Saturday 31st March

It was another lovely sunny day today, during 10.35am and 12.10pm, and there was quite a strong easterly wind. 1 Chiff Chaff sang from behind the Park & Ride. A Nuthatch called from a Larch along Laurel Walk. A Little Owl called and a Chiff Chaff sang from the Wet Woodland. 2 Chiff Chaff sang from the South Wood. 2 Grey Herons fished along the Len. A Pheasant called and 2 Chiff Chaff sang from Len Wood. A Sparrowhawk called from the Larches by Downswood entrance.

Whilst at the Weir 2 Bream were caught by a local fisherman. 2 Cormorants sat on the third island from the Weir. A Kingfisher called from the Len. A quick scan of the Lake showed at least 6 Mute Swans and 4 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, and 2 Herring Gulls had joined them. A Moorhen was on the Pond. A Green Woodpecker called from Mote View.

The first Cuckoo flowers were in flower and there were lots of fry in the Len by the ‘Kingfisher’ Bridge.

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.

Monday 26th March

It was a gorgeous sunny day on todays visit between 12.15pm and 1.15pm with hardly any wind at all. A Chiff Chaff sang from around the Old Brothy. 1 Grey Heron fished along the Len and 4 Kingfishers chased each other up and down the river. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Marsh Alders. A pair of Treecreepers pursued each other up the Alders next to the ‘Kingfisher’ footbridge. In the water around and under the ‘Kingfisher’ Bridge were lots of fry.

A quick scan of the Lake showed at least 5 Mute Swans and 4 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, plus 2 Med. Gulls circled above the Lake. A Moorhen was on the Pond.

A Nuthatch clambered down the twisting bark of one of the Sweet Chestnuts on Jenner’s Bank, and a single Chiff Chaff sang from within the Wet Woodland.

Sunday 25th March

It was a little cloudy on todays visit between 9.25am and 11.20am, but the sun did come out on the odd occasion. A Chiff Chaff and the first Blackcap sang from behind the Willington Street Park & Ride. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed from one of the Larches along Laurel Walk. 4 Grey Herons fished along the Len, 2 of them being youngsters. A Chiff Chaff sang from the Marsh Alders. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed from the Sweet Chestnut next to the Weir. A Pheasant called from the Len Wood.

A Brief scan of the Lake showed at least 8 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 however I could not make out or hear any Med. Gulls. A Moorhen and a pair of Grey Wagtail were on the Pond.

Whilst chatting to a neighbour on Jenner's Bank a Nuthatch called from the large Beech and a Little Owl called from the Wet Woodland.

Sunday 18th March

At around midnight I could hear a Little Owl calling from the direction of Jenner's Bank.

Saturday 17th March

It was a little cloudy on todays visit between 7.05am and 8.05, with the temperature still rather mild. A Chiff Chaff sang from behind the Willington Street Park & Ride. A Grey Heron and a Kingfisher fished along the Len. Another Chiff Chaff sang from behind Mote House and a third one from the Marsh Alders. Both a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker called from the Len Wood.

A Brief scan of the Lake showed at least 6 Mute Swans, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Tufted Duck, together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens. 2 Mute Swan were in the Marsh pool and 2 Coot were in the spring pool. 2 Med. Gulls were flying above the Lake. A pair of Moorhen was on the Pond.

Tuesday 13th March

It was a rather dull cloudy day today, but the temperature, however was still mild on today’s quick walk round between 1.45pm and 3pm. 2 Grey Herons fished along the Len. 1 Kestrel flew over the Marsh. A Green Woodpecker called from Jenner’s Bank. 1 Chiff Chaff sang from around the miniature railway. Another Kestrel flew over the Meadow being mobbed by the local Crows. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the Len Wood. A Mistle Thrush flew from the Mote House view.

A brief scan of the Lake showed at least 7 Mute Swans and 4 Great Crested Grebes, together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens. A Grey Wagtail and a Moorhen were on the Pond.

There seemed to be a large number of Grey Squirrels around, plus the willows in the park are starting to flower.

Tuesday 13th March

It was a rather dull cloudy day today, but the temperature, however was still mild on today’s quick walk round between 1.45pm and 3pm. 2 Grey Herons fished along the Len. 1 Kestrel flew over the Marsh. A Green Woodpecker called from Jenner’s Bank. 1 Chiff Chaff sang from around the miniature railway. Another Kestrel flew over the Meadow being mobbed by the local Crows. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the Len Wood. A Mistle Thrush flew from the Mote House view.

A brief scan of the Lake showed at least 7 Mute Swans and 4 Great Crested Grebes, together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens. A Grey Wagtail and a Moorhen were on the Pond.

There seemed to be a large number of Grey Squirrels around, plus the willows in the park are starting to flower.

Monday 12th March

It was a gorgeous sunny day, with the temperature very high, during my visit from 12.50pm - 2.45pm. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers greeted me along Laurel Walk, drumming on the Larches. 3 Little Grebes swam down the river Len. A Treecreeper crept up the large Alder in the bog. A Green Woodpecker called from the meadow. 2 Med Gulls were by duck feeding station. I noticed a Grey Heron nest is in conifers by Mote House.

Of note on the Lake together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens were at least 9 Mute Swans and 3 Great Crested Grebes. 1 Grey Herons flew over the Lake.

Whilst at the top of Jenner’s Bank I watched a Goldrest in one of the small pines. It was soon joined by another and they chased each other into an Ash, between a Holm Oak and a Holly. Unbelievably 4 others joined the original pair, and all 6 fluttered about in front of me taunting each other with their crests risen, with the gold glowing in the sunshine. Soon after, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers chased each other around the Beech and the Larches. A Chiff Chaff sung from an Oak near to the Park & Ride.

Sunday 11th March

At 3pm whilst watching a football match on the top fields several Linnets were heard, plus a Meadow Pipit flew east.

Saturday 10th March

It was a lovely sunny day during my visit betwenn 9.00 and 10.15, however there was a west wind which did feel chilly at times. A Goldcrest called from one of the Yews along Laurel Walk. 2 Kingfishers chased each other up and down the river. A Treecreeper crept up the large Alder next to the first footbridge. 2 Sparrowhawks called to each other from the oaks in the meadow. 3 Cormorants sat on the first island. A Green Woodpecker called from the meadow and a flock of c.20 Redwings flew west over the meadow. 7 Med Gulls were on Playing Fields with the gull flock plus a flock of 9 Redwings flew west over. 2 Blue Tits and 2 Long-tailed Tits flew around the alders by the Weir.

Of note on the Lake together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens were at least 9 Mute Swans and 5 Great Crested Grebes. With the Black-headed Gulls in a thermal in the sky was a minimum of 2 Med Gulls, both in full summer plumage.

In a Larch along Laurel Walk a female Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed for food. A total of 3 Grey herons were seen throughout the visit.

Tuesday 6th March

(1:30pm – 2:30pm)

It was overcast during today's early afternoon visit, though the clouds did break towards the end allowing the sun to shine for a while. A Goldcrest called from one of the Yews along Laurel Walk and a Nuthatch flew from one of the Beeches near the entrance. 2 Coots were along the flooded Len and a flock of Goldfinches fed in the Alders. A Cormorant sat on the island by the Weir. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the Marsh Alders and a Green Woodpecker called from the area in front of Mote House.

Of note on the Lake together with the Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens were at least 7 Mute Swans and a displaying pair of Great Crested Grebes. With the Common and Black-headed Gulls on the Lake were 7 Med Gulls, all in full summer plumage, and a further 4 were flying around above the water. A pair of Mallards was on the Pond, and a Moorhen and a Grey Wagtail were along the Stream.

A total of 4 Grey herons were seen throughout the visit.

Saturday 3rd March

Whilst scrub clearing on Jenner's Bank between 9:30 and 12:00 a male Pheasant fed with the Woodpigeons.