HARE TODAY

Very pleased to find this brown hare on the park's grazing fields on Monday 20th, and it even stopped very briefly for this picture to be snapped before it ran off. The grass in the field was being topped with a mower and this hare was hoping to lie low without being noticed. Unfortunately he couldn't stay hidden and made his escape. I didn't realise there were any hares in these fields at all, none have ever been seen here before. This is the first sighting.

The hare ran off to the uncut long grass, although it soon had to break cover again as the tractor got nearer and on the third occasion it ran off completely, not to be seen again no doubt.

The cows haven't been able to keep on top of all the grass growth in the fields, so this tractor and mower spent most of Monday cutting everything down, especially the thistles. The shorter grass will be more attractive for the brent geese, the wigeon as well as many of the waders too.
Other wildlife seen from the tractor were a common shrew scuttling away in the grass and also ten skylarks.

Ratty the regular water vole was in his/her usual ditch near the start of the seawall walk on Wednesday 22nd.
He seemed quite content munching into some reed stalks.

A red squirrel was seen at the country park on Tuesday morning by a couple of regular dog-walkers who got a good view of it on a path between the car park and the hide. They said it looked well fed! I quickly rushed over to the spot but there was no further sign of it. This is only the second red squirrel sighting at the park, the last one being a year ago.

A weasel was seen near the Point by Andy Field on Monday afternoon.

The golden plovers haven't wasted any time in resting on the newly mown grazing field with about 200 birds here on Wednesday, this picture taken by Andy Field. A group of 20 turnstones was also in the field with the plovers.

There is still a large flock of 900+ black-tailed godwits roosting at the pools in one of the grazing fields, this godwit photo taken by Andy. Also 50+ redshank roosting with the godwits.

There are still plenty of teal although most well hidden in the rushes and docks but probably 500+ at times. The wigeon weren't as evident today although on Tuesday afternoon 800 birds were counted.

A stonechat was on a bush near the start of the seawall on Wednesday and a wheatear was on the seawall path, also 20 meadow pipits. On Monday a pair of stonechats was seen beside the seawall in the morning and later in the fields.
The Cetti's warbler was still singing behind the park pond, now into its third week here.

Overhead a big passage of wood pigeons was noted with about 400+ birds passing west on Wednesday morning. Also 3 swallows were seen flying west over the park.

A ring ouzel was found beside the park pond on Monday afternoon by Martin Cock. It was seen on the ground to start with and then flew to the west a short while and into the hedge and not seen again. There seemed an influx of various thrushes on that afternoon with 20 blackbirds and 10 song thrushes being seen just inside the park.

The sun came out at times on Wednesday and so did one or two butterflies with a small copper, large white and 2 red admirals being seen at the park. Also several common darters and a migrant hawker.
A clouded yellow was seen near the park pond on Monday by Andy and one was also seen on the Seaview Avenue beach at West Mersea on Monday by Steve Entwistle, also 2 red admirals in his West Mersea garden.