BLACK-TAILED TRIO

There were 300+ black-tailed godwits roosting in the park's grazing fields on a sunny and still morning on Thursday 6th. These three birds in synchronized flight showing the distinctive wing and tail patterns, were photographed by Alan Reynolds on one of his recent visits.
Other waders around the pools in the fields were 200 redshank, 30 lapwing and a single snipe.

Many of the wigeon are still developing their adult breeding plumage, this male pictured above has still got a bit to go. Around 200+ wigeon were on the fields and nearby dyke with other wildfowl being 300 teal and 200 brent geese. Ducks on the pond included 24 shoveler, 10 gadwall, 50 mallard and two tufted duck.

The swan family was enjoying the tranquil waters of the borrow-dyke in the morning.

Offshore a red-throated diver was feeding 150m from the park beach and a red-breasted merganser flying up-river past the Point was the first one of the winter seen here. At least 30 sanderling were feeding close in just before the high tide covered the last of the mud. The pair of stonechats was on the saltmarsh at the Point as were two rock pipits.

A sparrowhawk crossed over the river onto the Point and swooped down on some of the reed buntings and meadow pipits in the bushes. Later a male sparrowhawk flew past the pond towards the grazing fields.
The little owl sat up on the hedge beside the pond mid morning causing some anxiety amongst the small birds when it called loudly. It was still in the same group of bushes at dusk.

A female blackcap was a surprise to see when it perched up on the hedge near the little owl. The kingfisher was seen at dusk perching on a willow bush beside the pond. One redwing was seen at the pond as night-fell and there were also two seen in the car park earlier in the day. At least one of the Cetti's warblers, possibly two, sang beside the pond during Thursday and ten little egrets roosted here at high tide.

This magpie was one of several in the area near the hide at the park on Thursday. There have been at least a dozen magpies roosting in the trees by the pond on recent nights.

Two corn buntings were perched on wires by Chapmans Lane on Thursday 6th.

Martin Cock reported 100 fieldfares flying over his West Mersea house on a very wet Wednesday. About thirty fieldfares were also seen by the East Mersea Vineyard along with a little owl near here the previous day.

The barn owl was reported hunting over the park's long grass late on Tuesday afternoon - the first reported sighting for a few months here.

Andy Field and Martin Cock counted 19 marsh harriers going into the Langenhoe roost on Tuesday evening. Also seen was a sparrowhawk there, while a barn owl hunted the fields near the Oyster Fishery. A water rail called as did a spotted redshank but neither were seen. Five hundred brent geese and 500 dunlin were also noted.

At Maydays Farm the kingfisher, stonechat and a green sandpiper were seen by Martin on Tuesday.