Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Tuesday 6th November

With a lovely clear blue sky, the warm glow of the Sun, and the wonderful chilled autumn air, it was a beautiful morning to be outside.

5 Jays were seen, 4 Goldcrests were noted, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker called, 4 Treecreepers were seen, 1 Nuthatch called from an Oak on Jenner’s Bank, only 4 Redwing were noted, a Kestrel hunted over the rough grassland, a Skylark called as it flew over the fields, Mistle Thrush were very active, a Stock Dove called from one of the Oaks in the rough grassland, and several parties of Long-tailed Tits were seen. In addition to this, 2 Sparrowhawks were observed. The first bird, a splendid male, glided effortlessly over the canopy of trees on Jenner’s Bank, its immaculate plumage looking its best in the morning sunlight. The second bird, a large female, gave me a huge surprise. It turned out I wasn’t the only one watching a mixed feeding flock fluttering about in a Hawthorn hedge. As I stood there, staring into the thorny jungle, I didn’t realise a Sparrowhawk was using me for cover as it approached the hedge. Without any warning from bird calls, a large bird hurtled past my right arm, wings folded back, she looked like a miniature fighter plane. She darted straight into the hedge, threading her way through the tiniest of gaps, and she was gone. Wow!

On the Lake were at least 6 Mute Swans, 37 Canada Geese, 5 Shoveler, 1 Little Grebe, and 3 Great Crested Grebes, there were also countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 43 Common Gulls, even more Black-headed Gulls, and a Herring Gull. In addition to this, several Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew south, a Grey Wagtail fed along the River Len, and a Cormorant stood on the boating area.

Also of note were a large shoal young Chub by the footbridge, 1 Brown Rat, a lone Honey Bee decided to buzz along my path, and the Ginkgo leaves have now completely turned yellow.



The leaves of the Ginkgo (Maidenhair tree)
Ginkgo biloba

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