PARK BARN OWL

A barn owl was perched on top of the barn-owl nestbox, located behind the country park pond during the morning of Friday 22nd. Seven little egrets perched in the nearby trees. 

Two reed warblers, whitethroat and a reed bunting were noted at the park, while a male kestrel was feeding near the Golfhouse.

A water vole was seen nibbling on some shoots at the country park pond.

The female ringed plover was shielding her little chick on the beach, as I walked along the nearby seawall path. The other parent was also nearby keeping a close watch as the chick later fed on the mudflats.

Two tufted ducklings were on the park dyke, as were three pochard ducklings with the female.

A little grebe was feeding in the park dyke.

One of the well grown little grebe chicks feeding in the dyke.

Twelve Mediterranean gulls were feeding on the mudflats off the park as the tide receded on Friday morning. Waders seen on the mud included 130+ black-tailed godwits, 70+ oystercatchers, 50 curlew+, 60 dunlin, 70 redshank and four golden plover.

A sandwich tern was heard calling as it flew along the shoreline, also ten common terns in the river.

Several speckled woods were along the park horseride on Friday.

Gatekeepers and meadow browns were noted during the Cudmore circuit.

A sparrowhawk was photographed by Andy Field perched on the fence near the Shop Lane seawall on Friday 22nd. Birds noted on the walk between Reeveshall and Ivy Dock included 12 grey plover in summer plumage, knot, 20 black-tailed godwits, whimbrel, 200+ redshank, 80+ curlew, three marsh harriers, two juvenile Cetti's warblers, reed warbler, 30+ swallows, six sand martins and a chiffchaff.

A white-letter hairstreak butterfly was photographed by Andy, high-up on a bramble bush near Fishponds Wood in Shop Lane.