No lectures today, which meant that I could make a quick visit to Mote Park. It was such a beautiful morning, I almost expected to see a Bumblebee go by!
Grey Heron
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, 4 Green Woodpeckers were noted, 2 Nuthatch were heard, 3 Treecreeper were singing, 2 Coal Tits were singing, 5 Goldcrests were noted, 2 Chiffchaffs were heard calling in the hedge running along the eastern Lake edge - the first recorded of the year, and my first ever wintering record - a Grey Wagtail was hunting insects in the Old Pond whilst a Water Rail probed the mud on the far bank, 9 Redwing were seen, 2 Jays were seen on Jenner's Bank, and a few Siskin could be heard in the alders along the River Len.
Mute Swans
Of particular note on the Lake were 11 Mute Swans - the highest number I have recorded at one time - 4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 male Tufted Duck, and 3 Pochard. A Cormorant flew west and a Grey Heron could be seen from the Lower Footbridge (second bridge from the Downswood entrance). The gull numbers appear to be increasing with 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls remaining on the Lake (1 first winter, and 2 adult summer plumaged birds), at least 15 Mediterranean Gulls (mostly in adult summer plumage), at least 30 Common Gulls, and around 300 Black-headed Gulls.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 comments:
Great to get the Chiffchaffs Simon, and a good count of Gulls, what is the most Med Gulls you've had there?
Hi Alan, the most I've counted before is 25, which was in mid-March back in 2009.
Good selection of birds today Simon, wish I could of been out this morning :-)
Ive had a few Bumble bees, so you should of had one today!
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