Friday, June 19, 2009

Wednesday 17th & Friday 19th June

Firstly, apologies for the lack of posting lately. My computer has had to go in for repair and so I have been without a computer for a while. During the week I have also finished my studies for this year and I find out whether I graduate at the end of this month...fingers-crossed. As well as visiting the Park I have also been making the most of my relatively free time by celebrating my birthday, leading an RSPB walk in the New Forest, birding in Ashdown Forest and also having a birding trip to France. See some photos below:


Spotted Heath Orchid
(Ashdown Forest)

Painted Lady
(France)



Herring Gull
(France)

Highlights from the Park include Med Gulls, good views of Little Owl and the Turtle Dove remains by the Old Bothy.

Little Owl


I helped lead a bat survey course in the Park on Wednesday. 5 species were seen: Common & Soprano Pipistrelle, Serotine, Noctule and Daubenton's. A female Tawny Owl was also heard calling from a Leylandii on the Golf Course.
Today I made an early start and covered most of my usual circuit. Although the weather was sunny a calm breeze made the temperature feel a bit cooler, and despite the earlier start the birds were still rather quiet.

At least 7 Blackcaps were heard singing, 2 Goldcrests were heard, 2 Treecreepers were seen along the Causeway, at least 6 Whitethroats could be heard singing, 3 Chiff Chaff were singing, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from along the Len. A total of 6 Reed Warblers were heard singing, and on the Lake were at least 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 89 Canada Geese, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and at least 32 Black-headed Gulls. 2 Grey Herons were seen, at least 12 House Martins were feeding over the Lake, and spotted on the fallen tree on the Golf Course side of the Lake was a Grey Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper - the first I have recorded this year.

Record shot of Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail
Butterflies recorded were 9 Speckled Woods, 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Meadow Brown, and 3 Small Skippers. A male Banded Demoiselle was seen along the 'un-named' stream, and lots of Common Blue Damselflies were seen on the Lakes eastern edge.
Banded Demoiselle

3 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Good luck with the exam results Simon - and well done on that Com. Sand. I'm very envious!

Greenie said...

Simon ,
Good luck with those results , and enjoy your freedom , for the time being .
Good wildlife list as usual .

Ken. said...

Hi Simon I agree with Warren. Good luck with your results.You did well finding the Common Sand.
As for the un-named stream, why don't you name it after yourself, I mean you do the regular reports on whats about there. Who better to name it after if not you, even if it's just for the blog.If you don't someone else will.Think about it Simon.

Next Event - TBA