Saturday, July 31, 2010
Saturday 31st July 2010
A rather wet start to the day but myself and JA braved the conditions and were rewarded with a Kingfisher sighting at the Cardinton Spillway and 3 Grey Wagtails at the Canoe Slalom. The Mute Swan count was 101 + 3 cygnets on the main lake and the 2 adults and 5 cygnets on Fingers. Just 13 Canada Geese this week and they all left at about 08:30. An Oystercatcher was heard over the Rough heading north east. Those were the highlights of a very soggy morning.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Saturday 24th July 2010
A Willow Warbler singing in the car park was the first for a while, DK had another down along the Spit. On the main lake just 40 Canada Geese this week but still 102 Mute Swans. A couple of Reed Warblers were moving in the reeds opposite the VC.
Not much on Fingers, DK mentioned a Little Grebe which we didn't see, just a lot of Mallards, Moorhens and Coots.
After last weeks blank on singing Whitethroats we had a couple this week, one around Fingers and the other along the cycle track. We had a good look around the large lake on 100 Acre where we had juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe (possibly including a juvenile), Tufted Duck with single duckling, several Lapwing and a single Common Sandpiper. There was also a good size flock of Goldfinch feeding on the thistle heads numbering at least 40.
Just before we crossed over the bypass we spotted a Tufted and 8 ducklings on the L shaped lake next to the bypass. Not much on the Tern Pool, in fact little else until we got back to the Cut which we followed upstream along the Riverside side. Just before we crossed the stream we heard some young Sparrowhawks calling. We continued up to the park entrance and back down the other side of the Cut to locate the Sprawks again and managed some views of through the thick foliage. There were at least 2 youngsters judging by the locations of the calls and possibly 3.
Back to the car park and the Willow Warbler was still singing, a nice end to the morning.
Not much on Fingers, DK mentioned a Little Grebe which we didn't see, just a lot of Mallards, Moorhens and Coots.
After last weeks blank on singing Whitethroats we had a couple this week, one around Fingers and the other along the cycle track. We had a good look around the large lake on 100 Acre where we had juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe (possibly including a juvenile), Tufted Duck with single duckling, several Lapwing and a single Common Sandpiper. There was also a good size flock of Goldfinch feeding on the thistle heads numbering at least 40.
Just before we crossed over the bypass we spotted a Tufted and 8 ducklings on the L shaped lake next to the bypass. Not much on the Tern Pool, in fact little else until we got back to the Cut which we followed upstream along the Riverside side. Just before we crossed the stream we heard some young Sparrowhawks calling. We continued up to the park entrance and back down the other side of the Cut to locate the Sprawks again and managed some views of through the thick foliage. There were at least 2 youngsters judging by the locations of the calls and possibly 3.
Back to the car park and the Willow Warbler was still singing, a nice end to the morning.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Saturday 17th July 2010
A fairly quiet morning as is normal this time of year. 104 Mute Swans + 3 Cygnets on the main lake, along with 89 Canada Geese. Couldn't see the 2 Great Crested Grebe nests by the main lake island. The Fingers Grebe chick and accompanying adult were still on east Fingers. Just one Coot chick left on west Fingers.
JA and myself set off along the cycle track with just 3 Little Grebes of note on the large lake on 100 Acre. A lot of Sand Martins over the Tern Pool and surrounding crop fields. Odd Skylarks singing but no sign of any Yellow Wagtails again.
Followed the track around the river loop and took the short cut between the 2 lakes toward Willington. Plenty of butterflies including Common Blue, Small Copper, Comma, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Not much Damselfly/Dragonfly activity but still quite a few Common Blue damselflies active alongside Dovecote Lake.
Heading back along the main cycle track we checked out the Broadleaf Helleborines that had escaped the mowers attentions, not the most spectacular of orchids. The raucous call of a Jay off to our left and then a fly over individual from our right were the first for me for quite some time. Back at the Tern Pool the Martins were still active and a Common Buzzard drifted over towards the main gravel pit.
At Meadow Lane GP we confirmed the Little Grebe sighting from last week with 2 adults and a stripey headed juvenile present. Then we headed back into the park and along the north side of the New Meadow. Pretty quiet but enjoyable all the same.
JA and myself set off along the cycle track with just 3 Little Grebes of note on the large lake on 100 Acre. A lot of Sand Martins over the Tern Pool and surrounding crop fields. Odd Skylarks singing but no sign of any Yellow Wagtails again.
Followed the track around the river loop and took the short cut between the 2 lakes toward Willington. Plenty of butterflies including Common Blue, Small Copper, Comma, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Not much Damselfly/Dragonfly activity but still quite a few Common Blue damselflies active alongside Dovecote Lake.
Heading back along the main cycle track we checked out the Broadleaf Helleborines that had escaped the mowers attentions, not the most spectacular of orchids. The raucous call of a Jay off to our left and then a fly over individual from our right were the first for me for quite some time. Back at the Tern Pool the Martins were still active and a Common Buzzard drifted over towards the main gravel pit.
At Meadow Lane GP we confirmed the Little Grebe sighting from last week with 2 adults and a stripey headed juvenile present. Then we headed back into the park and along the north side of the New Meadow. Pretty quiet but enjoyable all the same.
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