Perfect Timing

A quick walk around the pool at Stanton Park was timed to perfection. We arrived as it finished raining and as we returned to the car, half-an-hour later, so another shower was starting up.

Our walk took us up the Main Drive from the car park, over the "x-roads" and down to the beehives, following the line of conifers to our right. From the hives it was through the gap in the hedge, a right turn with the dragonfly ponds on our left and then once back on the footpath it was left towards the pool. Unfortunately the dam path is still not open due to what looks like subsidence, so we followed the path down below the waterfall and around towards Stanton House Hotel, before making our way back to the car park.

Our route around the lake.

(Map courtesy of Google Earth)

As we left the car park and headed up the main drive, I had a quick look in the stream and there were still dozens of Sticklebacks, which I'd seen on my previous walk here. I'm still non the wiser as to whether they are three-spined or nine-spined Stickleback (AKA ten-spined).

Note:
In the UK there are three recognised species: the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and the nine-spined stickleback Pungitius pungitius can be found in freshwater, saltwater or brackish waters, whereas the fifteen-spined stickleback Spinachia spinachia is purely marine More Here

Further up the Main Drive and another quick look in the pools either side revealed only a Moorhen and a drake Mallard. There were no signs of either of the Terrapins. Too cold probably!

From the pools it was over the "X-Roads" and down to beehives that were also very quiet. Normally there would hundreds of bees about but there very few out. All that was about were a couple of Greenfinches wheezing away in the fruit trees.

Greenfinch

Even the dragonfly pools were quiet and though the sun came out, nothing was stirring! We made our way down to the dam, only to find that it is still closed off to the public, so it was down the dip in front of the waterfall and then back up the other side. Along here there were a couple of nest boxes with at least one with Blue Tit chicks chirping away inside.

Just beyond the dam we followed the path around towards Stanton House and on our left in the tall grasses there were several Jackdaws. Not sure what they were doing in there, but they seemed to be quite busy. Further around in sheep field below Stanton House there were half-a-dozen more, collecting food. It was at this point a Cuckoo called from across the lake, unfortunately it was heard and not seen.

One of several Jackdaws in the tall grasses

And this one was in the sheep field below Stanton House

Before we got back to the car park the resident Mute Swans were at the top end of the lake with 6 newly hatched cygnets. Strangely enough there was also one of lasts years juveniles by the feeding area. By the size and appearance I would say it is a pen and her father is being very tolerant in letting her stay on the pool. Whilst I was watching the cygnets bobbing about a Sedge Warbler called out in the reedbed next to them.

The 6 new additions to the resident pair of Mute Swans

Last years juvenile by the feeding station

Birds recorded: Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Cuckoo, 5 Swift, 2 Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.