Although this hedgehog looked as if it was having an extra hours' sleep beside the road first thing on Saturday 31st, it was stone-cold and lifeless. The poor creature didn't show any visible signs of harm but lying motionless beside a side-lane of Seaview Avenue would indicate being hit by a car.
Lying equally motionless at Cudmore Grove was this adder. One of seven were seen today and all were coiled tightly up and hidden in grass from the cool east wind. One of the adders was a young reddish one from last summer, about the size of a pencil, it hid under a metal sheet.Six common lizards were spotted scurrying into the thick grass as they soaked up the sun's rays too.
Whilst searching for adders, this very hairy looking, oak eggar caterpillar was seen. Despite being seen amongst grass, it was probably on the move between bramble bushes which apparently is one of its foodplants, as well as oak, as the name implies. The large brown moth should be seen near the moth trap in July / August.
On the park grazing fields, there were still 500 brent geese, 100 wigeon, 30 teal, 20 shelduck, 10 shoveler, pair of greylag geese, 10 snipe, 15 redshank, 6 pairs of lapwing and a little egret.
However the highlight of the morning was a stunning view of a peregrine hunting along the water of the borrowdyke. I had lain down on the side of the seawall to scan the fields and noticed all the waders and wildfowl fleeing for safety. As the birds at the back of the fields seemed to re-act first, I expected to see a distant raptor. I glanced to my side to see this big falcon come bombing along the dyke, passing only 25 metres from me and causing panic and chaos in its wake. The bright sunshine highlighted the bird's white face.
It bore down on a group of 30 wigeon that had sought sanctuary on the water in the dyke. All the ducks were brave enough to sit tight, letting the peregrine pass within a few metres of their heads, as it disappeared over the seawall to the Point. Any duck tempted to flee would've felt the full force of the peregrine's sharp talons.
A short while later a sparrowhawk passed eastwards over the fields and caused a minor panic amongst the birds. Then glancing out to sea a second sparrowhawk was seen crossing the Colne as it headed east, presumably following the coast on its spring passage.
There have been several recent sunsets like this one, with this big red orb hanging over the East Mersea pub.
Whilst searching for adders, this very hairy looking, oak eggar caterpillar was seen. Despite being seen amongst grass, it was probably on the move between bramble bushes which apparently is one of its foodplants, as well as oak, as the name implies. The large brown moth should be seen near the moth trap in July / August. The sunshine brought out comma and peacock butterflies.
On the park grazing fields, there were still 500 brent geese, 100 wigeon, 30 teal, 20 shelduck, 10 shoveler, pair of greylag geese, 10 snipe, 15 redshank, 6 pairs of lapwing and a little egret.
However the highlight of the morning was a stunning view of a peregrine hunting along the water of the borrowdyke. I had lain down on the side of the seawall to scan the fields and noticed all the waders and wildfowl fleeing for safety. As the birds at the back of the fields seemed to re-act first, I expected to see a distant raptor. I glanced to my side to see this big falcon come bombing along the dyke, passing only 25 metres from me and causing panic and chaos in its wake. The bright sunshine highlighted the bird's white face.
It bore down on a group of 30 wigeon that had sought sanctuary on the water in the dyke. All the ducks were brave enough to sit tight, letting the peregrine pass within a few metres of their heads, as it disappeared over the seawall to the Point. Any duck tempted to flee would've felt the full force of the peregrine's sharp talons.
A short while later a sparrowhawk passed eastwards over the fields and caused a minor panic amongst the birds. Then glancing out to sea a second sparrowhawk was seen crossing the Colne as it headed east, presumably following the coast on its spring passage.
There have been several recent sunsets like this one, with this big red orb hanging over the East Mersea pub.
No comments:
Post a Comment