BLOGGED BUNNY

It stayed cloudy throughout Wednesday 26th but at least there was only a light breeze from the east, rather than the strong cold wind from the north of recent days. Early spring is when the first young rabbits appear and this little bunny was happily munching the grass in the back garden in the country park. No doubt there will be another bumper crop of rabbits in the summer, as there were last year.

The cold weather has deterred many of the brent geese from departing for Siberia and this flock pictured above, are still continuing to graze the big wheat field next to the country park. Around 300 geese were in the field in late afternoon, enjoying the early spring flush of growth of wheat.

In the park a chiffchaff was singing from a blackthorn bush covered in blossom and may've arrived last night. A second chiffchaff was calling loudly from the willows by the pond, pictured below. There has been at least one chiffchaff by the pond for almost two weeks now.
Also at the pond were the familiar wildfowl of recent days - pochard, tufted duck, shoveler and mallard. The mute swan appeared to be gathering materials for a nest on one of the islands.


This picture of the pond is a slightly elevated one as it was taken while standing on the roof of the bird-hide! Running repairs had to be carried out to the roofing felt as recent strong winds had torn a section off.

The sunshine yesterday brought out 5 adders and 2 common lizards out to bask at the park.


On Monday 24th, a late afternoon walk along the West Mersea beach to the Waldegraves caravan site provided a couple of items of note. At least three adult Mediterranean gulls were seen on the mud and also occasionally flying round and calling loudly. There was also a fine view of a male marsh harrier seen coming onto the Island, having just crossed over the Blackwater estuary from Bradwell. The bird dropped down quite low as it headed north over the field to the east of the caravan site.

Michael Thorley had one or two things to report from recent days. First wheatear of the spring on the Island was seen at the Youth Camp on 24th, as were 40 sanderling. On the 23rd there were 45 knot on the mudflats at Rewsalls / Youth Camp, while also here on the 19th was a short-eared owl and 2 Med gulls.
On the 18th 2 Med gulls were by the beach at West Mersea while a barn owl was at East Mersea near the Golfhouse. A barn owl was also seen at Rewsalls on the 17th and a brambling was noted in his garden near Meeting Lane on this date and the day before.

SNOW-FALL

Big snowflakes were falling by mid-morning on Easter Sunday. The snow eventually began to settle although not quite on the roads, such as here on Firs Road above. By the end of the morning there was almost an inch of snow everywhere, although a quick thaw during the afternoon, soon cleared the snow away.

A quick walk around the edge of West Mersea during the snow-fall not surprisingly was rather unproductive for watching any wildlife. One or two greenfinches were singing from gardens, a goldfinch was seen in flight and a few blackbirds and robins were heard singing too. The cheeriest group of birds was the regular flock of house sparrows beside the Yacht Club with about 20 chirping loudly beside bird feeders in a nearby garden.

The tide was coming in along the Strood Channel and only a few waders were seen, although the visibility was poor, while it snowed. Some small groups of brent geese could just be seen, whilst several noisy redshank gave their presence away.
By the Dabchicks, 10 bar-tailed godwits were feeding along the water's edge along with some dunlin and grey plover. Two great crested grebes and a little grebe were seen in the channel.
A shag was fishing in the area of the floating pontoon by the Hard.

Some of the spring flowers such as this blackthorn blossom, will have got a shock with all this Arctic weather of recent days.

WINTRY SHOWERS

Wrapped up warm wearing several layers, thick hat and gloves, I was ready for the walk along the Strood seawall late in the afternoon of Saturday 22nd. There were several wintry showers that passed over the Island during the day and luckily I managed to fit my walk in, between showers.

One big band of sleet and hail divided into two before reaching the Island with the picture above showing the dark cloud to the west. The other wintry cloud headed east to East Mersea.

In between the showers, the blue sky brightened up the Strood Channel mudflats. The cold strong wind didn't make it easy to keep the binoculars steady. Redshank, curlew, grey plover, dunlin, oystercatcher, turnstone were the usual waders, while 10 black-tailed godwits, 2 bar-tailed godwits and 100 knot were also noted. In the nearby arable field, 10 ringed plover were seen feeding. The commonest duck were the wigeon with about 150 seen in various groups, also 25 teal and 20 shelduck.

On a couple of occasions, lots of waders and wildfowl took to the air in a bit of a panic, which briefly made viewing a bit easier. The first bit of panic was due to a female marsh harrier as it headed north-east up the channel. A short while later a sparrowhawk, crossed over from Ray Island, creating chaos underneath it, as all the waders and wildfowl scattered away.

The only flocks of brent geese that were seen were around the southern end of Ray Island, either feeding on the saltmarsh or flying into the Ray Channel.
A little egret was probably looking for toads in the borrowdyke before heading onto the saltmarsh. The only small birds seen along the seawall were 8 linnet and a couple of meadow pipits, but otherwise it was not a day for small birds.
Three magpies headed off island late in the day, probably to roost on Ray Island.

The only birds seen in the channels by the Hard were one great crested grebe and a couple of little grebes.

Earlier in the day a chiffchaff was heard calling by Firs Chase. I wonder if this little summer migrant is pleased he got here so early this spring!

SUBMERGED SALTINGS

Wrapped up warm for the walk along the East Mersea seawall on a chilly and windy Good Friday. The strong northerly wind whipped the tide up very high, submerging all the saltmarshes in the process. The waders had to find alternative roost sites with the park grazing fields and the Point, hosting reasonable numbers.

Over 300 oystercatchers gathered at the Point, which had become inaccessible to walkers with the high water. In the grazing fields there were several compact groups of roosting waders including 150 black-tailed godwits, 50 redshank and about 50 curlew. Most waders were gathered around the large pools at the back of one of the fields. One or two grey plover and snipe were also seen.

A little egret sheltered side by side with a grey heron, up against a hedge. Fifty two shelduck was a reasonable count, whilst wigeon numbers seemed fewer than recent days with only 300 noted. Also seen were teal, mallard, shoveler and a few pairs of lapwing.

All the saltmarshes along the Pyefleet were completely underwater, such as in front of the Oyster Fishery, pictured above. The river Colne was too choppy to see any birds, except for several groups of brent geese and a distant great crested grebe.

A couple of pairs of reed bunting, some skylarks and meadow pipits were the only small birds seen along the seawall.

The main brent geese flock were feeding on the grass field at the north end of Shop Lane, where about 300 birds were seen. Also in this field near some pools of water were small numbers of shelduck and curlew.

Back at the park pond the only activity noted were the 3 pochard and 10 tufted ducks feeding out in the open water. No sight or sound of the chiffchaff which has been present for the last week.

Sheltering behind some bushes away from the chilly northerly wind were two adders in their usual spots.

There was the great sight yesterday over the park of a short-eared owl passing over, being mobbed by a carrion crow as it headed eastwards. This is the first sighting this winter at the park of one of these owls - always an exciting sight.
Andy Field saw the kingfisher briefly in flight near the pond yesterday.

ACTION AT THE POND

It couldn't decide whether it wanted to be winter or spring on Wednesday 19th. One moment it was hailstones stinging the face in the chilly north wind, the next minute the sun was out and you could feel some warmth.

It must've made it very confusing for the reptiles at the park, having to brave the clouds and hail showers, whilst waiting for the next spell of sunshine. This common lizard pictured above, minus its tail, was basking on a log close to the car park. A second lizard was also on the same log, scuttling over it, to reach another sunny spot for it to sunbathe. As the name suggests these lizards are quite common around the park and are often seen on logs, posts and other warm spots amongst the long grass.
Four adders were also seen basking in their usual spots in the park.

The park pond provided the setting for some interesting bird activity. A kingfisher was glimpsed sitting in a willow bush over the water, well concealed by the yellow catkins, except for its orange chest. It is not often that kingfishers are seen in March by the pond here, as they usually head back to the mainland for the spring to breed.

Also at the pond were the 2 pochard and the 10 tufted ducks, a pair of shoveler and a few mallard.

Paying a second visit of the morning to look at the pond with Andy Field proved a very wise move. The real action was just about to start! We were treated to fine views of a water rail wading in the water to feed. For once the views were quite prolonged by water rail standards, as it probed the shallows with its bright red bill. After it got chased by a moorhen, the rail called out loudly, which was answered back by a second water rail nearby.

Whilst watching the rail, a blur of dunnock wings was seen as it crossed the pond in a hurry. As it crashed into a bramble bush, a large female sparrowhawk was in hot pursuit and was within inches of snatching it. The frustrated hawk sat on the bush, unable to reach its lunch. It soon crossed back over the pond and perched briefly on a low branch, not far from where the water rail had been seen a little bit earlier.

After the rail and hawk excitement, the chiffchaff decided to make an appearance, calling loudly and feeding actively from the willows beside the water.



One little bit of colour along the park cliff, is provided by a few clumps of coltsfoot. This clump is on a rather mobile section of cliff, which has slumped down after recent rains and strong tides.

Out at sea a common seal was seen briefly sticking its head out of the water.
At West Mersea, Andy saw the great northern diver and shag earlier in the morning.

COUNTING ADDERS

The sun came out at times on Monday 17th - and so did the adders! Numbers are still about the same as recent days with four females the only ones on show today. This female above was very obliging as it basked beside a path, letting me hold the camera less than a metre away. Some of the other females seemed to be taking full advantage of the fleeting glimpses of the sun, by flattening their bodies. This makes their girth seem much thicker than normal, but it means more of their body gets the sun.

One of the chiffchaffs was still keeping out of the cold wind at the pond, feeding low down in the willow bushes. Also enjoying the sheltered conditions and feeding around the yellow catkins were some blue tits and long-tailed tits. On the pond were two pochard as well as a few tufted ducks and shoveler.

Waders and wildfowl continued to enjoy the flooded fields with 12 black-tailed godwits and 20 curlew seen. Several pairs of lapwing continue to display with some starting to practice scraping nests. Wigeon of course appeared to be around most patches of water.
The main brent goose flock spent the afternoon feeding on the wheat field near the park. It was quite a spectacle to see 1000 noisy geese fly over the car park in one big flock.

GREY AND WET

It rained throughout Saturday night into Sunday 16th, leaving great pools of water everywhere, especially in the grazing fields at the park, pictured above. The ducks seemed to love it and large groups of up to 400 wigeon were concentrated closest to the wettest patches. Amongst the various wildfowl here were also 20 mallard, 12 shoveler, 25 teal, 10 shelduck on the fields, 10 tufted duck in the ditches and 3 pochard on the pond. A pair of greylag geese were also on the fields.

Despite the cold north-easterly wind and low cloud, the two chiffchaffs were still seen, keeping low down out of the wind in willow bushes over the park pond.


Conditions were so grey out on the mudflats, it was difficult to recognise the horizon with the mud and the sea the same colour as the sky. The tide was just heading out in the morning but the only waders of note other than the noisy oystercatchers, were eight very pale-looking sanderling. In the distance a pair of pintail were seen flying into the Colne - a surprisingly scarce duck at the park.

Martin Cock had four Mediterranean gulls by the Youth Camp and heard a singing corn bunting near there too. He also had his first chiffchaff of the spring in a garden in the Lane in West Mersea yesterday.
Richard Allen had a merlin along the East Mersea beach.