GiG
Well-known member
Sedge Warbler is a good record for the site. Looking up flycatchers on the park - Spotted used to nest and Pied had been seen once on autumn passage between '83 and '89.
Gi
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Holywells Park, Ipswich, Suffolk (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter birderbill
- Start date
Sedge Warbler is a good record for the site. Looking up flycatchers on the park - Spotted used to nest and Pied had been seen once on autumn passage between '83 and '89.
Gi
birderbill
Well-known member
Sunday morning gave me two new ticks for the park- Swift and House Martin.
Got treated to some geat views of a female Sparrowhawk too which spent a lot of time fighting off the Carrion Crows! Had 9 Greater Black backed Gulls over the park too.
Stop Press!- Hobby over the park at lunchtime and then it or another one flew over my garden later on.
Got treated to some geat views of a female Sparrowhawk too which spent a lot of time fighting off the Carrion Crows! Had 9 Greater Black backed Gulls over the park too.
Stop Press!- Hobby over the park at lunchtime and then it or another one flew over my garden later on.
GiG
Well-known member
Another good record for the park.
I had the Hobby over the garden yesterday around the same time - I was taking some insect photos when I heard it call, charged inside to get my bins and fortunately it was still circling before heading west.
Gi
birderbill
Well-known member
Hi Gi,
Had a single Spotted Flycatcher in the park this morning at about 6am. Bird was feeding around the canal area by pond 6 and showing well. Went back this afternoon about 5pm but no sign!
Had 2 Turtle Doves as flyovers on Sunday, late afternoon. I think they had been in tree tops along the line of trees by the canal. They appeared to drop down again in tree tops at the Nacton road end of the park but no sign and no calls.
Have you managed to get any birding in around the park?
regards,
Bill.
Had a single Spotted Flycatcher in the park this morning at about 6am. Bird was feeding around the canal area by pond 6 and showing well. Went back this afternoon about 5pm but no sign!
Had 2 Turtle Doves as flyovers on Sunday, late afternoon. I think they had been in tree tops along the line of trees by the canal. They appeared to drop down again in tree tops at the Nacton road end of the park but no sign and no calls.
Have you managed to get any birding in around the park?
regards,
Bill.
GiG
Well-known member
Hi Bill,
Unfortunately I've been busy or away so haven't been in the park for a while. With your good finds I will hopefully have a look around this weekend. It would be great to have Spotted Flycatchers nesting in the park again.
Gi
birderbill
Well-known member
Gi,
Things have been generally quiet in the park this week. Highlight was a Kingfisher, on 26th flying along the canal and around the back of pond 6. Despite spending time here I've not seen or heard it again.
Did a double circuit this morning much to the joy of my labrador. Again quiet but a good count of Song Thrush (9) and a good number of young birds (Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Moorhen, Mallard and Blackcaps). Watched a male GS woodpecker feeding a young bird and then watched a Great Black- Backed Gull scoop up and rip a moorhen chick to pieces! Cruel thing nature...
Bill.
Things have been generally quiet in the park this week. Highlight was a Kingfisher, on 26th flying along the canal and around the back of pond 6. Despite spending time here I've not seen or heard it again.
Did a double circuit this morning much to the joy of my labrador. Again quiet but a good count of Song Thrush (9) and a good number of young birds (Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Moorhen, Mallard and Blackcaps). Watched a male GS woodpecker feeding a young bird and then watched a Great Black- Backed Gull scoop up and rip a moorhen chick to pieces! Cruel thing nature...
Bill.
birderbill
Well-known member
Holywells Park's Moorhens- it's a tough life.
A few days a go I was watching a family of moorhens (two adults and 3 chicks) around the edge of the moat area. The family party slowly moved from the moat out into the open grass area and began feeding on the rich grass meadow. Whilst this was happening I became aware of a Greater Black Backed Gull overhead. The gull did a couple of circuits of the meadow and then dropped into long grass near to where the moorhens had setled. Surprisngly, neither parent bird saw the gull and carried on feeding. After about a minute, and probably not believing it's luck, the gull literally burst out of the long grass and in an athletic, hop, skip and jump scooped up one on the moorhen chicks and took to the air. The remaining moorhens all ran for the moat edge and safety. After watching for a short while I moved off and carried on around the park eventually catching up with the gull again. A bloody streak on the gull's glistening white breast was the only sign of the encounter!
Later the same day I returned to the park to try and identify some of the damselflies and dragonflies on the park's canal and ponds. Whilst watching a black-tailed skimmer I became aware of a number of small fish close to the water surface and getting closer to the bank. A few seconds later the reason became clear when the back of a Pike broke the surface, rolled over and with a twist of it's tail powered away. Whilst following the Pike through the water I noticed a Moorhen chick on it's own in the middle of the pond and straight in front the pike. Just as I said to myself "watch out", the surface errupted and the Pike took the Moorhen off the surface and down into the water. With the moorhen in it's mouth the Pike broke the surface once again before disappearing back to the depths to enjoy it's meal!
A few days a go I was watching a family of moorhens (two adults and 3 chicks) around the edge of the moat area. The family party slowly moved from the moat out into the open grass area and began feeding on the rich grass meadow. Whilst this was happening I became aware of a Greater Black Backed Gull overhead. The gull did a couple of circuits of the meadow and then dropped into long grass near to where the moorhens had setled. Surprisngly, neither parent bird saw the gull and carried on feeding. After about a minute, and probably not believing it's luck, the gull literally burst out of the long grass and in an athletic, hop, skip and jump scooped up one on the moorhen chicks and took to the air. The remaining moorhens all ran for the moat edge and safety. After watching for a short while I moved off and carried on around the park eventually catching up with the gull again. A bloody streak on the gull's glistening white breast was the only sign of the encounter!
Later the same day I returned to the park to try and identify some of the damselflies and dragonflies on the park's canal and ponds. Whilst watching a black-tailed skimmer I became aware of a number of small fish close to the water surface and getting closer to the bank. A few seconds later the reason became clear when the back of a Pike broke the surface, rolled over and with a twist of it's tail powered away. Whilst following the Pike through the water I noticed a Moorhen chick on it's own in the middle of the pond and straight in front the pike. Just as I said to myself "watch out", the surface errupted and the Pike took the Moorhen off the surface and down into the water. With the moorhen in it's mouth the Pike broke the surface once again before disappearing back to the depths to enjoy it's meal!
