FLYCATCHER-GATE

This gate just inside the country park entrance has become known in recent years as the Flycatcher-gate because each autumn a spotted flycatcher is usually spotted from here. On a breezy morning on Wednesday 11th, a spotted flycatcher was indeed watched from the gate, along the opposite hedge across the field catching flies. This may be the same bird that was first seen further along the field on Sunday and again on Monday.

Andy Field caught a fleeting glimpse of a wood warbler just inside the park entrance early on Wednesday morning as it foraged through the trees in a mixed feeding flock. The bird didn't show again although later on it was heard to call three times from dense foliage. Also feeding here were up to ten willow warblers / chiffchaffs along with long-tailed tits, great tits and blue tits. Nearby whitethroat, lesser whitethroat and blackcap were also feeding along hedges.

Offshore Andy watched an Arctic skua fly upriver, briefly chasing a common tern as it headed into the Colne. A short while later the same dark-phase bird or maybe a second bird was found resting on the sea opposite the park beach. It rested here for several minutes before flying off west towards West Mersea.
A marsh harrier was reported flying over the park during the morning.

At Rewsalls marshes Martin Cock found a spotted flycatcher and a common buzzard at the back of the fields. A wheatear was also noted near here and 200 house martins flying west, some house martins were also being noted earlier passing over the park.