SMALL WADER ROOST

This pair of shelduck was on the pools in the park's grazing fields at the end of Wednesday 9th. Six other shelduck flew around the fields when a male marsh harrier paid the area a visit in the early evening. Several of the fifty teal also crossed from one field to the other as the harrier passed by.

The two kestrels were perched on their tree at the back of the fields as dusk approached.

The early evening high tide roost saw 45 black-tailed godwits and 60 redshank resting on the pools in the fields, some of the godwits in the ginger summer plumage pictured above with a couple of teal.
At least one wigeon still present, a pair of shoveler and at least one lapwing sitting on a nest. Fifteen brent geese flew past the Point.

A red-legged partridge called again from the fields beside the car park at dusk, while a redwing was in the car park at the beginning of the day. A sand martin was seen over the park during the day with other migrants being at least two blackcaps and two chiffchaffs in the park.

On Tuesday 8th at the park at least three swallows flew over the grazing fields and ten shoveler, 40 curlew

and three little egrets were noted here too. At the Point a male common scoter was in the Colne while two ringed plovers were on the beach and ten linnets were in the area. A whimbrel flew along the park's shoreline calling on Tuesday - the first one of the spring.

At Chapmans Lane a swallow was perched on the wires at the end of the day and a corn bunting was singing on the same wires at the start of the day. A blackcap was singing from Firs Chase on Tuesday morning.

In the sunshine on Wednesday 3 adders were seen basking and butterflies on the wing included peacock, small white and small tortoiseshell.