Regent's Park 13th to 29th March 2020
The last 2 weeks have been very dry with winds changing from northerlies to south west, veering to the south east and then around to the north east. Migrant wise, the Stonechat passage ended once the wind changed. Chiffchaff numbers increased slowly with 12 being the highest, it has since declined to 5 singing males. Blackcap males have been heard singing but not forcefully. A male Reed Bunting arrived in area 5 on the 17th and was joined by a female on 23rd. There was a small movement of Linnets from mid month with the odd bird calling as it flew over, 7 on the 18th was the largest day count. The first Wheatear a female arrived on 19th staying until 21st, she was joined by a male for 1 day, the 20th. A Little Egret flew sw at 6.00am 23rd. The weather was sunny but with a chilly breeze for the last 7 days of the month. Days like this in March and October are days when you stand a chance of seeing a Rook. We had singles on 24th and 26th. On the 26th a Common Snipe was flushed from the Wetland Pen. There have been a handful of sightings of Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Peregrine.The Water Rail was still being seen over the last week.
Below is a pictorial of birds seen recently
Blackcap on feeder in garden
A rat was seen at the feeding station earlier in the month but not recently. Possible a victim of the local Fox.
The last 2 weeks have been very dry with winds changing from northerlies to south west, veering to the south east and then around to the north east. Migrant wise, the Stonechat passage ended once the wind changed. Chiffchaff numbers increased slowly with 12 being the highest, it has since declined to 5 singing males. Blackcap males have been heard singing but not forcefully. A male Reed Bunting arrived in area 5 on the 17th and was joined by a female on 23rd. There was a small movement of Linnets from mid month with the odd bird calling as it flew over, 7 on the 18th was the largest day count. The first Wheatear a female arrived on 19th staying until 21st, she was joined by a male for 1 day, the 20th. A Little Egret flew sw at 6.00am 23rd. The weather was sunny but with a chilly breeze for the last 7 days of the month. Days like this in March and October are days when you stand a chance of seeing a Rook. We had singles on 24th and 26th. On the 26th a Common Snipe was flushed from the Wetland Pen. There have been a handful of sightings of Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Peregrine.The Water Rail was still being seen over the last week.
Below is a pictorial of birds seen recently
Northern Wheatear female
Northern Wheatear male
Cetti's Warbler
Chiffchaff
Reed Bunting male in Rail Feeding Station
Reed Bunting female
Rook: not an easy bird to get on your Inner London List
Common Buzzard.
Little Owl: he has to put up with others looking for a hole to nest.
Kestrels are still present in area 32, where the male is bringing back locally sourced mice to get the female into tip top breeding condition.
The Water Rail is still present in area 2.
A rat was seen at the feeding station earlier in the month but not recently. Possible a victim of the local Fox.
This Mandarin was trying to pull the drake Mallards good lady.
An assortment of Mallard ducklings.
European Wigeon. This drake wintered here with a pair of Wigeon, They all flew off early in March but returned a few days later, before the pair then left him behind.
Great crested Grebe: at the time of writing this blog only the pair in area 13 have 4 eggs on the island facing York Bridge. The other 2 pairs are yet to lay.
Stock Doves in the park.
Stock Doves in my garden.
Great spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker
Mistle Thrush behind the female Northern Wheatear
Sparrowhawk female
Grey Heron
This Heron tried to take over this Crows nest.
Moorhen in my garden, one of three.
Jay
Blackbird fledgling
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
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