THAW SETS IN

 As the big thaw continues, a mixed flock of knot, dunlin and grey plover were packed together for the high tide roost on the saltmarsh lagoon near the East Mersea Point on Monday 5th. In total at least 1000 waders were roosting in the two lagoons, other species seen were redshank, bar-tailed godwit and one avocet. A rock pipit flew over the saltmarsh calling.

The wet horse paddock by the Golfhouse had 100 wigeon, 30 redshank and 2 black-tailed godwit feeding in it. In the park's grazing fields were 150 teal, 100 wigeon, 100 lapwing, 10 golden plover, 5 redshank and a sparrowhawk that flew over unsettling some of the birds.

The previous day on Sunday 4th a siskin was feeding with 12 goldfinches in the alders near the park pond.
A barn owl was seen flying over the fields near Shop Lane by Chris Burr, the first sighting for a while here.

Teal numbers have increased in recent days at the country park as the grazing fields become wetter with 100 being noted on Tuesday 6th.

Birds seen around the pools in the grazing fields on Tuesday 6th included 10 shoveler, 6 gadwall, 100 wigeon, 10 lapwing and 5 redshank. A snipe was feeding by the park pond, 6 tufted duck were on the pond and the water rail was seen by the pond by Kay Paul.
In the Colne on Tuesday were 6 red-breasted mergansers and 10 great crested grebes.

A torrential downpour over the country park in the afternoon on Wednesday 7th was followed by a double rainbow over the car park. A siskin flew over the car park calling.

Offshore late afternoon were 8 Slavonian grebes and 25 great crested grebes on the sea from the park. The water rail was seen at the park pond by Andy Field on Wednesday and earlier at West Mersea 4 maybe 5 great northern divers, 3 common scoters and 12 red-breasted mergansers were also noted by Andy.

On Thursday 8th a barn owl was hunting over the fields at the back of the park's grazing fields as well the area near the Golfhouse late in the day. Three pochard were on the dyke while a male was seen on the pond, where the snipe was also seen again. Four tufted ducks were also on the pond, 40 linnets were in the fields late afternoon and a fieldfare was seen in the car park earlier in the day.

This colourful common sunstar starfish was found washed up on the park beach by one of the visitors to the park. It's one of the very few creatures washed up here by the rough seas during the recent cold snap. It's the first time a sunstar has been found on the park beach that I'm aware of.