Saturday 05/04/2014

It was a great morning in the park starting with the first Common Tern of the year which was flying around the main lake when I arrived just after 6am. It was still about when DK and JA arrived so we all got our year tick.

Common Tern

We also had 2 Common Terns over 100 Acre and by the time we got back to the Park there were 2 over the main lake which were still there when we left.

Highlight of the morning was the Red Kite first seen over 100 Acre and then again over the visitor centre and heading west just before we left the park.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

 There was also a Common Buzzard over 100 Acre.

Common Buzzard

100 Acre also had a good selection of waders with Snipe, Oystercatcher, Redshank and the colour ringed Black-winged Stilt all showing well. There were 4 Little Ringed Plovers over on the earth works at Castle Mill and a single Ringed Plover.

Little Ringed Plovers

Ringed Plover

There were plenty of spring migrants in the park with a couple of Willow Warblers, plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and a handful of Sand Martins. There was an Oystercatcher on the main lake island, all in all a pretty good morning birding.

Guided Bird Walk - 30/03/2014

A great turnout for the guided walk this morning despite the clocks going forward and it being Mothers Day! The sun struggled to make an appearance finally appearing as we returned to the Visitor Centre at the end of the walk. The only disappointment was that the Sand Martins failed to show having been present most mornings since their first appearance a couple of weeks ago. Can't complain though as we had 51 species on the list by the end of the morning.

Willow Warblers have also arrived with TP having the first one yesterday but unfortunately despite at least 4 being around the park this morning we failed to connect with one during the walk.

Highlight for me were the Redshanks which were playing hard to get at first but we finally found them on the return leg across 100 Acre. The colour ringed Black-winged Stilt also showed well although it does seem to have an injured leg and was limping quite badly. A couple of Ringed Plovers also showed well on the Castle Mill earth works.

Here's the full list kindly noted down by Marion Hession:

Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Mallard
Gadwall
Shoveler
Wigeon
Teal
Tufted Duck
Pheasant
Little Grebe
Great-crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Buzzard
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Redshank
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Song Thrush
Redwing
Blackbird
Chiffchaff
Wren
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
Blackcap

Incoming!