There hasn't been a blog written for a few months as it's been so quiet and there hasn't been much to report I'm afraid.
The only noteable thing is the pond on the motorway side was very high a few weeks back or so. It was nearly encroaching over the wall the water level was so high. Unfortunately when the water level came down to its normal level, there was a lot of debris left on the path around the pond that has still to be cleared up.
Talking about clear up, the council were out last week trimming and pruning by the ponds and lower pathways to open up things a little. This has made a significant improvement and makes things a bit tidier. 3x Collard Doves seemed not to be bothered by the noise of machinery between the ponds.
The outdoor Gym is up and running with some fun pieces of equipment to have a go on, like lifting your own body weight or walking/skiing type machines.
Back in October Wigeon and a Gadwall were seen on the ponds but soon moved on, but the Wigeon at least appear to be back. 1 x male and 2 x female. Mistle Thrushes are seen on a regular basis generally o the football fields as of late surrounded by a flock of 57 x Starlings on 4th December.
All around the park the sound of small chirps of Long Talied Tits can be heard regularly if you listen hard enough, and a Nuthatch has been vocal this last week and seen flying from one side of the park to another providing a fantastic view on 10th December at the end of Hill Lane.
I had a brilliant view of a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker along the woodland walk together. If you look you can see a tree peppered with woodpecker holes in that area.
A Grey Wagtail was spotted on several occasions during October and a few times in November but nothing since. No Redwings or Fieldfare have been noted yet which is unusual, but there seems to be loads of Magpies around. I think their numbers have increased quite a lot over the breeding season.
Regulars like the Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, , Robin, Wren, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck (although their numbers seems to have diminished), Chaffinch (Goldfinch and Greenfinch not so much), Wood Pigeon, Crow and Jackdaw can be seen almost all the time.
The weather has gotten a lot colder this last week and the ponds have frozen over so spotting the water birds is easier as they are easiliy found in little pockets of water that hasn't frozen over. Just remember to take a pocket of bird seed in a sandwich bag or something out when you have a walk just to drop a handful here and there in the woodland areas where all birds can benefit. If your patient, you'll probably see a Robin come over and take advantage of your offerings.
