Robin ready for Xmas

There has been nothing happening in the park this week a few kids around due to the holidays but as the weather has been cold very few people about. So all we have this week is a squirrel who comes and eats out of your hand. The Robin was out and about and the picture look very Xmasy  just to remind us winter is near with the clocks going back this week its seems more like winter

Bridge repaired

The Main Broadwalk Bridge has now been repaired and fully open lets hope it stays that way.  The Friends AGM took place on Tuesday and the full details can be seen here

We have had some nice days recently considering its October with the last 3 Sundays being sunny. But Autumn is well and truly with use and the scenes change from day to day so we have a few pictures of the best Autumn trees at this time of year

Cormorant returns

The Cormorant has returned to do a spot of fishing this week and perched up high in the trees it does look a bit like a monster from a distance. Also back this week is the Mandarin duck in all its finery. 

The landscape changes daily as Autumn roles on with some nice colours to be seen here its a the tree by the Burma Island bridge

 

Friends of Queens Park
3rd AGM
Tuesday, 16th October 2012
West Lodge, 5.30pm

1 Chairman’s update for last year

2 Secretary's update over last year

3 Treasurer's report for last year

4 Fund Raisers report for last year

5 Fund Raising Position – nominations for position requested

6 Confirmation of Officers – Any changes called for?

 

The meeting will commence with a brief Lottery bid update
followed by AGM only – no other business

We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support

New Wildlife at the park

Some surprise visitor to the parks wild life this week first the had the cormorant pear this week its not a very good picture as you can see it was throwing it down.

A large and conspicuous waterbird, the cormorant has an almost primitive appearance with its long neck making it appear almost reptilian. It is often seen standing with its wings held out to dry. Regarded by some as black, sinister and greedy, cormorants are supreme fishers which can bring them into conflict with anglers and they have been persecuted in the past. The UK holds internationally important wintering numbers. It has been seen a few days fishing in the lake

The Abacot Ranger duck   was originally produced in the UK, was even described in Feathered World's 'Ducks' (1926) - and then disappeared from the UK record. Fortunately for this attractive breed, the Germans developed the 'silver wild-colour' to perfection and maintained the Abacot Ranger or Streicher as a popular breed on the continent until its re-discovery as a distinctive breed in the UK in the 1980s.The ducks are particularly attractive. They have a 'hood' of fawn-buff feathers  (hence the name 'hooded ranger') and a creamy white body beautifully streaked and marked with colour. Like their relatives - the Campbells and Harlequins - they are very good layers. These two appeared this week and are very tame and will eat out your hand.

Autumn roles on and the first tree by the lake is now dropping leaves like mad and other trees are changing colour fast so winter is on its way. Having said that Today Sunday has been lovely as the son was out and you didnt need a coat or a brolly 

The week the rain came down

All we have had this week is rain rain and more rain. On Monday the park was awash the main drain at the bottom of the lake was forcing the grid off as the water gushed out and that's some water flow

The stream in Coronation Walk was going at full belt and it was nice to see it flowing even if we had to get soaked to see it. There has only been a few idiots like me and other dog owners who have to take there dogs out in the park.

The idiots did manage to come to the park and vandalize things of coarse I wonder who it was that wrote all over the band stand any guess? Lewis and Dillion are now banned from the park.

Vandals Strike Again

The Herons have been on site again this week and one is perching in a tree. They often do that but its very rare for them to do it in the park.

We have been hit by vandals again this week when they ripped all the stones off the wall at the bottom of the lake and threw them all in the lake. They then smashed others further up and smashed the stones as well.

Lodge roof repaired

The lodge porch roof had to  be repaired this week after the original contractor went bust and the tiles started falling off as they had stuck them on instead of nailing them on nailing them.The wood has been made for the damaged bridge so that should be repaired in the near future.

An old picture of the lodge

Two Herons on the lake again most of the week with this young one wandering  about a lot not were they normally go

Baby Squirrel Stops work

A crazy time this week when the gardener called me over to help as a baby squirrel had gone inside his mower as he was cutting the grass. How he didnt get cut is a miracle as you can see above he was right inside.

We got him out and he sat on your hand and didnt want to move I had to keep and eye on him while the mowing was finished in case he went under again. Sadly a few days latter we found his body.

The flowers in the main drive are now at there best which is a shame as any time now they have to come up to put in winter bedding. Coronation walk has been tidied up this week as well

Ducks

There has been nothing happening in the park this week. We have had two Herron onsite most of the week one seems to be a baby one as he is landing close to people normally we only see them on the islands. Above he is by the lake at Tipkinder end

The strange duck above is on the lake he is a Mandarin Cross Mallard. Is head is Mandarin while his body is Mallard. Several other duck have been seen this week which havent been seen for a while the include split beak(he has a split beak as the name suggest). Leg puller he grabs the back of your legs if you dont feed him and whistler he makes a strange sound