PECKER ATTACK

This is now the view from the hide onto the pond at the country park as seen on Tuesday 7th. No need to open the flaps to look out, just peer through the small holes that have been getting bigger over the last fortnight. I finally caught the culprit in the act of hammering into the hide - a female green woodpecker! It sounded like someone was hitting the side of the hide with hammer the noise was so loud. I was able to creep into the hide and watch the destruction in action close-up. Now I now what it must feel like for a brood of tits in a nestbox when a woodpecker decides it is time for lunch!

Later in the day once the woodchips had settled, 2 little egrets were seen roosting and amongst the teal and mallard were two shoveler. In bushes nearby in the tit flock were 3 chiffchaffs and a blackcap, while passing over the car park in the morning were 3 lesser redpolls and swallow.
Along the seawall a male stonechat perched up, while nearby a rock pipit flew around the saltmarsh calling.

Whilst working on the computer in my house in the park at dusk, I heard the sound of a little owl very close. I quietly opened the back door and slowly peered up to my roof where the bird was seen nervously standing next to the chimney pot! Despite my efforts not to be noticed, it soon saw me and flew away.

The weather was better than forecasted, staying dry for most of the day. This red admiral was resting on a branch during a dull spell. The underwing is normally very dark brown but with the camera flash, all the intricate markings show up nicely in the bright light. Two other red admirals and a speckled wood were also noted.

Martin Cock heard the Cetti's warbler again in the ditch at Maydays farm along with a stonechat and a rock pipit. Unusually he watched 2 grey wagtails land briefly on the roof of his house in West Mersea, before they continued their passage over the Island.