A Warm Autumns Day

What a beautiful day and an opportunity to have a walk around Stanton Park. Lots to see so no long write up, but a few photos to show what was about.

The Pool with just the remaining adult Mute Swans.

Two Moorhens having a dispute.

Nothing unusual about this shot, but in the centre of the photo was a large bed of nettles, which for some unknown reason had about a dozen Hornets in amongst them! In the very background you can just make out Stanton House Hotel.

A Hornet on a nettle.

It seemed very interested in something!

A bit too close for comfort as I switched to macro and got a bit too close.

Happy with this shot. Not only is it nice and sharp, but its also flying away from me.

A pair of Ravens

That wedged tail very distinctive.

And here's a comparison, the Raven on the left and a Carrion Crow on the right, both photographed today.

One of 4 Buzzards over the park

This one was certainly not welcome by the Carrion Crows.

Here it looks like they've got their way.

As it quickly flew off

And did a tight turn before flying off.

A Red Kite also flew in.

A very graceful raptor

It almost comes to a hover, but just the camera freezing the moment. 

Brimstone butterfly, normally the first butterfly of Spring and now it appears to be the last butterfly of Autumn, however I did come across a Speckled Wood.

Ladybird or Harlequin!

And another!

Bird Species Recorded: Mute Swan, Mallard, 1 Red Kite, 4 Buzzard, Water Rail, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock,
Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Chaffinch, Siskin and Goldfinch.

Also: Speckled Wood, Brimstone, 12+ Hornets, Common Wasp, Drone Flies, 100+ House Flies, Dragonfly sp.

A Sunday Stroll

I've rather neglected my walks around Liden Lagoon of late, so with the sun just poking through the clouds it was off to the lagoon, to see what was about. As I parked up by Barnmoor Close, I could hear a few Siskins overhead, which was a good start. Down by the waters edge I was surprised to see several Gadwall. I've only ever seen a pair here before, so this was a pleasant surprise.

In the north-east corner of the Lagoon, just as you turn and head south there is a beautiful Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus. In previous years, this rose hasn't been all that brilliant. But this year its covered in berries.

A good crop of berries on the Guelder Rose.

One of the two Great Crested Grebes on the lagoon today.

My walk around the lagoon is always clockwise and as I headed towards the embankment alongside the A419, I could hear Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits calling as they moved through the tree line. A Chiffchaff called from the north island and the water around it was fairly busy with a lot of Coot. Obviously a good year for them. Also on the water, two Great Crested Grebes, quite a few Moorhens and a lot of Mallard.

In the foreground an adult Black-headed Gull, with two 1st winter birds behind.

A really pristine bird.

And off to join the other 100+ Black-headed Gulls on the water.

Between the islands there was a large group of Tufted Duck. In total there were 19 birds, with 5 ducks. However quite a few of the remaining 14 birds were in different stages of moult, suggesting that there were quite a few juveniles in amongst them. As I walked around towards the south island a few more Siskins called as they flew overhead. Once I reached the southern tip I was surprised to see the 12 Gadwall again. I hadn't seen them take off, but here were 7 drakes and 5 ducks. Very strange!

A pair of Gadwall

A drake Gadwall, the low light making this bird look a lot brownier than the drake below.

And another drake, this time a more natural grey.

A duck Gadwall, one of 10 on the water today.

Around by the overflow was a Grey Wagtail and my presence attracted 21 Canada Geese, which I guess thought I had food for them. On the water this side were 100+ Black-headed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls. And as I walked further round another 12 Canada Geese came into land.

It was a this point, about mid-way along the tarmac path, that I realised the 12 Gadwall to the north of the lagoon were still there. And a glance back showed me that indeed the 12 birds to the south were there also. 24 Gadwall now that's pretty impressive!

My walk to the southern tip had disturbed a juvenile Grey Heron, which took off and flew north. Another bird, an adult, was on the edge of the north island, but there was no sign of the juvenile.

An adult Grey Heron stalks the margins just off the bank of the north island.

By the seats the new resident Mute Swans were taking a rest and were joined by their 3 very well-grown offspring. A little further on I came across a small dead Hedgehog, possibly this years youngster. Not sure what the cause of death was, it was quite a distance from the road. It looked quite healthy, possibly killed by a Fox, who knows!

The sad sight of a young dead Hedgehog.

By the car the Siskins called again and in the Alders were at least 23 Goldfinches, with several juveniles in amongst them. And up in top of a taller tree there was a Grey Squirrel feeding on the seed of a Sycamore.

Goldfinch feeding on the seeds of the Alder.

And another takes a stab at the seeds

A Grey Squirrel bites into the seed of of a Sycamore.

Birds recorded: 2 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron (adult and juvenile), 5 Mute Swan (2 adults and 3 juvenile), 38 Canada Goose, 60+ Mallard, 24 Gadwall (2 parties - both had 7 drakes and 5 ducks), 19 Tufted Duck (14 drakes), 15+ Moorhen, 40+ Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Collared Dove, several Skylark (passed overhead), 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Redwing (passed overhead), 1 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Starling, 5 House Sparrow, 2 Siskin, 23 Goldfinch.

Other: 2 Grey Squirrel and a dead Hedgehog