Saturday 23 February 2008

Nonsuch Park 23rd February 2008

I went with Phil to Nonsuch again today, and stayed for 2 hours 50 minutes in the afternoon. As with the other day, there were large numbers of Woodpigeons, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Ring-necked Parakeets, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds. Thrushes today included Mistle Thrush, Redwing (lots of these), Fieldfare (two on 2nd no dogs) and the previously mentioned Blackbirds. There was at least one Great-spotted Woodpecker around, Jackdaws were present and there were several Dunnocks. Starlings were seen flying overhead and Gulls seen overhead/on the short grass included Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls though there were no Commons today. A few Stock Doves were seen at the North-east end. Two Green Woodpeckers were present today, one of which of heard only, the other only being seen breifly near the 'young' pond. At least one Nuthatch was seen, one Goldcrest was seen near the 2nd no dogs area. Two Moorhens were a pleasant surprise at the ponds, but the bird of the day was undoubtedly the Grey Wagtail seen at the ponds, it was a female and showed very well, being a Nonsuch lifer for me and Phil (and a year bird for both of us too!). It wasn't just a super day because of this sighting though, we almost managed to equal my personal record for Nonsuch in one trip, getting 30 species today (my record is 31!). I don't know if this record is related but in Sutton today there was a Grey Wagtail too! Quite out of place and away from any water.
Another great day at the park.

Thursday 21 February 2008

20th February 2008

Another trip to Nonsuch today, starting at 12:25pm and ending at 3:17pm.
Other local news today, were two Blackcaps (male and female) at Belmont Heights just before I departed for Nonsuch and a very tame, wet Pied Wagtail was there for a while too. PEREGRINE FALCON at withheld local site click HERE for photo.
At Beddington there were 8 Black-headed Gulls on the short-grass field in front of the Cheam car park with a Common Gull. There were large numbers of Great Tits calling around the site, as well as a few Blue Tits and about 40 Ring-necked Parakeets were flying around. Carrion Crows were numerous and there were roughly 200 Woodpigeons seen. 5 Dunnocks were present, 4 of which were at the aviary stealing from the chicken feed. 6 Robins were present, most singing. At least 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers were present with 1 drumming. Large numbers of Greenfinches and Chaffinches were present around the site with one male Greenfinch performing a regular song-flight. Some small finches which may have been Siskins were feeding in the Alders at Cheam Park briefly, but views were very poor (silhouettes, very high up) and they may have been the Goldfinches which were seen around the area earlier. There were fairly large numbers of Blackbirds, Magpies were numerous and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull with 3 Common Gulls and about 100 Black-headed Gulls were present at Cheam Park. 4 Wrens were present as were several Long-tailed Tits. 8 Stock Doves were seen, a tame female Kestrel was giving excellent views on the main grassland area and a Jay was seen in the gardens, there were 2 Coal Tits there too. 1 Mistle Thrush drank from the dyke, a Grey Heron was seen in flight around the ponds and further on, at the west side there were loads of Redwings. An interesting sighting was 4 Mallards circling around the ponds. There were a couple of Jackdaws present and a Nuthatch was heard. All the while there were lots of overhead Herring Gulls.

I think that just about covered it, 29 species today, nearing the record for Nonsuch in a day.

Monday 18 February 2008

Nonsuch 18th February 2008

A standard day at Nonsuch, from 3pm to 5:20pm. I went round to the 1st no dogs area first. There was nothing of note there though Great Tits were singing all around me, they are very noticable at this time of year. There were Long-tailed and Blue Tits in the hedgerows too. In the woods a Mistle Thrush was singing in the canopy. There were about 50 Black-headed Gulls at Cheam Park with one bird which had pale primaries, leading me to think that it was a Mediterranean, though the bill and a single dark primary led away from this. There were about 100 Ring-necked Parakeets today with roughly 250 Woodpigeons. There was nothing of interest in the gardens other than a Great-spotted Woodpecker and there was a Mistle Thrush drinking at the Dyke. A Grey Heron was present at the ponds and 7 Fieldfares were hanging around (with a Great-spotted Woodpecker next to 6 of them). 2 Song Thrushes were singing today. A Green Woodpecker flew over the car park at 5:20pm. 26 species were seen in total.