DODGING SHOWERS

Managed to fit in an evening walk along the Reeveshall seawall without getting wet on Saturday 12th. The dark clouds weren't far away with the photo above showing the rain clouds passing to the north of Mersea.

The tide was just starting to uncover the mud along the Pyefleet and lots of waders were arriving from their roosts. Both species of godwit were present with 30 very pale bar-tailed godwits mixed in with about 50 black-tailed godwits - many in their ginger plumage. Also gathered were 100 dunlin, 30 grey plover, 100 redshank and 20 knot. It wasn't long before the waders had dispersed along the Pyefleet as more mud became exposed.

The biggest group of waders were about 1500 golden plover feeding in the nearby field of cattle. Many of the plovers were sporting the black bellies of their summer plumage. When something disturbed them, there was the slow whooshing sound as the birds passed overhead.

The only birds seen in the Pyefleet were 3 great crested grebes and a cormorant.


On the Reeveshall pool there were 15 shelduck, 6 teal, lapwing and some mallard. A green sandpiper flew around several times calling as it headed into some nearby ditches.
The presumed resident female marsh harrier was sitting on her favourite Reeveshall bush, getting ready for the breeding season. A male harrier was seen flying around on Langenhoe.

In one of the large grass fields a brown hare was seen running around as dusk approached.
At the back of Reeveshall a huge flock of 1000 wood pigeons flew around before many settled back down into a rape field.

Three little egrets were seen flying into the conifer wood at Shop Lane to spend the night. It seems as if this may be a regular roost site for the local egrets.
Earlier in the evening a chiffchaff was heard singing from this wood.
The last bird of the evening was a little owl that flew across Bromans Lane and perched up on a telegraph post in the fading light.

During the morning at the park, a willow warbler and chiffchaff were heard singing near the pond.Three adders were seen in their usual places.
Andy Field had a pair of swallows and 2 pairs of avocets near the Golfhouse.