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.

It has been a busy Easter weekend, with live small mammal trapping taking place in the park, plus an RSPB bird walk.

Bird-wise, the first Willow Warbler of the year was heard on Saturday, in the scrub between the Lake and the Volunteers Memorial - one of my favourite songsters! The Little Owl has been spotted frequently, 5 Mediterranean Gulls have been regulars on the Lake, and a Kestrel can be spotted hunting over the rough grassland areas. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are singing throughout the park, both Grey and Pied Wagtails can be seen around the Lake edges, and Great Spotted Woodpeckers continue to drum.

It has been fantastic to get up close and personal with the park's small mammals, with 5 species being recorded so far over the weekend. These are Woodmice (often called Fieldmice), Yellow-necked Mice, Bank Voles, Field Voles, and Common Shrews. Over the many years that I have been visiting Mote Park, I have now recorded 22 different species of mammal.

Photos will follow...

Another beautiful day to visit Mote Park!

Not long after I had entered the park, I was greeted with the lovely fluty notes of a Blackcap - first of the year, and the first of 2 birds today. It was great to also hear 6 Chiffchaffs too, up from 2 yesterday! 5 Stock Doves were noted, 1 Jay was seen, 3 Treecreepers were heard, 4 Goldcrests were singing, 1 Green Woodpecker yaffled, a Pheasant called from the marsh at the east end of the Lake, and a Sparrowhawk called near Jenner's Bank.

11 Mute Swans were gathered on the Lake, along with 3 Great Crested Grebes. The Black-headed Gull flock on the eastern section of the Lake held several Common Gulls, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. It was fantastic to hear a Kingfisher call as it flew west over the new bridge and along the Mote House side of the Lake - only the second record this year.

The New Bridge

(replacing the old flood-prone Weir bridge)

Highs of 22 degrees centigrade during my walk today, t-shirt weather! Sun equals lots of people, which although means a bit of disturbance, it is great to see people using the park.

3 Green Woodpeckers were seen, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers called, 3 Nuthatch were heard, 3 Treecreepers were also heard, and 4 Goldcrests were singing. 6 Stock Doves were noted, 2 Jays were seen, 1 Little Owl was spotted, and it was great to find 2 Chffchaffs singing. Highlight of my visit was watching a Common Buzzard soaring over Jenner's Bank - a first for the year!

Common Buzzard

6 Mute Swans were of note on the Lake along with 3 Great Crested Grebes. 2 Mediterranean Gulls were feeding on bread with the Black-headed Gulls along the Causeway and by the new bridge.

Horse Chestnut Bud

A Comma butterfly was seen on Jenner's Bank, plus it was great to see Lesser Celandine, Daffodils, and Early Dog Violet in flower.

On Saturday (17th), I had been asked to help oversee the de-silting of the Old Pond in Mote Park, the favourite feeding ground for Water Rails, Little Egret, and on some occasions Snipe, Jack Snipe, and Green Sandpiper. I couldn't miss this opportunity!

During what was a showery morning, the process went very smoothly, and the animals that call it home should be relatively unaffected. The park is certainly going through some exciting changes at the moment and more photos will be added over future posts.

I was in the park for the whole morning, and its was fantastic to hear the first singing Chiffchaffs of the year! Also noted was a Kingfisher by the Waterfall - a brilliant record - 4 Treecreepers, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Stock Doves, and 4 Goldcrests. Several Med Gulls were noted flying over throughout the morning.

For those interested, I have added 2 walks for the spring on my events page, more will follow in due course. All events are free but booking is essential.

This morning I was giving Rolf Williams and David James a short tour of parts of Mote Park with the view of potentially setting up regular Dates With Nature RSPB events. It was great to see that the 'duck-feeding area' has been opened up so that now the public and get close to the lake to feed the wildfowl (and gulls.....and rats!!).

Whilst we stood by the Boat House on the edge of the Lake, Mediterranean Gulls could be heard from the playing fields, a super little Grey Wagtail flew in and landed on the edge of the Lake right in front of us, and a Kingfisher was heard calling but could not be located. We started to make our way back to our vehicle when what should appear above the park's cafe...a RED KITE!!!!!!!!!! Amazing!!!! Unbelievable!!! I'd only just been watching them on the outskirts of Oxford last Friday, on the way to the Forest of Dean, so the coincedence of seeing one in Mote Park on a pre-arranged visit is quite something!! If you haven't guessed already, Red Kite is a first for me in Mote Park!

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.

Heard from a friend today that there were at least 2 male and 4 female Goosanders on the Turkey Mill lake next to Mote Park.....the wanderers decide to return the day I'm back away!!

Today is the only day I will be able to visit Mote Park this weekend, as I am on duty tomorrow for the RSPB at Northward Hill. With several layers on I headed out the front door and over into the park. I aimed pretty much straight for the Lake. 2 Treecreepers and 1 Goldcrest called in the old gardens to the east of Mote House.

Blackbird

I could not believe how frozen the Lake was, probably the most frozen I have ever seen it! On my approach to the Weir and Causeway I could see two people standing there, both with their cameras at the ready. As I approached I unexpectedly heard one say to the other, "Here's Simon!" It was local birder Mike, and alongside him was Paul, author of the great blog: The Tortoise Man! Whilst having a nice chat we noted a Little Grebe in the Marsh area, several Pochard and Tufted Ducks were on the only ice free section of the Lake, 5 Mute Swans were present, and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was with the gull flock.

Water Rail

After bidding farewell to Paul, I spent the rest of my walk with Mike, heading towards the Little Owl oak, however the 'Owly' wasn't home so we made our way down to the Old Pond. Here we bumped into Paul again, and we all enjoyed great views of a Water Rail. Mike and I then headed to the Turkey Mill lake, finding Green Woodpecker and Redwing on the way, but unfortunately the Goosanders were not present. What we did get though were 2 Kingfishers, a rarity now after these past few winters. On my return route through the park the Little Egret was busy feeding along the stream by the Old Pond.

Little Egret

I decided to return later, and I'm pleased I did, as the Little Owl was showing well, the Little Egret was still active, and whilst at the Old Pond, 2 Water Rails were seen creeping through the reeds, and a Common Snipe was feeding right at the back - fantastic!! 3 Nuthatch, 1 Coal Tit, and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also noted.

Common Snipe

Yesterday (8th Feb), I had a day off on toil from work, so headed to Maidstone and visited Mote Park. It was very cold once again!!

2 Drake Goosanders

The Lake proved a real treat with 6 MALE GOOSANDERS present, an unbelievable sight! I would've been happy with the 2, let alone 6, and all males too, cor!!! Also seen were 2 Gadwall, 1 drake Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Mute Swan, 32 Pochard, and 23 Tufted Duck. I was later told by a local birder that the 3 REDHEAD SMEW were seen in the afternoon - great news!

Drake Teal

Also noted during the visit were 3 Nuthatch calling, the Little Owl showed really well in the usual old oak, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 1 Green Woodpecker were heard, 2 Treecreepers were calling along the Len Valley, 4 Goldcrests were noted, and a few Siskins were heard.

Today (9th Feb) I have been informed that the 11 Goosanders, 6 males along with 5 females, have been frequenting between the Lake in Mote Park, and the lake at nearby Turkey Mill which can be viewed from the park itself. The Water Rail has been also seen today, plus a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming - fantastic news!!

I had to pop back to Maidstone last night, so thought I'd stay the night and pop into Mote Park first thing before heading off to RSPB Northward Hill. This morning, it was SO cold!!!! The Little Owl was perched in the favourite old oak east of Mote House. I only had half an hour so focused all my attention on the icy Lake.

Only the eastern section of the Lake remains clear of ice, and so most of the wildfowl are congregated around this area. Birds of note are as follows: 8 Mute Swans, 1 drake Teal, a pair of Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck, 41 Pochard, and 2 Little Grebes. As I scanned the lake, a dog jogger passed the Inlet where a flotilla of Coots flapped and splashed out into the centre of the Lake. At the same time, 2 redhead (female) SMEW took flight from the reeds nearby and flew over to the Weir - fantastic!!!!! A first for me in Mote Park - the last record being in 2005, and I missed that individual. When I eventually caught up with them I realised that there were in fact 3 redhead Smews in total! What a start to the day?! I attempted to catch up with them to get at least one photo before I had to leave.

REDHEAD (FEMALE) SMEW

My first post for 2012, so I therefore wish a belated best wishes for the new year to all my blog readers who are still keeping an eye on my activities in Mote Park! I managed to visit a few times in January but just haven't had the time to update my blog. During last month I managed to catch up with Little Egret, Teal, and one of the resident Little Owls.

Today Mote Park had been iced with 5 inches of snow, creating an even more beautiful landscape to walk through - I do treasure a stroll in the snow!! Upon getting ready to venture over into the park, I noticed I had an unread text on my mobile from a local birder stating: "Two male Goosanders mote park..." - I think I broke my own quickest record for getting out the front door!!!

The park's birdlife overall was unsurprisingly pretty quiet - all too busy filling their bellies, and I don't blame them! The thin calls of Redwings could be heard from overhead throughout the visit, a Jay called from within the wood at the foot of Jenner's Bank, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 3 Treecreepers were heard calling, 3 Siskin were seen, and a Great Tit could be heard singing from a yew close to the Gatehouse Lodges behind Mote House. I checked the Old Pond, where quite a bit of renovation work has been carried out nearby, but there wasn't even a Moorhen! The Old Pond is definitely THE place to check this week, with all this cold weather!

As I approached the Lake from the east, a Meadow Pipit flew speedily over my head, heading northwards. I made no delay in trying to locate the alerted to Goosanders, and to my relief the pair of drake individuals were cruising across the centre of the Lake, and what handsome birds they are.

GOOSANDERS

I always get the sense of power and authority, but also grace, from these members of the sawbill family. Every so often one of them would slip under the surface of the water, presumably to hunt the plentiful fish supply, leaving the other alone on the surface.

GOOSANDER

Goosander is a first for my Mote Park bird list, despite the habitat appearing suitable for a winter records. The last known record, to me, of Goosander in Mote Park was a drake back in the winter of 2006, and unfortunately I missed that particular bird.

Also of note on the lake were 38 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Mute Swans and 1 Little Grebe. There were plenty of Black-headed Gulls, with many Common Gulls among them.

Hopefully I still have a few followers after such a long absence of posting!! Today I managed to visit the park!

Highlights included a few flocks of Siskin observed flying around the park, 1 Green Woodpecker was heard, and it was interesting to hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming along the River Len (3 were seen in total). 5 Goldcrests were heard singing, 1 Treecreeper was noted, and several Redwing were seen flying through.

Robin

Of note on the Lake were a selection of Pochards and Tufties, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Great Crested Grebes, and a Teal could be heard but wasn't seen. I could not locate the Whooper Swan, which had been reported to me during the week. Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were also gathered on the Lake.

Unfortunately this post may be my last for quite a while! From tomorrow, I will be starting a 6 month residential volunteer warden post with the RSPB at Northward Hill and Cliffe, so any visits I do make to Mote Park will probably be few and far between.

Cloudy with a little bit of sunshine today during my visit around the park. The temperature was warm anough to encourage a Red Admiral out, which was seen by the Georgian Steps.

9 Jays were noted throughout the visit, 1 Green Woodpecker was heard, 2 Nuthatches were calling, 7 Goldcrests were found, 5 Siskin were noted, and a Meadow Pipit was heard and then seen flying east over the Len valley - a first for the year, making it 2 firsts for the year in 2 consecutive days!!!

Grey Heron

Of particular note on the Lake were 11 Mute Swans, 4 Tufties, 3 Great Crested Grebes, and a Grey Heron was stood on the golf course side of the Lake. The Shoveler which was found yesterday was not present today.

After a long holiday away in the Mediterranean it was lovely to get back to the park. The park is feeling very autumnal now!!

Around a dozen Redwings were noted passing through the park, 6 Siskin were noted along the Len valley, 2 Green Woodpeckers called, at least 12 Goldcrest were counted, 1 Nuthatch was heard, 5 Pied Wagtails were seen flying west overhead towards the playing fields, a Grey Wagtail called as it flew along the River Len, and a Coal Tit was heard along Laurel Walk.

It was brilliant to find a drake Shoveler - new for the year - and a female Tufted Duck on the eastern section of the Lake (viewed from the Weir bridge), a Grey Heron fished from the golf course side of the Lake, 11 Mute Swans were gathered around the duck feeding area, and 4 Great Crested Grebes were noted. There is also a notable increase in the Black-headed Gull numbers.

A Fox was also seen during the visit.

A grey overcast sky hid the sunshine this morning during my walk, but at least the temperature was still rather warm.

2 Green Woodpeckers called during the visit, 8 Jays were noted, 4 Nuthatch were heard, and it was nice to see a handsome male Sparrowhawk fly lazily over Jenner's Bank. 7 Goldcrests were heard during the walk, 2 Treecreepers were noted, 2 Swallows flew purposefuly eastwards over the park, and 4 Chiffchaffs were noted.

Juvenile Coot

13 Mute Swans remain around the duck feeding area, a single Cormorant flew onto the Lake, and a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull was stood on a buoy on the Lake.

Unfortunate Pigeon

As I walked through the parkland west of Mote House, I came across a Wood Pigeon carcass, presmed to be the result of a Sparrowhawk. The flesh from the head and neck had been eaten, and with the breast plucked, there was a puncture wound straight through to the heart, which was missing and so had presumably been eaten.


Also noted during the visit were several Speckled Wood butterflies.

I managed to visit the park on Saturday but didn't have the time to post. Highlights from that visit included a young male Reed Bunting in the old cattle area (largest area of rough grassland), the first male and female Tufted Ducks of the autumn, and 40+ House Martins, and 3 Swallows, hunting insects over the Lake and perimeter trees.

Today's visit under sunny skies turned up similar birds. Although puffs of cloud were moving through the sky, the sun remained shining!

Robin

4 Nuthatch were noted, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard calling, 5 Treecreepers were heard, and at least 6 Goldcrests were noted. 5 of the 8 Chiffchaffs found in the park today were singing, 3 Stock Doves were spotted in the old parkland trees, 11 Jays were noted, a Reed Bunting was heard calling in the old cattle area, and 3 House Martins were seen flying west.

Cormorant

4 Cormorants were seen around the Lake -including the individual pictured above, who appeared to be experimenting in various awkward head positions! A Grey Heron was seen on the Pitch & Putt side of the Lake, a female Tufted Duck was noted, and 13 Mute Swans were gathered around the 'duck feeding area'.

Moorhens

3 Southern Hawkers and 1 Migrant Hawker was noted, and 2 Speckled Woods, 1 Red Admiral, and a few Large Whites were also found.

A beautiful sunny morning for my visit to Mote Park today! Every tree and hedgerow seems to hold birds at the moment!

Chaffinches continue to feed on the fallen beechmast along Laurel Walk, 4 Treecreepers were heard in the parkland oaks west of Mote House, a Great Spotted Woodpecker also called from an Oak near to Mote House, 5 Nuthatches were noted calling and flying in the treetops, 3 Goldcrests were heard calling, a Coal Tit called from the larches on the park's eastern boundary, and some Bullfinches were heard calling in the mixed scrub to south of the path which runs between the two bridges along the River Len.

A flock of 6+ House Martins, plus 1 Sand Martin - the first of the year in the park for me - were catching insects up and down the hedgerow that runs along the Lake's eastern edge. A Grey Wagtail was heard as it flew over the Lake northwards, and 2 Great Crested Grebes and 4 Mute Swans were spotted on the Lake.

Red Admiral

Also of note today were 3 Emperor and 4 Southern Hawker dragonflies, and 1 Red Admiral and 2 Speckled Woods butterflies.

With my 20,000 word thesis carried out, written up and handed in, I now have the time for visiting Mote Park!! Today seemed very autumnal!

The fallen beechmast along Laurel Walk was attracting Chaffinches, Woodpigeons and squirrels this morning. As I walked along Jenner's Bank, it was evident that the Jays are out in force now, busy collecting acorns. A total of 9 of these birds were noted during the visit. 5 Nuthatches were noted during the visit, 3 Chiffchaffs were heard calling, 6 Goldcrest were noted, 5 Mistle Thrushes were busy feeding out in the parkland west of Mote House, and a few House Martins could be seen flying over the Lake. As I walked along the River Len just down the bank from Mote House, a large flock of circa 40 winter thrushes flew south over the valley, the first Redwings and Fieldfares of the autumn, and very early too, whole 3 and a half weeks earlier than my previous earliest record! Along the stretch of the Len between the Lower Bridge and Madginford Bridge (the old carriage bridge) a group of 6 Bullfinch were feeding in the brambles, and a Grey Heron was seen flying north.

Also of note were 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies.

My Mote Park visiting and blog updating time is very limited at the moment, due to the fact that this summer I have 20,000 word thesis to carry out and write up. I have been visiting the park every now and then though, so below is a summary of what I have seen since my last post.

Baby Magpie bathing

Spotted Flycatchers can be found by those who can recognise the call, a male Kestrel can be seen regularly in the rough grassland north of the River Len, a pair of Mute Swans laid a clutch of eggs with 3 cygnets hatching but only 1 currently survives. 12 flowering spikes of Southern Marsh Orchid were located, which is up from just the 3 in previous years. Banded Demoiselles can be found along the River Len. Slowworms can be found in good numbers, plus there have been 2 reliable sightings of Adder from visitors to the park, which is exciting! Large, Essex and Small Skippers are now on the wing, and so too are Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns. The first Ringlet was found 30th June.