Sunday 2nd September

For most of the visit the Sun was out in an almost cloudless blue sky. It was roughly 10 minutes from the end when the cloud began to shade the Park.

2 Coal Tits sang along Laurel Walk, at least 7 Goldcrests were heard throughout the visit – the warm autumn sunshine encouraging 2 of them to sing, 6 Jays were heard and seen, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers called, and 5 Green Woodpeckers were also heard throughout the visit, 2 Stock Doves were heard, there were a few small flocks of boisterous Mistle Thrushes around the Park, only 3 Chiff Chaffs were heard – 1 calling, and 2 of them giving short bursts of song, several parties of Long-tailed Tits were seen, at least 6 Nuthatch were heard calling, and about 18+ House Martins raced around.

On the Lake were at least 8 Mute Swans, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 2 Canada Geese, and 4 Tufted Ducks, along with the resident Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. 2 Grey Wagtails hunted insects by the Waterfall and another 1 was heard calling by the footbridge, a single Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the Lake, at least 4 Black-headed Gulls were also on the Lake, 2 Kingfishers perched on a low branch next to the Weir – 1 bird was a juvenile, and 2 Grey Herons fished on the Lake’s edges.

Also seen was a tailless Grey Squirrel along with its many companions, several Rabbits, some Chub were in the water by the bridge nearest Downswood entrance, and a Red Admiral fluttered past and posed for the camera.

Red Admiral