Saturday 21st November

I have been extremely busy with 'Uni' work the past week so it was nice to get out in the Park again. The weather was cloudy first thing, however by mid-morning the sky began to brighten up, and the park was surprisingly busy with people.

Woodland Floor

7 Goldcrests were seen, a Nuthatch was noted along Laurel Walk, a Coal Tit was heard calling by the Old Walled Garden, 2 Bullfinch were in the scrub on the bank south of the River Len footpath between the two bridges, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, at least 31 Redwing passed through the park, 2 Jay were seen, a Pheasant called from the grassland by the Old Bothy, a Treecreeper was spotted amongst the tit flock in the Alder Carr by the footbridge along the River Len, several Siskin could be heard along the Len Valley, a Little Owl was sitting the old Oak in front of Mote House, and 4 Fieldfare was seen flying north.

A Little Grebe could be seen along the River Len from the footbridge, 2 Water Rails were in the marsh area, and a Grey Heron caused a commotion in the Alder wood Jackdaw colony along the River Len as it decided to perch right in the middle! Out on the Lake itself were at least 4 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 42 Canada Geese, 2 Pochard, and 3 Tufties. The gull flock consisted of at least 151 Black-headed Gulls, 43 Common Gulls – the most I have ever recorded at one time in the park – and 1 winter-plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull.

Black-headed Gull

Friday 30th October

6 people turned up for the Autumn in Mote Park walk, where we looked at the park's broadleaf trees and the fungi around them. Despite the birds being rather quiet, we did manage to see good movement of Redwing, some Siskin, Grey Heron, Shoveler, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, and Jay. Overall a great morning.

Thursday 29th October

Cappadocian Maple

The park was shrouded in mist during my early morning visit today. Despite this, lots of really good birds were seen. (Let’s hope I can locate them all again tomorrow for the walk!!)

A Treecreeper called from the largest Wellingtonia along Laurel Walk, 9 Goldcrests were noted, 2 Nuthatch called during the visit, 2 Pheasants called from the Len Valley, a flock of 18 Lesser Redpoll were feeding in a Silver Birch on the Golf Course, a total of 19 Siskin were seen throughout the visit, 2 Green Woodpeckers were heard, 3 Jays were seen busy collecting food, a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the Balsam Poplars by the marsh area, and a Ring-necked Parakeet - the second record this year - was seen flying around the Oaks on the edge of the Railway Line. A bit of visible migration watching on the Old Showground (top playing field) produced 6 Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylark, 5 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 4 Chaffinch, c15 Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, lots of Woodpigeon, and at least 24 Redwing.

A Grey Heron Cormorant were stood on one of the smaller islands of the Lake, a Cetti’s Warbler sang infrequently from a reedbed on the golf course side of the Lake, a Water Rail screeched from the marsh area, and 2 Grey Wagtails were seen – 1 by the Inlet, the other on the old boating ramps. Out on the Lake itself were at least 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 57 Canada Geese, 14 Shoveler, 1 drake Pochard, and 4 Tufties. The gull flock consisted of at least 126 Black-headed Gulls and 10 Common Gulls.

Drake Shoveler

Monday 26th October

It was another lovely autumnal morning today. The warm autumn sunlight showing off the seasonal colours at their best.

A Treecreeper called from the line of Oaks at the top of the Causeway, 8 Goldcrests were noted, at least 14 Jays were seen busy collecting food, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted through the Len Valley, 2 Meadow Pipits flew over, a flock of at least 22 Siskin were feeding in the Alders in the Len Valley and along the Causeway, 3 Redpoll flew over with a flock of Goldfinch towards the Golf Course, and 2 Redwing passed over.

Female Blackbird in Ivy

2 Grey Herons were on the edges of the Lake, a Water Rail was glimpsed as it flew between reedbeds close to the Inlet, and out on the Lake itself were at least 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Mute Swans, 42 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 9 Shoveler, and the drake Mandarin was relocated by the old Horse Chestnuts. There were at least 44 Black-headed Gulls and 9 Common Gulls also noted.

A Speckled Wood butterfly made an appearance by the old Walled Garden, and lots of fungi were found.

Verdigris Agaric

My year list for the park is now at 96, so 4 more species to find if I am to reach 100 - a total I have never achieved before. The problem is that I have already seen all the annual winter migrants and have missed out on annual spring and summer migrants such as Cuckoo, Nightingale and Sedge Warbler. Lets keep everything crossed that I can find the 4 species I need!!

Friday 23rd October

It was a beautiful autumn morning today. The vegetation was laced with cobwebs and dew, and the Sun set the rich autumn colours off brilliantly. The leaves appear to be falling quite quickly this year, let’s hope the rain that is forecast early next week doesn’t strip the trees before my walk next Friday.



The park was surprisingly quiet bird and people-wise. 3 Treecreeper were noted calling during the visit, 7 Goldcrests were noted, at least 8 Jay were seen, 5 Nuthatch were heard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers called, 3 Green Woodpeckers were also heard, a Coal Tit was seen taking seeds from the cones of the Noble Fir on Jenner’s Bank, 5 Skylark and 1 Meadow Pipit flew over, a flock of 5 Siskin were feeding in the Alders by the old boating ramps, and at least 28 Redwing passed over.

View from the Weir

(Looking at the mouth of the River Len and the marsh area which stretches through the Len Valley.)

A Grey Wagtail was seen flying over the Lake’s eastern section, 5 Cormorants were on the island next to the Weir, and 2 Grey Herons could be seen around the Lake. Out on the Lake itself were at least 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 37 Canada Geese, and 2 female Tufted Duck. There was also very few gulls than usual, with at least 34 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Common Gulls being noted.



The highlight of the walk was undoubtedly the superb autumn colours.

Red Oak

Ornamental Sycamore

I have updated my layout and have added an events column. This will advertise walks and conservation task days taking place in Mote Park plus any presentations about the Park. All are totally free unless I state anything different in the text.

Tuesday 20th October

With my morning lecture called off at ‘Uni’ this morning, I was able to make a visit to the park. It was grey and overcast throughout my visit.

A Treecreeper called along Laurel Walk, 4 Goldcrests were noted, at least 8 Jay were seen, 4 Nuthatch were heard, a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the Oaks by the Causeway, 5 Green Woodpeckers were seen, and at least 30 Redwing passed over.

Green Woodpecker

A Grey Wagtail was seen flying over the Lake’s eastern section, 4 Cormorants were on the island next to the Weir, and 3 Grey Herons could be seen. Out on the Lake most birds were on the eastern section (viewable from the Weir and Causeway). There were at least 6 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 45 Canada Geese, 16 Shoveler – the most I have ever recorded at one time - 3 Pochards, 4 Tufted Duck were present, and at least 43 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull were noted.

Sweet Chestnut

Also of note were huge shoals of fish in the water by the footbridge along the River Len and by the Weir.

Monday 12th October

I recieved a report yesterday evening that a Mandarin had been seen on the eastern section of the Lake that morning. Mandarins used to breed in the park but stopped in the mid-90s, and since then have been rare visitors which I have always missed. I remember as a child being shown them by my Grandad.

With Uni work taking up most of my time at the moment I managed to fit in a quick visit at first light this morning, walking Jenner's Bank, the River Len and the Lake's eastern edge. The Sun gave a beautiful warm glow over a crisp and lightly frosted Park.

Highlights included 4 Redwing - the first of the winter - and 4 Skylark flying over, several Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, a Treecreeper was singing by the old Carriage Bridge, 3 Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen, 3 Grey Herons were the Lake's golf course edge, and a Kingfisher was spotted by the Weir.

On the Lake was 1 Pochard, at least 7 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebes, 1 drake Shoveler, and as I walked by the 3 old Horse Chestnuts on the Lake's eastern edge, a dake MANDARIN swam out onto the Lake and headed across to the golf course side - fantastic!! The gull flock consisted of 30+ Black-headed Gulls and at least 9 Common Gulls.

Drake Mandarin

Also noted was an incredible amount of fungi growing from a pile of wood chipping and soil.