A brief visit to the park on Saturday morning, on the way to the BNHS guided walk at Willington. Mute Swan numbers topped the hundred this week with 101 plus the 3 cygnets on the main lake. Canada Geese numbered 89. By the main lake island we appear to have 2 nesting Grest Crested Grebes, the first time i can remember grebes nesting on the main lake. There was also a well grown youngster from this year on the main lake, given away by the stripey head. Not sure where that flew in from.
Still plenty of Reed Warbler activity in the main lake reed bed. On Fingers the juvenile Great Crested Grebe is still being looked after by a single adult. Not sure where the other one is.
Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting at the STW reed bed. Plenty of singing Black Caps and Common Whitethroats. Skylarks singing by the bypass. Couldn't find a Yellow Wagtail by the Tern Pool again. Continued around the Tern Pool and joined the cycle path on it's diversion down by the river. Checked out the small pool next to the bypass to find a couple of young Great Crested Grebes with a single adult.
Continued along the cycle track and took the new path past the Dovecote Lake to the Dovecote in Willington to join up with the guided walk which concentrated on Dragonflies and Damselflies. I learned quite a bit in the morning session before departing at lunchtime and heading back to Priory.
On the way back, from the bridge over the bypass, I had a pair of Oystercatchers each with a well grown youngster by the L shaped pool. At Meadow Lane GP I spotted a Little Grebe feeding a well grown youngster.
Another scorching morning was over and it was back home for a cool down.
