Friday, January 01, 2010

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.

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