Tuesday 27th January

I popped into the Park early afternoon today. It was lovely and sunny and the temperature was very mild.

Sunlight through Brambles

3 Coal Tits were singing, a Goldcrest was heard calling from a Wellingtonia along Laurel Walk, 4 Nuthatch were heard calling, 2 Stock Dove were noted, 2 Treecreepers were heard calling by the Weir, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, a Little Owl was perched in the Oak, 4 Herring Gulls were seen flying over the Walled Garden, a party of Long-tailed Tits were seen passing through the trees on the eastern edge of the Lake, and a Green Woodpecker was heard making it’s mating/territorial call.

Along the River Len at least 15 Siskins were feeding in the Alders, 3 Little Grebes were noted, 2 Kingfishers were spotted fishing on the stretch between the 2 bridges, and a Grey Heron was seen standing opposite the large Oak.

At the feeding area on the Lake were 14 Canada Geese, and the various Mallards and hybrid ducks. The eastern stretch of the Lake held 3 Cormorants, and on the main area and by the boating ramps were 13 Pochards, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swans, and 2 Great Crested Grebes. The gull flock on the Lake produced at least 78 Black-headed Gulls and 17 Common Gulls.

Snowdrops are in flower on the banks of the stream that flows through the wet woodland at the foot of Jenner’s Bank and the male Grey Squirrels are chasing the females through the parkland trees, speeding round and round the tree trunks and leaping through the branches chattering almost constantly.

Snowdrops