CHILLY AT THE PARK

After a damp yesterday, it was nice to see the sun today Thursday 29th, although there was a chilly wind blowing across the country park. At one point during the morning, there was the spring-like sound of a skylark singing over the main part of the park. The grazing fields pictured above are still waterlogged in places and still being used by waders and wildfowl.

There was the usual big number of about 500 wigeon grazing in the fields, although feeding in several different corners of the fields. The main group of waders around the main flooded area were 55 curlew, most waiting for the afternoon high tide to recede. Fifty lapwing rose into the air and then settled back down again a short while later.

At the park pond there seemed a lot of duck activity especially amongst the 34 shoveler, along with 10 tufted duck, 70 mallard and 6 gadwall. A sparrowhawk flew high past the pond attracting the attention of the local crows.

As the sun dropped down in the late afternoon, the temperature dropped rapidly too. No snow buntings could be found at the Point although Tim Mendham reported seeing 19 yesterday. The tide was just uncovering the mud and there was already a good gathering of a variety of waders such as knot, dunlin, grey plover, redshank, black-tailed godwit, turnstone and oystercatcher.

Other bird news from other birdwatchers in the last few days include one of the resident short-eared owls seen again at Rewsalls Marshes on Thursday by Andrew Thompson and a film crew. The film crew tried to film the owls on the day before but none were seen in the drizzle. Two owls were seen here on Tuesday by Richard Allen along with a peregrine and a good count of 350 great crested grebes offshore. Michael Thorley saw 2 velvet scoter off Seaview Avenue, West Mersea on Wednesday, while on Monday 5 red-throated divers and a great northern diver was seen here by Peter Triston.

At East Mersea Point there were 24 snow buntings and a Slavonian grebe seen on Tuesday by Stuart Gorman. Martin Cock on his walk along the Pyefleet saw a buzzard and peregrine over Langenhoe and a green sandpiper over Maydays on Tuesday. Martin caught up with the wintering curlew sandpiper just after the high tide at East Mersea Point on Monday.