Monday 19 May 2008

COCK AND BULL

Met up with some rather inquisitive friends by the Reeveshall seawall on the afternoon of Monday 9th. Munching grass all day must get rather repetitive so I reckon they enjoy having a good stare and a sniff at strangers in their fields.

Despite the chill in the north-easterly breeze, there were patches of blue sky to enjoy. Amongst the cattle was a flock of about 30 starlings feeding in the grass. Swooping over the cattle were a handful of swallows hawking after flies, while a couple of linnets flew past too.

The fine bull kept a relaxed view on the proceedings surrounded by his cows and young calves.

Just when finding birds of any note was proving hard, a well-marked cock marsh harrier brightened up proceedings when it appeared over the seawall from Langenhoe and rapidly crossed the dyke pictured below, flying past the cattle as it headed to a pond in a neighbouring field.

Walking to the Reeveshall pool revealed in the area, a couple of little egrets, pair of lapwing, 2 pairs of oystercatcher, pair of gadwall and two pairs of shelduck. In the fields behind were 21 greylag geese, 6 shelduck, pochard, shoveler and 4 Canada geese.

The only waders seen in the Pyefleet at low tide were several noisy pairs of oystercatchers. Scattered along the mudflats were lots of gulls and a dozen shelduck but little else. A pair of great crested grebes were the only birds noted in the water of the Pyefleet Channel.

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