Sunday 26th April

It was warm and sunny with scattered cloud today. 12 people met outside the cafeteria this morning to join me for a walk around the Park, my last spring guided walk.

13 Blackcaps were heard singing, 8 Chiff Chaff were singing, 6 Goldcrests were noted – with 1 pair giving super views along the causeway up from the Weir – 8 Whitethroats were singing in areas of grassland, a Pheasant called from the undergrowth beneath the Limes next to the Old Willington Street, 5 Green Woodpeckers were seen, 3 Treecreeper were seen, 1 Jay was seen, 2 Nuthatch were heard, 2 Linnets were in the scrub area opposite the Inlet, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers could be heard drumming, 2 Sparrowhawk were seen, a Pied Wagtail was seen on the golf course, and 3 Willow Warblers could be heard singing. The most exciting sighting of all, however, was 2 male WHEATEARS (wow!!) on the strip of short grass between the old cattle area (large area of rough grassland) and the Oak wood (next to the School Lane car park). These are the first I have ever seen in the Park, and guess what? ... I didn’t have my camera and lens with me!!!

A Grey Heron and 2 Mute Swan were in the marsh area, a Reed Warbler and a Reed Bunting were singing from a reedbed on the golf course side of the Lake, a Grey Wagtail called by the Pond but was not located, and a Cormorant was perched in an Oak on the opposite side of the Lake to the disabled car park. Of particular note on the Lake were a total of 7 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Canada Geese and 3 Mute Swans.

2 Slowworm was seen in the Long Valley, 4 Red-eared Terrapins were laying in the Sun, and 4 Small Whites, 9 Orange Tips, 1 Green-veined White, 9 Peacocks, 1 Brimstone, and 14 Speckled Woods were seen.

I managed an hour visit in the early evening with my camera to see if the Wheatears were still present. Thankfully they were, despite the many many dog walkers around.

WHEATEAR