A frozen lake was an unusual scene in these days of global warming.
A Cygnet was ploughing through the ice whilst being chased by Dad. Black Headed Gulls were reflecting while standing on ice. Perhaps driven by the snow and ice in the London area three Black Swans arrived and stayed for a few days at Princes Park not bothered by the Mute Swans.
Usual Hampden Park winter Tufted diving ducks in the park – two male and one female.
Several Woodpecker drumming and small birds flocking to search for food – Long Tail, Blue and Great Tit plus Robin and Dunnock happily came for food in Ham Shaw Wood. A small flock of Long Tail Tits near the inlet stream.
It's that time of year when the male Swan thinks it's time for the cygnets to go, so WRAS came to collect them before they were injured and took them to Princes Park where there is a non- breeding flock. Photographer and regular Swan feeder Margaret aided in the collection by feeding lettuce. For the first time ever one of the two cygnets then flew back to Hampden Park, presumably for more lettuce, and remained close to both adults including displaying and flying with them.
Herons started returning to the old nests on 19th January although male Egyptian Goose Ernie decided to chase one of them right out of the park!
A very wet month and the adult Swans decided to bath and eat worms in a very large puddle. Two Buzzards have been quite noticeable – one dark and one light.
The Annual RSPB Garden Bird Watch was carried out by the local RSPB Members group in the park who identified 33 different species notably 2 Goldcrest and 2 Firecrest, plus 21 Robins 😊
The park is really coming to life now with welcome signs of Spring – Catkins and Crocus plus in upper Willingdon Churchyard the usual Snowdrops. The tree cutters have left a Heart stump for next month.
