ACTION AT THE POND

It couldn't decide whether it wanted to be winter or spring on Wednesday 19th. One moment it was hailstones stinging the face in the chilly north wind, the next minute the sun was out and you could feel some warmth.

It must've made it very confusing for the reptiles at the park, having to brave the clouds and hail showers, whilst waiting for the next spell of sunshine. This common lizard pictured above, minus its tail, was basking on a log close to the car park. A second lizard was also on the same log, scuttling over it, to reach another sunny spot for it to sunbathe. As the name suggests these lizards are quite common around the park and are often seen on logs, posts and other warm spots amongst the long grass.
Four adders were also seen basking in their usual spots in the park.

The park pond provided the setting for some interesting bird activity. A kingfisher was glimpsed sitting in a willow bush over the water, well concealed by the yellow catkins, except for its orange chest. It is not often that kingfishers are seen in March by the pond here, as they usually head back to the mainland for the spring to breed.

Also at the pond were the 2 pochard and the 10 tufted ducks, a pair of shoveler and a few mallard.

Paying a second visit of the morning to look at the pond with Andy Field proved a very wise move. The real action was just about to start! We were treated to fine views of a water rail wading in the water to feed. For once the views were quite prolonged by water rail standards, as it probed the shallows with its bright red bill. After it got chased by a moorhen, the rail called out loudly, which was answered back by a second water rail nearby.

Whilst watching the rail, a blur of dunnock wings was seen as it crossed the pond in a hurry. As it crashed into a bramble bush, a large female sparrowhawk was in hot pursuit and was within inches of snatching it. The frustrated hawk sat on the bush, unable to reach its lunch. It soon crossed back over the pond and perched briefly on a low branch, not far from where the water rail had been seen a little bit earlier.

After the rail and hawk excitement, the chiffchaff decided to make an appearance, calling loudly and feeding actively from the willows beside the water.



One little bit of colour along the park cliff, is provided by a few clumps of coltsfoot. This clump is on a rather mobile section of cliff, which has slumped down after recent rains and strong tides.

Out at sea a common seal was seen briefly sticking its head out of the water.
At West Mersea, Andy saw the great northern diver and shag earlier in the morning.