NATURE NOTES

A walk in the Park, May 2020

It was in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic when our Secretary, Marie Singleton, and her husband, Martin (linked to the Wickford Wildlife Group) went for their permitted one hour of exercise around the Park. They came back with an account of some interesting wildlife sightings, as reproduced below.

"I thought you might like to know about our visit to the Wick C.P. today.

There are Canada Geese with chicks, we counted 5. The Mallards also have young, think there were 8 but they were at the far end of the lake & as I didn't have binoculars couldn't see too well. Also a Cuckoo has been heard, unfortunately we didn't hear it. That's nothing new for me, due to my poor hearing I struggle to hear a Cuckoo calling. Martin's hearing is fine and he didn't hear it. It's possible it was just resting and has moved on. We saw Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange Tip & several white butterflies.

The Pavilion Garden isn't looking too bad considering, but the weeds are starting to take over in a few places. It's a shame as Wick Weeders had made good progress. Who knows when we will be able to restart???

We saw a Blue Tit going in to one of the holes above the doors on the container, I imagine it was nesting. I'd never noticed those holes before today. There seem to be a few bees going in and out of the insect homes at the side of the container. Also, I could see some flowers on the green roof. So all good news.

As we walked past the area where the teasel has been planted to attract Skylarks we noticed the stakes that had been put in as markers had gone. I am looking forward to the day when Skylarks return...... fingers crossed.

On the downside there was a lot of bread floating about in the lake and people there feeding the Geese etc., with bread. [Bread is NOT good food for wildfowl, especially not for the chicks.]

Most people seemed to be adhering to social distancing too, although we came across a couple as we were leaving who didn't think it applied to them!!! There were a few young lads in cars playing very loud music and I'm sure one was using a cream charger (think that's the correct term) of Nitrous Oxide."

Incident at the Park (July 29th 2016)

A Canada Goose suffered great distress on the lake due to it becoming entangled in discarded fishing line. Unfortunately, attempts by the RSPCA and the Park Ranger to catch and 'rescue' the goose proved to be fruitless, and it has now flown away with most of the rest of the flock. The fear is that the line will cut into the bird's leg, leading to infections from which it is unlikely to recover.

ALL anglers are asked to take great care NOT to discard waste line, no matter how short it may be, because this type of incident is a very likely consequence of such action. If any person spots any discarded line please report it immediately to the Park Ranger, who is often on site in the Pavilion building, or who may otherwise be contacted on 01268 562921, and, if necessary, please leave an answerphone message.

The Park in November 2016

Our Chair, Nikki, has been busy with her camera around the Park, and has come back with some great pictures - please click here. If you have some nice pictures that you'd like to see on the website, why not send them through to the web-master? Please see the 'Contact Us' link to the left.

Wildlife sightings in the Park, June 2016

There have been three wildlife sightings in the Park during the past week that are enough justification alone for a visit, even in the unlikely event that nothing else there appeals to you!

Please click on the pictures below to be redirected to the RSPB's page about the bird highlighted.

	Now the Storage Container really has become a wildlife reserve! Please see our 'Grants and Projects' page for the background to this story. Apart from improving the look of the previously very ugly storage container, the main point of the project to clad it was to encourage the wildlife. All those little holes are there to provide homes for various insects, which in turn would provide a food source and hence attract birds. Well now, a very happy Park visitor has highlighted the fact that birds are nesting in the roof lining! See the Visitors' Log for the full comment. We are fairly certain that the birds in question are, indeed, bluetits.
	We have also had it confirmed that the Great Crested Grebes on the lake have successfully hatched a brood, and that the parents have been seen this week (early June 2016) swimming on the lake with the youngsters on their back! So sweet and cute!!!!
	We have a Cetti's warbler on site within the Park for the second year running. Mark, the Park Ranger, heard it for the first time this year on June 12th. This observation is locally noteworthy as this warbler is a recent colonist of the UK, and being here at the Wick is evidence of its continued spread into Britain.