Friday 24th April

I couldn't have asked for better conditions this morning during the second spring walk of the year. Fred and I led a group of 11 people around the Park, seeing plenty of wildlife along the way.

Lesser Celandine

Due to the mid-morning start the birds were a little less active. We did, however, find 3 Goldcrests, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 4 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Willow Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Chiff Chaff, 4 Grey Herons, 5 Blackcap, and 1 Stock Dove. Of note on the Lake were 9 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swan, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Very good numbers of butterflies were seen. In total there were at least 16 Orange-tips, 5 Green-veined Whites, 1 Small White, 4 Holly Blues, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 8 Speckled Woods, 1 BRIMSTONE - the first I have ever recorded in the Park - and 9 Peacocks.

Peacock

Also seen were the resident Red-eared Terrapins which were laying in the Sun on the Lake's eastern bank, and there were some young Chub viewable from both bridges along the River Len.