LITTLE PADDOCK WILDLIFE

Michael Thorley has been busy in recent days with his camera in his East Mersea garden at Little Paddock near Meeting Lane. Some of the interesting wildlife to catch his eye included this common carder bee on Thursday 17th.

A lesser diving beetle was photographed by Michael in his garden pond on Thursday.

Two common blue butterflies were in Michael's garden on Tuesday 15th.

Three brown argus were in the Little Paddock garden on Tuesday.

At least fifteen white-tailed bumble-bees were seen in the Little Paddock garden on Tuesday by Michael.

A common carder bee photographed by Michael on his sunflower head on Tuesday.

Some close-up pictures by Michael of the sunflower head.

The sunflower in Michael's garden on Tuesday.

WASP SPIDER SEASON

Wasp spiders were easily seen in the field of long grass west of Shop Lane on Thursday 17th.

The underside of the wasp spider has bright yellow markings.

A male southern migrant hawker was resting along the field edge west of Shop Lane on Thursday.

This field is a new location for the southern migrant hawker on the Island. Thirty migrant hawkers were also hawking after insects beside the trees and hedges between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane.

As well as this male ruddy darter seen between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane, at least 30 common darters were also seen on Thursday.

At least twenty common blues were seen, most of them over a crop of lucerne west of Shop Lane.

Butterflies were mainly keeping out of the moderate breeze on Thursday with 15 gatekeepers, 5 meadow browns, 2 speckled woods, 5 red admiral, 2 comma, 2 large white, 20 small white, 5 holly blue and 10 brown argus.

Five small heaths were in the grass field west of Shop Lane.

Three lesser whitethroats were feeding along a hedge near Meeting Lane on Thursday. Other birds seen between Shop Lane and Meeting Lane were buzzard, sparrowhawk, two green woodpeckers, 20 swallows, house martin, 4 chiffchaff, 2 blackcap, 3 whitethroats and 2 yellow wagtails.

Two willow warblers were feeding in a birch tree in the Firs Chase garden on Thursday.

Andy Field visited Feldy View on Thursday and reported a willow warbler there, also a young marsh harrier and sparrowhawk over the adjacent field. Later at Cudmore Grove Andy reported a few willow warblers and chiffchaffs were feeding with a tit flock, 31 little egrets at the park pond, 12 common terns up the river Colne and also a grey squirrel seen near the park horse-ride.

A grey squirrel was photographed by Barry Rodwell on his garden fence in Lea Side near the bottom of Oakwood Avenue on Thursday morning - shortly after a red squirrel had also been seen here.

A red squirrel was also seen in Adrian Amos's garden near the top of Oakwood Avenue, as was a speckled wood butterfly.

On Wednesday 16th Jon Ward photographed this willow warbler in Feldy View, one of six there also two along the Strood channel. Also along the Strood seawall were seen sedge warbler, reed warbler, greenshank, grey plover, common tern, a few swallows, lots of redshank but no whinchat.

Jon photographed this wasp spider during his walk from the Strood to Feldy View on Wednesday.

A migrant hawker photographed by Jon along the Strood dyke.

A greenshank feeding along the Strood channel, photographed by Jon on Wednesday.

Late Wednesday afternoon a partridge - presumably a red-legged partridge, flew fast over the Strood Hill road.

At Coopers Beach on Wednesday 150 black-headed gulls, ten Mediterranean gulls, 3 common gulls were roosting on the Rewsalls marsh, also twenty redshank here. A chiffchaff, two whitethroats, yellow wagtail and four linnets also noted.

A big buddleia bush near the East Mersea church had 15 red admirals, 8 commas and a hummingbird hawkmoth feeding on the masses of flowers on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday 15th at Rewsalls marshes, there was a wader roost of 130 redshank, 28 turnstone, common sandpiper, 2 dunlin and 15 little egrets. 

A flock of 80 ringed plovers roosted on the side lake at Rewsalls on Tuesday. Two common gulls and at least five Mediterranean gulls were seen in the area, also 2 sand martins, 20 swallows and a house martin flew over. Two willow warblers were feeding in the alders at the East Mersea vineyard.

A male kestrel was on a tree at Cross Lane on Tuesday, a sparrowhawk flashed past, two willow warblers were in Waldegraves, 20 swallows and 10 Mediterranean gulls seen here on Tuesday too.

Four swifts were still circling high over houses in the Reymead / Upland Road area on Tuesday morning.

Jonathan Norgate photographed this whinchat along the Strood seawall on Monday 14th - the bird first being found in the morning by Andy Field. Jonathan also reported two whimbrel, three bar-tailed godwits, male marsh harrier and a kestrel.

A wasp spider was photographed along the Strood seawall by Andy Field on Monday - two were seen.

The wasp spider photographed by Andy, looks like it has wrapped up an insect that it has just caught in its web.

Birds seen by Andy along the Strood included a hobby, two sparrowhawks, buzzard, two willow warblers, whinchat, wheatear, house martin, 46 grey plover, 20 black-tailed godwits and five ringed plovers.

As the breeding season draws to a close, the No Landing signs on Cobmarsh and Packing Shed islands were taken down - here by Kieren Alexander, RSPB site manager Old Hall Marshes. Thanks to Jim Pullen for taking us out in his boat, to bring the signs, posts and rope back.

Four bar-tailed godwits were roosting on Packing Shed island - three of them pictured here with a curlew. Also noted at high tide on the islands were ten ringed plovers with a flock of thirty dunlin, black-tailed godwit, ten common terns, five little egrets, six oystercatchers and two linnets.

An earlier walk on Monday morning to Feldy View and to the Dabchicks revealed two willow warblers and two reed warblers in Feldy View, while in the Strood channel were 30 black-tailed godwits, Mediterranean gulls, common tern, also thirty turnstones resting on boats.

Jack Hoy photographed this speckled wood butterfly.

Along the Strood seawall on Sunday 13th, a whimbrel, 50 black-tailed godwits, ten turnstones, Mediterranean gull and four little egrets were the birds of note during the high tide walk. Over the fields and the dyke were a buzzard, sparrowhawk, three kestrels, sedge warbler, whitethroat, yellow wagtail, forty linnets and also four swifts over the houses.

Steve Entwistle and Jon Ward saw a willow warbler on Sunday in Feldy View and whitethroat, sparrowhawk, chaffinch, two willow/chiffs near the Firs Caravan park.

TIGER MOTHS

Two tigers were in the garden moth trap in Firs Chase on the night of Saturday 12th. The garden tiger has become scarcer in recent years in south-east England, so it was great to see one still visiting this garden - two years after the last one visited. The garden tiger has the stunning dark orange hindwings with dark blue blotches.

As one tiger moth becomes scarce, another one is increasing its population and spreading northwards through Essex. The Jersey tiger, pictured left, alongside the garden tiger, is the first one seen on the Island although its appearance has been expected. This individual flashed its rather tatty yellow and black hindwings when it flew away.

On Saturday 12th a little egret perched on a bush near the East Mersea Oyster Fishery. At Reeveshall two green sandpipers and a greenshank were on the pool, ten stock doves in the field, while two sand martins were flying with fifty swallows over the fields. Near the Oyster Fishery were a willow warbler, Cetti's warbler, sedge warbler and two whitethroats, while two willow warblers were in Fishponds Wood.

Two ospreys were seen distantly perched on two posts on the Geedons, two marsh harriers were on Langenhoe and two buzzards flying over Fishponds Wood calling. In the Pyefleet were three Sandwich terns, three common terns, 3 avocets, 16 golden plover, 18 black-tailed godwits and six dunlin.

A male southern migrant hawker was resting beside a ditch near Fishponds Wood on Saturday 12th.

There was no sign on Saturday of the male Lesser Emperor dragonfly near the dyke at the Oyster Fishery, which had been seen here by Chris Poole the day before. A first sighting for the Island. Chris also saw brown hawker, five southern migrant hawkers, emperor dragonfly, common darter and ruddy darter during his walk on Friday between the Golfhouse and Shop Lane.

A redshank was feeding on the mud behind the Dabchicks sailing club on Friday 11th. On the opposite side of the channel from the Dabchicks were most of the 100 black-tailed godwits seen during a walk along the Strood seawall. Other waders of interest along the Strood at low tide were two greenshank, four golden plover and eight grey plover. A buzzard perched on a telegraph post, two yellow wagtails, ten linnets, whitethroat and a willow warbler were seen, while 38 swifts flew over houses near Firs Road. Adrian Amos reported three swifts over his East Road house on Friday afternoon.

A green sandpiper was heard calling as it flew over the Firs Chase garden, whilst I checked the moth trap at 01.30 in the early hours.

A tatty common blue butterfly was feeding on knapweed flowers in Feldy View on Friday.

An osprey flew down the Strood channel being mobbed by gulls on Thursday 10th. Possibly one of the Colne birds, it carried on flying over Copt Hall then headed down Salcott Channel and lost to view.

A buzzard flew over the Strood seawall on Thursday, also two marsh harriers and three kestrels seen out hunting over the fields. The whinchat was seen flying from the outside of the seawall and then landing on the Strood sluice railing briefly, before flying back over the seawall. A meadow pipit flying over was the first one here since the spring, two yellow wagtails and 20 linnets were feeding in the fields. Two willow warblers were along the dyke, two in Feldy View and another two were in Firs Chase. Fifteen swifts were flying over West Mersea.

There was a big increase in the number of redshanks in the Strood Channel seen on Thursday with at least 400 birds counted. Also two greenshank, 90 black-tailed godwits, 97 curlew, two whimbrel, five grey plover, five lapwing and also 25 Mediterranean gulls.

Michael Thorley photographed this migrant hawker in his East Mersea garden on Wednesday 9th - here in close-up.

As well as the migrant hawker in Michael's garden, there were a brimstone, red admiral, gatekeeper and comma butterflies seen.

Along the Strood channel on Wednesday was this greenshank feeding along the water's edge, also 15 grey plover, 100 black-tailed godwits, 150 redshank, 20 curlew, two Mediterranean gulls and two common terns.

A hobby was flying high over the East Mersea road near the Strood, a marsh harrier flew over Ray Island, four buzzards circled together over the Peldon fields while three kestrels hunted over the Strood fields.

The whinchat was still present along the Strood dyke on Wednesday, spending most of its time resting in a clump of dead Alexanders. Five willow warblers were seen during the walk with two along the dyke, two in Feldy View and one in the Firs Chase garden. Three sedge warblers, two reed warblers and two yellow wagtails were along the dyke.

Shaun Bater walked the Strood seawall on Wednesday morning and noted 15 black-tailed godwits, 35 curlew, six common terns, ten grey plover, grey heron, three kestrels, greenfinch, 25 linnets, six little egrets, 100 redshank, two reed buntings, reed warbler, ten swallows, two sedge warblers, whitethroat, willow warbler, whimbrel and four yellow wagtails.

Later on Wednesday afternoon the whinchat and2 yellow wagtail, 25 linnets, skylark and two greenfinches were seen along the Strood by Steve Entwistle.

A brown argus visited the Firs Chase garden on Wednesday - the first visit this summer. Other butterflies in the garden in recent days have been gatekeeper, holly blue, small white, peacock, red admiral and comma.

Adrian Amos thinks this is his best summer for insects in his East Road garden despite the mixed weather. On Wednesday he reported two red admirals, three commas, six holly blues, 25 meadow brown / gatekeepers, lots of grasshoppers in his grassland as well as lots of hoverflies and bumble-bees and two possible rose chafers.

STROOD WHINCHAT

A whinchat perched beside the Strood dyke on Tuesday 8th. Earlier it had been feeding in the middle of a grass field, perching on top of some tall plants. This is the first whinchat seen this autumn on the Island, there should be several more seen over the coming month.

A willow warbler was feeding in a single hawthorn bush beside the Strood dyke, four others were feeding in the Feldy View cemetery and another couple of willow warblers seen near the Firs caravan park seawall. Two whitethroats were also seen near the caravan park on Tuesday.

A peregrine circled over the Strood seawall after flying down the channel and spooking all the gulls and waders off the mud on Tuesday. Another sighting later over Feldy Marshes was presumed to be the same bird. A female marsh harrier flew over Ray Island and a male seen over Feldy Marshes, while two buzzards and three kestrels were over the Strood fields.

Waders seen along the Strood channel on Tuesday morning during the low tide were 25 black-tailed godwit, one bar-tailed godwit, 150 redshank, forty curlew, 32 grey plover, five oystercatchers, two greenshank, two golden plover, whimbrel and three lapwing. Ten Mediterranean gulls and three common terns were also seen along the channel.

A yellow wagtail was gathering food along the Strood seawall on Tuesday, also two others seen over the fields. A flock of forty linnets was flying around and feeding in one of the Strood grass fields. Two swifts were seen over the houses.

In East Mersea Andy Field visited the Reeveshall seawall from Shop Lane on Tuesday morning and noted two ospreys still on the Geedon Marshes, two green sandpipers by the pool, 22 black-tailed godwits ( including ORB-OLO ringed at Levington in Dececember 2018), 35 dunlin, four grey plover, 3 Mediterranean gulls, two willow warblers, chiffchaff, fifty swallows and two house martins.

Martin Cock walked between the East Mersea Oyster Fishery and Reeveshall on Tuesday and reported seven golden plover, whimbrel, two avocets, four dunlin, turnstone, 100 black-tailed godwits, leucistic redshank, immature stonechat, willow warbler at Oyster Fishery and also one of the green sandpipers on Reeveshall.

At Coopers Beach late afternoon on Tuesday, Steve Entwistle saw 25 common terns flying to the shingle island off Waldegraves, two Mediterranean gulls, lots of herring gulls, and five reed buntings.

On Monday 7th Martin Cock saw three common sandpipers in Maydays creek in the morning while at Cudmore Grove in the afternoon one barn owl was in the box and another outside, four teal, six whitethroats and a willow warbler also noted there.

Andy Field visited Coopers Beach on Friday 4th and noted a Cetti's warbler, sedge warbler and four whitethroats. At Rewsalls there was a common sandpiper, three grey plover, 30 common terns, two Cetti's warblers, four willow warblers, six whitethroats and 13 Mediterranean gulls.

 Later at Cudmore Grove Andy saw a garden warbler feeding in the "hedge of plenty" at the back of the pond, also barn owl in the box, four reed warblers, willow warbler, six whitethroats, six lesser whitethroats, eight blackcaps and two buzzards seen.

The osprey was seen by Martin Cock on Friday morning fishing unsuccessfully off Ivy Dock, six grey plovers, two bar-tailed godwits, 100 dunlin and a leucistic redshank.

A flock of 21 long-tailed tits was seen on Friday by Michael Thorley in his East Mersea garden near Meeting Lane while in West Mersea Steve Entwistle saw his first hummingbird hawkmoth of the summer in his Empress Drive garden

A male kestrel perched in a tree over the footpath down the side of the Firs Caravan park on Wednesday 2nd. Over the Strood fields a male marsh harrier was seen quartering, ten swifts were over the houses, while from the Strood seawall were 25 black-tailed godwits, four common terns, two whitethroats and two yellow wagtails.

A brown argus was enjoying the sunshine in Feldy View on Wednesday 2nd.

At Cudmore Grove on Wednesday Martin Cock saw the kingfisher at the park pond, also 12 little egrets, blackcap, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, reed warbler, buzzard, a few sand martins, barn owl in the nestbox and also a brimstone butterfly.

A ground lackey moth was in the Firs Chase garden moth trap on Tuesday 1st.

Two gypsy moths were noted on the 1st.

Canary-shouldered thorn on 28th July.

A dusky thorn noted on 25th July, the second garden record.

An iron prominent on 28th July.

Michael Thorley found two red underwings resting on his conservatory wall in his East Mersea garden on Thursday 3rd.