New Tufted Duck in the Park

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.

Overview

Latin name

Aythya fuligula

Family

Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)

Where to see them

Found across the UK at most times of year. Look in suitable habitat such as a local reservoir, gravel pit or lake.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

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.

Goosander in the park

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.

Overview

Latin name

Mergus merganser

Family

Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)

Where to see them

Upland rivers of N England, Scotland and Wales in summer. In winter they move to lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, occasionally to sheltered estuaries.

When to see them

All year in breeding range, but only in winter across England south of the Humber.

What they eat

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

First Sign of Spring

Early signs spring is on its way as a periwinkle is in flower all ready and a few Crocus are just coming through. Wilde life is showing signs of mating early this year with lots of activity in the park. It been reported that the RSPCA have taken Fred the white goose away as he has not been seen for a while. He was reported as sick but I never saw that.

The islands and lake have been invaded by gulls they seem to be every where at the moment and can be a pest its the gull who stole lots of young ducks last year

Big Stink at the Queens Park

There have been problems at the park this week with the thousands of starlings making a mess and producing like a slurry that stinks. By the lake its been inchs deep and the smell is terrible the staff have cleaned it but its like fighting a loosing battle lets hope the starlings move on.

Spring seems to be coming early this year for the wildlife as the nuthatch has been seen in the park last year it wasnt seen until April.

The Grebe has also been back this happened last year were one came to test the water so to speak and then brought the mate to breed we need the floating nest going in early so they can nest in peace this year.

The mins of the last friends meeting is now here

Students

Queens Park and the Friends  met students last week following on from last year's work on developing Crewe Park as an educational resource. This involves students meeting in the park for an introductory visit and talk. To then be followed up by students working with a class of children from one of the local schools. The students will have devised science based activities to work on with the children in the park - appropriate to the age range of the children. This would then have the possibility of being followed up in the school early February. We are hoping that students will produce a scheme of work of which they will have delivered in part, and make contributions to the Crewe Park website.

A date for your diary.... local historian, Howard Curran is doing one of his enjoyable and interesting presentations on Queens Park 10th April, at Legends, £4 or concesssions £3.50 7.30pm - 10pm Tel: 01270 214077. Do come along and support it !!!

The friends meeting took place on Monday and we all watched the Starling give a massive display over the park

The Birds are coming

I took the enclosed photographs earlier this evening from Moreton Road in Crewe. Thousands of starlings were flocking and performing their aerial ballet overhead in readiness for roosting in the nearby Queens Park. I'd recommend taking an umbrella if your wanting to watch though, as otherwise you might get a different kind of eyeful! Jonathan White, Crewe

Other than the birds all thats to report is snow snow and snow I see they have ripped of some of the wood from the cafe

Like the rest of Crewe its been snow everywhere and it took some time for them to grit the paths but it was done in the end.

You may need to look at the picture below full screen by  clicking on it as its very wide

Snow

The clock is now back working at long last its no longer set to 12 o'clock.

The snow has come and the park is white over and kids playing in the snow. The Dog Wardens have been asked to come in to tackle the dog problem. People are just so ignorant we had 4 this week with dogs running about and when told they have to be on the lead we were ignored and these were older people.Its not safe for dogs to be off the lead with children and wildlife about. Its only a few steps to go to Tipkinder or the playing fields. The swans have been back this week but fred the goose has gone missing's. wigeon and woodpeckers have been reported as seen this week

Bins removed from the Lake

The gardeners this week swopped their spades for a boat and headed out on to the lake retrieving bins that had been thrown into the lake. There was at least 12 bins recovered and now they have had to chain them down to stop it happening again. 

The weather hasnt been very good this week as you can see the fog descended on some days so the park has been peaceful this week with only the hard regulars in the park

Dog Menace yet Again

Start of another year in the park Happy New year to all our readers

I had complaints about this women letting her dog loose in the park frightening people and chasing ducks. Stopped her and explained there is a bylaw that dogs must be on the lead and signs all over the park. her reply was it doesnt apply to her and go and catch some yobs instead. She seems to think being posh means she is above the law and she doesnt appear to care that she upsets commoners. It doesnt matter how nice the dog is some people dont like dogs and if you have small children you dont want them running near your children even if its friendly it can knock children over. even after being told she continues to let it off the lead. She is actual the second person who has said the law doesnt apply to them. If you see her tell her to get it on the lead if enough people tell her she may take notice. People only have to go a few feet to Tipkinder or the playing fields if they want to let dogs loose

You may notice when you enter the park that its 12 oclock as the clock has stopped and needs repairing even though it was restored a few months ago.

These stupid children walking on the outside of the big Broadwalk bridge this week and then doing the old Harry Worth (who remembers him) trick of standing on one foot and holding on with one hand. The problem is you cant shout in case you make them jump and they fall. But they are an accident waiting to happen