Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thursday 26th May

It was a mammal morning with Mink, Fox and Stoat all seen on a quick walk around the park. The Mink was spotted from Kramer hide having just raided a Coot nest I think. The resident pair of Coots were going mad but I couldn't see what was going on as their nest is hidden by reeds. The Mink was spotted heading towards the island on the left of the hide, coming from the direction of the Coots. It had something in its mouth, which was probably a Coot chick.

The Fox was on Kingsmead, almost hidden in the long grass. It was getting a hard time from a group of Crows, one of which carried a stick over towards the Fox and dropped it close to it! I have read and seen Crows using tools and dropping snails and the like from a height onto hard surfaces to break them open, but weapons!

The Stoat shot across the path in front of me as I walked along the north side of Fingers towards the Rough.

Very windy again this morning but all the regulars were about, Cettis Warbler and Cuckoo both heard. At the STW reed bed a very agitated Wren was standing guard over a tiny fledgling. Reed and Sedge Warbler heard here also. Good views of a singing Sedge Warbler were had on the south side of the main lake where it perched in a small Willow between a couple of the fishing swims. A single Sand Martin was seen, earlier, along the navigation channel. Still plenty of family parties of Tits around the park, given away by there calling youngsters.

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