Mote Park - A Wildlife Patchwork

Very warm this morning fo my walk, and the park was very quiet people-wise.

Mute Swans

10 Blackcaps were singing, just 2 Chiffchaffs were heard singing, a Nuthatch was singing from one of the Oaks on Jenner's Bank, a Jay flew east along the Len Valley, 4 Goldcrests were singing along Laurel Walk and in the Old Gardens (yew wood), 2 Treecreepers were heard, a Stock Dove pecked at the short grass up the grass bank north of the footbridge, a Willow Warbler continues to sing from the scrubby area opposite the Inlet, and 11 Whitethroats were singing.

Grey Heron

A Grey Heron stood on the Boating Ramps, 2 Reed Buntings sang from hawthorns on the Lake edge, 6 Reed Warblers were singing around the Lake, 3 Cormorants were on the Lake - 2 on the island next to the Weir bridge, and the other fishing by the Boating Ramps - 6 Tufted Duck were present on the Lake, 8 Mute Swans and 7 Great Crested Grebes could be found, and is was nice to find 2 broods of Mallard ducklings. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on a buoy, and at least 30 Black-headed Gulls were present on the Lake.

Mallards

7 Orange-tips, 1 Green-veined White, 3 Small Whites, 5 Speckled Woods, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Holly Blues were seen, and it was great to locate the first Common Blue of the year in the rough grassland north of the River Len. By the footbridge along the River Len the first Large Red Damselflies of the year were found.