It was a lovely day today after an overcast start.
A Nuthatch was heard singing from a Beech, 4 Goldcrests were heard, 3 Sparrowhawks were seen – 2 males desperately trying to impress a female, 3 Treecreeper were heard singing, a Little Owl was observed asleep in its hole in an old Oak, a Jay was seen briefly as it flew across in front of me, a group of about 14 Siskin fed in an Alder along the River Len, a group of Long-tailed Tits searched from insects as they passed through a Hawthorn hedge, a Stock Dove perched in an Oak, and a pair of Bullfinch were heard calling along Laurel Walk . 5 Med Gull sat amongst a large flock of Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls on the Pitch & Putt Golf Course – with one bird looking very handsome in it’s full summer plumage. A very energetic and playful-looking Greyhound put a stop to my viewing and to any photos that were about to be taken, spooking the whole flock up into the air. Very, very annoying – but it is something that has to be put up with when birding in a public park! The gulls expressed their annoyance by calling angrily, which gave me time to listen to the Med Gull’s unusual call, referred to as an enthusiastic ‘yeah!’ in many bird books, and is very distinctive once learnt.
On the Lake were 23 Canada Geese, 14 Pochard, 3 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 9 Common Gulls, and about 46 Black-headed Gulls. Also, in addition to these birds, 2 Kingfishers pursued each other up and down the River Len, calling frequently.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Saturday 16th February
I spent the whole morning in Mote Park today, trying to make the most of such a beautiful day. A frost coated the ground first thing, and the temperature felt quite chilly. By mid-morning the warm Sun began to make the temperature rise a little.
A Coal Tit sang cheerfully from a Yew, a Nuthatch was seen climbing a bough of an Oak, 6 Goldcrest were seen and heard, a few parties of Long-tailed Tits were seen, 4 Jay were noted, a female Sparrowhawk flew over as I walked past the Old Bothy, whilst a cock Pheasant called from the garden of the Old Bothy, 6 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard, 3 Treecreepers were heard calling along the River Len, as I walked along the eastern edge of the Lake a small flock of Siskin flew over, flying towards the Alder wood along the River Len, a Green Woodpecker was watched probing it’s long dagger-like bill into an Ant hill, a Stock Dove perched in an Oak in front of Mote House, a Mediterranean Gull was in the large Gull flock on the playing fields, and an endearing Little Owl was sat just inside it’s hole in an old Oak in front of Mote House.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 39 Canada Geese, 11 Pochard, 4 Tuftie, 1 Little Grebe, 2 displaying Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens.
The Great Crested Grebes courtship display is always a delight to see. I never tire of witnessing these elegant displays and, until this morning, I have never observed the climax to this beautiful courtship, the ‘weed display’, also known as the ‘penguin dance’. After the pair turn away from each other they dive under the surface of the water. Then, both birds simultaneously emerge out of the water clutching pieces of nesting material, belly to belly and with legs paddling frantically, they tread water whilst exaggeratedly shaking their heads. Superb!
Great Crested Grebes
The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 14 Common Gulls, and about 63 Black-headed Gulls. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len, a Water Rail called from the large reedbed by the Weir, and, bird of the day, a Snipe. In one of the reedbeds along the eastern edge of the Lake. Fantastic! A first for me in the Park!
A Coal Tit sang cheerfully from a Yew, a Nuthatch was seen climbing a bough of an Oak, 6 Goldcrest were seen and heard, a few parties of Long-tailed Tits were seen, 4 Jay were noted, a female Sparrowhawk flew over as I walked past the Old Bothy, whilst a cock Pheasant called from the garden of the Old Bothy, 6 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard, 3 Treecreepers were heard calling along the River Len, as I walked along the eastern edge of the Lake a small flock of Siskin flew over, flying towards the Alder wood along the River Len, a Green Woodpecker was watched probing it’s long dagger-like bill into an Ant hill, a Stock Dove perched in an Oak in front of Mote House, a Mediterranean Gull was in the large Gull flock on the playing fields, and an endearing Little Owl was sat just inside it’s hole in an old Oak in front of Mote House.
Spot the Little Owl
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 39 Canada Geese, 11 Pochard, 4 Tuftie, 1 Little Grebe, 2 displaying Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens.
The Great Crested Grebes courtship display is always a delight to see. I never tire of witnessing these elegant displays and, until this morning, I have never observed the climax to this beautiful courtship, the ‘weed display’, also known as the ‘penguin dance’. After the pair turn away from each other they dive under the surface of the water. Then, both birds simultaneously emerge out of the water clutching pieces of nesting material, belly to belly and with legs paddling frantically, they tread water whilst exaggeratedly shaking their heads. Superb!
Great Crested GrebesThe gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 14 Common Gulls, and about 63 Black-headed Gulls. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len, a Water Rail called from the large reedbed by the Weir, and, bird of the day, a Snipe. In one of the reedbeds along the eastern edge of the Lake. Fantastic! A first for me in the Park!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Saturday 9th February
It was a beautiful day today. The Sun made the temperature very mild.
5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard, a Coal Tit were heard singing from a Yew, 3 Treecreepers were heard calling, 2 Goldcrests were heard singing, a Stock Dove called from the Alder wood along the River Len, Siskin could be heard calling from Alders by the large reedbed by the Weir. However, birds of the day were a pair of Common Buzzards circling in a thermal above the Park heading north towards the North Downs.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 27 Canada Geese, 9 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 29 Common Gulls, about 73 Black-headed Gulls, and the winter plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len.
5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard, a Coal Tit were heard singing from a Yew, 3 Treecreepers were heard calling, 2 Goldcrests were heard singing, a Stock Dove called from the Alder wood along the River Len, Siskin could be heard calling from Alders by the large reedbed by the Weir. However, birds of the day were a pair of Common Buzzards circling in a thermal above the Park heading north towards the North Downs.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 27 Canada Geese, 9 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 29 Common Gulls, about 73 Black-headed Gulls, and the winter plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len.
(From left to right): Med Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull
Friday, February 08, 2008
Friday 8th February
It was a lovely morning today. Really spring-like. It was a clear night last night, so there was a light frost on the ground, and come morning the Sun was out in a cloudless blue sky.
The amount of birdsong has increased a great deal. The first bird to be heard was a Great Spotted Woodpecker as it drummed on a Larch - a total of 7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard this morning, 2 Coal Tits were heard singing, 2 Treecreepers were also heard singing, a Goldcrest called from a Wellingtonia, 3 Stock Doves were seen, 3 Nuthatches were seen and heard, and a Green Woodpecker was clambered up an Alder in the Alder wood along the River Len.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 27 Canada Geese, 9 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebes – with 2 pairs displaying, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 21 Common Gulls, about 50 Black-headed Gulls, and an elegant-looking winter plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len, and a Kingfisher fished along the Lake’s northern edge.
The amount of birdsong has increased a great deal. The first bird to be heard was a Great Spotted Woodpecker as it drummed on a Larch - a total of 7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen and heard this morning, 2 Coal Tits were heard singing, 2 Treecreepers were also heard singing, a Goldcrest called from a Wellingtonia, 3 Stock Doves were seen, 3 Nuthatches were seen and heard, and a Green Woodpecker was clambered up an Alder in the Alder wood along the River Len.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 27 Canada Geese, 9 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebes – with 2 pairs displaying, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 21 Common Gulls, about 50 Black-headed Gulls, and an elegant-looking winter plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len, and a Kingfisher fished along the Lake’s northern edge.
Wild Daffodil
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Also of note, 20 Magpies were observed perched together in an Ash, the first of this year’s Daffodils were in flower, and a walk through the wet woodland to the north of the Park produced the first Violets, Lesser Celandine, Snowdrops and Primroses to flower, and the Bluebell leaves were roughly 5-6 inches above the soil.
(A glade that has recently been created.)
Lesser Celandine
Ranunculus ficaria
Snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
Primrose
Primula vulgaris
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Wednesday 6th February
Whilst walking home at dusk today a Little Egret flew west over the Park. Excellent!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Friday 1st February
It was a chilly morning today, with a light frost on the ground. The Sun was out in a clear blue sky, but it failed to make much difference to the temperature.
A Coal Tit sang from the top of a Yew along Laurel Walk, 5 Goldcrests were noted – with 3 of the birds singing, a Stock Dove was heard calling from up in an Oak, 1 Jay was seen, 2 Nuthatches were heard calling, 3 Treecreeper were heard – 1 of whom was singing, on the area of Park in front of Mote House were a group of 14 Redwing accompanied by a small number of Song and Mistle Thrushes, a small flock of Siskin were feeding in an Alder, and a pair of Sparrowhawk displayed over the eastern end of the Park.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 25 Canada Geese, 7 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 27 Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 48 Black-headed Gulls. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len, a Cormorant was seen flying west, and 4 Herring Gulls flew north.
A Coal Tit sang from the top of a Yew along Laurel Walk, 5 Goldcrests were noted – with 3 of the birds singing, a Stock Dove was heard calling from up in an Oak, 1 Jay was seen, 2 Nuthatches were heard calling, 3 Treecreeper were heard – 1 of whom was singing, on the area of Park in front of Mote House were a group of 14 Redwing accompanied by a small number of Song and Mistle Thrushes, a small flock of Siskin were feeding in an Alder, and a pair of Sparrowhawk displayed over the eastern end of the Park.
On the Lake were 2 Mute Swans, 25 Canada Geese, 7 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes, and the countless Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The gull flock on the Lake consisted of at least 27 Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 48 Black-headed Gulls. Also, in addition to these birds, a Grey Heron stood along the banks of the River Len, a Cormorant was seen flying west, and 4 Herring Gulls flew north.
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