Spring Has Sprung In NSL !

Date: 12th April - All Day

Location:  Newton Park Lake Circular

A inquisitive Goldfinch !

Observation:  Started the walk and was nice to see the Kingfisher back on the Brook, slightly further down stream than normal. On up to the Dog Walk, the Chiffchaff was present as always on the wire, along with a Buzzard through the forest possible with a catch. Lots of Hoverflies and Bee's up the Lane towards the Crossroads so got some nice macro shots! 

Tapered Hoverfly

A single Yellowhammer was present at the Pennyquick junction on the hedgerow, very unusual to see them that far along! Nothing much of note through the village or in the church, apart from a fly-over Kestrel and Buzzard, also a Green Woodpecker was heard. The Little Owl was present on Bottom Lake. We passed through Top Lake to check on our resident Mute Swans, the Male was busy feeding and the female is back on the nest, no eggs as of yet sadly, but hopefully they still have the chance to be successful this year.

 Lots of lambs running around the Lake on the far side, making a right noise, but the Grey Heron's didn't seem that bothered even when they were a few feet away! A surprise pair of Mallard, had 3 ducklings no more than 3 days old and no Teal present currently. 

We walked on up to Home Farm through the Uni grounds, lots of Skylark and a few Meadow Pipits, along with a single Yellowhammer, Buzzard and Kestrel all hunting for food. 

As we got to Home Farm, there was a Hen Pheasant sat in amongst the Manure heap, with Chaffinches feeding on the flies aswell. A group of 7-8 Yellowhammer flyovers whilst walking along 12 O'Clock Lane. 

We spotted a Rabbit feeding on the grass, along the Lane also, very rare to see a Rabbit in our area, normally have a few Hares but none about. 

Back onto the road for the last stretch and a pair of Pheasants (Male) were having a bit of a scrap on the hill, went to record it and the stopped (typically!). We had a close sighting of a Chiffchaff in the same place we seen one this time last year along with a Pied Flycatcher, but sadly no Flycatcher this year (yet!). A group of 3 Coal Tit, 3 Swallow and more Yellowhammer finished the walk for us!

Weather:  Cloudy, Some Wind, Warm

Other Species: 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Yellowhammer, 1 Blackcap, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Owl, Skylark, 

 Butteflies + Bee's: European Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Tapered Hoverfly, White-Tailed Bumblebee, Red-Tailed Bumblebee, Wasp

Thanks For Reading/Looking !