Saturday 21st November

I have been extremely busy with 'Uni' work the past week so it was nice to get out in the Park again. The weather was cloudy first thing, however by mid-morning the sky began to brighten up, and the park was surprisingly busy with people.

Woodland Floor

7 Goldcrests were seen, a Nuthatch was noted along Laurel Walk, a Coal Tit was heard calling by the Old Walled Garden, 2 Bullfinch were in the scrub on the bank south of the River Len footpath between the two bridges, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, at least 31 Redwing passed through the park, 2 Jay were seen, a Pheasant called from the grassland by the Old Bothy, a Treecreeper was spotted amongst the tit flock in the Alder Carr by the footbridge along the River Len, several Siskin could be heard along the Len Valley, a Little Owl was sitting the old Oak in front of Mote House, and 4 Fieldfare was seen flying north.

A Little Grebe could be seen along the River Len from the footbridge, 2 Water Rails were in the marsh area, and a Grey Heron caused a commotion in the Alder wood Jackdaw colony along the River Len as it decided to perch right in the middle! Out on the Lake itself were at least 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 42 Canada Geese, 2 Pochard, and 3 Tufties. The gull flock consisted of at least 151 Black-headed Gulls, 43 Common Gulls – the most I have ever recorded at one time in the park – and 1 winter-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull.

Black-headed Gull