TAKING STOCK

There was plenty of sunshine for a walk along the Reeveshall seawall on Sunday 7th, although there was still a wintry chill in the northerly breeze. The last visit here a fortnight ago was memorable for the thousands of waders and wildfowl feeding on the saturated fields. None of those big flocks were present this time.

The most interesting flock was a group of 140 stock doves on one of the big grass fields, probably feeding on clover leaves. We've got used to seeing much smaller numbers of these typical farmland doves in recent winters here on the Island. The last time there was this number of birds, was 20 years ago when 150 were seen on Reeveshall.

Also seen on the fields were 500 starlings, 30 golden plover, 2 brown hares and a male sparrowhawk plucking its small prey in the middle of the big field. A female marsh harrier was seen flying over the reeds of the Broad Fleet. There were no birds seen on the Reeveshall pool although a snipe was seen flying away and a little egret flew off from a nearby ditch.

In the Pyefleet 150 shelduck were dotted along the edge of the water in the channel along with small numbers of wigeon. A pair of goldeneye and a pair of red-breasted mergansers were also noted as was a marsh harrier on the Langenhoe marshes.

Yesterday at West Mersea a pair of eider were seen off St Peters, one of the birds a nice adult male. Also at St Peters were 10 redwing and 10 goldfinches seen in the trees.