From my lockdown window – 30th April 2020

The weather of the last few days (rain, cloud, intermittent sunshine, strong winds) is having an obvious negative impact on wildlife observations from my lockdown window.

Today the species list was again a short one.

However, the weekly “clap for carers” event at 8:00 p.m. clearly disturbed a Woodpigeon roost since at least 100 birds suddenly appeared flying around when the clapping commenced.

Whilst there has not been much of note with regard to wildlife in recent days, today closed with a flaming sky and some lovely cloud patterns after "clap for carers".

I recorded the following species today (heard only records in italics):

Blackbird

Dunnock

Blue Tit

Woodpigeon

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Gull sp.

Photo: sunset over SS15 from lockdown window

Photo: sunset over SS15 from lockdown window

Photo: sunset over SS15 from lockdown window

💚🦆 🦉 🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Clap for our carers

Clap for our carers …. every Thursday at 8.00 p.m.

💚🦆 🦉 🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Visit to Gloucester Park – 30th April 2020

Date: 30th April 2020

Time: from 6:30 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny/cloudy, moderate wind, 7°C to 12°C

This was another early morning visit to Gloucester Park although not as remarkable as my last visit when the early morning light was just amazing.

However, it was another good visit for birds with 29 species recorded.

This included 2 additional species for my site list, increasing it to 34 species, one of which was also an addition to my UK 2020 year list.

The first of these 2 species was Common Whitethroat which takes my UK 2020 year list to 150. This is the sixth addition to my 2020 year list after restricting my birding to my 3 sites close to home. I initially heard a male Common Whitethroat singing from the trees close to the pond adjacent to the new development of flats and eventually managed to see it. Unfortunately, it was singing from high in the trees and the light was poor so I failed to get any photos.

The second species which I added to my site list was a Stock Dove sitting at the top of the tall trees between the main lake and the smaller lake. I did manage to get a photo of this bird.

I also saw Common Terns again on this visit. There were initially 3 flying around the main lake and on my return home via the north side of the lake there were 2 (presumably of the 3 that I had seen earlier) perched in trees on the island.

Other highlights included a singing male Blackcap with a further 4 heard but not seen, 1 singing Chiffchaff heard but not seen and 1 calling Green Woodpecker.

The 2 pairs of Greylag Geese with goslings were still present but I only saw 1 of the 2 pairs of Canada Geese with goslings.

I additionally saw 2 Grey Squirrels.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Starling
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Pied Wagtail
Green Woodpecker
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Common Tern
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Grey Squirrel

Here are some photos from my visit:

Photo: Stock Dove

Photo: Goldfinch

Photo: Long-tailed Tit

Photo: Long-tailed Tit

Photo: Long-tailed Tit

Photo: Long-tailed Tit

Photo: Magpie

Photo: Common Tern

Photo: Moorhens 

Photo: Moorhen

Photo: Moorhen

Photo: Moorhen

Photo: male Mallard

Photo: male Mallard

Photo: Greylag Geese and goslings

Photo: Greylag Goose

Photo: Canada Goose

Photo: Canada Geese

Photo: Canada Geese and goslings

Photo: Grey Squirrels

Site totals to date:

Birds = 34

Mammals = 2

Butterflies = 1

Dragonflies and damselflies = 0

Reptiles = 0

Amphibians = 0

💚🦆 🦉 🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

From my lockdown window – 29th April 2020

After the extremely disappointing (wet) day yesterday, the weather was a little better today at least for some of the day. However, the species list was again a short one.

I recorded the following species today (heard only records in italics):

Blackbird
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull

💚🦆 🦉 🌼 🌳💚

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature