A most enjoyable guided walk despite the blustery and damp conditions. As Errol has already reported there is already a good variety of wildfowl in the park. The 14 Shoveller on the mainlake were spooked, when the sailing started, and flew towards Willington along with a number of Cormorants.
A large number of Starlings (50 ish) were seen overhead from the Rough heading towards the canoe slalom.
It's been a while since I last visited the park since when the path between the visitor centre and the Sailing club driveway has been resurfaced and the path by the beach has been finished. The "Labyrinth" is also well underway.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Guided walk
Sun 28th - damp was the word and the word was law by 10:45.
A grey day started with 2 Mipits moved on by a dog. 14 Shoveler (2 more on Fingers) & the male Pochard on the main lake. 2 Herons hiding from the stiff SW wind, too. A family group of 5 Magpie by the new "Labyrinth" project. In the Rough, many finches, Redwing, Fieldfare & Blackbird busy eating hawthorn berries and the fem. Blackcap on the blackberries. Overhead, a flock of 30+ Starlings heading south. Treecreeper was heard but not seen by the Fingers, and decent views of Bullfinch, Redwing, 5 Little Grebe, a pair of Gadwall, 7 Teal (which fled!) & 2 more Herons. Just the 1 Coot, though. No sign of the Chiff near the crescent. Round at the Kramer hide, another 5 Herons sheltering from the breeze (makes 9 in all) and just 2 Moorhen. Where have they all gone? A number of Crows tumbling in the wind over Kingsmead seemed to be enjoying themselves. Finally, a collection of tits along the New Cut plus a Kingfisher which just managed to keep ahead of us. And a well timed walk ended as the rain intensified enough to give every thing a good wetting. Next G/W = 25th Nov at 9:00.
A grey day started with 2 Mipits moved on by a dog. 14 Shoveler (2 more on Fingers) & the male Pochard on the main lake. 2 Herons hiding from the stiff SW wind, too. A family group of 5 Magpie by the new "Labyrinth" project. In the Rough, many finches, Redwing, Fieldfare & Blackbird busy eating hawthorn berries and the fem. Blackcap on the blackberries. Overhead, a flock of 30+ Starlings heading south. Treecreeper was heard but not seen by the Fingers, and decent views of Bullfinch, Redwing, 5 Little Grebe, a pair of Gadwall, 7 Teal (which fled!) & 2 more Herons. Just the 1 Coot, though. No sign of the Chiff near the crescent. Round at the Kramer hide, another 5 Herons sheltering from the breeze (makes 9 in all) and just 2 Moorhen. Where have they all gone? A number of Crows tumbling in the wind over Kingsmead seemed to be enjoying themselves. Finally, a collection of tits along the New Cut plus a Kingfisher which just managed to keep ahead of us. And a well timed walk ended as the rain intensified enough to give every thing a good wetting. Next G/W = 25th Nov at 9:00.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Winter draw(er)s on!
Wed 24th
Lone male Pochard on main lake. Winter cometh.
Thurs 25th
A Little Egret remained on the roost tree in Fingers "all day" along with a Grey Heron.
With the nets up for 4 hours middle of the day, a mixture of 25 common birds. A female Blackcap (possibly the one spotted by DK last Thurs) was the highlight. Not to be frowned upon were 4 Bullfinch and 2 continental looking Blackbirds, the ones with the small white crescents all over their chests. A second Treecreeper for the month, too.
Fri 26th
Mid morning visit produced a few more signs of late autumn. On the main lake - 14 Cormorant & 33 Gt. Crested Grebe, also 14 of 20 Shoveler. There was a good mix of gulls with 4 species present. On Fingers, 6 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 3 Teal and at least 18 Moorhen, 15 of which were in front of the Kramer hide. 2 Little Grebe were being elusive. 2 Goldcrest on the spit & 2 elsewhere.
Sat 27th
Cormorant numbers move up to 17, grebes down to 30. (Don't rely on these counts)
A very vocal Chiff on the crescent was the first for a week or so. It seemed to be intent on staying a while. Another, less vocal and more mobile, was at the foot of the slalom and moved off towards Cardington Mill.
Sun 28th
Will it rain, will it rain? Guided walk on or off?
Lone male Pochard on main lake. Winter cometh.
Thurs 25th
A Little Egret remained on the roost tree in Fingers "all day" along with a Grey Heron.
With the nets up for 4 hours middle of the day, a mixture of 25 common birds. A female Blackcap (possibly the one spotted by DK last Thurs) was the highlight. Not to be frowned upon were 4 Bullfinch and 2 continental looking Blackbirds, the ones with the small white crescents all over their chests. A second Treecreeper for the month, too.
Fri 26th
Mid morning visit produced a few more signs of late autumn. On the main lake - 14 Cormorant & 33 Gt. Crested Grebe, also 14 of 20 Shoveler. There was a good mix of gulls with 4 species present. On Fingers, 6 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 3 Teal and at least 18 Moorhen, 15 of which were in front of the Kramer hide. 2 Little Grebe were being elusive. 2 Goldcrest on the spit & 2 elsewhere.
Sat 27th
Cormorant numbers move up to 17, grebes down to 30. (Don't rely on these counts)
A very vocal Chiff on the crescent was the first for a week or so. It seemed to be intent on staying a while. Another, less vocal and more mobile, was at the foot of the slalom and moved off towards Cardington Mill.
Sun 28th
Will it rain, will it rain? Guided walk on or off?
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