There were only Reeveshall sheep for company during an hours walk along the Pyefleet seawall in the early evening of Monday 4th. Despite the sun shining at times, there was a chill in the northerly wind.
The Reeveshall pool pictured above had a high water level and very few birds on it other than 2 shelduck, little egret, pair of redshank and a pair of oystercatchers. A little tern hawked up and down a few times, diving down to the water to fish.
A marsh harrier was seen flying over the Reeveshall reedbed and in the nearby field were 32 greylag geese. Fifteen swifts passed over and 10 swallows flew around the sheep fields. Two brown hares were seen crouching down amongst the sheep.
The tide was out along the Pyefleet Channel, pictured above, and despite plenty of mud on show, virtually no waders were noted. A small number of waders could be seen on the small Pewit Island with one or two redshanks, a few oystercatchers and a single curlew were seen amongst 50+ black-headed gulls. Four marsh harriers were seen flying around the Langenhoe marshes and a little tern and ringed plover were seen near the Langenhoe Point.
The cattle in the park grazing fields have plenty of grass to eat, having had plenty of rain and sunshine during the last month. Around the pools in the fields, the six lapwing are protecting the two broods of chicks from predators such as the fox that strayed out into the middle and then got bombarded from above by the anxious adults. Four gadwall, 6 mallard and a wigeon were the main wildfowl around the pools, along with 4 greylag geese.
Along the dyke were 2 singing reed warblers while a water vole was seen by the water's edge. A water vole was also seen swimming in the park pond and it was also here that a muntjac deer walked along round the front side of the pond, providing a nice view from the hide.
At the Point the ringed plover chick was seen running across the beach close to the parent on Sunday. Also on the same day on the saltmarsh pools near the Golfhouse 6 avocets were still flying around with one bird still apparently nesting. However the following day the very high spring tide appeared to have flooded the nest and five avocets were out feeding on the nearby mudflats. Elsewhere on the mud 25 dunlin and 20 curlew flew off to roost as the tide came in.
On Saturday 2nd, a great spotted woodpecker chick was seen flapping around in the long grass near the hide, not quite mastered the art or the strength for flying. The reed warbler was singing again from the edge of the pond amongst the reedmace. A male sparrowhawk flew fast across the car park scattering many small birds in its path.
Three adders were seen in their usual spot by the track, a weasel was seen on the seawall, while the brown hare was seen again in Bromans Lane mid morning. The blustery conditions kept many butterflies inactive but it was a surprise to see two green hairstreaks on bramble in the car park area.
A male marsh harrier was seen flying over the fields near Weir Farm on Sunday 2nd, Adrian Amos was lucky enough to have a turtle dove in his West Mersea garden on East Road also on the 2nd while Steve Entwistle reported 2 green hairstreak butterflies at Maydays farm - a new location for these pretty butterflies.
The tall flowering spikes of the foxgloves add a bit of colour to one of hedgelines at the park.
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