A beautiful cold clear start to the morning. I headed off around the main lake at around 07:30. There were plenty of tits and finches in the hedgerow behind the sailing club. Looking out over the lake from the disabled fishing swim there appeared to be four Herons together in the closed section of footpath. This was confirmed later when three took to the air leaving the 4th fishing. A fifth Heron was in front of the sailing club. Rounding the corner some high pitched calls betrayed the presence of a Goldcrest which was located in the trees between the lake and the river. A little further along was a stunning male Bullfinch. A pair of Sparrowhawks were displaying over Pressmead. No sign of any Pochard or Shoveler on the main lake but 2 Greylag Geese did fly in. Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard at various locations around the park.
On the Finger lakes there were 6 Tufted Ducks (4m2f). A Water Rail ran across the crescent path into the reedbed. At least 5 Coots along with 5 Little Grebe and 2 Great Crested Grebe. CW called several times from the scrub next to the slope down from the spit to the crescent foot path. Two Muntjac cam down to drink along one of the fingers. 2 possibly 3 Chiffchaff in and around the Rough. A Treecreeper in the trees around by the Sedgewick seat along with at least 2 Bullfinch and a Starling singing.
36 Canada Geese and 4 Moorhen on Kingsmead. At Kramer hide there were a pair of Mute Swans. Another Chiffchaff was singing behind the hide.
The sun had encouraged several Bumble Bees out with several in the hedges around the main car park.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
6th March
Still a few duck about - Pochard, Tufted, Shoveler, Teal & Gadwall. Also Little & GC Grebes.
DK & JB had five Shelduck briefly in front of the main hide around 10 am.
Very wet under foot still
DK & JB had five Shelduck briefly in front of the main hide around 10 am.
Very wet under foot still
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Weekend birds
The highlight of the weekend was Oystercatchers on both days.
Saturday started overcast but soon brightened up. While in the main lake hide I heard some oystercatcher calls and finally located two birds which did a lap around the lake before headin off towards Fenlake. Shortly after I heard some more calls and this time one bird flew along the the opposite side of the lake before landing in front of the sailing club. There were around 100 Pochard, 27 Shoveler and 20 Cormorant on the main lake.
The Finger lakes held 7 Tufted ducks, 6 Coot and 6 Little Grebe. The CW was vocal in the crescent and a Water Rail walked across the crescent path and disappeared into the reed bed. Also had a Sparrowhawk, a couple of Treecreepers in the trees near the Sedgewick seat and 10 Redwing over.
Sunday was more overcast and I got to the park early to avoid the rain that was forecast for mid morning. Pochard and Shoveler numbers were well down on Saturday at only 31 and 11 respectively. A single Oystercatcher flew around the main lake again. Only managed 8 Cormorant today. Several sightings of Greylag Geese in two's flying over the park, either to or from Willington direction, but also 2 on the lake, possibly 8 birds.
CW was very vocal again in the Crescent reedbed and had several flyby Kingfishers, upto 4 individuals. Didn't see or hear a single Little Grebe today. Had 9 Tufted Ducks on the Finger lakes and 4 Coot. Also had 11 Fieldfare over.
Rain arrived around 10:30 as forecast.
Saturday started overcast but soon brightened up. While in the main lake hide I heard some oystercatcher calls and finally located two birds which did a lap around the lake before headin off towards Fenlake. Shortly after I heard some more calls and this time one bird flew along the the opposite side of the lake before landing in front of the sailing club. There were around 100 Pochard, 27 Shoveler and 20 Cormorant on the main lake.
The Finger lakes held 7 Tufted ducks, 6 Coot and 6 Little Grebe. The CW was vocal in the crescent and a Water Rail walked across the crescent path and disappeared into the reed bed. Also had a Sparrowhawk, a couple of Treecreepers in the trees near the Sedgewick seat and 10 Redwing over.
Sunday was more overcast and I got to the park early to avoid the rain that was forecast for mid morning. Pochard and Shoveler numbers were well down on Saturday at only 31 and 11 respectively. A single Oystercatcher flew around the main lake again. Only managed 8 Cormorant today. Several sightings of Greylag Geese in two's flying over the park, either to or from Willington direction, but also 2 on the lake, possibly 8 birds.
CW was very vocal again in the Crescent reedbed and had several flyby Kingfishers, upto 4 individuals. Didn't see or hear a single Little Grebe today. Had 9 Tufted Ducks on the Finger lakes and 4 Coot. Also had 11 Fieldfare over.
Rain arrived around 10:30 as forecast.
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