BREEZY EVENING STROLL

Went for a Friday evening walk on the 31st August along the Reeveshall seawall. The area not quite as desterted as usual as I had sort of company in the form of this tractor cutting the long grass down. Since other sections of the field have been cut down, various waders have taken to probing for food amongst the short grass, making them easier to see.

This evening 60 black-tailed godwits were seen on the field with a few curlews. Amongst the sheep 7 yellow wagtails headed off to their eveing roost as did another group of 9 from the cattle. As the light faded a female marsh harrier crossed swiftly over the Reeveshall field, heading over the Pyefleet to the roost at Langenhoe Point. At least five marsh harriers were seen over Langenhoe including two youngsters playfully talon-grappling with each other in the air.

On the Reeveshall pool five green sandpipers were very noisy this evening while 25 lapwing roosted in a group on the muddy margins. An avocet, three black-tailed godwit and a greenshank were the only other waders noted. A female tufted duck dived a few times and 7 shoveler passed overhead with 3 teal.

Amongst the many hundreds of waders along the eastern half of the Pyefleet, there was little of unexpected interest with good numbers of redshank, grey plover, curlew and black-tailed godwit. Surprisingly there was only one dunlin and one knot seen but none of the other familiar summer passage waders. Two great crested grebes were seen in the Channel.

Heading back along the seawall I stopped by the small patch of reeds and strained my ears as I thought I heard the brief "ping" of a bearded tit. I waited but it didn't call again - until I did a crude imitation of the "ping" call. I did it from three different positions and each time I had a reply from the bird but it refused to show. This is presumably the same bird that was first seen here a fortnight ago.

In the country park the notable birds were a passing group of about 150 swallows and martins, feeding over the park and neighbouring fields. Two willow warblers called from near the car park as did chiffchaff, whitethroats and lesser whitethroats.

Twenty-two species of moth totalling about 75 individuals found in the trap on Friday morning included frosted orange, bloodvein, small square-spot rustic, latticed heath and orange swift.

Heard from Hugh Owen tonight who lives just a couple of miles north of the Island that he was lucky enough to see the rare and spectacular Camberwell Beauty in his garden a few days ago. It seems there has been a small influx recently from the continent with a few being seen in Essex.