Tuesday 28th October

Despite it being late morning, half term, and a lovely sunny day there was still quite a lot of wildlife to see and hear.

Grey Squirrel

3 Bullfinch were seen and heard, 7 Goldcrests were noted, 2 Jays were seen, 3 Nuthatch were seen, a Treecreeper was heard in the Alder Carr, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted by the Old Walled Garden, 3 Green Woodpeckers were seen, at least 43 Siskin were counted along the River Len and around the Lake – it was interesting to see them feeding on the seeds of a London Plane tree along the River Len with several Goldfinches, 3 Coal Tits were heard in the Yew woodland behind Mote House, 5 Redwing were noted, and a large female Sparrowhawk flew over the Alder Carr.

On the Lake were Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Mute Swans, and a flock of 34 Canada Geese. The gull flock on the Lake held at least 64 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 7 Common Gulls. 3 Cormorants perched on the island next to the Weir, and a Grey Wagtail called as it flew west.

Also noted was a Speckled Wood butterfly resting in the Sun in the glade created in the wood on Saturday.

Speckled Wood