Saturday 2nd January 2010

Another glorious morning albeit very cold. Main lake had a lot of ice coverage on the south side forcing much of the wildfowl to the north side which is quite unusual. Counts were difficult today as everything was very spread out but there were approx 51 Pochard, 18 Shoveler, 18 Tufted Ducks, 2 Teal and a single red head Goldeneye. Mute Swans were keeping the south west corner ice free and numbered around the 100. There were also 20+ Cormorants. Kingfishers were easier to come by today with several contacts around Fingers.

3 Little Grebe had moved up the Navigation Channel to the turbulent waters of the flood channel just passed the join with the nav channel. It looked like hard work for them to maintain position let alone move upstream or hunt against the strong current. A 4th was seen further downstream, with 41 Canada Geese, a little later.

A Treecreeper was present in the usual Willows along the Navigation Channel.

While chatting to DK, around Fingers, a fine looking male Sparrowhawk passed overhead and took a close look at a nearby Blue Tit which was fortunate to make it any further into 2010!

Another Treecreeper was heard by the Rough as we headed towards the Steps.

Those were the highlights this morning.

New Years Day Bird Walk

A lovely day, plenty of sunshine if a tad chilly at minus 3. The ground underfoot was "crispy".
A very good crowd turned up at 9 o'clock and we went counter-clockwise round the lake and the conservation area - for a change. The regulars were noticeable by their absence.

We saw/heard 39 of the 41 species recorded in the park today. Here is the list:
Little Grebe (2 Nav Channel, 1 east Fingers), Gt. Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan (104), Canada Goose, Pochard (30+ main lake by the island), Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler (min 7[2f]), Tufted Duck (min 16[4f]), Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Water Rail (heard Fingers), Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, (Kingfisher - DK), Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, (Long-tailed Tit 10+ by the Rough @08:40 - DB), Blue Tit, Gt. Tit, Magpie (20-30 in the hedge along the north side of the New Meadow), Jackdaw, C. Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch & Pied Wagtail (1@Beefeater).

The river was in flood and the slalom was open and running at 'full chat'. By 11 o'clock, the park was starting to get busy as people recovered from 'the night before'. The main lake is overflowing at the Beach, running into the Navigation Channel.

A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all our readers. Errol & Dave.

29th December 2009

Still a lot of ice and what little clear water there was, was filled with Mute Swans, 121 at last count!

Pochard 55 (6f)
Tufted Duck min 13 (4f)
Shoveler 7 (1f)
Wigeon 5 (3f)

Also 5 Little Grebe on the navigation channel behind Kramer hide. 2 Kingfishers on the north side of the main lake and another on the south side by the hide. 20 Corn Buntings left the Crescent reed bed just after 8am. A double figure party of Long-tailed Tit along the Spit and a Water Rail calling.

From DK:
1 Blk-t Godwit S @ 0945. Also 1 Redshank.

Whoopers

Monday 28th @ 08:30 (per DK)
23 Whooper Swans passed over the Park.
These are possibly the ones that were at Broom yesterday.