October 2023

In the bird count on the 19th there were still 19 Great-crested Grebes enjoying the fish fingerlings in the lake and these had been joined by 13 Cormorants and 6 Grey Herons. So there seemed to be plenty of fish to feed upon. The unprecedentally high count of herons suggests that there is an established heronry on the island. There were 50 Feral Pigeons on the grass seed on the repairs to the Great Field. The 10 Pied Wagtails there, however, reflected the usual autumn influx.

September 2023

The bird count on the 29th confirmed the great number of Great-crested Grebes, reported by Tony. Some 25 birds were the product of a successful nesting season. Tony also reported the loss of the adult Mute Swan pen, leaving the cygnets accompanied by just the old cob. Whilst this may have been from bird 'flu, there's no confirmation of that. Doubtless the old cob will find a new mate for next year. The "mating for life" label applies to pairs where both survive.

The flow of the brook has been diverted down the old pipes, both that underground between the stilling pond and the toilet block and that by-passing the cafe. This has stopped too much extra erosion of the sides of the new course past the new bridge and diverted the flow away from the clogged grilles near the beach volleyball. So, the design faults of the brook works are still not overcome. The lack of a grille on the entrance of the old pipe by the stilling pool risks blocking the drainage from Home Park Road and the clogging downstream results in the brook flowing over the landscaping by the beach volleyball when there is a rainfall event. And none of this is anywhere near to the design flood for the works. An unusually large rainfall event will flood the area around the cafe.

A youngsters' den in Horse Close Wood had much debris, including now an M&S trolly.

August 2023

The Little Egret was still at the lake on 28th, when I did the bird count. There was also a lone Gadwall here.

The clean and tidy brigade had cleared the self-established plants below the Leylandii hedge around the athletics stadium, so taking away species that would provide a replacement once the conifers are removed and leaving the gaunt lower parts of the Leylandii in full view of those using the paths. At the same time the "wildflower" plots around the eastern sides of the Great Field were rich in perennial native plants: docks, thistles, Mugwort, Wild Carrot, Bristly Ox-tongue and Red Clover. These species flower somewhat earlier than the tall, exotic annuals that comprise the seed mix and compete with them to deplete their display. Whilst this might reflect a poor seed mix, I think it's just natural ecology. It would be interesting to rotovate new plots to see if a newly rotovated area allows the exotics to do better. In contrast with this, the northern mound by the Revelstoke Road car park was looking much as it should, with a good variety of exotics (and a few natives) beginning to flower well. The untidy flower plots around the Hornbeam whips beside the perimeter path were showing some of the seeds from the "meadow mix" there, in fact native cornfield annuals: Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Corn Chamomile, Corncockle, Poppy, and the odd one out: Verbena bonariensis. The Railway Poplars north of the Revelstoke Road car park were being trimmed, as is necessary to keep them safe. There were few native wildflowers showing. The ubiquitous Black Horehound was in flower, as were seveal other species in the veteran oak enclosure.

The gates of the park were opened at 06:50, allowing much recreational activity before the working day began. A welcome move.

July 2023

The extensive damage to the grass of the Great Field must have some benefit. Indeed, there were 50 Feral Pigeons there when I did the monthly bird count on the 16th, enjoying the nutritious grass seeds. Five Common Terns, a Cormorant, three Grey Herons and a Little Egret were fishing at the lake, so clearly there's something to be got there. A Reed Warbler was singing in the reedbeds close to the southern end of the Athletics Stadium.

Viewing the golf course through the hedgerows on the boundary of the public park showed a good variety of grasses in flower and a few weeds on disturbed patches, including Ragwort.

The long grass triangle by the steps at the SW corner of the tennis courts had been mown. This allowed the Cuckoo-flowers to set seed but was premature for the Germander Speedwell. It would be good were the mowing regime of the long grass in the park to follow a meadow manageent regime. That would allow the wildflowers to increase naturally.