Tuesday 27th March

It was another lovely sunny day today with no wind at all, between 1.05pm and 2.40pm. A Mistle Thrush greeted me along Laurel Walk, sitting high up in the first Wellingtonia. 2 Chiff Chaffs sang from the Cedars behind Mote House. 3 Grey Herons fished along the Len, and a Pheasant and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers called from the Len Wood.

1 Cormorant sat on the ‘Cormorant’ Island next to the Weir, a Kingfisher called from the Marsh and a Coot preened itself in the Spring Pool. A quick scan of the Lake showed at least 4 Mute Swans and 3 Great Crested Grebes, together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens. There was a large flock of Black Headed Gulls and Common Gulls on the Lake, but no Med. Gulls were with them. A Grey Wagtail was feeding along the banks of the Pond.

A fellow birder explained that there was a Little Owl hunting from the old Oak in Mote View (part of park in front of Mote House) around mid-afternoon yesterday. The closest I could get to a Little Owl today was a few fresh pellets under the usual old Oak.

There was a noticeable rise in activity from the local Mistle Thrushes and Green Woodpeckers.