Thursday 9th July

It was a beautiful sunny morning when I made my visit to the park today. There was scattered cloud in the sky and a cool, calm wind in the air. I couldn’t get out until just after 10am so I wasn’t expecting too much bird activity and I covered all of the north side of the Lake and River Len.

A Green Woodpecker was the first bird to be seen as it flew from right to left in front of me along Laurel Walk, this was soon followed a pair of Bullfinch which were perched in the Elder scrub just the otherside of the fence that runs along the top of the bank along Laurel Walk, close to where the fallen Beech is, and a Goldcrest could be heard calling from the Wellingtonias. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Treecreepers were picked up along the River Len, as was a lovely female Sparrowhawk which was soaring about 6ft above the tree tops along the stretch between the 2 bridges. At least 6 Blackcaps were noted throughout the visit, 2 Whitethroat were singing in the grassland north of the Len, 2 more Bullfinch were seen by the Georgian Steps at the top of the bank north of the Len, and 1 Chiff Chaff was heard by the Head Gardener’s House on the edge of the Walled Garden.

Blackcap fledgling

A total of 5 Reed Warblers were heard singing, a Kingfisher was fishing along the River Len, and on the Lake were at least 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 17 Canada Geese, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and at least 26 Black-headed Gulls.

Butterflies recorded were 6 Meadow Browns, 3 Small and 2 Essex Skippers, 3 Gatekeepers, and 7 Commas. A male Banded Demoiselle was seen along the Lake’s eastern edge, and several Common Blue Damselflies were also seen. 2 Rabbits were feeding on the short grass bank north of the Len.

Comma on Creeping Thistle

Anyone visiting the park at the moment should walk around the edge of the Walled Garden to where the old meadow is. With Cornflowers and Poppies amongst the many wildflowers, the meadow is looking absolutely stunning at the moment. (This meadow is also accessible via the entrance opposite the Madginford turning, and is on your right as soon as you turn into the Park.) When at the meadow it is also an idea to look out for the 4 species of reptile, and the local mammal species as this is the spot where you are most likely to see them.

Wildflowers