Saturday, February 21, 2009

Saturday 21st February

A good morning around the park. Saw Errol in the Rough and were there when the 2 Sky Larks passed over. The Chiffy was very vocal and mobile, moving between the Steps and Rough Gate using the Willows. On west Fingers a lone Great Crested Grebe was constructing a platform from the reeds and twigs. No sign of a mate though. Little else of note on the 2 largest lakes and just a couple of Little Grebe and a pair of Teal in front of Kramer hide. A second singing Chiffchaff was in the vicinity of the hide although not as noisy as the Rough bird.

Along the Woodland Walk a large party of at least 16 Magpies caught our attention and then the raucous call of a Jay and a flyby was good to see.

No sign of last weeks Pied Wagtails on Kingsmead but we did have a fly over Meadow Pipit. Back on Kingsmead Moorhen numbers were in the teens and a small party of Canada Geese were grazing along with a dozen Wood Pigeons.

On the main lake:
128 (16f) Pochard
3m Tufted
29 Shoveler
9 Great Crested Grebe
16 Cormorant (mostly roosting in the south side trees)

Neither sight nor sound of a Kingfisher this week, a rare occurrence around the park.

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