Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Wednesday 30th July

It was another warm morning today. The early mornings are beginning to feel autumnal all of a sudden, with small birds calling from within brambles laden with ripe berries, and that unforgettable ‘autumn smell’ that is carried in the damp early morning air.

5 Coal Tits and 3 Goldcrests called and sang as they fed in the Yews along Laurel Walk, 7 Treecreeper were noted, 3 Jay were seen together at the very top of an Oak in the area of rough grassland, 2 Chiff Chaff and a Blackcap were heard singing, 3 Whitethroat were heard and seen as they collected insects from the tall Hogweed stems in the rough grassland, and a Spotted Flycatcher was hunting small flying insects from the Limes in the area in front of Mote House. 6 Green Woodpecker were seen – all feeding on the ants and small insects on the areas of grassland, with 1 bird being a juvenile, 6 Nuthatch were heard – 2 birds were very vocal in the Alder Carr along the River Len, and the other 4 birds being noted in the Oak woodland in the southern area of the Park, several small flocks of Goldfinch were often heard and seen as they flew over between food sources, and family of Long-tailed Tits could be seen in the Willows along the track between the Lake and the River Len.


On the Lake were 4 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mute Swans, a pair of Tufted Duck, and the countless Mallards, Moorhens, and Coots were seen on the Lake. It is also interesting to note that the Canada Geese numbers have dropped from 71-74 to 8. There were 7 Black-headed Gulls frequenting the Lake, 4 Grey Herons were perched on the edges of the Lake all looking hunched up and grumpy as if having a bad day, 3 Reed Warblers continue to sing from the wetland at the west end of the River Len, and a Cormorant was perched in the tree on the island next to the Weir.

Several species of butterfly were spotted, Speckled Woods, Comma, Holly Blues, Essex and Small Skippers, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, and Large and Small Whites all making an appearance. Unfortunately, due to my early morning start, no dragonflies were on the wing having not warmed up just yet.



Common Carder Bee

2 comments:

Greenie said...

Simon ,
Great bird list as usual .
Strange though , as you described the Herons , someone's name flashed through my mind , just can't recall who it was .

Warren Baker said...

Now ,now greenie!!!

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