Monday 29th October

It felt mild during today’s mid-morning walk.

4 Goldcrests were heard during the visit, 5 Jays were seen, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, at least 13 Redwing noted, whilst by the wet woodland along the Len several calls from Siskin were heard, 2 Skylark and 1 Meadow Pipit was heard over the fields, and a Nuthatch called from an Oak in front of Mote House.

On the Lake there were at least 5 Mute Swans – one of which being a juvenile, 59 Canada Geese, a pair of Shoveler, and 2 Great Crested Grebes, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 12 Common Gulls, lots of Back-headed Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 3 Herring Gulls. In addition to this, a Grey Heron fished on the Lake’s western edge.

Also of note was the resident tailless Grey Squirrel.

(Tailless) Grey Squirrel

Friday 26th October

It was rather grey and cloudy throughout the visit this morning.

5 Goldcrests were seen, 2 Coal Tits called from separate Larches along Laurel Walk, 3 Jays were noted, a lone Green Woodpecker was, surprisingly, the only Woodpecker to make an appearance during the walk, at least 20 Redwing were seen and heard, 4 Treecreepers were spotted creeping up Alder and Willow in the wet woodland along the Len, 2 Bullfinches were seen in an Ash along the Len between the two bridges, and 2 Pied Wagtails were also seen.

On the Lake there were at least 6 Mute Swans – one of which being a juvenile, 37 Canada Geese, 10 Shoveler – 6 males and 4 females, the highest number of Shoveler ever seen in Mote Park, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 14 Common Gulls, 51 Back-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a lovely winter-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull. A Cormorant was watched flying west over the Lake, 2 Grey Herons fished along the Len, a Grey Wagtail was heard calling from along the Len, and 2 Water Rails were noted – 1 calling from a patch of reeds on the western edge of the Lake, and another was glimpsed skulking through the reeds in the wet woodland along the Len.

Also of note were Roach in the River Len, 2 Brown Rats, several Rabbits, and a dead Common Shrew, laying on one of the tracks through the rough grassland – it is such a shame that we see these miniature mammals like this far more than we see them alive.

Tuesday 23rd October

With a hard frost during the night, it was very cold first thing. However, with a clear sky allowing the Sun through, after a couple of hours the temperature began to warm.

8 Goldcrests were noted – several birds provided some brilliant views but due to there lively behaviour not 1 of the photos came out in focus, 3 Jays were seen, 2 of both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted, a Nuthatch called from the top of Jenner’s Bank, at least 9 Redwing were seen and heard, a flock of 9 Siskin fed in an Alder along the River Len and several birds were also heard calling from the wet woodland further down the Len, 3 Skylark were observed flying east over the rough grassland, and a Kestrel was observed preening itself high up in a Larch on Jenner’s Bank.


On the Lake there were at least 5 Mute Swans, 115 Canada Geese, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler – 2 males and 1 female, 1 Little Grebe – the first for the winter, and, the highlight, a duck Wigeon – a first for me for the Park, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of 1 Herring Gull, at least 51 Back-headed Gulls, and 15 Common Gulls. A Cormorant sat on the island nearest to the Weir, a Grey Heron fished along the Len, and a Grey Wagtail called from the direction of the boating ramp.

Shoveler

Also of note were Roach in the River Len, and 3 Brown Rats by the Weir.

Friday 19th October

What a gorgeous morning it was today. A light frost on the ground, a clear sky, and warm sunshine.
I was welcomed by a lovely bird too. Whilst wandering through the towering Wellingtonias, a Brambling dropped in and flew across my path, calling and revealing its white rump. Fantastic, a first for me for the park. 3 Goldcrests were also heard from the Wellingtonias, 3 Jays were noted, 4 Green Woodpeckers were seen, and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker was noted, 5 Treecreepers were heard, several parties of Long-tailed Tits were seen, a Pheasant called in the rough grassland, 5 Nuthatches called, at least 33 Redwing were seen, 1 Stock Dove was seen, 8 Siskin fed in the Alders in the wet woodland along the River Len, a Bullfinches called by the Weir, there was a notable increase in Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush numbers, 4 Skylark were observed flying west over the rough grassland, and a Pied Wagtail flew south.

On the Lake there were at least 3 Mute Swans, 1 Cormorant, 72 Canada Geese, and 8 Shoveler – 3 males and 5 females, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gulls, at least 42 Back-headed Gulls, and 8 Common Gulls. 2 Water Rails were heard calling, a Kingfisher fished along the Len, 2 Grey Herons were seen fishing, and 2 Grey Wagtails were also noted.

Also of note were both Roach and Chub in the River Len, and a Shrew was heard squealing from the undergrowth.

Monday 15th October

It was cool, damp, and misty again this morning.

I was only a few yards into my walk today when I was greeted with a special welcome, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. It called from a half-dead Oak tree, but frustratingly kept itself hidden from view. 2 Goldcrests called from a Yew along Laurel Walk, 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits were seen, 2 Nuthatches called from the wet woodland along the Len, at least 37 Redwing were seen, with most birds flying over and 1 flock giving great but brief views, 8 Jays were noted, 4 Green Woodpecker were seen, 2 Bullfinches were heard, a Treecreeper decided to give a burst of song along the track by the Weir, a few Song Thrush were noted, some Mistle Thrush were seen and heard in the area in front of Mote House, 1 Stock Dove was seen, 2 Meadow Pipits were observed over the rough grassland, and a Pied Wagtail flew west.

I spent quite a bit time by the wet woodland along the Len to see if I could find the flock of Lesser Redpolls that I saw on Friday. After 20 minutes of watching the antics of the local Jackdaws, I noticed a small group of finches fluttering about, high up in the tops of the Alders. Only a few seconds after finding the birds, the bouncy, tightly packed flock lifted off of the tree and flew towards the eastern edge of the Lake. After catching up with the flock I was rewarded with some good views. The birds, now reasonably still, could be identified easily. There were 17 Goldfinches, 4 Siskin (the first for the year), and 1 Lesser Redpoll. Fantastic.

On the Lake there were at least 6 Mute Swans, 2 Cormorants, 46 Canada Geese, a Great Crested Grebe with a juvenile, and 5 Shoveler – 3 males and 2 females, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, at least 38 Back-headed Gulls, and 1 Common Gull. A Water Rail called from the main reedbed by the Weir, a Kingfisher fished along the Len, 2 Grey Heron were seen fishing, and 2 Grey Wagtails were also noted.

Also of note was the luck of seeing a Pike race out from under the footbridge and into a shoal of Roach, scattering the fish everywhere, even out of the water. An unbelievable, and probably a once in a lifetime spectacle.

Friday 12th October

After a busy few weeks it felt great to finally get back out in the Park again. With a light mist covering the park, conditions were cool and damp, and visibility was somewhat limited.

After hearing reports of Redwing in the county for the past couple of weeks it was nice to observe them in the park this morning. At least 30 birds were seen, with most birds flying over giving themselves away with there ‘seep seep’ calls. 4 Green Woodpecker were seen, and only 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker was noted, at least 3 Goldcrests were heard, 1 Coal Tit sang from a Yew along Laurel Walk, 2 Bullfinches were heard, 2 Treecreepers were heard by the Weir, 3 Nuthatches called, a Song Thrush was singing by the footbridge, 1 Grey Wagtail called as it flew over, 7 Jays were noted, and 1 Stock Dove was seen. However the highlight of the walk was a group of 9 Lesser Redpolls feeding in the wet woodland along the Len - the first for the year. They tended to hang around in the Alders by a large London Plane tree, next the footpath, for most of the visit giving good views. I presume that these birds must be part of the recent arrival of migrants that have been recorded in the southeast of the country lately, notably in the London parks.

On the Lake there were at least 8 Mute Swans, 2 Cormorants, exactly 100 Canada Geese, and 6 Shoveler – 3 of both gender, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, at least 60 Back-headed Gulls, and 9 Common Gulls. A Grey Heron fished along the Len.

Also of note were several Rabbits, a sad sight of a dead young Fox, and there was a clear increase in Blackbird numbers.