Dont Forget Punch and Judy over Easter weekend
We now have float islands for the wildlife so they can breed away from the side of the lake were last year Yobs stole and smashed their eggs. Above a Moorhen try's one out for size normally there is rubbish in the lake so the wildlife can build a nest but they have the base for a nest but no rubbish etc to build one at the moment. Some straw was put on the island that can be used but Grebe cant walk so there is no way for them to get at it.
This week we now have two Grebes on the lake lets hope they have come to breed
Three Tufted ducks are now with us these are new and have not been seen in previous years so we hope they will stay
Two Greylag Gees are on the Island and look as if they want to breed so its been a buzzy week wildlife wise
The gardeners have been giving the shrubs some stick all over the park and having a good clean up and cutting back getting rid of a lot of dead stuff and making it tidy.
The tufted duck is a medium-sized diving duck, smaller than a mallard. It is black on the head, neck, breast and back and white on the sides. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In flight it shows an obvious white stripe across the back of the wing. It breeds in the UK across lowland areas of England, Scotland and Ireland, but less commonly in Wales, with most birds being residents. Numbers increase in the UK in winter because of birds moving to the UK from Iceland and northern Europe.
Aythya fuligula
Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)
Found across the UK at most times of year. Look in suitable habitat such as a local reservoir, gravel pit or lake.
All year round.
Molluscs, insects and some plants.
There was a male mid week and he brought his mate later in the week.
The starling are still being a problem and the footpath by the lake has been closes due to the mess. Its a loosing battle as it was cleaned Sunday but Monday it was bad again. Lets hope they soon move on as the smell is really bad.
These handsome diving ducks are a member of the sawbill family, so called because of their long, serrated bills, used for catching fish. A largely freshwater bird, the goosander first bred in the UK in 1871. It built up numbers in Scotland and then since 1970 it has spread across northern England into Wales, reaching south-west England. Its love of salmon and trout has brought it into conflict with fishermen. It is gregarious, forming into flocks of several thousand in some parts of Europe.
Mergus merganser
Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)
Upland rivers of N England, Scotland and Wales in summer. In winter they move to lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, occasionally to sheltered estuaries.
All year in breeding range, but only in winter across England south of the Humber.
Fish
The starlings are taking their toll on the park as you can see the tree is white with their droppings and they are ruining lots of plants not to mention the smell but there is little we can do about it with so many nesting
