Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Tuesday 22nd April

It was very mild this morning with the Sun just being able to shine through the cloud cover.

11 Blackcaps were singing, 10 Chiff Chaffs were singing, a Goldcrest sang from a Yew along Laurel Walk, a Grey Wagtail called as it flew over north, 3 Nuthatch were heard singing, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in the Alder Carr, a Coal Tit sang from a Yew along Laurel Walk, 3 Green Woodpeckers were heard, a pair of Stock Dove were seen perched in an Oak, a Ring-necked Parakeet called from a Horse Chestnut on the Golf Course but could not be spotted, 6 Jay were seen, the Little Owl could just be made out in the darkness of its hole in the usual Oak tree, 8 Swallow were seen zooming over the scrub by the Inlet, 2 Pheasants were heard calling, a Grey Heron was seen flying east, 3 Treecreeper were heard singing from the Alder Carr, and 5 Whitethroat were seen and heard in scrub and rough grassland areas.

Birds seen on the Lake were 2 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 6 Tuftie, 2 Great Crested Grebes, a Cormorant, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of roughly 27 Black-headed Gulls, and 2 Herring Gulls. Also noted were 4 Reed Warbler heard singing around the perimeter of the Lake.



Wild Cherry on Jenner's Bank

A visit at dusk to see the Little Owl proved successful. Unfortunately, due to bad light and not having a big enough zoom on the camera I couldn't get any photos. It was also interesting to see a large number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls flying north throughout my evening visit.

Whilst waiting for the Little Owl it was great to see the first Pipistrelle and Noctule bats of the year hunting the midges around the various parkland trees.



3 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Simon,
Do those cherry trees bear fruit? Could be a chance of Hawfinch if so.

Steve said...

some good birds seen today simon...I was hoping for a few early morning visits this week but work is just getting in the way....so frustrating!

Simon said...

Warren - yes some of them do bear fruit, in fact Hawfinches used to winter in the park regularly but stopped about 5 or 6 years ago.

Steve - I know how you feel - tis very frustrating.

Next Event - TBA