Sunday 11 February 2007

EARNING OUR SALT











More blue skies on Sunday 11th for the walk to the remotest part of Mersea shore - the upper stretch of the Pyefleet Channel.

Even found time to admire the ancient archaeological remains of one of Mersea's old Red-Hills, pictured above with Monty. The red soil on the saltmarsh is the remains of the salt extraction process that was widespread round the Essex marshes at least 2000 years ago. The red colour is the remains of fires used to evaporate the seawater off to produce the valuable salt. There are probably about 10 Red Hills on Mersea, most of which are in fields that were reclaimed from the saltmarsh 200 years ago.

The tide was rapidly rising up the Pyefleet and many of the waders and wildfowl don't usually get to see any humans in this secluded corner. A passing female marsh harrier helped to disturb some of the birds into view such as 300 wigeon, 100 teal, 100 redshank, 50 grey plover and a few ringed plover, dunlin, curlew and black-tailed godwits. The vast expanse of marsh here was hiding several little egrets, lots of noisy redshank and one green sandpiper.

A brief visit to the seawall corner of Maydays revealed 6 goldeneye in mid-channel and the unusual sight of a green woodpecker crossing onto the Island from Langenhoe. Its low, fast and very direct flight meant that it made the crossing in a matter of seconds. Watching me survey the scene was a common seal that I got the feeling was waiting for me to disappear so that it could clamber on some nearby saltings on the high tide. At one point it slapped the water with its hind "flippers" reminiscent of a whale, as if it was annoyed I was holding it up.

By the Maydays Farm, the large corn bunting flock was still around, this time close to the buildings. At least 100 birds were seen either feeding on some oats tailings, recently discarded by the farmer, or perched up on some wires. Ten yellowhammers, 10 reed buntings, 20 chaffinch and 10 linnet were also in the area. A male marsh harrier quartered the nearby Reeveshall in the late afternoon.

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