SNOW ON THE GO

The snow has just about disappeared from the park and in the space of 24 hours, even this snow in field by the pond in the picture above, was all gone on Saturday 16th. Although it stayed cold, the rain during the day kept the thaw going.

On this dull day it wasn't till the very end of Saturday that the most interesting bird of the day at the park showed up, when a kingfisher appeared at the pond and quickly flew into the bush as the light faded fast. It dipped into the water for its early night-time bathe although it was only watched for a further five minutes before it got too dark to see.

Nearby a water rail called at dusk from a frozen margin to the pond. Andy Field had a good view of the water rail yesterday on the grass on the nearer side of the pond. Less ducks on the pond today with most of the others dispersed onto the thawing fields. The swan family, 16 coots, several gadwall, little grebe and a couple of tufted duck were also noted but no sign of yesterday's male pochard.The resident dog fox walked in front of the hide at dusk scattering moorhens as it crossed the field.

There were still several fieldfares around the park with about 20 birds seen, especially a few in the car park with blackbirds. Three redwings were also in bushes near the pond. The biggest fieldfare flock of the winter at the park were seen yesterday when 100 birds were counted feeding briefly on the main part of the park when no dog walkers were present. There were a few more finches along the hedges near the pond yesterday with 20 goldfinches, 15 chaffinches and 10 greenfinches noted but much fewer today.

At dusk on Friday a woodcock flew over the car park, presumably on its way to feed for the night to the north of the park. Andy had seen the barn owl late in the afternoon near Bromans Farm and then later at least one little owl was heard calling at dusk.


Many of the watercourses around the park such as this borrow-dyke, have remained frozen solid. Some of the shallow waters on the field have thawed out a bit and there were more waders and wildfowl seen in these last couple of days.

Many of the wigeon still appear to be on the nearby mudflats with 200 seen but small groups were flying on the fields to feed along with the teal, mallard, gadwall and shoveler. Waders were also seen around the high tide time with black-tailed godwits, redshank, dunlin, lapwing and a few snipe.


On Frday at the Point a peregrine glided slowly overhead as it headed along the beach and across the river to Colne Point. Waders scattered off the mudflats as did some of the wigeon, while all the birds in the grazing fields also took to the air. Later a sparrowhawk flashed low over the saltmarsh at the Point. Ten skylarks, 5 reed buntings and rock pipit were some of the small birds noted near the Point.

Also from here were 6 goldeneye, 10 red-breasted mergansers and a few great crested grebes as well as a common seal. On the mud 100 avocets were the main waders of interest and a little egret was also seen.


The last few nights there have been one or two winter moths glimpsed in the car headlights in the car park, even with the temperatures in the early evening down to just 2 or 3 degrees C. However this one pictured above was found in the warmth of my house first thing this morning.