24/09/2021

First visit in a while this evening. The birds generally seemed a little agitated tonight but I couldn't identify a cause. There was quite a bit of gull movement overhead too.

A quiet evening for birds of prey, although I did (accidentally) disturb either a Sparrowhawk or a Kestrel on the way out. I wasn't able to ID which one it was because the light was fading and it went by quite quickly. No sign of the Hobby tonight.

Highlights:

1 x Greenfinch
5 x Goldfinch
1 x GSW
4 x Mistle Thrush
1 x Green Woodpecker

I did also run through the Park last Sunday (19th) and was able to spot 3(!) Grey Heron all together. One of them looked like it was a juvenile. I wasn't able to see much else because I leave my glasses at home when I run, but three herons are pretty unmistakable 😅. It's a patch record for me (and is quite notable when viewed against historic records).

18/09/2021

Another quick visit, but quite a productive one. I spent a little bit more time in the gardens, and was admittedly trying to find a Goldcrest. I was sure I could hear one, but couldn't see one, and with other background noise, didn't want to tick it. I was also definitely getting some weird looks for gazing up a tree 😂. There were 1-2 birds that got away in the gardens, as they were flushed back into undergrowth by passing members of the public.

I also managed to hit a new daily species record, finishing the day on 24.

Still very quiet from a bird of prey perspective, but that might be expected in the evening. I did hear the Hobby again which was reassuring. At first, it was so distant, I was doubting the ID against the symphony of Parakeets. A few minutes later, it was much closer and unmistakable. 

I also thought I heard a Little Owl on the border of ND1. I have heard it there before, but again I couldn't be 100% sure.

Highlights:

1 x GSW
1 x Green Woodpecker
1 x Moorhen
2 x Grey Heron
4 x Gull (fly-over, so unable to ID)
1 x Hobby
3 x Jay
46 x Carrion Crow (actually counted them)
1 x Chiffchaff
8 x LTT
10 x Mistle Thrush (went up in a flock with Starlings and Goldfinch, but also spotted in the gardens)
10 x Goldfinch
2 x Starling

Another good sunset over the Ewell area and Park.

Also spotted: a replica 2014 FIFA World Cup ball! (ND1 area if you are missing it):

17/09/2021

A brief visit tonight (late finishing work and the nights are drawing in quicker than I had realised). Notable observations were that the Green Woodpecker was very quiet again (heard only once), Mistle Thrush were back this evening, and there was no sign of any bird of prey, in particular, the Hobby (for the first time since I've been regularly watching the patch)

Plenty of Jackdaw on site - I estimate around 50 went over at one point.

Lots of vocal Robins on site tonight, and the Jays are continuing to increase in numbers too.

A very nice sunset again over the Ewell area too this evening.