Friday, May 23, 2008

Friday 23rd May

It was another beautiful day today in the Park during a 2 hour mid-morning walk.

A young Rabbit

3 Bullfinches were heard calling, 2 Goldcrest sang from separate Yews along Laurel Walk, 4 Chiff Chaff and 6 Blackcap were heard singing, 2 Spotted Flycatchers were heard, a pair of Goldfinch were watched eating seeds from the Dandelions, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in a Sycamore along Laurel Walk, 4 Stock Dove were seen, a Little Owl was seen, a Sparrowhawk was spotted high up in a thermal, 4 Pheasants were seen and heard, a Green Woodpecker called whilst I walked through the rough grassland, and 2 Linnets flew over west, 12 Whitethroats could be heard singing, and 2 juvenile Blackbirds were seen being fed by both their parents.

Birds seen on the Lake were 2 pairs of Canada Geese both with Goslings, a cob Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Moorhens, and Coots – with 2 pairs having chicks. There were 7 Black-headed Gulls, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Lake, a Cormorant flew low over the Lake, a Reed Bunting called from the Marsh by the Weir, and 9 Reed Warblers were heard singing around the perimeter of the Lake.


Mallard duckling

Also of note was the first male Banded Demoiselle of the year being seen by the second bridge from the Downswood entrance, and butterflies seen were 9 Small Whites, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Skipper – the first of the year, and 1 GRIZZLED SKIPPER – my first ever in the Park.

4 comments:

Tony Morris said...

Well done with the Small Skipper, a good early date.

Warren Baker said...

Grizzled Skipper! Small Skipper! I wish I had some habitat round here for such things!
Well done Simon

John Young said...

Great butterflies Simon. Cheers,
John

Steve said...

Great to hear you have Grizzled skipper in he park Simon!

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