Monday, March 03, 2008

Monday 3rd March

It was another beautiful day today, and compared with the past few days there was hardly any wind.

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming early on, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, 2 Goldcrest searched for food in an Alder along the River Len, 2 Treecreepers were heard singing, a Little Owl was observed sitting in its hole in the usual old Oak, a flock of Long-tailed Tits was seen in some Willows next to the Weir, 4 Stock Dove were seen, 3 Redwing were seen, a Pheasant called, a Pied Wagtail searched for insects on the short grass in front of Mote House, 3 Jay were seen and heard, a Sparrowhawk was seen briefly as it caught its prey, the gull flock on the sports fields held 20 Med Gulls – 15 of them were in full summer plumage, and a few were observed displaying to each other – but the biggest surprise was the sight of a pair of Ring-necked Parakeets flying over the sports fields whilst I observed the Med Gulls, and ‘possibly’ the same birds investigating holes in the Alder wood along the River Len! A first for me in the Park – I wonder if they are just visiting or are here to stay!


Ring-necked Parakeets

On the Lake were 21 Canada Geese, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Pochard, 4 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. A Water Rail gave super views along the River Len, 3 Grey herons were seen, and a Great Black-backed Gull flew west whilst being mobbed by a Black-headed Gull.

2 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Simon,
A good patch tick there with the RRP- I first saw one here in April 2005 and again in Dec.I've then had just one sighting in 2006 and one 2007. well done!

Steve said...

good sighting Simon....RNP is my tip as my next patch tick..

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