WET, WET, WET

Everywhere is saturated even more now following more rain. Continual rain on Thursday 20th has filled many ditches and watercourses with some overflowing onto the fields. This expanse of water at Reeveshall pictured above on Friday, had spilled over from a narrow ditch flooding the inside of the seawall.

Despite the very wet fields, there were no waders or ducks taking advantage of the conditions. The high water level on the Reeveshall pool only appealed to a pair of mute swans and a little egret. Lots of brent geese were waiting in the nearby Pyefleet Channel to return to graze one of the Reeveshall pastures, with 700+ seen. Eight red-breasted mergansers were also seen in the Channel.

Also along the Pyefleet was a big flock of 2000+ roosting golden plover on the mud of Pewit Island. The whole flock rose up into the air when a marsh harrier passed overhead, as did several hundred lapwings. Six marsh harriers were seen on Langenhoe Point, most sitting on tops of bushes. At least one marsh harrier was hunting over Reeveshall and Maydays.

Small birds noted along the seawall were 10 goldfinches, 12 skylarks, 2 rock pipits and a linnet.

Around three-quarters of an inch of rain fell during Thursday 19th and not many visitors braved the conditions to visit the car park of the country park. There were probably more blackbirds seen during the day than dog-walkers with ten seen here and another ten seen near the park pond. A little egret flew past the car park in the afternoon, spoilt for choice for wetlands.

Newest arrival at the park was a female stonechat feeding alongside the seawall in the pouring rain. The bird flitted along the path perching on the top of dead plant stalks, dropping down every so often to feed. This is only the second sighting of stonechat at the park this year and unexpected to see one now after the recent cold snap.

The grazing fields on Thursday were looking very wet and littered with masses of splashes of water. No brent geese but big numbers of wigeon, teal and black-tailed godwits spread mainly across the field nearest the Golfhouse. There appeared to be 1000 wigeon and 1000 teal in the fields with 500 black-tailed godwits with smaller numbers of redshank, lapwing, golden plover, dunlin, snipe turnstone, curlew, mallard and shoveler.

Not as many duck on the park pond as in recent days with 20 gadwall the main duck along with mallard. The water rail squealed from inside the ditch at the bottom of the field.