WINTER WALK

It was grey and overcast at the country park on Thursday 27th, a change from the bright sunshine of yesterday. One corner of the park in recent days that has been favoured by various thrushes has been alongside this path pictured above. The regular group of a dozen blackbirds were joined by five fieldfares and two song thrushes, who have been looking for food amongst the thick leaf litter.

At the park pond there appeared to have been an influx of shoveler with 25 birds present with the white patches on the males, making them stand out on the dull day. Three tufted duck were also present amongst the regular mallard, teal and gadwall.

In the grazing fields there was the regular flock of 200 wigeon feeding on the grass with a dozen black-tailed godwits for company.
On the mudflats near the Point 25 avocets were noted, some snoozing in a small group while others continued to feed along the water's edge as the tide came in. In the river Colne 12 red-breasted mergansers were either involved in a bit of diving for food or displaying to each other.

On Langenhoe Point a mass of waders were gathering for the high tide roost with 1000 lapwings being the most numerous.

Along the seawall near Ivy Farm dock were a pair of yellowhammers, the regular pair of stonechats, while over the saltmarsh flew 8 skylarks and 2 rock pipits.