Sunday 11 November 2012

LATE AUTUMN SUNSHINE

For once the weather was sunny and still during most of Sunday 11th, providing clear views during a brief walk from the Dabchicks onto the nearby Strood Channel seawall. The morning walk coincided with the high tide which meant no mud on show and not many waders to look at.

Along the edge of the saltings on both sides of the channel were small groups of brent geese, wigeon and redshank. Amongst the moorings were ten dabchicks and two cormorants. Rising over the fields on the Peldon side were 500 golden plover and 100 lapwings.

A sparrowhawk flew slowly over the weedy field halfway along the seawall which helped flush good numbers of linnets into the air with about 200+ noted. Five reed buntings perched up a nearby hedge, 12 skylarks had earlier been seen flying west off the Island while 3 rock pipits were also seen during the walk.

In Firs Chase the pied male blackbird was seen again in the garden with its bright white head and white rump.




The sun was still shining up until the end of the day, highlighting the autumnal tints at the park pond as the sun set. There was a report of a firecrest being found at the park but a quick search of bushes near the hide could only reveal 3 goldcrests. This is the first firecrest record for the Island this year.
On the pond were 20 gadwall, 2 tufted duck and 30+ mallard, and nearby 3 foxes were snoozing together at the back of the field.

At the Point 5 snow buntings were reported as was a short-eared owl crossing west over the Colne.

At dusk a little owl flew over the East Mersea road near the pub. Earlier in the day at West Mersea 3 common scoter were offshore from Seaview Avenue.

On Saturday 10th at the East Mersea Point, 3 snow buntings were on the beach, 250 avocets were feeding along the edge of the river, 11 red-breasted mergansers flew past the Point, 300 golden plovers flew over while in the fields 60 greylag geese and 50+ common snipe were noted amongst all the other waders and wildfowl.

A harbour porpoise was seen by Andy Field swimming offshore near the Nass beacon on Saturday.


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