PIGEON IN THE BUSH

Whilst walking round the park on Saturday 12th, it was surprising to get such a close view of this wood pigeon in an elder bush by the path. As I sneaked close enough to click the camera, I noticed that its right eye was deformed and presumably unable to see with it. Unfortunately in the picture above, the elderberries obscure the pigeon's eye. It could obviously see well enough to feast on the berries with its left eye as the bird suddenly realised I was nearby and flew swiftly away.



The park enjoyed another hot day during Saturday although the only butterflies seen enjoying the sunshine were a few small whites and a couple of speckled woods along with southern hawker and common darter dragonflies.

The only sign of warblers were along the hedge behind the park pond where 3 blackcaps, 3 lesser whitethroats, reed warbler and a couple of chiffchaffs were noted. Only a few swallows passed over the park during the day and a couple of meadow pipits flying west along the beach was a sign of autumn.

Duck numbers have increased noticeably in recent days on the park pond with around a hundred birds present. These have been mainly mallard with about 60, also 20 teal, 3 gadwall, 5 wigeon, shoveler and tufted duck. The mute swans appear to have lost the last of their 4 cygnets, as none have been seen for about a fortnight.

On Saturday Steve Entwistle saw 4 curlew sandpipers on the mud along the Pyefleet Channel, along with 34 knot and 118 avocet.

On my evening visit the day before to the same area of the Reeveshall seawall, there were 3 curlew sandpipers along the Pyefleet. Also seen were 80 black-tailed godwit, 30 ringed plover, 200 redshank, 1 knot, 30 avocet, 1 spotted redshank, 25 grey plover, 30 dunlin, snipe and a bar-tailed godwit.

Two marsh harriers were present on Langenhoe, 2 yellow wagails flew over the seawall as did a few swallows.

On Friday the regular yellow-legged gull was seen standing on its usual lump of concrete beside the Strood causeway.