Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Wednesday 2nd January

I couldn’t visit the Park yesterday but was informed by another birder that a pair of Wigeon was on the Lake, and that a Mediterranean Gull was with the gull flock. Typical, a day I usually go out, but today wasn’t able to, I miss 2 good birds for the Park – never mind!

This morning was very dull and grey for the first hour of my walk. It was almost like having a grey lens in front of your eyes – quite an odd feeling. But as the Sun slowly rose, the greyness faded away, and it was a pleasant but cold walk.

7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard this morning – 4 males were heard drumming on their favourite posts, 1 Coal Tit sang from a Yew, 5 Redwing flew south, 2 Nuthatch were heard calling from Oaks in the area in front of Mote House, 7 Jay were seen, a Treecreeper was heard as it climbed up one of the Wellingtonias, a party of Long-tailed Tits were seen making there way along the edge of the wet woodland along the River Len, 6 Bullfinches took flight from a bramble bush as I passed, calling and showing off their white rumps brilliantly, a dog disturbed a Green Woodpecker whilst it was feeding on top of an Ant hill in the large area of rough grassland, a Great Black-backed Gull – a first for me in the Park – flew heavily over, heading north, followed by a V of 5 Herring Gulls, a male Kestrel flew about the rough grassland, and a flock of Siskin could be heard in the wet woodland along the River Len.

I approached the Lake in hope that the pair of Wigeon, having stayed all day yesterday, would have been kind enough to stay today as well. But it wasn’t to be. Birds that were present on the Lake were at least 2 Mute Swans, 46 Canada Geese, only 5 Tufties, 22 Pochard, a Great Crested Grebe, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake and playing fields consisted of at least 23 Common Gulls, 80+ Black-headed Gulls, and an adult winter-plumaged Mediterranean Gull. A smart snowy white gull, with a smudge of black behind the eye, a real joy to see. I did manage some photos but once I viewed them on the computer I realised they were all blurry. Isn’t it nice when that happens?!!! Also, in addition to these birds, 2 Grey Heron were seen along the River Len, and 3 Cormorants were seen – 2 on the island next to the Weir, and one sitting on a dead Alder next to the large reedbed.

Also of note were several Rabbits, and 4 Brown Rats.

4 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Always nice to get a ''first'' simon. G B B Gulls are infrequent over hear. wish I could find one of those Med Gulls!!

Anonymous said...

Gutted...I was there yesterday but missed the Med Gull...although im still getting my head round gulls so probably saw it without realising as i am only at the stage of seperating black headeds from the commons.

Steve said...

GBB Gull is also scarce on my patch...as is Med Gull....must nip down and pay homage..one of my fav birds

Anonymous said...

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