Park Life

Mallard with rubber band around neck

Grey Wagtail

Wimbledon Park at lunchtime turned up the Grey Wagtail again in the stream and I assisted a RSPCA warden in trying to catch a duck which had some sort of band stuck around its neck. The trouble is when he turned up with his oversized net all the wildfowl scarpered - I'm not sure whether he was successful or not as I had to get back to work.

Mouthfull

Young Mouse

Following on from Purrgeot's rat catching exploits the other week, he ran in last night with a full mouth and a tail hanging out between his lips. We managed to catch him and prise his jaw apart to reveal a shocked and damp but uninjured young wood mouse. After a few pics we released him into the garden.

Rat Catcher

Dead Brown Rat

Purrgeot was reluctant to come in last night although we knew he was out in the dark messing about with something. Finally he came to the patio doors and we let him in - complete with a dead Brown Rat that he had caught (12 inches long from nose to tail). He dropped it in the sitting room and was obviously very pleased with himself. This was only the second record for the garden - both seen dead.

Chiffchaffing

As we move into October and the temperature gets colder I'm suprised to hear Chiffchaffs still singing in the garden. Wren and Robins also heard and a couple of Jackdaws flew over this morning.

Birds & Dragons

Here's some pics from the weekend of birds on the feeders and dragonflies visiting the pond.

Blue Tit

Coal & Blue Tits

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Southern Hawker

Male Common Darter (picture by Josh)

Weekend Highlights

Pett Pools, near Rye on the coast in East Sussex, viewed from the road, yielded 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, Avocet, 13 Dunlin and 10 Redshank. In the distance I could hear a Cetti's Warbler singing and I picked out 2 Willow/Chiffs in the bushes whilst a Sparrowhawk cruised through and a steady stream of Swallows passed over. On the sea wall I found a Wheatear amongst the many Meadow Pipits and a Whinchat showed briefly on the roadside scrub. On the beach there were many Oystercatchers, Curlews and Turnstones.

In the garden over the weekend 2 Coal Tits, 2 Blue Tits and Great Tit visited the feeders and flyover Canada Geese (heard not seen) were new for the garden list (number 43).

The pond attracted a Southern Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies and a small frog was found.

I'm noticing a lot of Jays around at the moment as I journey into work (saw 7 today) probably busy gathering and burying acorns. Also saw a Ring-necked Parakeet fly over the A3.

Lunchtime in Wimbledon Park was pretty quiet with the usual waterfowl on the lake and a few Tufted Duck and Great-crested Grebes. Whilst in the woods I rustled up a few Long-tailed Tits and that was about it. A possible Common Darter dragonfly was hunting around the trees.

At home in the garden there's some interesting fungi growing on the lawn - I'll have to get some pics.