This morning was dull and misty but despite the unfavourable conditions there was still plenty of birdsong.
6 Goldcrests were seen and heard, 6 Blackcap can now be heard singing, 5 Green Woodpeckers were noted, 8 Chiff Chaffs were noted, 4 Nuthatch were seen, 2 Treecreeper were singing along the River Len, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen – with 1 bird spotted flying up from a old tree stump, proving how valuable decaying wood is – a Pheasant called from the rough grassland north of the Len, a pair of Pied Wagtail were picking up nesting material on the short grass in front of Mote House, and 2 Stock Doves were noted. 2 Grey Herons were perched up in the Alders along the River Len, a Grey Wagtail was seen on the old boating ramps, 3 Cormorants were perched on the island next to the Weir, and a male Reed Bunting could be heard calling from a hawthorn next to the fallen tree on the golf course side of the Lake - the first of the year.
6 Goldcrests were seen and heard, 6 Blackcap can now be heard singing, 5 Green Woodpeckers were noted, 8 Chiff Chaffs were noted, 4 Nuthatch were seen, 2 Treecreeper were singing along the River Len, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen – with 1 bird spotted flying up from a old tree stump, proving how valuable decaying wood is – a Pheasant called from the rough grassland north of the Len, a pair of Pied Wagtail were picking up nesting material on the short grass in front of Mote House, and 2 Stock Doves were noted. 2 Grey Herons were perched up in the Alders along the River Len, a Grey Wagtail was seen on the old boating ramps, 3 Cormorants were perched on the island next to the Weir, and a male Reed Bunting could be heard calling from a hawthorn next to the fallen tree on the golf course side of the Lake - the first of the year.
Song Thrush (with worm)
2 Mute Swans were feeding in the marsh area of the Len, and birds of particular note on the Lake were 5 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Canada Geese, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Most of the gulls had flocked on the playing fields and contained at least 62 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, and 4 adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gulls.
Early, or Wood, Dog Violet
(Viola reichenbachiana)
A large amount of flowering Butterbur can now be seen in the areas of wet woodland, and it was nice to find some Moschatel flowering in the wet wood in the northern part of the Park. Moschatel is also known as ‘Townhall Clock’ because its little head of flowers are arranged at right angles to one another, like the faces of a town clock.
Moschatel
(Adoxa moschatellina)
(Adoxa moschatellina)
2 comments:
I really like the "Clock tower" flower, does it like all wet woodland?
The "Clock tower flower" was once thought to be very rare, however it is now believed to be widespread but localised. It likes damp or wet woods, on a clay soil, and is generally found growing in sheltered places, like a stream bank or a ditch/slope.
Also, I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that it tends to grow in a wood that has Oak and Dog's Mercury in.
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