The swans have had us guessing this week. We had the new one arrive but this week one of the old pair went missing for 2 days but it has now come back so there are still the three on the lake. Maybe he had been for a day out.

Everyone's favourite duck the Mandarin is still with us and getting tamer all the time and fighting back against other duck who tend to pick on him

This week on Monday a new swan arrived at the Queens Park its unusual for a single swan to come but its turned up and stayed all week. The swans seem to get on ok we thought there may have been a fight but as you can see they swim together ok.

Its surprising how tame these swans and ducks are they come very close even when I have MAX my dog with me and dont seem to bother about dogs or people that is if the dogs are on the lead as they should be.

 

Being Xmas week there is little doing in the park this week but the Mandarin duck has come back again looking as good as ever

The Queens Park has been invaded by wildlife this week with what seems like hundreds of Canadian Geese there was so  many you couldnt see the grass in places for them a rough count suggest around 300 are in the park.

What has got everyone talking is the return of two swans that came back on Tuesday. They are very tame taking bread from peoples hands. Everyone is delighted to see them back again..

A Shovel duck made an appearance this week

Shovelers are surface feeing ducks with huge spatulate bills. Males have dark green heads, with white breasts and chestnut flanks. Females are mottled brown. In flight birds show patches of light blue and green on their wings. In the UK they breed in southern and eastern England, especially around the Ouse Washes, the Humber and the North Kent Marshes, and in much smaller numbers in Scotland and western parts of England. In winter, breeding birds move south, and are replaced by an influx of continental birds from further north. The UK is home to more than 20% of the NW European population, making it an Amber List species.

The Jay was seen out in pairs also this week but they are hard to spot as they move about quickly.

Wildlife this week

Its been a strange week with new wildlife coming this week and some old favourites' the rare Barnacle Goose   has been around all week.

The Heron has taken up residence on the Island and has been around all week again.

A new addition this week is Moor hens

Latin name

Gallinula chloropus

Family

Rails (Rallidae)

Overview

The moorhen is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird, that is usually found near water. From a distance it looks black with a ragged white line along its body. Up close it is olive-brown on the back and the head and underneath are blue-grey. It has a red bill with a yellow tip. It breeds in the UK in lowland areas, especially in central and eastern England. It is scarce in northern Scotland and the uplands of Wales and northern England. UK breeding birds are residents and seldom travel far.

Where to see them

There's a chance of seeing a moorhen anywhere where there is water - from a small ditch or a lake in a city centre park, to a big lake or reservoir.

There has been two the older one and the young one which doesnt have the coloured beak yet.

The bedraggled Mandarin Duck has come back he has not been around for a while(click on the image to see it better)

Stef Bennett sent this picture in of the Grebe and all so a small grebe has been seen fishing but no pictures yet.

Winter is coming and Blue Tits, Squirrels, rabbits have all been seen this week 

In the Queens Park this week we have had twtchers the cause of the excitement has been 

The Barnacle Goose

A rare site at this time of year this far south

Branta leucopsis

Family

Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)

Overview

A medium-sized, sociable goose, with black head, neck and breast with creamy-white face, which contrasts with the white belly, blue-grey barred back and black tail. It flies in packs and long lines, with a noisy chorus of barking or yapping sounds.

Where to see them

Largest numbers on the Solway Firth (England and Scotland) and on Islay, Scotland.

When to see them

October until March.

What they eat

Leaves, stems, roots and seeds.

Estimated numbers

UK breeding 1,000 birds (feral)
 

UK wintering 68,000 birds
 

Grebes(Podicipedidae)

We have a nesting pair with a few eggs visible in the nest.

Small to medium-sized water birds, characterised by their pointed bills (long and dagger-like in larger species), round bodies, tiny tails and legs set far back on the body.

The legs are flattened and the toes have broad, leaf-like lobes, so that the forward stroke underwater has minimum drag but the backward stroke can exert maximum pressure for forward movement. 

They are expert swimmers and divers but unable to walk on dry land. They build floating nests anchored to aquatic vegetation. Many other species are found almost worldwide

They have an elaborate courtship display in which they rise out of the water and shake their heads. Very young grebes often ride on their parents' backs.

Where to see them

Lowland lakes, gravel pits, reservoirs and rivers. Also found along coasts in winter.

When to see them

All year round

What they eat

Mainly fish

What they are after is our fish

We also have baby Coots nesting on the lake banks pinching all the straw from the lake. It was interesting to watch them dragging stuff from the lake to build the nest as other Coots has nested far out from the bank.

There are lots of other youngsters about and tame enough to eat out of your hand.

The only problem we have in the park is Kids kicking and chasing young wildlife. If you bring you child to the park teach them respect for wildlife and dont let them hurt young babies

We have had a Heron in the Queens Park this week doing some fishing

Also there are a few Robins about which you dont expect to see this time of year and they are very tame I got to within 3 feet of this one.

Its good to see the heron back in the park but it may be bad news for the fish.

There is also new babies for the geese  and those from a few weeks ago are getting bigger and bolder

 

The Coots also have some babies but they do look bedraggled and aren't coming in close like the others

Even the squirrels have been out and about again this week

March 2011

Spotted on the lake on Saturday this Coot. I am not sure exactly what type it is but its new to the park and if you look closely you can see its ringed on its leg. It doesn't appear to be a common bird in this area.

Latin name

Fulica atra

Family

Rails (Rallidae)

Overview

All-black and larger than its cousin, the moorhen, it has a distinctive white beak and 'shield' above the beak which earns it the title 'bald'. Its feet have distinctive lobed flaps of skin on the toes, which act instead of webs when swimming. It patters noisily over the water before taking off and can be very aggressive towards others.

Where to see them

Mainly on freshwater lakes, gravel pits, reservoirs, rivers and town park lakes when deep enough. Sometimes seen offshore, especially in winter if freshwater areas are frozen.

January 2011

Our favourite rare duck has been out and about all this week and I got a couple of shots of him