Monday 1st September

A one and-a-half hour visit this morning. The Sun was out early on, in a cloudless sky, however it didn’t take long for the clouds to arrive, slowly building shading out the Sun as the morning progressed.

2 Coal Tits sang along Laurel Walk, 8 Goldcrests were seen – they seem to be getting very active lately, a Chiff Chaff called from the hedge along the eastern edge of the Lake, a few parties of Long-tailed Tits were often come across during my walk, 3 Treecreeper were heard, 4 Bullfinch were seen feeding on Elderberries, 1 Jay was heard, 2 Grey Wagtails called as they flew over the Alder Carr, a Whitethroat gave a short burst of song in the rough grassland, 2 adults and 3 young Spotted Flycatchers hunted flying insects along the hedge along the hedge which runs along the eastern edge of the Lake, around 25 House Martins could be seen over the Lake, 4 Nuthatch were noted, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard calling, and 3 Green Woodpecker were seen.

On the Lake were 9 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 10 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Moorhens, and Coots. A Common Gull joined the flock of around 24 Black-headed Gulls, a Kingfisher was watched various times on the Lakes edges, and a Common Sandpiper was spotted flying low over the Lake, from the edges near the Inlet to the eastern edge, and 2 Grey Herons were feeding along the Len.

Also noted were several Speckled Woods, 1 Comma, and a few Small Whites, both Southern and Migrant Hawkers were noted, 1 Common Darter was seen along the River Len, and a Slowworm was seen in the wet meadow along the River Len.