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.