© Worth Park Friends 2022
Our member Tom Howard-Jones wrote:
Monday 3rd May 2021 - 06:00 to 07:30
The Bank Holiday morning was sunny and windless if a little chilly at such an early
time. Ideal conditions for hearing the dawn chorus. On our own we were keeping
alive the tradition of a dawn chorus walk in early May. We hope it may be run again
next year with participants and an expert guide.
The
Blackbirds
and
Robins
were very loud. But the song that was always present
was that of the
Wrens
. For such a small bird they produce an impressive loud song.
They were unusually visible too. We even saw a pair carrying nesting material.
There was a singing male
Blackcap
in the formal gardens and another by the lake.
Many of the geese were grazing across the lawns before the dogs and walkers
arrived.
The pair of
Great Crested Grebes
were displaying. But their nest was occupied by a
Coot.
There were at least two families of
Coots
with young of different ages. One family
came from the large nest next to the island at the southern end of the lake.
We only saw one
Mallard
duckling. We hope the many others are still surviving.
A group of 10
Canada goslings
were foraging under the protection of two adults.
Unusually the
House Sparrows
were visible and confiding.
We saw
Chaffinches
,
Greenfinches
,
Nuthatches
and a
Long-tailed Tit
.
As we were leaving a
Great Spotted Woodpecker
was drumming and a
Song Thrush
was on a roof.
The Primroses and Bluebells were coming out with the rising sun.
A full list of birds seen is given in the
Bird Table
.
photo: Nuthatch by Ingrid Payne