GODWIT PAIR

A colourful black-tailed godwit nearly in full breeding plumage was one of two black-tailed godwits feeding in the wet marshy area of the park's grazing fields on Friday 5th. Six lapwing were also in the fields so hopefully that is three pairs that might stay to breed. Twelve curlew were the only other waders in the fields.

A pair of shelduck was also present in the park's fields on Friday morning.

At least twelve tufted duck were seen at the park, some at the pond while others such as this one on the dyke. Eight pochard were also on the pond, as were a pair of shoveler, 6 teal and 6 little egrets in the trees.
Two chiffchaffs, Cetti's warbler and 2 blackcaps were heard singing near the park pond, while ten goldfinches were in the area too.

There was no sight or sound on Friday of the sedge warbler that had been seen singing by the park pond two days earlier by Martin Cock on Wednesday 3rd.

Twelve wigeon were the last of the wintering wigeon still to be feeding in the fields.

A common buzzard perched in the central hedgeline in the grazing fields while a kestrel hunted over the seawall. Roosting at the saltmarsh pool near the Golfhouse were 200+ redshank during the high tide.

Three clumps of cowslips were a nice sight along the side of the park seawall. Not noticed them here before.

Three adders were basking at the park on Friday in the morning sunshine despite the fresh onshore breeze.

One of the other park adders basking just a few metres from the other two.

A batch of the nationally rare Fisher's estuarine moth eggs were brought to the park from Colchester Zoo on Monday 1st. Zoe Ringwood is pictured with her helper from the zoo, holding a grass stalk with the eggs inside and fixed to a wooden cane for support, about to place them among the hog's fennel plants.