Tuesday 13th January

I managed a quick lunchtime visit to the Park today. The temperature was very mild and the sky a little bit overcast. Even though there was still a lot of activity, the only photo opportunities presented to me were the 2 shots taken below.

4 Goldcrests were seen, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard calling along the River Len, 2 Nuthatch were noted along the River Len, 2 Stock Dove could be seen perched at the top of the large, dying, Ash tree in the grassland up from the Len, a Kestrel was hunting in the grass by the Old Bothy, a Green Woodpecker was flushed from the ground ahead in front of Mote House, a Treecreeper was heard calling from an Oak by the Waterfall, and 2 Little Owl were noted – 1 was perched in the old Oak and another called from the large Beech in this area.

Little Owl (in the Oak)

3 Kingfishers, 1 Water Rail, 2 Little Grebe, and 1 drake Teal were seen along the River Len. A Grey Wagtail was feeding by the Waterfall, and the Little Egret was originally spotted by the carriage bridge along the Len, before it flew off and was relocated in the Pond by the Waterfall.

Teal

The bulk of the waterfowl were around the feeding area with 11 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans and the Mallards and various hybrid ducks being present. On the eastern section of the Lake were 41 Pochard – the highest number I have personally recorded, 1 Great Crested Grebe - the first to return after the 'big freeze' - 7 Tufted Duck and the 1 WHOOPER SWAN. The Whooper Swan behaved warily and secretive today, and remained by the reeds along the eastern edge of the Lake not viewable from the Weir. The gull flock produced at least 64 Black-headed Gulls and 17 Common Gulls.

Whilst walking along the edge of the River Len between the two bridges it was interesting to hear the high pitched calls of a Shrew under the existing vegetation.