PYEFLEET WALK

Walked alongside the middle section of the Pyefleet Channel on the north side of the Island on a sunny but chilly Saturday 16th. It was nice and warm if you could find somewhere away from the fresh northerly breeze.

Small birds noted included 20 fieldfares, 20 corn buntings, male yellowhammer, 4 wheatears, rock pipit, 50 meadow pipits and 20 skylarks.

Not much to see over the Reeveshall or Maydays fields although a common buzzard was seen crossing from the Island to Langenhoe, as did a male marsh harrier. When the telescope managed to stay still long enough, about 7 marsh harriers and 3 kestrels were seen hunting over the nearby army ranges.


There was plenty of mud along the Pyefleet and lots of the usual waders noted along the length. As well as the regular waders, the only waders of any note were 200 knot and a couple of bar-tailed godwit. A few small groups of shelduck were seen but most should be arriving over the next few weeks.

Two female red-breasted mergansers fished along the channel as did 2 great crested grebes and a few cormorants. The only brent geese seen was the regular group of 200 birds in the Colne at the outflow near Batemans Tower. A mute swan was the only bird on the Reeveshall pool