PYEFLEET ACTIVITY

The main action along the Pyefleet Channel on the north side of the Island on a quiet Monday 10th was the dredging of oysters, with this boat pictured above. Every so often the clatter of more oysters being dropped on board could be heard.

Birds of note included a little tern and two common terns hunting along the Pyefleet, while 3 great crested grebes were also seen. The only wader flock seen was of 42 curlew heading to roost on the Geedons. A common seal was resting on the saltmarsh up-channel from Maydays. Only a few oystercatchers were present and about 30 shelduck were seen.

On Langenhoe a common buzzard soared over the wood, a cuckoo could be heard calling and 4 marsh harriers were noted here too. Four gadwall were chasing each other around over the Langenhoe seawall.

The tide was coming in along the Maydays creek around the middle of the day with one pair of redshank flying noisily overhead as if their young chicks were hiding in the nearby saltmarsh. In the neighbouring stubble field another pair of redshank and a handful of lapwing were feeding. A sedge warbler was singing from low bushes beside a ditchline - currently the only sedge warbler on territory on the Island this spring.

Five reed warblers, a singing reed bunting, singing yellowhammer and a corn bunting were noted near the dyke. A dozen house martins flew around the Maydays farm and another yellowhammer sang beside the farm lane.

On Reeveshall two common buzzards perched on fence posts, a pair of marsh harriers was seen in flight, a sparrowhawk and kestrel were also noted. Thirteen greylag geese flew over Reeveshall calling loudly.