociferous confrontation with a carrion crow which ended with the kestrel taking refuge in its large nestbox in the nearby oak tree.

A barn owl was seen again early on Tuesday morning hunting over the fields at the west end of Bromans Lane. At nightfall the local male tawny owl was heard near the entrance to the country park. Later in the evening two male tawnies were calling to each other at the Fen Farm caravan site. On Wednesday late afternoon the pair of little owls did a quick duet to each other at Bromans farm.

Received an interesting report from a regular dog-walking couple who had a good view on Saturday 20th of a waxwing sitting on top of a small tree near the car park. The bird apparently perched up for some time so that they could see the crest on the head. Unfortunately the lack of berries around the park meant the waxwing didn't hang around and hasn't been seen again.

Two reports about woodcock include one seen at the end of the November flying out of a ditch near the park entrance and another bird by the cliff-top on Monday 15th December seen by Ian Black.

The relatively mild evenings recently with cloudy skies and lack of wind has brought one or two moths out. The trap was left on near the park's car park during Monday night and checked on Tuesday morning. A small collection of moths were later discovered which made it worthwhile with 2 dark chestnuts, one pictured above, also 6 mottled umbers and 5 winter moths.

There was the very unusual mid-winter sight of a pipistrelle bat hawking around the park entrance on Tuesday as darkness fell. It's obviously mild enough for the bats to avoid hibernating so far but there's never been any bat noted so late into the year here before. Another mammal noted earlier in the day was a weasel darting about on the grass on the edge of the car park.

SHORTEST DAY

There were good numbers of wigeon pictured above, in one of the grazing fields at the country park on Sunday 21st. When the sun came out at various times during the day, it was about 12 degrees but the breeze had a chill in it when it turned cloudy. It ended up being quite a pleasant shortest day of the year.

The wigeon that have spent the last few days in scattered groups locally, were all to be seen together grazing the very flooded field with 600 counted. This tally virtually doubles the biggest flock to be seen on the fields up until now this winter. Around 300 brent geese also joined the wigeon for a short period, although during the afternoon 500 geese were feeding in the nearby wheat field. Twelve black-tailed godwits, one curlew and 20 teal were the only other birds feeding with the wigeon.

The other concentration of ducks locally was on the park pond where about40 shoveler was a good tally here, also the 12 gadwall and 4 tufted duck with the usual mallard. On Saturday there were 45 shoveler, pochard and a roosting little egret in a bush.

At the Point there was the familiar sight of the regular snow bunting flock with 24 birds seen feeding on the beach. As on previous days, the flock soon took to the air and disappeared, presumably to the Point Clear beach. In the river one eider and a red-breasted merganser were noted along with just the one great crested grebe. Six pintail flying into the river was an interesting sight for here.

Waders of note to catch the eye were 1000 golden plover flying west over the park, 12 avocets heading back up river and 15 bar-tailed godwits doing likewise. Various wader flocks could be seen flying around in the distance over the mudflats, these being mainly knot and dunlin.

There was the nice sight of two barn owls still hunting in the early morning over fields by the East Mersea road near Fen Farm. There were two sparrowhawk sightings during the day by the car park, including the colourful male seen perching on the garden fence.

The moth trap operated during Saturday night at the park with little interest other than this mottled umber moth. A typical winter moth with the first one of the season being seen five weeks ago in mid November. The predominantly cloud-free night-sky must've restricted the moth activity, as they prefer it when cloudy. There were about 5 winter moths fluttering around one corner of the car park just after nightfall on Sunday evening.

The only other insect of note in the moth trap was this diving beetle - a relative of the Great diving beetle. Slightly smaller than the Great, this strikingly big beetle pictured above has a yellowish margin only along the edge of the body but not around the thorax. When it toppled itself onto its back, it appeared to have a dark underneath. This I believe is the distinctive feature of Black-bellied great diving beetle - a beetle that's not been recorded here before.

TALL ESTUARY VISITOR

Local birdwatcher Richard Brown has kindly passed to me, one of his photos of a great northern diver that he saw earlier this week from the Hard at West Mersea. There have been at least a couple of great northern divers seen in recent weeks from the Esplanade and Mersea Quarters.

The first half of Friday 19th provided plenty of sunshine, after another eye-catching sun-rise, (pictures further down this page). A walk across the country park to East Mersea Point produced a few interesting sightings. However the view was dominated by a huge structure, used for installing the nearby offshore wind-farm, temporarily resting here in the Colne estuary, pictured below. This massive structure and crane appeared to be similar in height to a 12 storey skyscraper, so certainly very tall.

Any worries about this structure impeding the commute-route of the snow bunting flock crossing the river, were soon dispelled when 28 birds were located on the beach early in the morning. As in recent days they appeared very flighty and readily took to the wing and flew around a few times before settling nervously back down again. Yesterday there were 30 snow buntings present at the Point.

Other small birds at the Point included rock pipit, 4 noisy dunnocks, 3 skylarks, 4 reed buntings and a pied wagtail, while further along the seawall were the stonechat pair.

The only birds in the river seen from the Point were 3 female eiders, a red-breasted merganser and a great crested grebe. Yesterday a common seal was in the river while at high tide in the afternoon, 17 red-breasted mergansers and 2 eiders were offshore from the park.

A barn owl was being mobbed by some carrion crows as it flew along a hedge up from the Golfhouse at about 8.15am. Wildfowl numbers built up during the morning in the grazing fields with 500 brent geese and 250 wigeon seen. At the park pond a water rail called, a little egret nearly stopped off at the pond, while the ducks of interest here amongst the usual mallard, teal, shoveler and gadwall, were a pochard and 3 tufted duck. Two stock doves were seen flying off the grazing fields.

The moth trap was put out at the country park on Thursday night as the weather seemed suitable, for the 58th session of the year. This dark coloured moth pictured above is the aptly named December moth, one of 3 found in the trap. This is quite a common moth with one night's haul 4 weeks ago totalling 11 individuals.The only other moths found were 5 winter moths. All the moths arrived within the first 3 hours of darkness, when the temperature was still about 8 degrees above zero.

Tim Mendham reported seeing 2 red admirals flying around near the Victory Pub in West Mersea on Tuesday, which is unusual sighting for December.

The sun rising above the sea, south-east of the country park at 8am this morning.

The tide was on its way out and masses of waders were arriving in their hundreds all the time. Dunlin and knot were the most numerous although a large flock of 1000 golden plover passed overhead. Five bar-tailed godwits flew past the Point, while various small groups of black-tailed godwits fed on both sides of the river Colne. On the mud by Brightlingsea were 25 avocets.