I did the monthly bird count on the 11th on a cold day. There were large areas of ice around the edges of the lake and snow lying on the ground throughout the park. There was still much sign of wear and tear on the park in these lockdown times. There was still water lying in the low parts of Horse Close Wood.
In contrast with January, black-headed gulls were in low numbers, presumably having moved off to places without frozen soils. Carrion crows, an early breeder, were at their nests. There was a record count of crows, 135 birds being double any previous count. Perhaps this is related to "crow damage" that led the golf club to use explosive bird scarers in March, see next month's post. It could be that whatever grass chewing insect damaged turf on the golf course was responsible for this record count, the birds being attracted to the insect food at this lean time of year. Another early breeder, the Egyptian goose, was scattered around the park attending the big hollow trees where they nest. There was much drumming by a great-spotted woodpecker in Horse Close Wood and song thrushes singing in the southern part of the park. Woodpigeons were also in good numbers, so presumably still able to find food on the short grassland despite the snow. There were 20 redwings and a few blackbirds eating ivy fruit in Horse Close Wood. An important food at this lean time.
Hazels had catkins.
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