SKYLARK ON SHOW

Most skylarks seem to spend most of their time as little dots high in the sky, however this one provided a good close view when it perched on a bench at the country park.

Even with its beak stuffed full with caterpillars to take to its nest, this skylark still managed to sing without dropping any of them. There seem to be at least three pairs of skylarks around the main field of the park this year which is more than last year.

Interested to see how the swan families are managing at the park, and it appears that the borrow-dyke family have lost one cygnet in recent days, so they are now down to six.

The swan family at the pond appeared to have lost one too until I realised one of the six cygnets was hitching a ride on mum's back!
Also at the pond were three young little grebes, recently hatched out. One reed warbler was singing from the reeds at the pond and the Cetti's warbler was heard singing too.
Three avocets were on the pool in the field along with three shoveler and a black-tailed godwit on Saturday 13th.A steady westward trickle of swifts was noticeable at various times during Saturday with over seventy birds noted.

Eight little egrets roosted at the pond on Thursday 11th, a cuckoo was heard singing to the north of the park for the third morning running, while near the Point possibly nine avocets were sitting on the saltmarsh lagoons.

It's great being able to enjoy the song of the song thrush in our Firs Chase garden. Unfortunately the loud song starts very early each morning from trees very close to the bedroom window, so you  don't need an alarm clock at the moment!

Turtle doves have now become rare on the Island so it was good to hear one was feeding in the East Road garden of Adrian Amos in West Mersea on Monday 8th.

A hobby was seen at Maydays farm on Thursday 11th by Martin Cock and also a bull grey seal was seen in the Pyefleet there too.

A keen lad at the park showed me this slow-worm that he'd just found in the grassland. Slow-worms always seem quite elusive at the park with only about one sighting each year.
Two adders were reported at the park on Thursday 11th and one on Saturday 13th.

There was this sad sight along the East Mersea road in mid evening on Saturday of this badger that had been hit by a car not far from the village pub. It was lifted off the road and into the verge.
A badger cub was reported as being seen in the daylight crossing one of the grassy paths at the park at the beginning of the week - this is the fourth cub sighting in the daytime.

Moth-trapping at the park continues to be poor due to the cold night temperatures. Only 18 moths were noted on Wednesday 10th with this buff ermine moth pictured above, the first of the season. Most of the other moths were marbled minors and heart and darts.

A couple of painted ladies were flying around the car park on Friday 12th and another one seen on Tuesday 9th. Two common blue butterflies were in the long grass on the 11th.