INSHORE DIVER

This red-throated diver swam close inshore to the country park on Friday 5th. As soon as the camera got pointed towards it, it dived down and swam away. Also offshore were five great crested grebes but no sign of any mergansers.

There was the usual nice number of waders and wildfowl on the fields during the Friday high tide late in the morning. A marsh harrier crossed over the Colne and then passed low over the fields, scattering all the birds in their different flocks and off into all different directions. Many birds came back down a short while later such as these black-tailed godwits and some wigeon.

This mixed flock of redshank and black-tailed godwits were some of the 300 godwits and 200 redshank on the fields. Also present were 400 wigeon, 300 teal, 20 shoveler and 200 brent geese.

On the park pond the familiar ducks were 50 mallard, 10 gadwall and a few shoveler while the Cetti's warbler called briefly from the nearby copse.

Very few birds noted at the park in recent days because of the dull and damp weather.

Andy Field and Martin Cock reported seeing a green sandpiper and a stonechat at Maydays on Wednesday 3rd.
A marsh harrier was hunting the fields near Bocking Hall on Tuesday morning.