Nuthatch moves in

A few Nuthatch's have moved in and are breeding in  the park this week. being small they are hard to see as they move about quickly and even harder to take photos of. They are the only British bird that walks down a tree forward.

Latin name

Sitta europaea

Family

Nuthatches (Sittidae)

Overview

The nuthatch is a plump bird about the size of a great tit that resembles a small woodpecker. It is blue-grey above and whitish below, with chestnut on its sides and under its tail. It has a black stripe on its head, a long black pointed bill, and short legs. It breeds in central and southern England and in Wales, and is resident, with birds seldom travelling far from the woods where they hatch.

Where to see them

Best looked for in mature woods and established parkland in central and southern England and Wales, on the sides of tree trunks and underside of branches. Occasional sightings in Scotland.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Insects, hazel nuts, acorns, beechmast and other nuts and seed.

 

They are still a fair few squirrels about this week enjoying the sunshine

All so seen this week the peacock butterfly

Peacocks hibernate through the winter and can be seen in the coldest winter months, although most individuals become active in late March and April. As well as being a harbinger of the coming spring, Peacock butterflies are interesting in many other ways. They are probably the longest-lived butterflies in Britain, with adults surviving from late July, well into the following spring, perhaps into June. Thus, contrary to popular belief that butterflies only live for a few days, some Peacocks may live to see their 11th month (albeit having spent five or six months of their adult lives asleep in hibernation).

The Peacock butterfly has fared well in recent years. Not only has it increased in distribution, pushing northwards in northern England and central Scotland, but populations have also increased significantly in size at sites monitored by butterfly transects. It is even emerging from hibernation earlier than it was 20 years ago. There is little shortage of food for the black, spiny Peacock caterpillars, which feed primarily on Common (stinging) Nettle, and it seems highly probable that the good fortunes of this butterfly are due to climate change.

Although a common visitor to garden buddleias, particularly in the autumn whilst building up fat reserves for hibernation, Peacocks are nomadic butterflies that range widely though the countryside. They often find their preferred breeding habitats (large nettle beds in sheltered but sunny situations) in the shelter of woodland clearings, rides and edges.

The Peacock's name comes directly from that of its avian namesake, thanks to the similarity between the eye patterns on the bird's tails and those on the butterfly's wings. As long ago as the late 1600s, the butterfly was called the Peacock's Eye. Even the scientific name of the butterfly is derived from a Greek myth involving a Peacock bird.

I was amused to see the coot out of the water as he seems to have grown massive feet like a clown

The main drive is at its spring best with the hyacinths out in full bloom this week

There is still life in the old daffs by the main drive along with the blossom on the trees

Big clean up at the Queens Park

The grebe have had us all guessing this week first there were two then four and at one point 5 grebes on the lake yesterday only two could be seen. They keep diving and bringing up weed. They can be nasty little things when a duck get in the way they charge with their very sharp pointed beaks like a torpedo

 

The moorhen is also send everyone off  the island so it look like its breading time for them

Surprisingly for this time of year there are a lot of lady birds about and as you can see so are the green fly's

Even the humble pigeon is out and about and very tame coming down for the bread and seed

There ahs been a lot of work done this week by all the bridges to stop the shear drops leading to them as tons of top soil has been used to make the bank safe. I think clay would have been better with a bit of top soil

The activity is partly due to the lottery visiting next week about a future grant to finish the paths etc. So lets hope we get it  but it will be to late for this year as the bid doesnt go in until June. Also this week the cafe has been broken into at night if you saw anything let the Police know

Spring is coming

The grebe is going mad and now we have 4 of them it started with one then two and I thought I was seeing things but there is now four of them. The grebe is what started the RSPB as they used to be killed for their plume for ladies hats etc and they were the first protected bird

We have seen a few Black headed Gulls coming this week

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Family

Gulls (Laridae)

Overview

Not really a black-headed bird, more chocolate-brown - in fact, for much of the year, it has a white head. It is most definitely not a 'seagull' and is found commonly almost anywhere inland. Black-headed gulls are sociable, quarrelsome, noisy birds, usually seen in small groups or flocks, often gathering into larger parties where there is plenty of food, or when they are roosting.

Where to see them

The commonest inland gull, particularly in N England, Scotland and Wales. Large colonies along the south and east coasts of England.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Worms, insects, fish and carrion.

 

Spring is here with colour coming to the Queens Park above in the woodland walk we have Mahonia (main bush front of picture) in in flower and Ribes in the background

All over the Periwinkle all over the site seen here under Broadwalk bridge

Periwinkle is a colour in the blue family. Its name is derived from the lesser periwinkle or myrtle herb (Vinca minor) which bears flowers of the same colour.

The colour Periwinkle is also called lavender blue

Forsythia; is also out here by the cafe towards the lake but again its all over the site then of coarse the daffs are out but not all of them as yet pansies and hyacinth are out in borders.  No doubt half the daffs will go missing for Mothers Day.

RESTORATION PROJECT
FRIENDS MEETING

Tuesday 20th March, 2012   5.30pm
At  the GAMES PAVILION (adj Bowling Green), Queens Park, Crewe

Agenda
1.    Apologies
2.    Minutes of Last Meeting
3.    Matters Arising
4.    Chairs Project Up-date
5.    Crewe Urban Vision – Objectives and Partnership Potential
by Deb Lindop

6.    Jubilee Crewe Celebrations
by Dawn Clark – Local Area Partnership
Sue Togay – Town Centres Manager

7.     Queens Park an Educational Venue
by Ben Wyre – Crewe Partnership Co-Ordinator
8.    Other Key Events
9.    Any Other Business
10.    Date of Next Meeting

Breading Pair of Grebes arrive

 

Spring isnt far away in the Queens Park a slots of blossom is on the trees as above highlighting the Boar War statue. The Daffs have started coming out but not a in full bloom yet. Given another week we will have a spectacular show

The Barnacle goose id still with us and as you can see its ringed. Interestingly they have never bread successfully in this country there was one that crossed with a Canadian goose at Tatton but the eggs were destroyed

Last week we had one Grebe but the second one has arrived and they are looking very romantic giving each other fish etc so lets hope the breed this time and the yobs dont get the eggs. It hard to see were they can breed as its on water and last year they used the hay balls but there isnt any left for them this time

Grebe and Barnacle goose return

All in one day this week the grebe returned. You may remember last year we had for the first time a breading pair who laid eggs but they were destroyed. So far we have only spotted the one grebe lets hope he bring his mate with him and hopefully bread this year.

The Barnacle goose also returned this week. It very strange as normally they only come in winter and no further south than Scotland. I think this one has got confused and now thinks he is a Canadian goose.

The wild life is picking up with the chaffinch seen below. There are lots of tits and finch currently in the park along with other birds. We say a strange site this week as a rook took a magpie out of the sky just like a bird of prey and he had it pinned down as his mate joined in luckily the magpie escaped

The chaffinch is the UK's second commonest breeding bird, and is arguably the most colourful of the UK's finches. Its patterned plumage helps it to blend in when feeding on the ground and it becomes most obvious when it flies, revealing a flash of white on the wings and white outer tail feathers. It does not feed openly on bird feeders - it prefers to hop about under the bird table or under the hedge. You'll usually hear chaffinches before you see them, with their loud song and varied calls.

Swans Return

The saga of the swans is like a soap  show this week the other two swans have returned so we are now back to three swans but who knows what happens next week?

There are signs of wildlife getting ready for spring and matting the Geese are splashing about and showing off a lot and other seem to be pairing up ready.

Up near the bandstand there are gangs of Magpies but they tend to stay in that area

Also in that area are robins and you can see the bush he is on showing new buds coming showing spring is on its way. There are snow drops crocus and daffs out as well.

The maintenance  area has had new gates put it this week

Killer Swan

Not a lot happening this week but we do have a killer swan on our hands. Witness reported the swan grabbed one of the geese by the neck and dragged it under the ice and the swan came back up but the goose didnt. So we now have one swan and one goose left. The gooses body was later recovered.

There has been some destruction of the lake walls as you can see above as kids tear off the bricks to throw into the lake. School hols are great arnt they.

 

The two white ducks are still with use and look as if they have had a bath as they are all nice and clean

Children In Danger

People in the Queens Park were horrified today as children played on the frozen lake. As you can see above they were walking right across the lake and one was a young child. The Police were called and they rushed to get them off the lake before they fell in. They than took their names and were going around to the parents to advise them of the dangers. This has been happening all week with people of all ages doing these stupid things like smashing the ice they are standing on with bricks bikes etc.

Parent warn your children of the dangers of open water not only of the park. If any had fell in they could be dead very quick if they slipped under the ice and low temperature could prove fatal. If anyone witness this stupid behaviour then call the Police before a child dies. They have been pulling stones off the wall and throwing them onto the ice as well. All the money spent cleaning the lake and its getting full of rubbish.

This leads on to another story this week that the final warden has now been given 6 weeks notice so it would appear that we will have no one protecting our 7m park soon.

Coronation Walk  has been cleaned this week by the gardeners and though not perfect its now a usable path at last.

I managed to find some more memorial plaques this week in the bench grave yard so we now have them all. There are some in the office I believe from seats that have gone so I will try and get those so these people can be remembered. If you have any info on the people on these please let us know

Remembrance plaques

There is not really anything happening in the park the lake has been frozen over and today the yobs have been throwing all the dustbins into the lake along with anything else they can find..

While it was nothing else was happening I took the opportunity of taking pictures of all the plaques on benches in the park. These of coarse were once someone's loved ones who wanted them remembered for ever but with vandals and old age they are being lost so now they are saved in another format.

If anyone has any info on any of the families on them please let us know as most are unknown. You may need to double click on the pictures to see them full screen to read them all.