Thursday 24th September

It was beautiful morning today, with dew on the ground and lovely warm sunshine. Phil Pretty from the Kent Messenger was meeting me by Cobtree Hall at 8am to have a walk around the Park with me.

Grassland north of the River Len

Some good birds were seen during the visit. 7 Goldcrests were noted, at least 5 Chiff Chaff were found, 3 Treecreeper were seen and heard, 6 Nuthatch were seen, 3 Green Woodpecker were seen, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the trees between the 2 bridges along the Len, a Pied Wagtail was seen on the Old Kent Showground (the top playing field), 6 Jay were seen, 2 Coal Tits were seen, and 3 Bullfinch were found along Laurel Walk.

2 Kingfishers were heard along the River Len, a Grey Wagtail called as it flew east over the Lake, 2 Cormorants were seen flying north, 2 Grey Herons were around the Lake, and, bird of the day, a Cetti’s Warbler could be heard singing its loud distinctive song from the scrub and reeds on the Golf Course side of the Lake – a first for the year, my second record in the Park and third ever recorded in the park since they colonised Britain. On the Lake were at least 8 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans, 16 Canada Geese, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and at least 17 Black-headed Gulls were noted – a further 32 were on the playing fields.

A Dryad's Saddle fungus was growing on a Beech log along Laurel Walk, and several Small White and Speckled Wood butterflies were also seen.

Dryad's Saddle

When I got home and looked out into the garden at the bird feeders, a male Sparrowhawk was perched above them. Here are a few shots:

Sparrowhawk