GODWIT ROOST

Had a brisk walk along the park seawall late on Thursday 25th in very dull weather. The water level in the fields is dropping down and yet there's still a good variety of waders and wildfowl on the main flood.

A male marsh harrier managed to fly along the edge of the field without disturbing the main group of birds. A large roost of 270 black-tailed godwits was notable along with 150 redshank. Although the variety of ducks on the fields remains the same as the last few months, wigeon numbers have dropped down to 230 birds with 150 teal also present with several gadwall, shoveler, shelduck and a few mallard. Up to 10 pairs of lapwing seem to be scattered about the two fields.

On the park pond a pochard and 10 tufted ducks were present while a chiffchaff was heard singing from nearby bushes. Several stock doves came into the bushes to roost for the night. On the saltmarsh pools at the Point an avocet was present again, suggesting it might be looking to breed here later in the spring.

In the wheat field next to the park 500 brent geese were spooked off and as they headed towards the park, their flight-path crossed with that of a passing peregrine. The peregrine continued on by and flew rapidly west and high over the nearby caravan sites. Later a little egret flew west over the car park too.

The adders weren't seen today because of the dull weather but the regular two were out basking on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in thir usual spots.

First thing on Thursday morning a grey heron stood majestically on top of a cedar tree above the passing traffic over East Road in West Mersea - presumably pondering the next meal of goldfish from the nearby gardens.
A water rail was seen scuttling along the ditch by the park entrance early on Tuesday morning.