BWW

We passed the gym at Creeksea and waved to a friend as she rowed to and fro on a machine; she later said how she envied us out bird watching – it was one of those super days when you wouldn’t want to be indoors unless you absolutely had to.

The grass area around the car park at the marina had a proliferation of flowers including grass vetchling, a member of the pea family, which has a delightful small purple flower and can be easily missed, especially when not flowering, as it can be mistaken for grass. Walking beside the railway line we spotted a day flying moth resting with its wings open and showing the intricate lattice pattern on its wings, aptly named the latticed heath. We could hear blackcaps, whitethroats, robins, blackbirds and numerous tits and later several skylarks. Unfortunately the latter have had their nests disturbed as the fields where they have regularly been seen and heard were being cropped. A train disturbed a flock of starlings on the far side of the track and adults and their young that hugely increased their numbers swirled around forming a mini-murmuration.

Nothing was seen on or over the lake that since our last visit has been cleared of vegetation, red buoys placed in it and the moored boat removed, presumably for the use of paddleboards, a new venture.

On the saltings thrift has come into bloom. This plant, otherwise known as sea pink, is known as the plant of sympathy and was featured on George V1 brass threepenny bits.

The riverside yielded nothing and the resident little egret was nowhere to be seen. However, we did see a grey heron in flight being chased by a crow. Once again in the reed beds we heard the song of two reed warblers but so far this year we haven’t heard the cetti’s warbler, nor lately the moorhens – perhaps the reed beds need to be thinned as the reeds almost fill the water area.

It was decided by the regulars that this year will be our last for ‘Our Patch’

Next Meeting – Friday 20th July 2.00 meet in the marina car park

Birds: Blackbird, Starling, Robin, Sparrow, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great & Blue Tits, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Skylark, Linnet, Swallow, Reed Warbler, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Grey Heron, Black-headed & Herring Gull.

Flowers: Daisy, Dandelion, Cow Parsley, Dog Rose, Mallow, White & Red Clover, Bulbous & Creeping Buttercup, White Deadnettle, Speedwell, Chickweed, Small-flowered Cranesbill, Hoary Cress, Shepherd’s Purse, Hawthorn, Common Vetch, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Stinging Nettle, Cleavers, Hairy Tare, Field Poppy, Ribwort Plantain, Black & Spotted Medick, Field Forget-me-not, Hedge Mustard, Ragwort, White & Red Campion, Scented & Scentless Mayweed, Herb Robert, Prickly Sowthistle, Bramble, Wayfaring Tree, Water Crowfoot, Thrift, Flag Iris, Hedge Bindweed, Honeysuckle, Elder

Other: Buff-tailed bumblebee, Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue & Common Blue butterflies, Latticed Heath day flying moth, Woodlouse, Caterpillar (2” brown hairy with white dots on side), Damselfly.

Diane Caulkett

It was a warm day but the breeze was cool.  Walking beside the railway line we saw the usual selection of birds including a wren.  These tiny birds spend much of the year close to the ground flitting amongst the bushes.   The males sing mostly hidden in the depths of the bushes, which makes them quite difficult to see.  This time of year though they sing from higher up in the bushes which makes them easier to see.  Quite often the male will build half a dozen nests in its territory from which the female chooses the one she considers most suitable in which to lay her eggs.  We could hear the blackcaps but didn’t sight one until later in the outing whereas the whitethroats were clearly visible singing from prominent positions

The lake provided us with some interest today firstly sighting swallows as they swooped over it feeding on insects and then we were drawn to the water’s edge by the vegetation that was growing there.

On our way a linnet posed and sang for us as it sat on one of the Frisbee Golf structures.

We identified the vegetation at the water’s edge as water crowfoot and also found growing there celery-leaved buttercup.  A pair of mallards that were resting in the shelter of a moored boat were surprised by our appearance but not surprised enough to take flight.  It was encouraging to see some life on the lake but we were disappointed to hear later that paddle boarding may take place there.

The little egret was feeding in the dyke but the river’s edge yielded nothing.   Once again there was not much of interest in the reeds in the park except the song of a hidden reed warbler and so far this year we haven’t heard the cetti’s warbler, nor today had we heard any skylarks.  In a bush near the reeds there was a commotion going on partly caused by some long-tailed tits but mostly by an agitated robin and then we saw the cause – a magpie predating its nest.

Next Meeting – Saturday 2^nd June 2.00pm meet in the marina car park

Birds: Blackbird, Starling, Robin, Sparrow, Wren, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Great, Long-tailed & Blue Tits, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Swallow, Reed Warbler, Cuckoo, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Mallard, Little Egret, Black-headed & Common Gull.

Flowers: Daisy, Dandelion, Cow Parsley, Celery-leaved, Bulbous & Creeping Buttercup, Gorse, Red & White Deadnettle, Ground Ivy, Groundsel, Speedwell, Chickweed, Small-flowered Cranesbill, Horse Chestnut, Hoary Cress, Shepherd’s Purse, Hawthorn, Alkanet, Common Vetch, Beaked Hawk’s Beard, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Stinging Nettle, Cleavers, Common Field & Germander Speedwell, Ribwort Plantain, Black & Spotted Medick, Field Forget-me-not, Hedge Mustard, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Ragwort, White Campion, Field Maple, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Ramsoms, Herb Robert, Wild Pansy.

Other: Buff-tailed bumblebee, Orange- tipped, Large White & Brimstone butterflies

Diane Caulkett

We started in sunshine and just made it to the finish before a torrential downpour fell.  As usual there was plenty of birdlife along the railway line including blackcaps singing and we had the added pleasure of sighting whitethroats, a sure sign that the summer birds are arriving.  We also heard our first cuckoo of the season.  Beside the lake at Creeksea just three gulls stood together at the edge – a lesser black-backed and two herring gulls.  At least three skylarks were singing on high.

The little egret was in its favoured location on the saltings at Creeksea but the river’s edge yielded nothing. The Brent geese were nowhere to be seen and most likely are now travelling north to the Arctic tundra where they breed and will return in the autumn to winter here once again.  These birds have been given an amber status in the Birds of Conservation Concern list and a project has just begun to track those that travel to the Essex estuaries over winter.  The Essex Wildlife Trust and the Southern Colour Ringing Group have teamed up and have ringed 18 geese with colour-coded, numbered rings.   You can help monitor these birds too, as anyone who sees a Brent goose with a colour ring (visible with binoculars) is asked to send details including ring-code, date and location to Paul Roper by emailing ntgg_sightings@hotmail.co.uk.

On the reeds in the dyke adjacent to the marina a reed bunting sang and remained in sight for the time it took us to pass it.  Not much of interest in the reeds in the park except the song of a reed warbler hidden in the reeds.

As expected there were more flowers, but nothing exceptional except the hoary cress on the margins of the saltings, common in the south but rare elsewhere, and later the flowers of the field maple, our only native maple. Last year in this month we identified six butterflies but this year there were none.

Next Meeting – Thursday 10^th May 2.00pm meet in the marina car park

Birds: Blackbird, Starling, Robin, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Great, Blue Tits, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Cuckoo, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Kestrel, Moorhen, Mallard, Black-headed, Lesser black-backed & Herring Gulls.

Flowers: Daisy, Dandelion, Cow Parsley, Buttercup, Gorse, Red & White Deadnettle, Ground Ivy, Groundsel, Speedwell, Chickweed, Blackthorn, Small-flowered Cranesbill, Horse Chestnut, Field Maple, Hoary Cress, Shepherd’s Purse, Hawthorn, Alkanet.

Other: Buff-tailed bumble bee, hoverfly,

Diane Caulkett

With a burst of sunshine and a light breeze carrying some warmer air, spring seemed to have arrived.  Noticeably the birds were singing and groups of squirrels and rabbits frolicked in a field at Creeksea.  On the lake there was a pair of mallard that preened their feathers and then relaxed at the water’s edge.  The skylarks were singing on high and there were at least four separate birds, which is encouraging as the land they frequent is not now used in the same way as previously.  In two locations there were small flocks of long-tailed tits chattering and moving restlessly in the bushes.

Although the tide was rising and there was plenty of exposed mud the river yielded little in the way of waders and the brent geese, although present, were few in number.

Beside the dyke two reed buntings flew between the bushes and a male landed showing its summer plumage.  In winter the male reed bunting’s brown head feathers obscure its head pattern. However, in spring it loses its drabness and the dull feathers of winter revealing a buff-brown back with black streaks and its distinctive black and white head with a white stripe under the cheeks: his plumage gradually turns paler in summer.

The flowers have started blooming and alongside the railway track the profusion of blackthorn flowers had attracted many bees.  The first bumblebee of the year was also seen as well as a butterfly that flew past too quickly to identify.

The final sighting was of a kestrel hovering over the rough grass in the country park, dropped to catch its prey, and then flew off with nothing.

Next Meeting – Thursday 26^th April 2.00 meet in the marina car park

Birds: Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great, Long-tailed  & Blue Tits, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Redshank, Mallard, Little Grebe, Brent Geese, Cormorant, Black-headed & Herring Gulls.

Flowers: Daisy, Gorse, Red Deadnettle, Ground Ivy, Groundsel, Speedwell, Chickweed, Blackthorn,

Other: Mole hills, bumble bee, grey squirrel, rabbit

Diane Caulkett