FIRST SNOWFALL

It was a bit of surprise to see such big snow flakes falling as it was getting light on Wednesday 5th. After about an hours worth of snow, it soon stopped and once the snow clouds had moved south, blue skies appeared briefly later in the morning. The park beach in the picture above shows it covered with snow.

Not as many visitors to the country park during the morning so the car park stayed quiet. Most of the snow had all thawed by the end of the afternoon.

Birds noted around the park on Wednesday were 20+ blackbirds under the trees, 10 long-tailed tits, a lesser redpoll flying from some alders, 20 goldfinches over the car park and a kestrel hovering over the long grass. Most of the park pond was frozen although 40+ ducks here included wigeon, shoveler, gadwall and mallard.

The grazing fields were frozen and buried under a carpet of snow with only 30 lapwing and 20 golden plover of any note here. Several hundred wigeon and teal were out on the edge of the mudflats. Three hundred brent geese flew from the Pyefleet towards the mouth of the Colne.

From the Point 250 avocets were seen on the mud as was a feeding flock of 200 knot. In the river a red breasted merganser was close in with a group of wigeon and a common seal was noted too. A dozen skylarks, 5 reed buntings and a rock pipit were the main small birds near the Point.

It was still cold on Thursday 6th with another sharp overnight frost and the various watercourses staying frozen over. The park pond was still two-thirds frozen with lots of ducks standing on the ice, as in the photo above.

Gathered at the pond were 100 mallard, 6 gadwall, 5 shoveler with one or two teal and wigeon. A brightly marked male sparrowhawk with a bright orange chest, was surveying the pond from a fencepost. It then came and sat in a bush about 20 metres from the hide, providing a nice close view. A water rail squealed from the back of the pond.

Roosting in the copse behind the pond were 5 little egrets and 30 stock doves while circling over a nearby hedge were 25 greenfinches. Two snipe flew down onto the frozen pools and a few curlew, lapwing and golden plover were the only other birds in the fields. As the tide came in over the mud, 15 sanderling were seen close to the beach.

On Tuesday 4th Martin Cock and Steve Entwistle saw three Slavonian grebes off Coopers Beach and a little later watched from Shop Lane 3 male hen harriers, 12+ marsh harriers and a peregrine at the Langenhoe raptor roost. Michael Thorley reported a male blackcap in his East Mersea garden.

SNIPE SNAPSHOT

A sharp frost had formed by dawn on Sunday 2nd but the sun shone all day which made it worth getting out and about for a walk. This common snipe was one of a couple feeding near the park pond on grass that the morning sun had already thawed out. In the grazing fields, 20 snipe were probing the grasslands away from the frozen pools.

The big flocks of wigeon and teal were absent from the fields, preferring to sit out in the estuary during the day. In the fields however were still 500 brent geese present for a while in the morning and 300 black-tailed godwits fed during the high tide. A few lapwing, curlew and golden plover were also in the fields in the afternoon.

The overnight high tide had left behind a frozen layer of ice along the saltmarsh creek beside the "stepping-stone" path near the Point. Despite the suitable conditions, no snow buntings reported, although 5 sanderling were on the beach here.
Graham Taylor reported seeing a spoonbill on the saltmarsh pool near the Point early in the afternoon, although it flew off towards Colne Point. This is probably the same bird that was reported a short while earlier seen flying from Tollesbury towards West Mersea.

In the Colne a female common scoter, 5 goldeneye, 6 red-breasted mergansers, 12 great crested grebes while 4 scaup were in the Pyefleet. Two marsh harriers flew over the Point in the afternoon while a sparrowhawk surprised some of the 50 greenfinches feeding along the dyke near Ivy Farm. A yellowhammer and a fieldfare were also seen near here.

Amongst the 100 or so birds on the half-frozen park pond were 8 gadwall, one of the males pictured above. Also seen were 60 mallard, 5 shoveler, 2 little grebes, 10 coots and five teal.

Two groups of moorhens were feeding beside the park pond, each group of about 20 each fed out on the grass on opposite sides of the pond. At dusk the 40 moorhens headed back to the safety of the pond and fluttered up to perch in the overhanging willows. Watching the moorhens gathering nearby was a fox standing up on a raised base of a willow tree. A water rail called from one of the nearby ditches - none have shown here so far this winter.

The bird highlight of Saturday 1st from the Island was a small flock of 6 waxwings seen perched up in Martin Cocks West Mersea garden. They were seen flying off and despite searching local streets and berry laden gardens, were not relocated. This is the first report of waxwings this winter on the Island, although not too unexpected considering the number of other sightings in north Essex within the last week.

At the country park on Saturday two different sparrowhawks were seen during the day with one female in the morning by the pond and a male along the back of the grazing fields in the afternoon. At the Point 3 common seals were in the Colne as was a goldeneye and 4 red-breasted mergansers.
A muntjac deer was seen crossing Bromans Lane first thing on Saturday morning by one of the regular visitors to the park.

Alan Reynolds photographed this female common scoter in the Colne on Friday and also reported seeing a male too.Two female common scoters have been present in the Colne for over a fortnight now.

Towards the end of Friday afternoon a kingfisher was first seen flying away from the pond and over the pools, where it was later seen flying along the beach near the Point. A male marsh harrier flew back from Colne Point, flushing the 500 brent geese off the fields as it headed back to Langenhoe. The pale-bellied brent goose was seen earlier with the geese in the fields. A sparrowhawk flew high over the fields as it headed west past the car park. There was a small increase in blackbirds around the park with about 20 noted in a number of locations.

WORTH THE WRAP

Good numbers of waders and wildfowl on the park's grazing fields were making the most of a sunny but chilly Thursday 29th. The picture above shows the view east across the pools with Brightlingsea in the background across the river Colne. Several birds of note seen during the day made the walks worth wrapping up for.

A peregrine flew over the beach and mud as it headed across the river to Point Clear. A short while later in the morning a merlin raced low past the Point and over the saltmarsh as it headed into the Pyefleet. Towards the end of the day a merlin was seen again passing overhead carrying a small bird whose wing was drooping down. It flew out over the mud in front of the park and perched on a post in the polder scheme to pluck its prey.

Also at the end of the day a male marsh harrier flew casually over the brent geese flock, sending them off in their noisy masses. The final surprise was seeing a barn owl hunting the seawall and saltmarsh near Ivy Farm shortly before dusk before rising up high to cross the river Colne towards Batemans Tower and the Brightlingsea marshes.

In the river Colne a red-throated diver, common scoter, red-breasted merganser, male goldeneye were noted in the morning. There was an interesting sighting of a family of 4 barnacle geese seen flying past the Point and up the Colne estuary. As barnacles are rarely seen on the Island especially by themselves and without greylags, it would be nice to think these were genuine wild birds newly arrived.

The grazing fields were being well used during the day with big flocks of 700+ teal, 700+ wigeon and 800+ brent geese present. Amongst the regular brent was the pale-bellied brent and the flock of 50 greylag geese were also busy feeding too.

The black-tailed godwits were spread out enjoying the flooded fields with this group pictured above part of 500 birds seen. At high tide 300 redshank roosted by the pools while 400 golden plover were roosting near the brent. Snipe numbers have surprisingly fallen since the deluge of rain fell over the previous weekend with only about 20 birds seen. The jack snipe hasn't been seen since last week.

On the park pond 18 gadwall, 12 shoveler, 70 mallard were noted with 12 stock doves flying about the trees behind the pond. Fifteen siskins flew east off the park in the morning. The snow buntings haven't been reported from the Point for a week.

On Tuesday 20th, a marsh harrier flew over the fields to the north of the Park and Andy Field saw a Slavonian grebe offshore from the park.

Wendy and Ron Green reported seeing a blackcap in their West Mersea garden recently.

PYEFLEET SCAUP

Enjoyed a couple of hours walk along the Reeveshall seawall beside the Pyefleet channel on Monday 26th. The rain managed to hold off and at times the sun even managed to break through the clouds.

The visibility was good and this group of 4 scaup pictured above were watched close to Pewit Island. They drifted down channel with the outgoing tide and then took to the air to fly back four or five hundred metres. Further up-channel close to the Maydays corner were three more scaup.

Also seen were 4 red-breasted mergansers, 2 goldeneye, common scoter, 3 great crested grebes, 200+ wigeon and 20+ cormorants along the Pyefleet.


A common seal swam up the channel towards Maydays.

Lots of waders spread out along the mud with this roost of golden plover, lapwing, grey plover, dunlin and knot seen. Later 1000 golden plover and 500 lapwing rose into the air off the mud at Pewit Island when a marsh harrier passed overhead. Other than lots of the regular waders 100 knot were also noted.

On Langenhoe a peregrine harrassed the waders, a barn owl was hunting just after mid-day and 8+ marsh harriers were flying about or sitting on bushes. Also on some of the Langenhoe bushes were 200 fieldfares.

The main island flock of brent geese were feeding at Reeveshall with 1000 birds seen along with one pale bellied brent goose. The flock settled back down to the field after a marsh harrier had flown by. At least three others were seen at times over the fields and ditches.


The Reeveshall pool was looking very full of water with the only bird seen nearby was a little egret flying away. On the nearby saltmarsh were 25 linnets and 5 skylarks.

Dave Allen reported having a good view at Cudmore Grove Country Park on Monday of a male hen harrier. Steve Entwistle watched from Shop Lane four male hen harriers heading into the Langenhoe roost on Sunday afternoon.

Walked the Strood seawall path from the Dabchicks Sailing Club end, pictured above, on both Saturday and Sunday. The wind had died down by early afternoon on Sunday and 3 marsh harriers were seen crossing the Strood causeway heading towards Langenhoe. A barn owl was busy hunting the long grass on Ray Island for at least an hour in the afternoon. Two little egrets flew to the trees on the Ray late afternoon.

Along the channel 12 dabchicks were amongst the moorings, while on the mud were many of the usual waders with 70 knot, 300 lapwing and 300 golden plover being of interest. A big flock of 2000 golden plover were seen in the air over Packing Shed Island.

On Saturday 30 linnets, 2 rock pipits, 4 fieldfares were seen beside the fields while gathering to roost in the bushes near the Dabchicks were 15 goldfinches and 20 greenfinches. A marsh harrier flew east along the Ray Channel where 500 brent geese were also seen.

A green sandpiper flew over the Hard and the Yacht Club calling out loudly as it headed high north-eastwards on Friday.

BLOWY BUT BRIGHT

The wind picked up during Thursday 22nd but at least the sun shone during the middle part of the day. The conditions were good for seeing the various waders and wildfowl on the park's grazing fields, picture above.

Andy Field located the jack snipe on a small island of dead docks on the pools, with the bird briefly showing and bobbing. The previous day the two jack snipe had been showing again, amongst the many other 50+ common snipe. The ruff was also present on Thursday feeding around the pools and it was also noted on Monday too by Ian Black.

At the East Mersea Point Jack Levene reported watching at least 22 snow buntings on Thursday afternoon which were so obliging at times, that he couldn't focus close enough with his big camera lens! The flock of 22 birds had also been seen on Tuesday afternoon by Steve Entwistle.

Two lesser redpolls were feeding in a low alder near the pond, close to the path and later a flock of 6 siskins flew over. A flock of 8 siskins landed in some trees near the hide on Monday.

At West Mersea a black-necked grebe was found by Martin Cock offshore from the Esplanade early Wednesday afternoon. The previous evening he watched from Shop Lane in East Mersea at least three possibly four male hen harriers heading into the Langenhoe roost.

ENJOYING THE SUN

These two little egrets were perched on an old oak tree overlooking the pools at the country park on a glorious winter's day on Sunday 18th. The great weather was matched by a great variety of wintering birds, all making an appearance after the misty and gloomy weather of the last few days. The visibility was near perfect and the wind was non-existent.

As well as three little egrets on top of the old oak tree, this one joined another egret on another oak tree nearby.

On the park pools, the 500 black-tailed godwits, pictured above, were roosting for the high tide along with a single ruff, 60+ common snipe and 70+ redshank. There was no sign of the jack snipe which had been seen yesterday. Two ruff in the fields yesterday were the first ones this year here.

Amongst the 500 dark-bellied brent geese in the fields was the single pale-bellied brent, pictured at back, Also in the fields in the morning were the 50 greylags as well as good numbers of teal and wigeon. A count of wigeon yesterday revealed about 700 birds present.

The still and sunny conditions was ideal for spider activity and the spreading of their gossamer silk. This picture above of the grazing field shows the white blanket highlighted when looking into the sun. The whole field was carpeted in white and throughout the day, thick strands of silk would drift past in the air.


A weasel scurried along the seawall path and then darted down the seawall-side and into the reeds by the dyke.

Another eye-catching sight with the blue sky above is the unwelcome red blanket of the alien azolla water fern. It was hoped that the brackish water would stop it spreading.

Another spring tide saw the water cover most of the saltmarsh near the East Mersea Point. No snow buntings were reported today or yesterday from the Point. A lapland bunting flew over calling as it headed east in the afternoon, one had also flown east over the car park an hour earlier, maybe the same bird. The kingfisher perched on the seawall sluice at high tide showing off the bright colours in the sunshine. Thirty linnets and ten skylarks flew around feeding on the saltmarsh.

Was treated to one of the best views for a long time of a cracking male hen harrier flying low over the saltmarsh from Ivy Farm to the Point and then back again towards Langenhoe. It flew close enough and provided a great flypast that I could see the colour of its eyes!  Circling over Langenhoe Point was a peregrine disturbing many of the wader flocks as were 3 marsh harriers.

In the Colne 2 common scoter, goldeneye, 22 great crested grebes and 10 red-breasted mergansers were noted as was a common seal. Nick Green reported seeing an eider duck flying out of the river around the middle of the day.

At dusk a barn owl was hunting the field to the north of the park and then headed into the park flying past the hide. On the pond 35 gadwall and 50 mallard were the main wildfowl here. Fourteen siskin flew over the pond earlier in the day. No sign in the overflow car park today of the little owl that perched at dusk yesterday.

Spent the Sunday lunch-hour on the Maydays seawall so that I could see the 5 scaup that Martin Cock had relocated in the Pyefleet. Four scaup were diving together while the fifth bird was a few hundred metres up-channel. Martin and I watched a merlin race across the fields, a kestrel perched on a bush and a short while later a common buzzard was seen being mobbed on a hedge near Shop Lane - the sixth raptor-species for the day. Also in the Pyefleet was a male goldeneye and 2 common seals resting on the saltmarsh.
Steve Entwistle also had a barn owl at the end of the day over Maydays.

Andy Field and Richard Hull visited the nearby Langenhoe MOD ranges in the afternoon for the raptor roost and noted 22 marsh harriers, 2 or 3 male hen harriers, 2 merlin, 2 peregrine, 2 barn owl, common buzzard, 13 red-breasted mergansers and 2 bearded tits as well as four of the Pyefleet scaup.

On Saturday Andy noted a Mediterranean gull and 30 sanderling on the West Mersea beach and also saw the muntjac deer in a field by Bromans Lane.

BADGERS BACK

The badgers have been back to David Nicholls garden in the middle of West Mersea earlier this week with not just one seen but three individuals seen. His picture above shows two of them feeding on some seed he's put out. It would appear from this sighting that there's a family of badgers now resident in West Mersea.

The weather conditions on Thursday and Friday were misty and gloomy. The sun burnt off the low cloud on Wednesday afternoon to leave a clear and still second half to the day, as in the picture above of the still borrowdyke at the park.


 Through the gloom on Friday 16th a black-throated diver was seen feeding in the middle of the river not far from the Point in the morning. There was no sign of it in the afternoon, athough two common scoters were further up river. Six great crested grebes flew out of the river in the morning and a common seal was noted too.
There were 10 snow buntings at the Point on Friday morning - four less than were noted on Wednesday when 14 were seen that afternoon.A rock pipit was seen flying over and 3 reed buntings were near the seawall.

A marsh harrier flew over the Point on Friday afternoon, scattering the waders below, as it headed to the Langenhoe roost. Amongst the gathering waders on the mud were 100+ knot and 50 bar-tailed godwits and 500+ dunlin.

On Wednesday afternoon a peregrine circled over the mud as the tide receded, scanning below for potential prey. It slowly drifted east towards the river and then headed over to Colne Point. A short while later a group of 80 ringed plovers were seen near the Point and 12 pied wagtails feeding along the beach was of interest.

On the grazing fields there was a record count of 115 common snipe seen on the pools with other individuals no doubt hidden from view. No sign on Wednesday of the two jack snipe seen the day before. The high tide wader roost at the pools included 100+ redshank and 300+ black-tailed godwits.

Two lesser redpolls perched up on a tall tree in the park calling on Wednesday morning and a group of 12 siskins were also seen twice during the day especially near the alders at the pond.

A marsh harrier crossed over the East Mersea road in the early morning gloom on Thursday while a fieldfare flew over the East Mersea shop the morning before.

The first winter moths were noted on Tuesday early evening with two seen by lit windows of the house at the park. This one above was resting on the side of the house. The moth trap later that Tuesday night only produced a feathered thorn, large wainscot and a November moth.