FIRST ADDER OF THE SPRING

Another dry day with plenty of sunshine brought this adder out on Saturday 22nd for the second day running. Yesterday was the first sighting of the year at the country park, in the usual area close to the car park.

More surprising was seeing this juvenile adder out so early in the season, well before many others have appeared. This small youngster from last summer with its distinctive brown colouration, was only about 25cms (ten inches or so) long.

One snow bunting was at the Point in the morning although with so many visitors enjoying the beach later in the day, I doubt this bird would've stayed for very long.
In the nearby saltmarsh 2 reed buntings, rock pipit and a little egret were seen.

Amongst the wigeon, teal  and tufted duck along the borrowdyke was this pair of Canada geese - the first sighting this year at the park.
A water vole was seen swimming across the dyke and disappearing under a bramble bush.

Water levels are very gradually receding across the park's grazing fields although they're still well liked by 1000 black-tailed godwits, three above and also 500 wigeon, some pictured above too. Other birds seen in the fields prior to the main high tide roost were 500 brent geese, 300 teal, 10 snipe, 50 redshank, 30 shelduck and 50 dunlin.

On Friday 21st a male sparrowhawk flew along the back of the fields upsetting some of the waders and wildfowl. Three pochard were on the park pond.
Two corn buntings were perched up along the East Mersea road near Bocking Hall and Chapmans Lane.