20th March 2020 was my monthly monitoring visit.
Following a mild, wet winter and early Spring, this visit came at the beginning of drier weather.
Wintering bird species had departed earlier than usual to breed in places further north and east: there were just 4 Black-headed gulls left in the park and no Herring, Lesser black-backed nor Common gulls, an earlier departure than normal. Canada goose numbers always decline between January and April as birds depart to breed elsewhere in this quarter of London. Few breed at the lake, but the count of 25 birds again suggests an earlier departure than usual. Greylag geese breed locally and the count of 55 is a record high for March, showing that this species continues to do well. Coot numbers were higher than average, still reflecting the recovery of waterweed, since lake water quality recovered in 2013. In contrast, Mute swans (the other waterweed specialist) are now back to numbers seen before 2013, one adult bird seems to have been lost, leaving just three adults, and all of last years young have been seen off by the residents to join a non-breeding flock elsewhere. The seven Pochards were the second highest count in the last 35 years, showing that the recent increas is being maintained. There were two pairs of Great-crested grebes, suggesting that there are still fish to be had in the lake. A Chiffchaff singing in Horse Close Wood might have been a migrant passing through to breed further north, but this species does breed in the wood. Resident species were singing: Great tits, Robins, Wrens and Song thrushes. Great-spotted woodpeckers were drumming in both Ashen Grove and Horse Close Woods and Green woodpeckers were yaffling on the golf course. Robin numbers have been in slow decline since 2010, so the count of 25 was a good sign. The early Spring flowers, Blackthorn and Sweet violet, were mainly going over and there were a few early Hawthorn and Cow Parsley flowers. Lesser Celandine and Ash were in full flower. New leaves were coming on Elm, and the very earliest on Oak. The leaves of Cuckoo Pint were prominant on the ground in Horse Close Wood and the flowers will come soon.
In these days of safe-distancing, it was disturbing to see the usual early morning exercise group near the veteran Oak in full numbers. Elsewhere, safe distancing was good, long may this last. There's no sign yet that the "Wildflower meadow" patches will be developed this year. These species are mainly annuals and the patches need to be rotovated before the seed is added.
Following a mild, wet winter and early Spring, this visit came at the beginning of drier weather.
Wintering bird species had departed earlier than usual to breed in places further north and east: there were just 4 Black-headed gulls left in the park and no Herring, Lesser black-backed nor Common gulls, an earlier departure than normal. Canada goose numbers always decline between January and April as birds depart to breed elsewhere in this quarter of London. Few breed at the lake, but the count of 25 birds again suggests an earlier departure than usual. Greylag geese breed locally and the count of 55 is a record high for March, showing that this species continues to do well. Coot numbers were higher than average, still reflecting the recovery of waterweed, since lake water quality recovered in 2013. In contrast, Mute swans (the other waterweed specialist) are now back to numbers seen before 2013, one adult bird seems to have been lost, leaving just three adults, and all of last years young have been seen off by the residents to join a non-breeding flock elsewhere. The seven Pochards were the second highest count in the last 35 years, showing that the recent increas is being maintained. There were two pairs of Great-crested grebes, suggesting that there are still fish to be had in the lake. A Chiffchaff singing in Horse Close Wood might have been a migrant passing through to breed further north, but this species does breed in the wood. Resident species were singing: Great tits, Robins, Wrens and Song thrushes. Great-spotted woodpeckers were drumming in both Ashen Grove and Horse Close Woods and Green woodpeckers were yaffling on the golf course. Robin numbers have been in slow decline since 2010, so the count of 25 was a good sign. The early Spring flowers, Blackthorn and Sweet violet, were mainly going over and there were a few early Hawthorn and Cow Parsley flowers. Lesser Celandine and Ash were in full flower. New leaves were coming on Elm, and the very earliest on Oak. The leaves of Cuckoo Pint were prominant on the ground in Horse Close Wood and the flowers will come soon.
In these days of safe-distancing, it was disturbing to see the usual early morning exercise group near the veteran Oak in full numbers. Elsewhere, safe distancing was good, long may this last. There's no sign yet that the "Wildflower meadow" patches will be developed this year. These species are mainly annuals and the patches need to be rotovated before the seed is added.
