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A pair of reed buntings, (male and female), were seen on 11th April 2008 in the marsh at the end of the pond, where they used to nest years ago.
A kingfisher has been reported twice this year at the burn opposite the pond. The most recent sighting was on 16th April 2008.
The brambled undergrowth in the Figgate Park was scraped up into a heap on 19th April 2008. It was home to robins, wrens, blackbirds, rabbits and a pair of dunnocks. Last year summer migrant whitethroats used it and the undergrowth, (now scraped off and removed), on the opposite side of the pond. The timing could not have been worse.We have a duty to protect and encourage propogation of our dimminishing wild life.
First swallows of the year: - 1 on 24th April 2008 and 3 on 25th April 2008.
5th May 2008
Having found all of the birds to be ok at 8:30 this morning, I later found a mature dead swan in the pond at 2.00pm. I have informed all the necessary authorities. It is probably the resident male. The female is still on the nest and 4 of last years cygnets are still OK.
17th May 2008
The widowed swan produced EIGHT cygnets this morning. Mother and children look great ! It is 12 days since her mate was found dead.
18th May 2008
Swifts have arrived in the park, always last of the summer migrants. About 10 or 12 (they do not stay still for counting)
Monday 19th May 2008
We have a mallard family with 5 ducklings. One of the 8 cygnets was found dead on a path. One moorhen chick reported but not seen since. A wigeon (whistling duck) visited the pond briefly.
22nd May 2008
The two big ash trees, the only ones in the park on the banks of the burn at the Northfield entrance , are finally coming into leaf. They are also last to shed them before Winter sets in.
24th May 2008
A recent woodpecker nest hole has been found in an old willow near the pond.This is the great spotted woodpecker. Has anyone seen or heard it?
New Birds update
All ducklings (5) and cygnets (7) are OK. We have not any information of the cause of death of the father swan
Blue Tit Nest Box
We have a nesting box to put up about 15ft up a tree near St John's school. Can anyone help with this please ? Contact Us
7th June 2008
in late afternoon a swan was killed on the bank of the pond. It appears to have been savaged by a dog. This not the widowed mother swan with the remaining 6 cygnets who are all thriving. It is very likely one of last years brood. If anyone saw this incident or knows anything about it, would they please contact us.
19th June 2008
The cygnets are now four. From an initial brood of 8 hatched on 17th May the cygnets have gone one by one. The mother swan has difficulty keeping the family together in a group without the help of her mate.
A third mallard family appeared on 15th June. This time there are 10 ducklings. This is not an unusual number although the timing is rather late.
Look out for all the mallard drakes going into "eclipse dress". From now they will all lose their bright plumage and appear more like ducks. Their fresh colours will reappear in September. (This is cross-dressing in the animal world ! )
A moorhen,s eggshell found to-day may be from a hatching but no chicks seen yet.
2nd August 2008
Of Swans and Dogs
Tom Forsyth
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