HINT OF SPRING

There have been signs recently that the worst of the winter might be behind us, especially with the last day of January being still and sunny. This clump of flowering snowdrops situated in a ditch along Bromans Lane, has been catching the eyes of some of the folk driving into the country park.



Sallow bushes near the pond have been bursting their buds over the last fortnight, revealing the silvery-white young growth of the pussy willow catkins. They still have a way to go before they have the first bees of the spring buzzing around their fully developed yellow catkins.


This small hawthorn bush near the car park is resilient enough to keep its green leaves throughout the winter, despite the snow last month. Every winter it looks the same and it's often the first hawthorn at the park to produce the first new leaves of the spring too.

The calm conditions today provided a flat sea with clear visibility to the horizon. Martin Cock had alerted me that he could see 250 great crested grebes and 8 Slavonian grebes on the sea opposite the Youth Camp area. This group and lots more could be seen from the country park with an estimate of 300 great-crested grebes and another 4 Slavonian grebes being seen as were 3 common scoter.

There were hundreds of gulls in the distance especially concentrated around a large feeding flock of 200 cormorants on the horizon, probably about 3 miles offshore. Some of these cormorants may've been some of the 100 birds that passed low over West Mersea just after daybreak, as they made their way from their Abberton reservoir roost.

Also seen were some big groups of red-throated divers flying towards Colne Point as if from the direction of the mouth of the Blackwater. There was one flock of 45 red-throats counted and with several other flocks seen including a few individuals on the water, around 70 birds had been noted.

Late in the afternoon with the tide at its lowest, a long-tailed duck was unexpectedly seen flying out of the Colne with 4 red-breasted mergansers. A total of 36 red-breasted mergansers flew past the Point as they headed out to feed in the outer reaches of the estuary. Drifting out of the Colne were 14 eider who stopped to feed in the middle of the river, opposite Brightlingsea. Thousands of gulls, mainly black-headed, streamed out of the Colne to roost for the night on the mud at Sandy Point.

On the grazing fields a merlin flashed across towards the seawall, creating panic amongst some of the 1000 waders and wildfowl in the fields. A female sparrowhawk was less obvious and perched briefly on a tree at the back of the fields. A grey heron in the fields at the end of the afternoon might be the first heron to visit the park this year.

In the park there were still 70+ finches around the various bushes and trees near the pond with chaffinches, greenfinches and goldfinches present Six siskin perched up on some tall poplar trees with the sweet twittering song of three males making them sound very happy and relaxed with themselves. Two great spotted woodpeckers were also seen together here.

Just after daybreak a barn owl was seen perched on a fencepost near Bromans Lane, surveying the strip of long grass beside it. At the end of the day there was the usual little owl duet heard, except this time it came from Cosways Caravan site and not the more usual Bromans Farm.

DOZING DUCKS

There were still lots of teal on the flooded pools in the park's grazing fields on Sunday 30th. Many of the 200 teal were dabbling in the shallow water but others were happy dozing just like this male teal pictured above. The teal were the most obvious duck around the pools with only a few individuals of mallard, gadwall and shoveler.

In other parts of the fields there were the 500 wigeon and 400 brent geese grazing in dense flocks with the 6 greylag geese still present too. Amongst the waders were 6 snipe, 30 curlew, 60 lapwing and 10 black-tailed godwits. In the nearby dyke 6 reed buntings perched in some reeds, while 20 skylarks flew from the fields to feed in the nearby saltmarsh.

Not as many ducks on the park pond as compared with a few days ago with 9 tufted ducks and 10 gadwall being the main ones present. In the alder trees 25 goldfinches flew around at times with a couple of siskins glimpsed too. In horse paddocks to the north there was the small flock of 30+ redwings and fieldfares.

Offshore 11 eider were seen in the river Colne along with at least 10 red-breasted mergansers and 5 great crested grebes. There was no sign looking up-river of the red-necked grebe or long-tailed duck that had been seen opposite the Geedons earlier in the day by Glyn Evans from Alresford. In the Pyefleet 10 pintail were seen by Pewit Island along with lots of wigeon and teal, while a peregrine and 3 marsh harriers were seen over Langenhoe Point.

Martin Cock located a bearded tit and 3 brambling at Maydays farm in the afternoon while there was a report of 28 lapland buntings still present in fields by the Strood. Mo Jackson visited this spot later and didn't see any laplands but did report seeing a ringtail hen harrier followed by a male hen harrier, then a marsh harrier before concluding with a barn owl flying past.

WINTER WILDFOWL

The main concentration of birds on a chilly and grey country park on Saturday 29th were the winter wildfowl on the grazing fields. The 500 wigeon were feeding in various parts of the field, some pictured above. The brent geese were also busy cropping the already short grass with about 500 birds also present. The six greylag geese seemed happier mixing with the wigeon rather than the brent geese. In and around the main pool were 200 teal, 25 mallard with 20 shoveler.

Other birds in the fields were a handful of snipe which were much less than the 30 birds seen earlier in the week. Eighty lapwing were dotted across the fields with another 20 birds in a neighbouring field. Twenty curlew but only one black-tailed godwit and a redshank were noted. At the back of the fields were 22 stock doves, although there might've have been more arrive at the copse by the pond later in the afternoon for the roost.

Three pairs of mute swans were keeping their distances apart from each other with one pair on the pond, another on the park dyke and a third pair on the flooded horse paddock by the Golfhouse. It was also in this field that 20 redwings and 2o fieldfares were feeding.

Less ducks on the pond than have normally been present in recent days. Only a few gadwall, mallard, shoveler while the small group of tufted ducks seemed to have disappeared. A water rail could be heard calling from under the willow bushes but didn't show. In the alder trees along from the pond, 4 siskins were seen feeding with one male bird noted with the three females. In other trees nearby was the regular flock of cheery goldfinches singing loudly.

From the beach 100 knot were the main waders of note on an other-wise large expanse of mudflats with some of the other familiar waders like redshank, oystercatcher, dunlin, curlew and grey plover. In the river Colne a common seal swam quickly past the Point, swimming most of the length underwater - the first seal seen here for a few weeks. There were a few red-breasted mergansers in the distance near Langenhoe Point, but no sign of the 6 eider and the 18 red-breasted mergansers seen offshore from the park on Wednesday.

Received a report today from a birdwatcher who walked along the north side of the Island, that two bearded tits were seen in a small reedbed in a dyke near Maydays.

Early on Thursday morning a ringtail hen harrier was seen hunting low over the country park near the car park, before it headed westwards and checked out a weedy field near the caravan site. Steve Entwistle reported seeing the barn owl hunting alongside Dawes Lane first thing on Thursday morning. David Nicholls also reported seeing the pair of blackcaps again in his West Mersea garden in recent days.

Graham Ekins found 42 lapland buntings along with 50 skylarks in the weedy field by the Strood on Thursday. Offshore from West Mersea were 2 red-throated divers, great northern diver, 3 Slavonian grebes, 11 common scoter and 16 red-breasted mergansers.

On Tuesday Martin Cock found a black-necked grebe offshore from the West Mersea Esplanade, where there were also 2 Slavonian grebes, 3 red-throated divers, 6 eider and 7 common scoter.

BERRIES FOR THE BIRDS

There were still an interesting selection of small birds feeding in bushes and in the game cover crops at Maydays farm during a visit there on Sunday 23rd. Despite the cold start to the winter, nearly two months ago and with so much of the ground covered with snow then, it's surprising to see some blackthorn bushes at Maydays still laden down with juicy sloe berries, as in the picture above. However a couple of song thrushes and a handful of blackbirds were seen feeding in some of these bushes.

Amongst the 70 chaffinches that were feeding amongst the game crop and in the young tree plantation were at least 4 bramblings. Judging by the amount of orange on the chests, two of the birds appeared to be males. The finch flock flitted from bush to bush, often perching up for a few minutes and there could've been more birds around but many flitted in and out of view. Up to ten yellowhammers were also present along with a few greenfinches and goldfinches too.

It was a bit dull and with a chilly breeze on the seawall overlooking the Pyefleet channel. A common buzzard was seen being mobbed by some crows over the woodland on the Langenhoe ranges. Scanning across the ranges were at least five marsh harriers while to the west, a nice male hen harrier was seen flying low over the Langenhoehall marshes and across nearby saltings before dropping down to rest. A big flock of 2000 wood pigeons were feeding on the big rape field next to the woodland of the army ranges.

It was still mainly low tide with lots of mud on show with lots of wigeon, shelduck and big wader flocks of mainly knot and dunlin. In mid channel were 12 red-breasted mergansers and 2 goldeneye diving to feed.

Not much seen over the fields of Reeveshall and Maydays other than a marsh harrier, kestrel, little egret and 1000 starlings. There was no sign of the bearded tit seen earlier in the week, although one reed bunting was present.

A late walk along the St Peters beach in the afternoon of Monday 24th, provided great views of a huge golden plover flock in the sky over Cobmarsh Island. At least 2000 birds rose into the sky, splitting up into about ten or more different sub-groups, each flock going in slightly different directions to the others, whilst all climbing higher into the sky. Presumably a bird of prey like a peregrine had flown nearby, scattering thousands of birds into the air with 500 lapwings, lots of gulls and a mixture of other roosting waders all flying about.

Andy Field visited the arable field by the Strood earlier on Monday and noted just the one lapland bunting.

STROOD LAPLANDS

It was high tide when I went for a walk along the Strood Channel on Saturday 22nd. Waders and wildfowl such as these brent geese were gathering along the edges of the saltmarshes. Wigeon and teal were the main ducks noted along the channel.


Came back to this muddy arable field next to the Strood Hill to have another look for the lapland buntings. It took a while to find the skylark flock which the laplands were feeding with, but eventually about 70 larks/buntings were seen flying around the back of the field. Through the telescope 25 laplands buntings were seen on the ground, feeding in the short winter wheat crop as they scuttled along. Every so often the flock would take off and fly around a few times before landing in another part of the field. Amongst the laplands are some birds developing some colourful markings, with nice chestnut mantles and blackish throat markings.

A peregrine flew slowly over the fields clutching a bird in its talons, as it headed up the slope towards West Mersea, scattering all the birds on the field. The muddy pools in the field brought in various waders for the high tide with 150 dunlin, 25 golden plover, 20 ringed plover, 3 redshank, curlew and 3 grey plover. A rock pipit was heard calling as it passed along the seawall.

A later visit to look offshore from Kingsland road in West Mersea during the high tide provided views of 100 great crested grebes, Slavonian grebe, 6 common scoter, red-breasted merganser and hundreds of gulls that may've been feeding on sprats.

A visit to Reeveshall on Friday 21st was also made during the high tide so no waders of note were seen feeding along the Pyefleet. A thousand golden plover rose off Langenhoe Point when a marsh harrier passed nearby. Five marsh harriers and a ringtail hen harrier were seen on Langenhoe. In the Pyefleet were 10 red-breasted mergansers, 2 goldeneye, while 6 pintail were with lots of wigeon and teal by Pewit Island. On Reeveshall 10 Canada geese and a little egret were seen but only a pair of mute swans on the Pool. In the Shop Lane wood a coal tit was heard calling.

LONE WAXWING

The sunshine has been in short supply this winter, so it was nice to see lots of blue sky over the country park on Thursday 20th. There was even a bit of warmth to enjoy by walking along the beach, sheltered from the cool northerly breeze by the cliff.

Towards the end of the afternoon a single waxwing was seen perched up on top of a dead tree, just inside the park entrance. It was a bit of a surprise to find it, as it hadn't been seen flying in, and I nearly walked past it without noticing it. Ian Black soon joined me in watching the bird and we saw it fly a short distance and perch in a wild rose bush with lots of juicy rose-hips for it to feed on.

After all the waxwings that have been discovered in various parts of the country this winter, I've finally managed to find one in the country park! It's probably about 8 years since I last saw any waxwings in the park, and those were two birds that perched for only two minutes. I've not heard any recent news about local waxwings on the Island, since a few were seen in a garden beside the East Mersea road ten day ago.

At the park pond the male pochard was present again for the third day along with 12 tufted ducks. There was the usual selection of mallard, gadwall, shoveler and teal, although some of these are commuting between the nearby flooded fields and the pond. In the alders near the pond a female siskin continues to feed with a group of 20 goldfinches.
North of the park on Wednesday 20 fieldfares were seen perched briefly on top of a bush.



Lots of rain at the beginning of the week, saturated the park fields filling up lots of the old creeks with water, which have proved popular with the ducks. On the fields the brent geese have formed the biggest flock in recent days with 400+ birds, while 200 wigeon, 150 teal and 6 greylag geese were the main wildfowl noted. At high tide 70 redshank, 80 curlew, 20 snipe, 30 lapwing along with a handful of turnstones and 200 starlings have been in the fields in recent days.

Offshore there are still hundreds of wigeon bobbing about in the sea in big rafts. In the estuary 10 red-breasted mergansers and 2 great crested grebes were noted today, while a goldeneye was seen on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday a marsh harrier flew over the mudflats and then flew north over the car park as it headed to the evening roost on Langenhoe. The previous day two marsh harriers flew north from Colne Point, heading to the Langenhoe roost. Seventy avocets fed along the water's edge of the Colne late on Monday.

Martin Cock saw 2 or 3 lapland buntings at the Strood on Tuesday and then at Maydays farm noted a nicely marked male bearded tit in the borrowdyke. A visit to the Shop Lane section of seawall on Wednesday provided views of a barn owl in a nearby field while on Langenhoe a ringtail hen harrier as well as a few marsh harriers were seen gathering for the evening roost.

David Nicholls watched a chiffchaff in his garden in Queen Ann Drive in West Mersea and he also reported the male blackcap has also been seen a few times recently too.

BLUE SKY BACK

It was nice seeing blue sky on Sunday 16th over the country park, although there was a bit of wind blowing. This section of borrowdyke pictured above was where 200 wigeon were seen, the main flock in the fields. Hundreds of wigeon are still missing from the fields, with most of them still resting out at sea. Brent geese gathered in the fields to graze with 400 seen during the morning. The teal are still enjoying the flooded pools with 250+ noted over the last couple of days, along with 40 shoveler. Amongst the waders in the field 15 snipe, 20 redshank, 30 curlew, 30 black-tailed godwits and 50 lapwing were noted. A sparrowhawk flew over the fields in the afternoon.

In the area by the pond one female siskin was still feeding with 25 goldfinches in the alders, 20 greenfinches and 16 chaffinches were also seen. Two green woodpeckers were noted flying along the hedgelines while down in the field, a black-tailed godwit was seen from the hide. On the water more tufted ducks had appeared overnight with 13 being the biggest count for several weeks.

In the river, 10 red-breasted mergansers could be seen in the Colne and a couple of great crested grebes, while in the distance, a male marsh harrier was probably the reason for the disturbance of the 1000 golden plover and 500 lapwing as well as lots of other roosting waders off Langenhoe Point.

Enjoyed watching a barn owl hunting along the East Mersea roadside verge just west of the pub, in broad daylight, over an hour after daybreak. I slowed the car down and followed the bird as it checked both sides of the hedge, at one point the owl hung in the wind as it scanned the verge beneath it. It's always great to see a barn owl out hunting and this one was close enough I could enjoy it without the binoculars.

At West Mersea Ray Hempstead took a few birdwatchers out in his Sorcerer boat on a windy Sunday morning along the north side of the Blackwater, although there was little of interest in the nearby creeks. An eider and a great northern diver were apparently the only things of interest close in to Mersea.