Thursday 9th July

It was a beautiful sunny morning when I made my visit to the park today. There was scattered cloud in the sky and a cool, calm wind in the air. I couldn’t get out until just after 10am so I wasn’t expecting too much bird activity and I covered all of the north side of the Lake and River Len.

A Green Woodpecker was the first bird to be seen as it flew from right to left in front of me along Laurel Walk, this was soon followed a pair of Bullfinch which were perched in the Elder scrub just the otherside of the fence that runs along the top of the bank along Laurel Walk, close to where the fallen Beech is, and a Goldcrest could be heard calling from the Wellingtonias. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Treecreepers were picked up along the River Len, as was a lovely female Sparrowhawk which was soaring about 6ft above the tree tops along the stretch between the 2 bridges. At least 6 Blackcaps were noted throughout the visit, 2 Whitethroat were singing in the grassland north of the Len, 2 more Bullfinch were seen by the Georgian Steps at the top of the bank north of the Len, and 1 Chiff Chaff was heard by the Head Gardener’s House on the edge of the Walled Garden.

Blackcap fledgling

A total of 5 Reed Warblers were heard singing, a Kingfisher was fishing along the River Len, and on the Lake were at least 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 17 Canada Geese, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and at least 26 Black-headed Gulls.

Butterflies recorded were 6 Meadow Browns, 3 Small and 2 Essex Skippers, 3 Gatekeepers, and 7 Commas. A male Banded Demoiselle was seen along the Lake’s eastern edge, and several Common Blue Damselflies were also seen. 2 Rabbits were feeding on the short grass bank north of the Len.

Comma on Creeping Thistle

Anyone visiting the park at the moment should walk around the edge of the Walled Garden to where the old meadow is. With Cornflowers and Poppies amongst the many wildflowers, the meadow is looking absolutely stunning at the moment. (This meadow is also accessible via the entrance opposite the Madginford turning, and is on your right as soon as you turn into the Park.) When at the meadow it is also an idea to look out for the 4 species of reptile, and the local mammal species as this is the spot where you are most likely to see them.

Wildflowers

Hello

Hello all. My reason for little contact during the past couple weeks is that my computer's motherboard decided to give up on me, so I have therefore been without a computer during this period.

I am now back 'online' (hooray!!) so should hopefully be able to provide Mote Park sightings soon!!

Cheers,
Simon

Wednesday 17th & Friday 19th June

Firstly, apologies for the lack of posting lately. My computer has had to go in for repair and so I have been without a computer for a while. During the week I have also finished my studies for this year and I find out whether I graduate at the end of this month...fingers-crossed. As well as visiting the Park I have also been making the most of my relatively free time by celebrating my birthday, leading an RSPB walk in the New Forest, birding in Ashdown Forest and also having a birding trip to France. See some photos below:

Spotted Heath Orchid

(Ashdown Forest)

Painted Lady

(France)

Herring Gull

(France)

Highlights from the Park include Med Gulls, good views of Little Owl and the Turtle Dove remains by the Old Bothy.

Little Owl

I helped lead a bat survey course in the Park on Wednesday. 5 species were seen: Common & Soprano Pipistrelle, Serotine, Noctule and Daubenton's. A female Tawny Owl was also heard calling from a Leylandii on the Golf Course.

Today I made an early start and covered most of my usual circuit. Although the weather was sunny a calm breeze made the temperature feel a bit cooler, and despite the earlier start the birds were still rather quiet.

At least 7 Blackcaps were heard singing, 2 Goldcrests were heard, 2 Treecreepers were seen along the Causeway, at least 6 Whitethroats could be heard singing, 3 Chiff Chaff were singing, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from along the Len. A total of 6 Reed Warblers were heard singing, and on the Lake were at least 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 89 Canada Geese, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and at least 32 Black-headed Gulls. 2 Grey Herons were seen, at least 12 House Martins were feeding over the Lake, and spotted on the fallen tree on the Golf Course side of the Lake was a Grey Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper - the first I have recorded this year.

Record shot of Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail

Butterflies recorded were 9 Speckled Woods, 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Meadow Brown, and 3 Small Skippers. A male Banded Demoiselle was seen along the 'un-named' stream, and lots of Common Blue Damselflies were seen on the Lakes eastern edge.

Banded Demoiselle

Thursday 4th & Friday 5th June

Apologies for the delay in posting. I visited the park Thursday evening with a firend to look for bats. It was, unfortunately, a full moon which meant fewer bats were out on the wing than usual. We found 5 species, which were Noctule, Soprano and Common Pipistrelles, Serotine and Daubenton's, and we enjoyed brilliant views of a Little Owl perched by a hole in an Oak, and we heard calls from Little Owl and Fox too.

Friday morning I popped into the park for a quick walk along the River Len and eastern edge of the Lake. Conditions weren't brilliant with a light drizzle gradually moving in throughout the walk.

2 Blackcap were singing, 2 Goldcrest were singing by the old Walled Garden, a Stock Dove was heard calling, 8 Whitethroat could be heard singing, 2 Green Woodpeckers were seen in the grassland north of the Len, a Willow Warbler could be heard singing from the Golf Course, a Grey Wagtail called as it flew over the Weir, and a Turtle Dove was purring from the scrub at the top of the grassland north of the Len.

7 Reed Warblers were noted around throughout, a Grey Heron was standing on the Golf Course edge of the Lake, and of particular note on the Lake were 3 Mute Swan, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 1 Med Gull.

Slowworm

Also seen were 5 adult and 2 young Slowworms in the grassland north of the Len.

Monday 1st June

More warm and sunny weather was enjoyed this morning, with a slightly earlier start than Saturday.

At least 5 Blackcaps were heard singing, 4 Goldcrests were heard, 3 Treecreepers were noted, at least 7 Whitethroats could be heard singing, a Garden Warbler sang from a old Field Maple in the Oak wood, 4 Chiff Chaff were heard, a Willow Warbler sang from some willow by the Pitch & Putt, a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the western edge of the Oak wood, a Stock Dove called from an Oak in the Len Valley, and a Green Woodpecker ‘yaffled’ on Jenner’s Bank.

Grey Heron

A total of 6 Reed Warblers were heard singing, and of note on the Lake were at least 6 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Mute Swans, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. At least 21 Black-headed Gulls were also on the Lake, and a Grey Heron stood on the edge of the Causeway, not appearing to be spooked by the many dog-walkers going by.

Painted Lady

Butterflies recorded were 4 Speckled Woods, 3 Painted Ladies, and 1 Holly Blue - which was lapping up nutrients along the track by the Weir. A male Banded Demoiselle was seen by the old carriage bridge along the River Len, and at least 11 Common Blue, 1 Blue-tailed, and 2 Azure Blue Damselflies were seen on the Lakes eastern edge.

Holly Blue

Saturday 30th May

A gorgeous early summer’s day was enjoyed today. I wasn’t able to get out until just gone 9am, so unfortunately bird sightings were lower than usual.

Speckled Wood

At least 3 Blackcaps, 5 Chiff Chaffs, and 7 Whitethroats could be heard singing, a Treecreeper called from along the River Len, 2 Stock Dove called, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, a Coal Tit called from the Yews behind Mote House, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers called from along the River Len, a Jay flew north out of the Oak wood, 4 Goldcrests could be heard singing, and a few Swifts distant screams could be heard from way up in the sky above me.

A Kingfisher was noted along the River Len, in the marsh area a Reed Bunting was singing amongst 4 Reed Warbler, 4 more Reed Warblers were singing from around the Lake, and of particular note on the Lake were 8 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Cormorant, 4 Mute Swans, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. At least 14 Black-headed Gulls were also on the Lake.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Butterflies recorded came in the form of 2 Holly Blues, 5 Speckled Woods, 4 Small Whites, 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Large White and 1 Comma. A male Banded Demoiselle was ‘dancing’ in the air by the old carriage bridge along the River Len, and 6 Common Blue and 3 Azure Damselflies were found along the Lake’s eastern edge. A Slowworm was seen in the grassland north of the Len, and both woods were alive with the calls of young Great and Blue Tits.

Azure Damselfly

Friday 29th May

Tonight's bat walk proved a great success with just under 30 people attending. It was brilliant to see both young and old really enthused by the occasion. A total of 5 species of bat were seen out of a possible 6 or 7.

The first bat to make an appearance was a Soprano Pipistrelle, which was flying low under the canopy of the trees by the Waterfall. We then made our way to the parkland around Mote House, where almost straight away 3 'beat-boxing bats' were picked up and gave great views to the group. The name 'beat-boxing bat' was given to the Noctule bats by the kids in the group because of the Noctule's 'chip-chop' call resembling the vocals of a beat-boxer.

The Weir and Causeway was the next stop for the group, and it was here where 3 Serotine bats were picked up amongst the many Common and Soprano Pipistrelles.

We then moved around the scrub, picking up more pipistrelles, and made our way towards the 'duck feeding area' of the Lake. Here we found 4 species all in the same area with 12+ Daubenton's out on the Lake with many Common and Soprano Pips, and a single Serotine was hunting insects around the Alders in the area of Wetland behind us.

A fantastic evening!!

Thursday 29th May

I was out in the park this evening carrying out a bat survey. It was a warm humid evening, however as 10.30 got closer a cool mist began to gather in the Len Valley and the Long Valley.

My walk started in front of Mote House where a Little Owl was watched hunting. As dusk approached I moved to the area of parkland south of the house, where 1 Soprano and 2 Common Pipistrelles were seen, and 3 Noctules were also noted. Because of the Noctules habit of flying out in the open they soon attracted the attention of a Hobby - the first recorded this year - which, after several attempts, managed to catch 1 of the Noctules for supper. A fox was seen dashing across the path in front of the house and a Tawny Owl could be heard calling from the Yew trees behind Mote House.

The Weir and Causeway were the next stop where Soprano and Common 'Pips' were spotted, and they continued to be seen through the grassland areas too.

Down by the Volunteers Pavilion, in the Long Valley, a Noctule was picked up on the detector. The Long Valley always proves to be the best spot for Brown Long-eared Bats, but tonight they were not detected.

Last stop was the Lake, where the large roost of Daubenton's Bats had emerged and were hunting over the Lake catching the low flying insects with their large feet. Overall a super evening!!

On Friday (29/05/09) there is a bat walk in the Park led by Kent Bat Group & Medway Valley Countryside Partnership. For anyone wishing to attend, the walk begins in the main car park by the cafe at 9pm and will probably finish about 11pm.