Saturday 15th March

Another quiet morning although a surprising variety of duck for this late in the winter. A pair of Teal were flushed along by the Sedgewick seat as headed to Kramer hide. Two Heron followed them. SP was already at the hide but hadn't had much of note. He did report a Chiffchaff singing from over towards the Long Hedge, probably the regular bird. The usual 3 Little Grebe were about but no activity around the possible nest this morning. A male Shoveler was seen through the gap on west Fingers. Both Sparrowhawks were seen with the female making several appearances. The female Mute Swan (#500) was feeding near the hide. Canada Geese, Mallards and Moorhen were also about. SP reported fresh Otter spraint in the pipe so they are still about but we haven't seen them for at least 3 weeks now.

On Kingsmead a Fox was keeping an eye on things until a Crow gave him ear ache! Several Pheasants, 16 Canada Geese and 6 Moorhen were also present.

I had a walk around Fingers and the main lake. As I went up past the Sedgewick seat again, a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Teal were seen tucked in round the back. A Chiffchaff was singing strongly along the path between the Dead Seat and the steps. It moved along in front of me, as I walked along the path, before moving off into the Rough. It was very flighty and was heard singing strongly again when I was on the spit, sounded like it was back where I first saw it. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen/heard drumming in the dead tree by the Dead Seat. No sign of the Coots on Fingers again but the Great Crested Grebes were still about on west Fingers. Two splendid male Tufted Ducks were on east Fingers. The male Mute Swan was also about.

Nothing around the Crescent although as I came out onto the main path 2 Shelduck flew over north east. 2 red headed Goosander flew in to the main lake at the beach end. No other ducks, other than Mallards, seen on the main lake. A few Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant and 5 Mute Swan were on the lake.

I stopped to look out over Fenlake and was rewarded by 5 displaying Lapwing and a Kingfisher flying along the river upstream. As I continued around the main lake another Kingfisher was seen flying from the south west corner, heading east in front of the south side fishing swims.

Although little else of note it was great just listening to all the bird song from the regulars which are really getting into gear now.

A couple of the less popular park residents:

Cormorant

Canada Goose

pi Day

Midday. Nothing unusual. Lots of bird song, including Chiff and Snog Thrush. Fluttering display flight from Blue Tits. Red-eared Slider on Fingers in front of Kramer; also snoozing Muntjac (not the one I saw on Weds, that was a buck), Pheasant & Dabchick. Two dozen BH Gulls on east Fingers with some turn-over; more adults than 1W birds. 7 Goldfinches chasing around by the dead seat before sitting in the tops of the Willows and "whistling". 30 Wood Pigs on K/M. Weather wise - the best day of the week?... and last day for angling!!
[3.14=pi]

Ides of March

Set up at the feeding station this morning. Three old favourites - juv Blue Tit from June 02, f.g. Dunnock from June 03 & post breeding Great Tit from Oct 03. Also ringed a NEW female Great Spot., and another 2CY female Bullfinch.

Yesterday, I spooked a Water Rail from between the steps and the 'dead seat'. On Wednesday, I caught a resplendent adult male Kingfisher. A Reed Bunt was singing in the crescent.



On all 3 days, the Sparrowhawks have been showing off their acrobatic skills, together with their full vocabulary.

Sunday 9th March

A brief entry today as I decided it was time I got back on the bike. Stopped off at Kramer hide on my way through the park. The only thing of note were the Little Grebe, one of which was on the "nest?" where the pair were seen mating yesterday. As well as the pair there was the winter plumage individual. The pair seem quite tolerant of it. There was an adult Heron in the usual tree and a couple of Canada Geese. Several Moorhen engaged in a noisy dispute. The Green Woodpecker was at the nest box again!

We seem to be back to normality as far as Mute Swans are concerned with just the Fingers pair and a pair on the main lake.

That's it, told you it was brief.