Tuesday 24th March

The wind was quite strong this morning, and this meant that the sunshine was frequently masked by cloud.

5 Nuthatch were noted, 6 Goldcrest were seen, 5 Chiff Chaff could be heard singing, a Pheasant called from the wood behind the Old Walled Garden, a male Kestrel was observed hunting in the wet grassland north of the Len, 2 Bullfinch were in the brambles alongside the path between the two bridges, 3 Siskin flew east above the treetops along the Len, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, a Stock Dove called from an Oak along the Len, 4 Treecreeper were heard singing, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted, and the first Blackcap of the year was singing from the within the scrub by the Old Ice-House. 2 Grey Wagtails were seen – 1 in the Pond and the other along the River Len – 2 Kingfisher were noted – 1 along the River Len and the other by the Waterfall – and a Little Egret was spotted fishing along the “unnamed” steam which runs through the wet wood opposite the Waterfall.

Chiff Chaff

Birds of particular note on the Lake were 9 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, and 1 Tuftie. The gull flock contained at least 36 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Common Gulls, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Dog's Mercury

Also noted were Roach, Chub and Minnow along the River Len, a few Bumblebees and 1 Bee Fly were seen, and the Wood Anemones and Butterbur are now flowering.

Butterbur