MONTHLY BIRD WALKS. ALL WALKS CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE In normal times....... the Friends run a fascinating series of two-hour bird-watching walks on the first Sunday of each month, except July to September (when breeding is over and leaf-cover makes bird spotting difficult), and January (when the walk switches to the second Sunday). Led by an experienced member of the local RSPB, the walks are FREE and begin at 10am from the Donnefield Avenue entrance to the Park. No need to book, just turn up and stay as long as you like! The pace is not too fast but comfortable shoes are a must and if you have binoculars, bring them with you.
There’s a wide variety of species to be seen in the Park, including a sizeable colony of Ring–necked Parakeets. These noisy and colourful imports from the Himalayan region of India have colonised areas of the park, particularly the Spinney and can now be seen throughout the Canons Park Estate. HERE IS THE REPORT FROM THE WALK IN March 2020 (Canons Park) 7 Black-headed Gull 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull Wood Pigeon - several Stock Dove - singing & at nest hole Ring-necked Parakeet - common Great Spotted Woodpecker - drumming Green Woodpecker - calling 3 Magpie Carrion Crows 2 Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit - singing Great Tit - singing 2 Coal Tit - singing Eurasian Nuthatch 3 singing / calling 1 Dunnock - briefly singing REDWING Only 1 (48 on 2 February 2020) 2 Mistle Thrush feeding in the open grass Robin - 3 singing Wren - 2 singing 2 Starling – calling near Donnerfield gate Chaffinch – singing. Male feeding under trees 2 Goldfinch Greenfinch trilling near Donnerfield gate (Bird species: 23. Total both sites: 35) Grey Squirrels Nuthatches very vocal.
(Private) Seven Acre Lake 4 Canada GeeseHerring Gull – 1 in flight Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 Common Gull 26 Black-headed Gull 2 Mallard - pair 2 Common Pochard - females 2 Little Grebe 1 Great Crested Grebe- adult 4 Cormorant 1 or 2 Grey Heron (not at old nest?) 3 Little Egret 3 Coot 2 Moorhen Wood Pigeon Ring-necked Parakeet -several Green Woodpecker - calling 2 Magpie Carrion Crow Robin - singing Coal Tit - singing Nuthatch - calling Goldfinch in flight (23 Bird species. Total both sites: 35) FOX THE BASIN LAKE, Canons Drive, HA8: Canada Geese, Black-headed Gulls, Mallards Moorhen