Monday 24 April 2017

YELLOW WAGS


Two colourful male yellow wagtails brightened up the walk along the seawall at Maydays farm on Sunday 23rd. This bird pictured was seen on the saltmarsh near the seawall while a second male was "singing" from the top of a tree further along the seawall.

The male yellow wagtail was singing to a female that was feeding in the saltmarsh nearby.

Also at Maydays on Sunday around the middle of the day, were several birds of prey making the most of the sunny periods. Two marsh harriers were seen over Maydays with four over Langenhoe, while 3 common buzzards were noted on the Island and four over Langenhoe, also two kestrels over Maydays and four on the mainland. A sparrowhawk flew north to Langenhoe.

Three little egrets, 2 whimbrel, one black-tailed godwit, great crested grebe, two Mediterranean gulls, 50 shelduck were noted along the Pyefleet. Inside the seawall were 2 reed warbler, 15 linnet, lesser whitethroat, 2 whitethroats, while closer to the farm were 7 house martins and 5 yellowhammers.

Later on Sunday at Maydays a hobby was seen flying east over the saltmarsh and fields by Steve Entwistle. Also noted were reed warbler, 4 house martin, 6 swallows, 3 whitethroats, while at the country park were Cetti's warbler, 3 blackcap and chiffchaff and 8 greylag geese.

The white pheasant was seen again in Haycocks Lane on Sunday 23rd.

The first green hairstreak of the season was seen beside some bushes close to the Maydays seawall, enjoying the sunshine out of the breeze.

A male orange-tip butterfly rested for a short while in the morning during a cloudy spell.
A small tortoiseshell and peacock were also seen by the Maydays seawall.

This whimbrel was one of five birds seen during a late morning walk along the Strood seawall on Monday 24th. This bird seen on the saltmarsh by the caravan site.

A sedge warbler was heard singing from a bush half-way along the seawall, possibly the only breeding site this year on the Island. Also in the same bush was a reed warbler singing which was handy to compare the near-similar songs. Two other reed warblers were heard singing from the reeds along the dyke.

Also noted was a male yellow wagtail "singing" from overhead wires, wheatear on the seawall, 2 little egrets, 2 common terns, 6 adult Mediterranean gulls flying over the Ray, 10 linnets, 3 reed buntings and 10 swallows.  

A dead badger cub was seen by the roadside near Brickhouse Farm at West Mersea early on Monday 24th by Andy Field.

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