Friday 28 October 2016

EGRET WITH CATTLE

The four Eurasian white-fronted geese were still in the country park's grazing fields on Friday 28th, the two adults are pictured above during one of their regular visits to the pool of water for a drink. The two juveniles were also having a drink for a few minutes before they all flew off to graze in the other field.
Also in the fields were 1500 wigeon, 80 greylag geese and 100 brent geese.

There has been no further sign of the cattle egret that dropped briefly onto the grazing fields on Wednesday morning. Martin Cock and I were extremely lucky to have been standing on the path alongside a gap in the hedge that overlooked the main pool, when we noticed a stocky egret with a yellow bill standing beside a cow! We enjoyed a brief good view but sadly the bird didn't stick around and flew off but not before providing a nice flypast view when it was heard calling a couple of quiet croaks in flight. This is the first record for the Island.

This common snipe had a lucky escape whilst it fed on Friday on the pool in the fields, when a sparrowhawk swooped low after it and nearly managed to snatch it. The snipe saw it at the last second and flew quickly away.

At the Point 3 reed buntings were feeding amongst the sea-blite bushes, and a rock pipit was seen dropping down to feed amongst the bushes.

The incoming tide at the Point pushed 2000 dunlin closer to the shore on Friday morning, as were 150 avocets.
At the end of the day 200 avocets and 62 little egrets were seen on the mudflats at low tide.

On Wednesday 26th a siskin, lesser redpoll, chiffchaff and two redwings were noted at the park while a marsh harrier flew up the Colne at the end of the afternoon.
Three stonechats were seen by David Wallace on bushes between the two grazing fields on Tuesday 25th. Also 5 lesser redpolls flew over, 3 siskin and 25 linnets were seen at the park.

A late flowering clump of sea rocket enjoying the mild autumn weather on the beach at the Point.

A weasel was seen scuttling along the back of the beach at the bottom of the seawall checking out the various bushes for prey on Friday.

Moth numbers are dwindling as the autumn season progresses. This large wainscot was the only different moth from recent nights, to make an appearance in the trap at the park on Monday 24th.
Other moths were green-brindled crescent, large yellow underwing, mallow, yellow-line quaker, beaded chestnut and November moth sp.

A clouded yellow fluttered low across the car park on Wednesday 26th.

No comments: