At least four pairs of lapwings are nesting on the grazing fields at the country park, with the females sitting tight while the males perform their tumbling display flights and doing their peewit calls. Hopefully there won't be any more rain in the next few days to flood the lapwing eggs.
A common buzzard appeared to come in off the sea and fly north-west over the fields on Thursday 5th, frightening the 300 brent geese into the air. A chiffchaff and Cetti's warbler were singing near the park pond in the morning and 3 pochard were on the pond. The mute swan pair seem to start incubating on their nest among the reedmace last weekend, so hopefully some young to appear in mid-May.
There was the nice sight of three little egrets stalking the shallow waters in the fields on Wednesday 4th. Not only have the egrets been absent following the cold snap last month but the grazing fields have only begun to provide feeding opportunities following all the recent rains. A grey heron was also feeding nearby with the egrets.
In the afternoon 70 redshank roosted at high tide, 500 starlings fed in a big flock on the fields, 18 shelduck and 25 shoveler were of note.
A common snipe was resting with eyes open beside the park pond on Wednesday afternoon.
A male blackcap was singing from bramble bushes beside the pond - while a sparrowhawk was seen flying into the copse at the back.
On Tuesday 3rd the first swallow of the spring came hurtling over the seawall, flew low and fast over the fields, before disappearing off to the north. The chiffchaff and Cetti's warbler were singing by the park pond.
The pair of pintail was still on the park's fields for the second day on Tuesday, also 200 brent geese, common snipe and a little egret flying over.
Two peacock butterflies enjoyed the sunshine on Wednesday 4th with this one resting briefly on the park seawall.
A brimstone butterfly was seen on Thursday 5th near the East Mersea pub by Annie Gordon.
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