SUNSET RUSSET

The black-tailed godwit roost in the park's grazing fields was nearly 150 birds, along with 200+ redshank in the early evening on Thursday 6th. Many of these godwits still in their russet breeding plumage were catching the last of evening sunshine as it set.

The cows in the fields are pleased there's still plenty of water to drink in the godwit pools.

Increasing muddy edges have seen the first common snipe appear with two on Thursday, with just the one bird the day before, photographed above at the back. Ten lapwings in and around the pools too as were six teal.

Pleasantly surprised to find this kingfisher perched in this willow bush over the water at the back of the park pond, whilst counting the 30 little egrets in the trees on Wednesday early evening. After a while it took off, flew to another perch and then flew over the middle of the pond where it hovered a couple of metres over the water, plunging in unsuccessfully to catch anything. The first kingfisher back on the Island for the "winter."
The Cetti's warbler sang briefly from the back hedge behind the pools.

A passage nightingale was heard croaking from thick bramble bushes near the car park without being seen. One was also seen and heard this time last year in the car park. A willow warbler called from bushes by the park entrance early in the morning while later in the day a Mediterranean gull flew over the car park.

Up to ten mistle thrushes have been seen in the car park every day for the last three weeks, mainly because of the ripening rowan berries. This one was pictured feeding on the sparse grass on the overflow car park when the park was a bit quieter.

One or two song thrushes are also feeding on the rowan berries along with several blackbirds and starlings.
This song thrush pictured above was seen on the path by the hide.

At Maydays on Tuesday 4th a hobby, marsh harrier and two knot were seen by Martin Cock and Andrew Tilsley.
The previous day a common sandpiper was seen by the Strood causeway late afternoon just after high tide.

The moth trap had a quiet night on Tuesday 4th at the park with only about 20 moths noted, including this early thorn.

One latticed heath was seen the next morning, quickly fluttering up and away when the trap was opened.

The small Chinese character looks like a bit of bird poo at a first glance. Good to see more of them in this second generation as they were very scarce in the first generation earlier in the cold spring.

Other moths noted were drinker, riband wave, brimstone, clouded border, flounced rustic, common rustic, clay and scarce footman.

Two adders were reported at the country park on Thursday while a hummingbird hawk-moth was darting between the buddleia bushes in the car park on Wednesday afternoon.