I think I broke my day list record for Nonsuch Park today with 34 species seen or heard.
Some of these species were great patch birds. Species in bold are occasional visitors to the site, others are resident or seasonal but in low numbers.
Swallow (1 south 1st site record for me) Pied Wagtail (1 over near ponds, 3rd site record), Grey Heron (regular in winter but scarce in autumn), 24+ Jays (all over the place), 2 Green Woodpeckers (1 near ponds, 1 at north end), 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, (mainly around ponds), 3 Nuthatches (2 in gardens, 1 c500m north of ponds), 10+ Goldcrests (mainly around gardens), 1+ Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel (near ponds), 1 Sparrowhawk (over ponds), 1 Moorhen (ponds), c10 Jackdaws, 2+ Mistle Thrushes, 2 Stock Doves.
So, in summary, an awful lot of patch scarcities but no decent migrants despite 4 hours of almost non-stop thorough watching. I am surprised I didn't have another Buzzard or Peregrine as it looked pretty good for raptors with Gulls circling on thermals. No sign of the Hobbies today... perhaps they've left. I think they probably have as it was a clear, sunny day with a fair number of dragonflies and still no sign...
Saturday 27 September 2008
Saturday 20 September 2008
What a day: 20/09/2008
This has probably turned out to be the best day at Nonsuch Park this year, if not ever, with two much needed and very exciting Nonsuch lifers for me and a lot of other good local patch birds.
Here are the highlights:
1 COMMON BUZZARD, flying north over at 4:43pm. 1 female PEREGRINE from the north then drifted towards Sutton mobbed, by presumably one of the regular, Hobbies which went into full blown high speed dives at the Peregrine. The former two are Nonsuch lifers for me. I expect the Peregrine was the Sutton bird. I saw another Peregrine from the same viewpoint, at Cheam Park, about 3 miles away, attacking a Gull (to no avail). I don't know if this is the same bird or not.
Above: Peregrine
Above: Common Buzzard
Here are the highlights:
1 COMMON BUZZARD, flying north over at 4:43pm. 1 female PEREGRINE from the north then drifted towards Sutton mobbed, by presumably one of the regular, Hobbies which went into full blown high speed dives at the Peregrine. The former two are Nonsuch lifers for me. I expect the Peregrine was the Sutton bird. I saw another Peregrine from the same viewpoint, at Cheam Park, about 3 miles away, attacking a Gull (to no avail). I don't know if this is the same bird or not.
Above: Peregrine
Above: Common Buzzard Also present today: 2 Green Woodpeckers (1 heard at the gardens and one flying over the enclosed area, no dogs area, 2 by the southern most car park), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard in the gardens), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (with Black-headed Gulls at Cheam Park), 14 Jays (all over), 17+ Jackdaws (mainly around the gardens), 1 Nuthatch (heard at the gardens), 4 Stock Doves (2 over main grassland area and 2 in dead tree near mansion house) , 1 Chiffchaff (in hedge at second no dogs area which is the enclosed area by the southern most car park), 7 Mistle Thrushes (open short grass area overlooked by the Cheam end car park) and 1 Blackcap (heard alarm calling by the first dogs area, the enclosed area near the Cheam end car park).
Saturday 13 September 2008
13/09/2008
3 hours from around 2:30pm to 5:30pm gave me the following highlights at the park:
1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch, c8 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c3 Jackdaws, 1 Moorhen, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Ring-necked Parakeets.
Directions for anyone interested:
The Little Owl was in the thick young plantation adjacent to the gardens, near the mansion house.
The Kestrel was around the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house along the main concrete path.
The Sparrowhawk flew over the Cheam end car park and appeared to settle in the woods.
The Nuthatch was heard calling near the ponds.
The Green Woodpeckers were as follows: 2 near Cheam end car park, 2 at the first no dogs area near the aviary, 1 at the edge of the woods, 2 at the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house, 1 at the second no dogs area near the south car park. Though some of these could involve the same birds.
The Goldcrest was heard singing around the edge of the gardens from a conifer.
The Coal Tit was calling around the Cheam end car park
The Lesser Black-backed Gull stayed for 3 minutes (4:33pm-4:36pm) at ND2, my 8th record for the site.
The Jackdaws flew over the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house.
The Moorhen was heard amongst the Reeds at the ponds.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the area of scrub north of the ponds.
The Ring-necked Parakeets were all over the place.
1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch, c8 Green Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c3 Jackdaws, 1 Moorhen, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Ring-necked Parakeets.
Directions for anyone interested:
The Little Owl was in the thick young plantation adjacent to the gardens, near the mansion house.
The Kestrel was around the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house along the main concrete path.
The Sparrowhawk flew over the Cheam end car park and appeared to settle in the woods.
The Nuthatch was heard calling near the ponds.
The Green Woodpeckers were as follows: 2 near Cheam end car park, 2 at the first no dogs area near the aviary, 1 at the edge of the woods, 2 at the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house, 1 at the second no dogs area near the south car park. Though some of these could involve the same birds.
The Goldcrest was heard singing around the edge of the gardens from a conifer.
The Coal Tit was calling around the Cheam end car park
The Lesser Black-backed Gull stayed for 3 minutes (4:33pm-4:36pm) at ND2, my 8th record for the site.
The Jackdaws flew over the old oaks c200m north of the mansion house.
The Moorhen was heard amongst the Reeds at the ponds.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the area of scrub north of the ponds.
The Ring-necked Parakeets were all over the place.
Tuesday 2 September 2008
2nd September 08
2 Hobby around Mansion House 16:00hrs. Also 4 Stock Doves, c20 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Jays (3 near mansion house 2 in gardens), 1 Nuthatch (north of mansion house), 3 Mistle Thrush (around mansion house), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (near balancing ponds) and 1 Kestrel (north of mansion house), 1 Moorhen (ponds)
The Hobbies were briefer this time. First 1 was seen flying by the first no dogs area and landed in a tall tree in plain view in the woods then 2 were seen hunting around the gardens at 16:00hrs.
Still haven't found myself a Whinchat yet....
The Hobbies were briefer this time. First 1 was seen flying by the first no dogs area and landed in a tall tree in plain view in the woods then 2 were seen hunting around the gardens at 16:00hrs.
Still haven't found myself a Whinchat yet....
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