Mote Park - A Wildlife Patchwork

Another beautiful morning, cold to begin with but becoming very humid, and not a breeze in the air. On my arrival into Mote Park a dog Fox was seen.

Oak leaf at first-light

11 Blackcaps were singing, 6 Chiffchaffs were singing, and in the grassland areas 10 Whitethroats were singing. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming, 3 Green Woodpeckers were noted, 4 Nuthatch were noted, 2 Treecreeper were singing from trees along the River Len, 5 Goldcrests were singing throughout the park, 4 Stock Dove were found, 5 Jays were seen, and a pair of Linnets were seen in the Old Cattle Area (largest area of rough grassland).

Drake Mallard in flight

A Reed Bunting was singing from the Weeping Willow along the Lake's northern edge, a Sedge Warbler continues to sing from within a hawthorn on the Pitch & Putt side of the Lake, and a Reed Warbler was singing from the large reedbed where the River Len expands into the Lake. Of particular note on the Lake were 12 Mute Swans, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, around 65 Black-headed Gulls, and 5 Common Gulls.

Speckled Wood

2 Small Whites, 1 Green-veined White, 4 Speckled Woods, 3 Holly Blues, and 13 Orange-tip butterflies were seen.