Saturday, April 19, 2008

Saturday 19th April

I was in Mote Park from 10am to 1pm with the Kent Wildlife Trust on their second organised walk in Mote Park. The weather wasn’t particularly great with a pale grey overcast sky, a cool northerly breeze and a few spots of rain, but some good birds were seen.

I was without my notebook this morning so the bird sightings are summarised. Around 5 Blackcap were heard singing, lots of Chiff Chaffs were singing, several Nuthatch were heard, several Green Woodpeckers were heard, a pair of Stock Dove were seen flying from a potential nest hole, about 5 or 6 Pheasants were heard calling, roughly 6 Treecreeper were noted, several Goldfinch were seen, and a few Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted – with 1 bird drumming near Jenner’s Bank. For me however, bird of the day was a White Wagtail which was seen on the Golf Course not too far from the old Ash tree, a few Pied Wagtails were also seen on the Golf course. It is the first time I have seen a White Wagtail in Mote Park.

Birds seen on the Lake were 7 Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, 2 Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 3 Tuftie, roughly 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of roughly 15 Black-headed Gulls, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a first-winter Herring Gull. Also seen was 2 Grey Herons flying past along the River Len, a Grey Wagtail was seen on the Model Boat platform, a Reed Warbler sang from a clump of reeds on the Lakes eastern edge, 2 Cormorants flew west, and a Swallow and some House Martins were observed feeding over the middle of the Lake.

4 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Sounds like you made a poor spring day, into a good day out Simon. Are White wagtails given full species status ? I'll have to look it up.

Anonymous said...

In addition to your list I may add betwen 15:00 and 16:00 I saw goldcrest and wren. A guide to the location of the Little owl oak tree would be appreciated and best times to see the bird would be appreciated.

Simon said...

The Little Owl oak tree is in the area in front of Mote House. It is the Oak with the largest girth. Dusk is the best time, followed by early morning, and your best bet of spotting them is to stand Lake-side of the tree. Cheers for the additional sightings.

Steve said...

White Wagtail...nice one simon, not had one at new hythe either.

Next Event - TBA