Saturday, February 25, 2012

I was busy this morning so it was mid-afternoon when I was able to venture into Mote Park. It was a beautifully sunny day, and worryingly warm and dry for this time of year. Song Thrushes appeared to be singing from every high perch throughout the walk, and with Great Tits, Wrens, and Dunnocks also singing, it felt very spring like! Snowdrops alight the shadows in the North-east Wood at the moment, like small snow drifts.


Snowdrops

4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted, 3 Nuthatch were calling, 4 Treecreepers were heard, 6 Goldcrests were found, 4 Stock Doves were spotted, 3 Jays called, and 2 Little Owls were noted - the first seen in its favoured tree hole, and the other heard calling from a tree in the rough grassland in the eastern area of the park along the River Len.


Little Owl

On the lake, just a handful of 'diving ducks' remain after the cold weather, with 6 Tufties and 7 Pochards gathering under the overhanging trees on the Lake edge. 9 Mute Swans were gathered at the Boat House, and 12 Canada Geese were by the boating ramps.

2 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Ive a dreaded feeling we'll pay for all this dry weather come the summer Simon!

Send over a Pochard for us mate ! :-)

Marc Heath said...

Lovely Little Owl portrait and setting, first class.

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