BACK FROM AFRICA

The first chiffchaffs back from Africa were seen on the Island on Sunday 19th with this one flitting about in bushes along the dyke by the East Mersea Golfhouse. Later in the afternoon two chiffchaffs were also seen by the Strood, one by the dyke and another feeding separately along a ditchline.

A firecrest was a good find at Maydays by Steve Entwistle, also another chiffchaff found there, also two red-legged partridges and a Chinese water deer by a game strip there. A pair of grey partridge was seen at Maydays by Jack Hoy.

The first wheatears stopping off on the island this spring during their migration north, were two seen feeding in a ploughed field by the Bower Hall seawall on Sunday afternoon.

During a walk along the Reeveshall seawall on Sunday, a sparrowhawk flew into a flock of 300 starlings and caught one. It then flew down beside me on the seawall to feed on it.

The sparrowhawk spent several minutes feeding on the starling, before eventually carrying it over the Pyefleet channel to finish its meal on the Langenhoe side.

A brent goose was feeding in the wet horse paddock at the East Mersea Golfhouse on Sunday.

Two red kites were flying low just at tree height as they passed north-west over the Golfhouse, Ivy Farm and on past the Oyster Fishery. A red-legged partridge crossed Ivy Lane.

The leucistic redshank was roosting on the Golfhouse pools on Sunday at mid-day. This bird was seen the previous day in the Pyefleet at Maydays. On the grazing fields were 200 wigeon, 200 brent geese and 12 black-tailed godwits.

Twelve red-breasted mergansers were in the river Colne with this other pair were in the Pyefleet channel on Sunday. Also three Canada geese were in the Colne, later on Reeveshall, also two greylag geese on Reeveshall. Five great crested grebes were in the Colne and Pyefleet, while 30 knot flew down channel with some grey plover.

The great white egret was seen in a field beside Broad Fleet at Reeveshall before it dropped down into the fleet out of view. There were 70 stock doves feeding on the Reeveshall grass field.

On Langenhoe the short-eared owl was at the western end, six marsh harriers were flying about.

Five pintail and fifty golden plover were seen from the Maydays seawall.

Several finches and buntings were feeding in fields by the Bower Hall seawall with this female yellowhammer one of seven birds noted, also a stonechat, four fieldfare, two redwing, ten chaffinches and a red-legged partridge. A peregrine was seen feeding on prey in a middle of a ploughed field. 

A flock of 12 corn buntings were perched in a tree by the Bower Hall seawall, also with two fieldfares.

Along the Strood seawall on Sunday a red-legged partridge was calling from a field near the top of the Strood Hill. Also noted were four Canada geese, ten avocets, two marsh harriers and eighty golden plover.

Andy Field counted the harriers heading into the Langenhoe roost on Sunday late afternoon and saw eight marsh harriers and a male hen harrier, as well as barn owl and the short-eared owl.

A pair of buzzards flew over Mersea Barns on Sunday morning, earlier a buzzard flying high on passage flew north-west over the Firs Chase garden heading to the mainland. A sparrowhawk overhead and blackcap were seen in the garden too.

Two red squirrels were seen running along a garden fence at the bottom of The Lane by Ron Harvey.

On a drizzly and breezy Saturday 18th a walk along the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall, birds noted included two marsh harriers, buzzard, four greylag geese 64 stock doves, two great crested grebes, ten lapwing, two coots, 20 chaffinches, five yellowhammers, two linnets and ten goldfinches.

A couple of distant record shots in poor drizzly conditions of a flock of fourteen ruff seen on the wet field by the Strood seawall on Friday 17th.

The ruff seen here included a male with a white head which stood out, otherwise this flock looked like redshank at first glance. They did feed faster and were almost running about to feed between the pools of water. After a few minutes the flock took off and flew high and fast east over the Strood causeway towards the Pyefleet. It has been several years since a flock of more than a dozen ruff has been seen on the Island.

Other waders seen in the wet field on Friday were 180 golden plover and fifteen ringed plover.

Also seen from the seawall were two red-breasted mergansers, two great crested grebes, marsh harrier, buzzard, 14 corn buntings perched on some wires, meadow pipit and a linnet.

Steve Entwistle saw the great northern diver and eight sanderling from the Esplanade on Friday.

The regular overwintering pair of blackcap was in the Firs Chase garden again on Friday, also the other regular male was singing again by the Firs Caravan park in the morning.

This colour-ringed redshank was seen in the Strood channel on Thursday 16th and has been tracked back to the north Kent marshes where it was ringed by the Swale Wader Group near Harty on the Isle of Sheppey in autumn 2021. Unfortunately part of a ring is missing, so the actual individual can't be identified.

A female pied wagtail was feeding along the Strood seawall on Thursday.

A flock of 1000 brent geese was seen over the Feldy marshes, while along the Strood channel were 78 shelduck, three great crested grebes, 75 golden plover, 35 black-tailed godwits, buzzard and twenty linnets.

The night-time weather improved enough for the moth trap to operate in the Firs Chase garden on Thursday 16th and on an ideal cloudy evening 32 moths of five macro moth species were noted. One early grey moth pictured, was the first one of the spring. 

Two clouded drabs were noted, one shown here, also 26 common quakers, chestnut, and an oak beauty.

Three nights later a twin-spotted quaker was noted in the moth trap on Sunday 19th, also 20 common quakers, three hebrew characters, two clouded drabs, small quaker and and early grey.

FRIENDLY FOX

A friendly fox came over to see what Andy Field was doing during the morning along the Esplanade on Wednesday 15th, allowing Andy to take this picture. Offshore a great northern diver, two red-breasted mergansers and a Mediterranean gull were seen.

An adder was enjoying the sunshine on Wednesday morning at Cudmore Grove country park. Two adders had been seen at the country park a few days earlier on Saturday 11th by Andy Field.

A dunlin rested beside the muddy edge of the park borrowdyke on Wednesday - an unusual place for a dunlin. Four tufted ducks were on the dyke and another six on the park pond where eight pochard were also seen and a sparrowhawk flew over.

There were a thousand brent geese feeding in the park's grazing fields, also 200 wigeon, five black-tailed godwit, 20 shoveler and a displaying lapwing. A stonechat was seen in the grazing fields and presumed same one on the seawall too. Two little owls were heard duetting at the back of the park fields by Andy Field and a goldcrest seen in the park.

A pair of wigeon was grazing the horse paddock at the Golfhouse on Wednesday.

A linnet, little egret and pair of ringed plover on the mud, were seen near the Point.

Two brown hares were chasing each other over a wheat field beside Bromans Lane on Wednesday, also a pair of buzzards perched behind Bromans Farm then took off calling to each other.

Steve Entwistle at the West Mersea Hard on Wednesday saw a pair of Egyptian geese over Old Hall Marshes, two marsh harriers and 25 turnstones.

At Maydays farm on Wednesday afternoon Martin Cock reported seeing three marsh harriers, three buzzards and two red-legged partridges.

On Tuesday 14th three redwing were beside the Firs Caravan park, while in the Strood channel were two great crested grebes.

A charm of 21 goldfinches was singing from a tree above the Firs Chase garden, also a pair of song thrush.

Two red-legged partridges were seen near Blue Row by Caroline White on Tuesday afternoon.

It was very windy on Monday 13th along the Strood channel with many waders and ducks trying to hide down in the creeks and rills. Beside the sluice outflow a mix of teal, wigeon and a black-tailed godwit were gathered. Birds of note were 40 shelduck, 70 wigeon, 60 teal, five black-tailed godwits, grey heron, rock pipit and meadow pipit.

A merlin was seeing flying over the Strood hill on Monday afternoon by Martin Cock, and a sparrowhawk was seen by Steve Entwistle in Oakwood Avenue.

Three stonechats were seen from the seawall on Sunday 12th at Bower Hall. A peregrine flew low over the fields which was presumed a different bird from one seen an hour earlier over Reeveshall. A red kite was flying over Langenhoe, two marsh harriers from Maydays, also six pintail, nine red-breasted mergansers and three great crested grebes were in the Pyefleet. 

On Reeveshall thirty lapwing, 20 stock doves and a stonechat were on the fields, two buzzards circling fields at the back and in Shop Lane a red squirrel crossed high overhead along branches and into Fishponds Wood.

Along the Strood were 300 golden plover, 30 black-tailed godwits and two marsh harriers flying over.

Steve Entwistle on Sunday reported six Mediterranean gulls, eight common gulls and a pair of greenfinches in Cross Lane.

BUZZARDS OVERHEAD

The sunny weather on Saturday 11th saw several birds of prey flying about during a walk along the Maydays and Reeveshall seawall. At least twelve buzzards were seen, one pictured passing overhead.

Three of the buzzards flew south together from Langenhoe and then passed over Maydays.

Another of the buzzards circling over the Maydays seawall had a couple of tail feathers missing. 

Also seven marsh harriers noted, one male calling high over Langenhoe.

Other birds noted from the Maydays seawall were two great white egrets - one dropping down onto Langenhoe and a second bird on the Bower Hall saltmarsh then flying over Maydays. Twelve pintail, two great crested grebe, seven red-breasted mergansers, fifty black-tailed godwits and one knot. 

On Reeveshall were 200 golden plover, 100 lapwing and 26 stock doves. Also the nice sound and sound of some of the eight lapwings displaying in a field near Broad Fleet. At Maydays were 50 chaffinches, 12 goldfinches and two linnets.

Steve Entwistle also visited Maydays on Saturday and noted the 50 chaffinches, 3 reed buntings, 50 jackdaws, 35 rooks, 25 carrion crows and a buzzard. Earlier with Oliver Cottis at the Esplanade two great northern divers, two red-breasted mergansers and two Mediterranean gulls. two Canada geese on Old Hall, and a buzzard over Firs Caravan park.

Late morning from the West Mersea Esplanade Andy Field saw a great northern diver, six red breasted mergansers, 400 great crested grebes. From the Youth Camp were another 227 great crested grebes while at Cudmore Grove were a little owl at the barn owl box, six pochard and 12 tufted ducks.

A red squirrel was seen running along Bromans Lane early on Saturday morning by Nolly Urquhart.

Managed to brave the wintry showers on a chilly Friday 10th for a walk along the Strood seawall where quite a few birds such as 28 shelduck were gathered on the wet field at high tide. 

A flock of 200 dunlin and 48 ringed plover were feeding on the wet Strood field on Friday, also here four golden plover and a passing sparrowhawk along the back. A stonechat was near the caravan park and a marsh harrier flew over Ray Island.

The middle Strood field had started to dry out after a period of little rain the last month, however recent rains have waterlogged the field again.

Luckily I was wearing wellington boots during my walk past the Dabchicks sailing club on Friday as the tide was much higher than predicted. 

In Cross Lane on Friday a Cetti's warbler was seen and heard by Martin Cock, also three Mediterranean gulls seen.

Steve Entwistle saw a red squirrel in his Empress Drive garden on Friday - the third visit in three weeks.

A black-tailed godwit was almost in full summer breeding plumage along the Strood channel on Thursday 9th - probably a bit more ginger colouring still to go. This brightened up a dull and cold walk along the Strood seawall in the drizzle. 

The great white egret flew out of the Strood dyke and headed over Ray Island, also a marsh harrier there. Forty golden plover and 25 ringed plover were in the wet Strood field. A male blackcap was singing at the south side of the Firs Caravan park and a female blackcap was seen in the Firs Chase garden, where a song thrush and 25 goldfinches were seen in the trees here too.

One of the regular red squirrels that visits the Firs Chase garden with the pale flanks was eating a nut while sheltering from the morning rain under a wooden beam of the garden pergola.

A flock of 200 brent geese was feeding along amongst the flooded saltmarsh along the Strood channel on Wednesday 8th.

The regular light coloured brent goose was also feeding in the usual spot in front of the Firs Caravan park on Wednesday. It appears to have too pale a back and wings for the pale-bellied brent goose race. This individual has been seen several times in this area this winter.

Two Canada geese were seen flying over Feldy Marsh.

A grey plover stood on a wooden post along the Strood channel at high tide on Wednesday. In the wet field were the regular great white egret, 100 golden plover, five ringed plover, while along the seawall were stonechat, six rock pipits, ten reed buntings and four linnets.

On Wednesday evening a barn owl was seen perched on a fence in Dawes Lane by Martin Cock.

The great white egret was feeding in the Strood dyke near the sluice on Tuesday 7th, it then flew onto the nearby field where it stood about for a while. Twelve ringed plover and a Mediterranean gull were in the field, while nearby 20 corn buntings and ten reed buntings were feeding. A marsh harrier and 80 shelduck were seen along the Strood channel during the high tide.

On the Strood reservoirs eight pochard, a tufted duck and a pair of coot were seen.

A turnstone was feeding around the Fishermans Hut by the Hard during the high tide on Tuesday.

Martin Cock reported seeing two red-throated divers off Coopers Beach and two great northern divers off West Mersea on Tuesday.

A female kestrel watched over the Strood seawall on Monday 6th during a walk along part of it. Martin Cock also walked the seawall and noted the great white egret was in the dyke, also two little egrets, buzzard, two marsh harriers, two rock pipits, female stonechat and a singing blackcap by the caravan park.

On Sunday 5th at Maydays farm, a great white egret was seen flying to Langenhoe, two greylag geese, three red-legged partridge, forty stock doves, sparrowhawk and three buzzards were the main highlights.

Steve Entwistle reported on Sunday seeing offshore from West Mersea great northern diver, two red-throated divers, 91 great crested grebes, pair of Mediterranean gulls, three red-breasted mergansers and a peregrine on Bradwell power station.

On Saturday 4th at Coopers Beach the black brant was feeding in the wheat field with 800 brent geese, also on the marshes six teal, 30 curlew, ten black-tailed godwits, 20 redshank and 12 reed buntings. Fifty fieldfares flew east towards the East Mersea church and a Cetti's warbler was singing by the football pitch.

Offshore were three Slavonian grebes, 410 great crested grebes and six shelduck.

A red squirrel paused in the Firs Chase garden on Saturday afternoon to nibble on a nut.

On Friday 3rd Howard Vaughan reported seeing from West Mersea a black-throated diver, great northern diver and a red-throated diver in the Blackwater river.

FELDY KITE

A red kite was seen flying along the Feldy Marshes seawall, opposite the West Mersea Hard on Friday 3rd.

The red kite spent at least quarter of an hour going back and forwards along the same length of seawall and at one point flying low over the saltmarsh beside Salcott Creek.

Two marsh harriers and three buzzards were seen during the walk along the Strood seawall.

The female stonechat was feeding along the bottom of the Firs Caravan park on Friday.

A flock of 200 dunlin was feeding on the mud along the Strood channel as the tide came in on Friday morning. Also in the channel were 300 brent geese, 58 shelduck, 20 black-tailed godwits while 30 lapwing flew off a field being cultivated.

The great white egret was seen feeding briefly in the Strood dyke and then in the nearby field before it flew over to the Ray Channel to feed. Two Mediterranean gulls were roosting with black-headed gulls in the wet field.

Two redshank were waiting in the Strood channel as the tide covered the mud on Friday.

Steve Entwistle spent three hours at the Hard on Friday afternoon scoping birds on the mainland and saw a barn owl near Abbotts Hall, two buzzards, four marsh harriers, three greylag geese, while a male pintail flew from Cobmarsh Island to Old Hall.

A female blackcap visited the Firs Chase garden bird feeders on Friday 3rd.

A red squirrel was seen at the nut feeder in the Firs Chase garden on Thursday 2nd. This individual has a normal coloured coat - there's a second individual with distinctive pale flanks that is also a regular visitor.

Steve Entwistle reported seeing a red squirrel in his Empress Drive garden on Friday 3rd, the second time in the last two weeks one has been seen in his garden.

A great white egret was seen flying from the Strood borrowdyke on Wednesday 1st. 

There was a marsh harrier flying over Ray Island, 55 shelduck along the Strood channel while 300 golden plovers were gathered in one of the Strood fields. Two rock pipits and two reed buntings were seen along the Strood seawall. A pair of red-breasted mergansers was in the Mersea Quarters opposite the Victory pub. 

A mistle thrush was heard calling from high in the poplar trees at the top end of the Firs Caravan park.

A second winter Mediterranean gull was seen at the Esplanade by Steve Entwistle on Wednesday

At Cudmore Grove Country Park on Tuesday 28th, a little owl was seen in the kestrel nest-box at the back of the grazing fields by Steve Entwistle.

A charm of 30 goldfinches was singing noisily from the top of a tree above the Firs Chase garden on Tuesday.