Monday 20 February 2017

TUFTED DUCKS ALONG DYKE

A group of ten tufted duck have been at the park for the last month or so with this male above, one of four ducks seen along the dyke on Sunday 20th. Seven tufted ducks have been on the park pond for the last few weeks.

Having had a bathe and a splash in the dyke, the male tufted duck flapped its wings, showing the white wing-bar.

The thousand wigeon feeding in the park's fields were split up into several groups grazing different areas. Among the wetter areas about 300 teal were present along with 40 shoveler, while 90 curlew and 100 lapwing were present at high tide.

This curlew has been a regular in the field by the pond for the last month or so.
Also 8 wigeon grazing the grass in this small field. On Saturday a sparrowhawk flew past the pond and four little egrets perched in bushes over the water. A weasel ran across the car park on Saturday afternoon.
 
Two great spotted woodpeckers were together in the trees near the hide on Sunday, this male perching over one of the paths.
A pair of yellowhammers at the park on Sunday morning was a unusual sighting, while a male house sparrow was heard chirping near the car park for the second day and a fieldfare seen here too.


Three common scoter were seen flying out of the Colne on Saturday 18th by Steve Entwistle, also a stonechat on the saltmarsh near the Point.
Fourteen marsh harriers were seen gathered for the evening roost on Langenhoe by Andy Field who also saw a barn owl over fields near the Shop Lane seawall, 583 brent geese in the Pyefleet  and a chiffchaff calling near the lane. Two tawny owls were seen near the Oyster Fishery by Martin Cock on Friday.


The regular common buzzard was by the East Mersea road again near Haycocks Stables on Sunday 19th.
The first siskin of the winter was on the feeder in Martin Cock's West Mersea garden and a chiffchaff also made an appearance here on Sunday.

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