Stanley Park 7
I took my kit with me to work last night so that when I got off duty this morning, I could get straight over to Stanley Park.
It was lovely, the sunrise over the golf course was mesmerising, with swirling banks of mist low on the ground and up in the trees and a white frost on the fairway - my favourite time of day I think.
It was bloody cold though and this being Valentines day, it wasn't exactly, 'love is in the air', but more like the distinct whiff of Vics vapour rub
The park was absolutely buzzing with wildlife activity and I was instantly rewarded with a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker high above my head, searching for breakfast and dropping dead wood and leaf debris on my head.
Long-tailed tits put on a good show for me this morning and a small group followed me along one of the trails for a while, darting from branch to branch, deftly hanging in all directions, like performers of an avian cirque de soliel troupe. A few birds were only 4 feet from me in the lower branches
The resident Nuthatch was busy feeding, in competition with Great tits and Blue tits, at their regular feeding station. It's funny to think that 5 months ago Nuthatches were one of my bogey birds, but now I'm guaranteed a sighting everytime I visit the park
The star attraction this morning has to be a Stoat. I had stood by a small brook for about ½ an hour watching the Nuthatch and had literally just walked off. For some reason I turned around and saw it, running across the path and along the bank of the brook where I had just been standing. I retraced my steps and stood still for a while and it soon popped it's head up a couple of times. I managed a few ½ decent pics and was well chuffed - my first sighting of one
On the walk home there is an open field, used for fun fairs, gymkhana's and the like. In amongst the gulls I saw 4 Fieldfare and 3 Redwings.
My list for the 3 hours I was out this morning is:
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great tit
Blue tit
Long-tailed tit
Wren
Dunnock
Nuthatch
Woodpigeon
Feral pigeon
Robin
Song Thrush
Fieldfare
Redwing
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Shoveler duck
Tufted duck
Mallard
Moorhen
Coot
Canada Geese
Greylag Geese
Mute Swan
Black-headed gull
Herring gull
Grey Heron
Cormorant
STOAT!!
It was lovely, the sunrise over the golf course was mesmerising, with swirling banks of mist low on the ground and up in the trees and a white frost on the fairway - my favourite time of day I think.
It was bloody cold though and this being Valentines day, it wasn't exactly, 'love is in the air', but more like the distinct whiff of Vics vapour rub
The park was absolutely buzzing with wildlife activity and I was instantly rewarded with a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker high above my head, searching for breakfast and dropping dead wood and leaf debris on my head.
Long-tailed tits put on a good show for me this morning and a small group followed me along one of the trails for a while, darting from branch to branch, deftly hanging in all directions, like performers of an avian cirque de soliel troupe. A few birds were only 4 feet from me in the lower branches
The resident Nuthatch was busy feeding, in competition with Great tits and Blue tits, at their regular feeding station. It's funny to think that 5 months ago Nuthatches were one of my bogey birds, but now I'm guaranteed a sighting everytime I visit the park
The star attraction this morning has to be a Stoat. I had stood by a small brook for about ½ an hour watching the Nuthatch and had literally just walked off. For some reason I turned around and saw it, running across the path and along the bank of the brook where I had just been standing. I retraced my steps and stood still for a while and it soon popped it's head up a couple of times. I managed a few ½ decent pics and was well chuffed - my first sighting of one
On the walk home there is an open field, used for fun fairs, gymkhana's and the like. In amongst the gulls I saw 4 Fieldfare and 3 Redwings.
My list for the 3 hours I was out this morning is:
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great tit
Blue tit
Long-tailed tit
Wren
Dunnock
Nuthatch
Woodpigeon
Feral pigeon
Robin
Song Thrush
Fieldfare
Redwing
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Shoveler duck
Tufted duck
Mallard
Moorhen
Coot
Canada Geese
Greylag Geese
Mute Swan
Black-headed gull
Herring gull
Grey Heron
Cormorant
STOAT!!
Total Comments 3
Comments
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I love your misty image Alan, and the Stoat is a real stunner,well captured!
We saw one a few weeks ago at RSPB Conwy but it was far too quick for me! lol!
Nice to read of your morning in the park Alan!Posted 15-02-10 at 08:18 AM by Twitcheruth
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I felt as though I walked it with you, Alan! Delightful report and photo's! I also love your misty photo... it is also very apt for Valentines Day..the song 'Misty' came to mind!
A great species list and lovely that the Nuthatch is now not your bogey bird!Posted 15-02-10 at 12:51 PM by Little Sparrow
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Thanks Ruth & Judith.
The golf course is seperated from the park by a busy main road, and although it looks tranquil, cars were whizzing passed me when I took that pic!!Posted 15-02-10 at 03:54 PM by alanjns 
