Box End Park WeBS: 17/04/2011

New for the site this moring was an Egyptian Goose.

Buzzard 1
Canada Goose 4
Common Tern 11
Cormorant 1
Egyptian Goose 1
Great Crested Grebe 3
Little Ringed Plover 2
Mallard 29 (Groups of 7,5,4,7 and 3 ducklings.)
Mandarin Duck 2
Mute Swan 1 (On nest.)
Oystercatcher 2
Pied/White Wagtail 1
Skylark Present
Total number of species: 13 Individuals: 58

Also noted this morning were 5 Blackcaps, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Swallow. Lapwings were showing across the bypass and another passed over very high.

Box End Park WeBS: 13/03/2011

Surprised and delighted to see an Otter hunting at the south end of the lake when I arrived at the park this morning. The 2 Oystercatchers were present again this month but no Lapwings. I may have missed the Lapwings, if they are still roosting in the park, as it was already light when I arrived. A number of Lapwings were displaying on the other side of the bypass, where they nested last year, 2 made a fly over visit. Other flyover visitors were 2 Canada Geese and 5 Greylag Geese. The rest of the counts were as follows:

Black-headed Gull 10
Common Gull 1 (1st winter)
Cormorant 1
Great Crested Grebe 5
Green Sandpiper 1
Kingfisher 1
Mallard 28
Meadow Pipit Present
Moorhen 1
Mute Swan 2
Oystercatcher 2
Pied/White Wagtail 1
Pochard 5 (3 males and 2 females)
Skylark Present

Total number of species: 14 Individuals: 58

Box End Park WeBS: 13/02/2011

Blustery wind this morning with occasional drizzle. Highlights were the return of the Oystercatchers and the 2 female Pochard. The pair of Kestrels were displaying as they flew across the lake. Plenty of singing from the regulars including several Song Thrushes taking up positions around the park. Skylark and Reed Bunting have also joined the songsters. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming at the north end of the park, Green Woodpecker was heard. No Grey Heron this month which is quite unusual for the site.

Black-headed Gull 19
Coot 3
Cormorant 4
Kestrel 2
Lapwing 31
Mallard 67
Meadow Pipit 1
Moorhen 4
Mute Swan 2
Oystercatcher 2
Pied/White Wagtail 1
Pochard 2
Skylark 1

Total number of species: 13 Individuals: 139