WET END TO YEAR

 

There were lots of noisy waterfowl on the park pond on Tuesday 31st, maybe quacking with excitement as the new year approaches! It was another wet and dull day at the country park with a strong wind at times too.

Around 100 mallard were on the pond with many noisily displaying  to each other or chasing each other about. Some of the coots were also in a bossy mood getting into scraps with rivals. Other ducks minding their own business were 20 shoveler, 7 tufted duck, 20 teal and 10 gadwall.

A pair of stock doves, green woodpecker and goldcrest with the long-tailed tits were also seen in the area. Ten goldfinches were seen flying over the tree-tops near the car park.

There was a reasonable godwit roost in the fields at high tide with 500+ black-tailed godwits seen late morning along with 50 redshank, 3 dunlin and 5 snipe. The regular flock of 800+ wigeon were busy grazing in both fields, with 200 teal and 50 lapwing also present.

Helen Musset reported seeing the water rail at the back of the pond and also the rare sight at the park of a stoat, chasing after some moorhens at the pond on Monday 30th.

Martin Cock saw three green sandpipers on a pool in a field at Bocking Hall earlier on Tuesday 31st.