PEREGRINE PAST POINT

Xmas greetings to everyone.
The wigeon were grazing the path inside the park seawall on Monday 25th. In total around 500 birds were feeding in the fields.
A peregrine flew downriver passing the Point and then heading low and fast around the far edge of the mudflats on Monday morning. A flock of 50 avocets took evasive action as they headed back up river, while lots of wader flocks flew out of the way of the passing peregrine.
Two great crested grebes and a common seal were the only other things of note in the river.

Ten gadwall and thirty mallard were the main ducks on the park pond on Monday morning.

On Sunday 24th six red-breasted mergansers were in the Colne, 800 golden plover on the mud, while in the park fields were 120 lapwing, common snipe, 15 goldfinch, 8 linnet, 10 meadow pipit and 10 skylarks. The pair of stonechat was in the field by Ivy Farm and 30 shoveler were on the saltmarsh lagoons. The Cetti's warbler sang briefly from bushes in the car park.

The water rail showed well for ten minutes at the park pond on Saturday 23rd as it fed along the marshy margin. Also in the area of the pond were little egret, ten gadwall, fieldfare and 8 stock dove.

From the park on Friday 22 Andy Field reported a great northern diver on the sea and 500 golden plover on the mud. There was a common seal swimming down the river. Two sparrowhawks flew over the back of the park fields where 660 wigeon were grazing. Four tufted ducks were on the pond and a Cetti's warbler in the car park.

Two male goldeneye were seen in the Pyefleet near Maydays on Friday 22nd by Martin Cock.