Tuesday 24th April

I now can post blogs from my phone. Technology eh!

Sunday 22nd April

The bluebells and blossom have been taking a battering with the April showers and as a result the interludes between showers have brought out pairs od birds gathering nesting material.  In particular, there are a pair of Mistle Thrushes near the steps between the ponds that have made a nest in the top of a willow tree and were collecting moss from the surrounding area at  every opportunity.

Green is everywhere now and it is only a matter of time when the foilage is too dense to see into the undergrowth to look for nests or to spot those Chiffchaffs singing away in the top most branches of trees.  It seems that the amount of Blackbirds, Wrens, and Robins around suggest that bushes provide adequate protection from predators, particularly brambles are really starting to grow and encompass ground vegetation.

After the Sunday football classes had finished I went for a walk and it started off very quiet seeing only half a dozen species before I got to the ponds where the usual Mallards, Canada Geese, Swans, Tufted Ducks Moorhens and Coots were out.  It wasn't until it was decided to go round a second time that a lot more was seen, 27 species in total plus a fat rat at the ponds the area I call Squirrel Alley.

A Nuthatch was heard as I walked down the path towards the ponds on the Newton Road side.  It was singing over the top of the Blue tits and Great Tits and was spotted in a back garden.  I was thinking that I hadn't seen a Woodpecker in a while and as I got to the ponds near the back of the flats in Woodland walk I followed with my binoculars something of Thrush size.  When it settled on a tree I saw that it was a female Great Spotted Woodpecker. I was quite exited.  Near to where the Thrushes were seen, a lone Little Grebe seemed to be spending most of its time under water, only occasionally coming up for air. Along Squirrel Alley a female Blackcap was singing away and seen which was nice as you tend to see the males generally.

Sightings:

Wren                                      Mistle Thrush

Coal Tit                                  Chaffinch

Blue Tit                                   Great Tit

Robin                                      Lesser Black Back Gull

Black Headed Gull                 House Sparrow

Nuthatch                                 Blackbird

Little Grebe                            Mallard

Swan                                      Great Spotted Woodpecker

Canada Geese                      Tufted

Coot                                       Moorhen

Magpie                                   Pigeon

Crow                                      Jackdaw

Chiffchaff                               Dunnock

Blackcap

Monday 2nd April 2012 - Spring Update

I've not written a blog for a while so thought it was about time I provided an update of what has been seen and what is happening around the park.

Well, spring is definitely here with the dafs in full bloom (although some are looking worse for wear after last week with the warm weather).  Crocuses have been and gone, and the buds are out with a lot of greenery on the trees and shrubs.

Yesterday, (Yes I know it was 1st April) I had a fantastic view of a Rose Necked Parakeet near the memorial feeding off catkins, and as well as a Great Spotted Woodpecker, I managed to see 3 x Nuthatches.  2 x were in the area I like to call Squirrel Alley near the pools, looking as if they were searching for an appropriate nesting site.  My first Coal Tit in the Park was spotted yesterday also, so quite a good day for sightings.

I saw a Little Grebe on 4th and 27th March which was a nice spot, and the winter visitors seem to have all migrated as the last time I saw a Redwing in the park was 21st February.  There are still 8 x Swans on the pool with a nest on the central island.  

Mistle Thrushes are a regular sighting and you can't seem to walk through the park without seeing at least half a dozen Blackbirds.