Mote Park - A Wildlife Patchwork

Woodland Floor

Being home for the long May weekend means thats I am able to make a few visits to my number one favourite place, Mote Park.  Unfortunately the weather was mostly overcast and wet, but today the Sun was a welcome sight.  Saturday saw me up early to lead a Dawn Chorus Walk in the park.  10 people joined me in the newly revamped main car park and braved the cold and wet.  It rained constantly throughout the walk, but it didn't damped the birds' spirits.

Hirundines over the Lake

A second visit later in the day produced a singing Lesser Whitethroat by the Watersports Centre - a difficult bird to find in the park.  A Willow Warbler was singing by the Inlet, 1 Sedge Warbler was singing in the reed bed at the mouth of the Len (first of the year), 4 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen, and a pair of Goldcrests were seen on Jenner's Bank.  It was wonderful to see large numbers of Swallows, Swifts and House Martins feeding over the Lake on both Saturday and Sunday.  On Sunday the first Reed Warbler of the year had replaced the Sedge Warbler in the large reed bed at the mouth of the Len, and there were a few other individuals singing from the pockets of reed bed around the Lake.  A pair of Grey Wagtails were spotted along the River Len, looking very handsome at the moment.

Fledgling Long-tailed Tit

Today the sun was shining, but that still didn't stop a few drops of rain from falling!  3 Treecreepers were noted, fledglings of both Long-tailed Tits and Song Thrushes were seen, and Stock Doves are busy setting up homes.  It was a joy to see a beautiful Fox at the foot of Jenner's Bank, laying in the sunshine amongst the rushes and Red Campion, and several Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites were also seen.

 Fox

On the Lake, 4 pairs of Tufted Duck still remain, 2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes continue to display to each other, and 8 Mute Swans grace the water.  It has since been reported to me that a pair of Egyptian Geese were spotted by the Weir this morning.