Date: 26th August 2025
Time: from 9:15 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 19°C to 21°C
I started my visit this morning with little expectation of a large species list or anything unusual.
However, it proved to be an exceptional visit with my first definite site record of Red Kite, a single bird which I saw from the northern section of the site flying slowly and distantly in a southerly direction.
I say “definite” because I did see a Red Kite from my flat in February 2024 (see here) which did appear to be heading in the direction of my St. Nicholas Church local patch site.
Unfortunately, I was only able to get a record photo of this morning’s Red Kite which I have heavily cropped.
If Red Kite wasn’t enough, I also saw a Common Buzzard (for my fifth successive visit to the site) and a female Sparrowhawk. The Common Buzzard was being continually harassed by a Carrion Crow and I was able to get a few photos. I only had an extremely brief view of the Sparrowhawk as it flew past over the pond at eye level and there was no chance of a photo!
Photo: Common Buzzard
Photo: Common Buzzard and Carrion Crow
The other highlights
during my visit were as follows:
Chiffchaff: 3 calling birds including 1 seen in bushes around the pond
Blackcap: 1 alarm calling bird unseen in the area near the pond
Green Woodpecker: 1 (possibly a juvenile) seen as it flew into trees next to the pond
There appeared to be an increase in bird activity, especially in respect of Blue Tits, Great Tits and Long-tailed Tits plus Jays who will doubtless be shortly be foraging for the abundant acorns.
After an exceptionally good spring and summer for butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, I only recorded Small White (c.5) and Gatekeeper (2) during this visit.
As I arrived at the pond, I had a very obscured view of a Reeves' Muntjac at the edge which obviously had a better view of me since it quickly bolted.
The abundance of autumn fruits and nuts, including blackberries, sloes, hips, haws, acorns and horse chestnut "conkers", is still very apparent.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Blackcap
Site totals for 2025 to
date (2024 totals in brackets):
Birds = 44 (49)
Birds = 69
Love nature .... act now
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