27/10/2008
2 Siskins near ponds with Goldfinches
1 Redwing over
2 Mistle Thrushes near ponds
4+ Green Woodpeckers (second no dogs area, around woods etc)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker near ponds
3 Nuthatch (1 woods, 1 gardens, 1 ponds)
c5 Goldcrest (gardens and woods)
1 Song Thrush (gardens)
6 Stock Doves
2 Coal Tit (1 gardens, 1 near 1st no dogs area)
19/10/2008
1 Little Owl (heard north of mansion house)
1 Grey Heron (over edge of Cheam park)
1 Pied Wagtail (Cheam Park)
c10 Redwings
1 Nuthatch
4 Green Woodpeckers
1 Song Thrush
1 Sparrowhawk (gardens)
2 Mistle Thrush
Showing posts with label Great Spotted Woodpecker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Spotted Woodpecker. Show all posts
Monday, 27 October 2008
Saturday, 27 September 2008
27/09/2008
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...
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, 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....
Friday, 29 August 2008
27th August 08
Today's highlights:
2 Hobbies, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5+ Stock Doves, 1 Moorhen, 40+ Jackdaws, 13+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 38 Magpies
The Hobbies were very good, at first I saw only one hawking around but on my way back there were 2 circling for quite a while, going for the passing Gulls, is one newly arrived or just been elusive, or it has been on the nest while the other has been hunting!?!? A possible breeding record here! I think that one of the birds must be last September's juvenile; less than a year on, back from Africa at the same site and possibly breeding! 1 Kestrel was c200m north of the mansion house near the mature trees and another was by the ponds. Green Woodpeckers were pretty spread out but 2 of them were at the second no dogs area which is adjacent to the southern most car park. The Stock Doves were spread out throughout the site, the Moorhen was by the ponds. The large group of Jackdaws were in the same area as the 1st Kestrel I mentioned and Ring-necked Parakeets and Magpies were obvious throughout.
2 Hobbies, 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5+ Stock Doves, 1 Moorhen, 40+ Jackdaws, 13+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 38 Magpies
The Hobbies were very good, at first I saw only one hawking around but on my way back there were 2 circling for quite a while, going for the passing Gulls, is one newly arrived or just been elusive, or it has been on the nest while the other has been hunting!?!? A possible breeding record here! I think that one of the birds must be last September's juvenile; less than a year on, back from Africa at the same site and possibly breeding! 1 Kestrel was c200m north of the mansion house near the mature trees and another was by the ponds. Green Woodpeckers were pretty spread out but 2 of them were at the second no dogs area which is adjacent to the southern most car park. The Stock Doves were spread out throughout the site, the Moorhen was by the ponds. The large group of Jackdaws were in the same area as the 1st Kestrel I mentioned and Ring-necked Parakeets and Magpies were obvious throughout.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
21/8/8
Highlights from today: 1 Hobby, 1+ Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 4 Stock Doves, c30 Ring-necked Parakeets, c9 Green Woodpeckers, 2+ Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Song Thrushes
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
19/8/08
Above: Green Woodpecker
Above: Black-headed Gull Nonsuch Park 1 unidentified large bird of prey north west over the gardens briefly at 2:18pm, 1 Little Owl near the mansion house, c4 Sparrowhawk (c3 woods bordering Nonsuch and Cheam Park, 1 gardens), c8 Green Woodpecker (gardens, no dogs/picnic areas 1 and 2), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (woods bordering Nonsuch and Cheam Park), 2 Stock Dove (1 Cheam Park, 1 gardens), 2 Jackdaw (Cheam Park), c20 Ring-necked Parakeets (all over), c19 Mistle Thrushes (near mansion house), 1 Goldcrest (gardens), 1 Kestrel (female) (main grassland area), 1 Nuthatch (gardens), 2 Swift (over Cheam Park)
Thursday, 31 July 2008
30/7/08
A brief eveing visit only around the northern end:
Sightings summary (bold=occasional/rare visitor to the park, others are resident/seasonal but in low numbers or simply interesting)
11 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Jackdaw, 5+ Goldcrest, 40+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Jay, 3+ Sparrowhawk including juveniles, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, 11 Black-headed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Greenfinch
Details:
Green Woodpeckers: 1 juvenile 1 adult female in the gardens. 2 juvenile and one adult near the conifers just north of the aviary others heard around the aviary and edges of the gardens and the woods bordering Cheam Park and Nonsuch Park.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1 heard in the woods bordering Nonsuch Park and Cheam Park.
Jackdaws: About 20 flew to roost in the woods bordering Nonsuch Park and Cheam Park.
Goldcrest: 5+ in conifers just north of the aviary with a flock of Tits.
Ring-necked Parakeets: Large numbers calling and flying around woods borderig Cheam Park and Nonsuch Park especially when disturbed by Sparrowhawk.
Jay: 1 Near aviary and one heard in the same area.
Sparrowhawk: 2+ heard (probably the juveniles) and one (not sure of age but male) circling above woods bordering Cheam Park and Nonsuch Park mobbed by Carrion Crows and disturbing Ring-necked Parakeets.
Long-tailed Tit: 5+ with tit flock in conifers just north of aviary
11 Black-headed Gull: Mainly on the open area over looked by the northern most car park.
3 Stock Dove: Flying around just north of the aviary.
1 Greenfinch: 1 in flight just north of the aviary.
Sightings summary (bold=occasional/rare visitor to the park, others are resident/seasonal but in low numbers or simply interesting)
11 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c20 Jackdaw, 5+ Goldcrest, 40+ Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Jay, 3+ Sparrowhawk including juveniles, 5+ Long-tailed Tit, 11 Black-headed Gull, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Greenfinch
Details:
Green Woodpeckers: 1 juvenile 1 adult female in the gardens. 2 juvenile and one adult near the conifers just north of the aviary others heard around the aviary and edges of the gardens and the woods bordering Cheam Park and Nonsuch Park.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1 heard in the woods bordering Nonsuch Park and Cheam Park.
Jackdaws: About 20 flew to roost in the woods bordering Nonsuch Park and Cheam Park.
Goldcrest: 5+ in conifers just north of the aviary with a flock of Tits.
Ring-necked Parakeets: Large numbers calling and flying around woods borderig Cheam Park and Nonsuch Park especially when disturbed by Sparrowhawk.
Jay: 1 Near aviary and one heard in the same area.
Sparrowhawk: 2+ heard (probably the juveniles) and one (not sure of age but male) circling above woods bordering Cheam Park and Nonsuch Park mobbed by Carrion Crows and disturbing Ring-necked Parakeets.
Long-tailed Tit: 5+ with tit flock in conifers just north of aviary
11 Black-headed Gull: Mainly on the open area over looked by the northern most car park.
3 Stock Dove: Flying around just north of the aviary.
1 Greenfinch: 1 in flight just north of the aviary.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
29/7/08
A good day at the park with the highlights summarised below and given more detail at the bottom (rare patch visitors in bold, others are regular/seasonal but in low numbers or in the case of Ring-necked Parakeet, interesting)
1 Hobby, 20+ Ring-necked Parakeet, c200 Black-headed Gull, 3 juvenile Sparrowhawk, 6 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Moorhen , 16+ Herring Gulls over
Further details on the above:
The Hobby was seen flying low over the conifers near the aviary. Could be last year's juvenile that is summering here as a young non-breeder?
The Sparrowhawks were very vocal and were chasing eachother around the woods that border Nonsuch Park and Cheam Park.
Green Woodpeckers were mainly heard but good views were had of one at the second no-dogs area (ND2) which is the enclosed area that the southern most car park overlooks. The usual female and juvenile were feeding the the gardens. I still haven't seen the male.
Ring-necked Parakeets are becoming increasingly vocal now that breeding is finished and their numbers are boosted by the juveniles that I have seen quite often. They are easy to spot with their shorter tails.
Black-headed Gulls were at their highest so far this season with at least 102 at the playing field at Cheam Park (more birds constantly dropping in). A single 2nd summer Lesser Black-backed Gull joined them. Numbers of Black-headed Gulls were seen flying over and there were about 50 more feeding at the second no-dogs area (again, numbers constantly increasing).
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the gardens and started climbing a conifer.
3 Mistle Thrushes were present around the gardens.
1 Stock Dove was seen in flight around the main grassland area.
1 Song Thrush was heard singing near the ponds.
1 tiny and downy Moorhen was seen at the ponds and an adult was heard (second brood?)
Finally, 16+ Herring Gulls were seen flying over the site.
Finches today included a single Goldfinch over the second no-dogs area, about 20 Greenfinch throughout the whole site, and about 10 Chaffinch around the gardens and aviary. They were all very vocal and obvious today.
1 Hobby, 20+ Ring-necked Parakeet, c200 Black-headed Gull, 3 juvenile Sparrowhawk, 6 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Moorhen , 16+ Herring Gulls over
Further details on the above:
The Hobby was seen flying low over the conifers near the aviary. Could be last year's juvenile that is summering here as a young non-breeder?
The Sparrowhawks were very vocal and were chasing eachother around the woods that border Nonsuch Park and Cheam Park.
Green Woodpeckers were mainly heard but good views were had of one at the second no-dogs area (ND2) which is the enclosed area that the southern most car park overlooks. The usual female and juvenile were feeding the the gardens. I still haven't seen the male.
Ring-necked Parakeets are becoming increasingly vocal now that breeding is finished and their numbers are boosted by the juveniles that I have seen quite often. They are easy to spot with their shorter tails.
Black-headed Gulls were at their highest so far this season with at least 102 at the playing field at Cheam Park (more birds constantly dropping in). A single 2nd summer Lesser Black-backed Gull joined them. Numbers of Black-headed Gulls were seen flying over and there were about 50 more feeding at the second no-dogs area (again, numbers constantly increasing).
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the gardens and started climbing a conifer.
3 Mistle Thrushes were present around the gardens.
1 Stock Dove was seen in flight around the main grassland area.
1 Song Thrush was heard singing near the ponds.
1 tiny and downy Moorhen was seen at the ponds and an adult was heard (second brood?)
Finally, 16+ Herring Gulls were seen flying over the site.
Finches today included a single Goldfinch over the second no-dogs area, about 20 Greenfinch throughout the whole site, and about 10 Chaffinch around the gardens and aviary. They were all very vocal and obvious today.
Monday, 28 July 2008
28/7/08
Just another quick evening trip around the top half of the park.
Near aviary c3 probable Common Crossbills briefly in flight and calling- couldn't locate afterwards (just need them to settle!)
And just around the top half of the park in general: 3 Green Woodpecker (no juveniles today), c20 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Jay
Near aviary c3 probable Common Crossbills briefly in flight and calling- couldn't locate afterwards (just need them to settle!)
And just around the top half of the park in general: 3 Green Woodpecker (no juveniles today), c20 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Jay
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