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Ringo
New Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
 Posted - 07/25/2006 : 08:25:35
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Langley Park has a very wide variety of birdlife and I usually see something new or unusual during each visit. Latest sightings include a male Blackcap singing in Kings wood, a Nuthatch entering its nest in an Oak tree along the main drive, Egyptian Geese nesting in the old dead tree in the horses field by the top end of the lake (historic) and two Sparrowhawks either fighting or mating on the ground in the undergrowth by the car park.
Haven't seen any deer lately, never seen a live badger but have seen a couple of black rabbits hopping about. I know they are not birds but didn't want to start another thread!
Any other recent sightings of unusual wildlife?
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JOHN
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2006 : 14:30:06
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| Saw three Roe deer at about 8.30a.m.Sunday 25th June crossing the open sloping area between the heath by Temple Gardens, and the Arboretum. I have to admit that they seemed to be Roe deer in that they didn't have the dappled markings of Fallow deer, yet Fallow are more associated with deer parks. Does anyone know of a sure way to identify each species, particularly when they are leaping from one cover to another. |
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Ringo
New Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2006 : 16:26:06
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John, I think this is another one for Jodie, unless we have another deer expert in out midst. I can only identify a Muntjak (spellcheck) so can't help with your request! Sorry! Not even sure what Jethro is! |
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JOHN
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2006 : 05:49:53
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MUNTJAC. A species of deer first introduced into the UK at the Duke of Bedfords' estate in Woburn in about 1900 ad.They've since escaped and as they have no breeding season the females can conceive a few days after fawning. Consequently their numbers are still increasing. Doesn't this remind you of Parokeets, Grey Squirrels, Ring Neck Doves,Japaneese Knot-Grass,Himalayan Balsam, ad infinitum.
I must have a word with Nicole to see if she can find me a "Smiley" with an ANORAK. It would really suit me. |
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Nicole
Starting Member
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
 Posted - 07/26/2006 : 14:29:35
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You said it!!! still just kidding 
Friend of Langley Park |
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Ringo
New Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2006 : 14:48:45
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What school did you go to? I have never heard of the last three (grass, balsam and infinitum)
Do Canade Geese fall into the same category?
Anyway, back to the birds, it was fairly quiet today. I saw some baby Robins (no redbreast yet!) so the parents must have had a second brood which is quite late in the season. Also saw a couple of thrushes having a noisy squabble. Don't know why. There also seem to be lots of wrens about this year. |
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Ringo
New Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2006 : 08:59:47
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| Another bonus this morning. Along Redwood Drive I saw a mixed flock of tree creepers and goldcrests, including some babies flitting about in one of the Wellingtonias. Must remember my binoculars tomorrow. Whenever i bother to take them I never see anything exciting. |
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andymo
Starting Member
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2006 : 01:51:38
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The deer you saw would definitely have been Roe Deer John. Fallow Deer are around in Black Park occasionally seen at the far end (So Steve the Ranger told me a while ago). The most common around Langley Park are either Roe or Muntjac and Muntjac are quite small and has converging dark stripes on its forehead if you see one head on.
Interestingly the Roe and Red Deer are our only Native Species. Fallow were first introduced into this Country by the Romans.
quote:
Originally posted by JOHN
Saw three Roe deer at about 8.30a.m.Sunday 25th June crossing the open sloping area between the heath by Temple Gardens, and the Arboretum. I have to admit that they seemed to be Roe deer in that they didn't have the dappled markings of Fallow deer, yet Fallow are more associated with deer parks. Does anyone know of a sure way to identify each species, particularly when they are leaping from one cover to another.
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andymo
Starting Member
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2006 : 02:02:50
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This is from the andy half of andy&mo regarding bird sightings in Langley Park - during our recent visit to Stoke Common we met a very interesting chap called David (?) who was introduced to us as the "Bird Man". During our conversation he mentioned about a rare sighting of a bird in the park a couple of years ago that attracted hundreds of twitchers. I can't remember what this bird was and wonder if anyone can remember this sighting so we can add it to the list of interesting things about Langley Park. We should arrange a guided walk with someone.
quote:
Originally posted by Ringo
Another bonus this morning. Along Redwood Drive I saw a mixed flock of tree creepers and goldcrests, including some babies flitting about in one of the Wellingtonias. Must remember my binoculars tomorrow. Whenever i bother to take them I never see anything exciting.
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andymo
Starting Member
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2006 : 02:08:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Ringo
Another bonus this morning. Along Redwood Drive I saw a mixed flock of tree creepers and goldcrests, including some babies flitting about in one of the Wellingtonias. Must remember my binoculars tomorrow. Whenever i bother to take them I never see anything exciting.
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JOHN
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2006 : 09:13:35
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Yer Rite. Canada Geese as well. Brought over about 300 years ago to decorate the lakes in private parks. They fly too low, too slow and too erratic to be of interest to wild-fowlers. Didn't know any low slow birds in my youth!
Japaneese knot grass. Grows in the arboretum by the pond right nest to the bridge. Is a major invasive problem throughout most of southern England.The rangers want to get rid of it but it's too persistent. Perhaps they're waiting for the restoration.
Himalayan Balsam. Brought from Asia early/mid 1800's Tall plant with a red flower, looks a bit like a pea flower. grows along river banks and in damp valleys. Very pervasive but can't stand dry habitat.
Infinitum. Fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite'em
Little fleas have smaller fleas, and so AD INFINITUM. |
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andymo
Starting Member
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2006 : 11:02:12
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On the subject of Japanese Knotweed, as it is better known, is definitely a very invasive plant brought over to this country by the Victorians. If you have ever had to deal with bind weed in your garden, then Japanese Knotweed is 10 times worse worse. It can even be seen growing by the Rangers offices. Because Japanese Knotweed does not originate in the UK it does not compete fairly with our native plant species and is able to spread unchecked. Once established, Japanese Knotweed shades out our native plants by producing a dense canopy of leaves early in the growin season thus preventing other species below from growing. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act it is they say an offence to "plant or otherwise encourage" the growth of Japanese Knotweed and it is classed as "controlled waste" and cannot be just got rid of at the recycling centre. I have learnt all this through working for a Building Company who have all this information to hand from the Environment Agency, although it seems to me that the Environment Agency do not make this at all clear to the general public - it should be!
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Ringo
New Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2006 : 15:48:58
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I don't think I would recognise Japanese Knotwood if it wrapped itself around me. I will take a look on the internet.
What would happen if I unwittingly disposed of knotwood into the green waste bin at the local dump?
Anyway, bonus bird of the day was a baby Green Woodpecker who must have left the nest a little early. It couldn't fly and was crashing around the 'Vista' area making unsuccesful attempts to take off. It was as large as an adult bird and had the beginnings of a red head, a greeny black back and wings and pale underneath. Brilliant! |
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andymo
Starting Member
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2006 : 01:57:03
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Japanese Knotweed can form dense clumps of up to 3 metres in height. It has large, oval green leaves and a stem which is hollow and similar to bamboo often speckled red. New young shoots are fleshy red tinged. Next time you are in the Arboretum take a look by the pond and it is the large leaved plant growing around the bridge. There is some also growing by the Black Park Offices right up against the building by the visitor parking area, it is quite small here and surprising as it likes damp areas. Beneath the position of a clump of knotweed will exist an extensive underground root network that can extend seveal metres around and beneath depending on ground conditions. A fragment of root as small as 0.8 grams can grow to form a new plant. Although not toxic it offers a poor habitat for native insects, birds and mammals and shades out native plants because of its dense growth. It has spread through being dumped dropped or deposited. So any taken to the dump which then gets thrown into the landfill areas will start growing in this area. It is actually quite an architecturally attractive plant with its red speckled stems which is probably what hte Victorians saw in it when then introduced it. |
Edited by - andymo on 07/30/2006 01:57:48 |
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Ringo
New Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2006 : 17:06:08
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| I have seen, two days running, two or three birds of prey patrolling the vista and the top field, apparently feeding on insects in flight. At first I thought they were Sparrowhawks but now I am not so sure. They are small sleek hawks, dark in colour with a solid tail. They might be some type of harrier or similar. Any ideas? I will have to get my bird books out tomorrow to check. |
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andymo
Starting Member
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2006 : 12:23:41
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| Having checked my comprehensive birdbook I am pretty certain that this bird is a Hobby. They are a long-winged, fast flying falcon which for most of the year depend on a diet of large, flying insects, caught and consumed in flight. The insects they were catching were most probably dragonflies. Whilst they are rearing their young however they switch to a diet of small birds, which includes swallows, martins and even swifts, so they have to be pretty damp quick in flight to catch these. They are a summer visitor to Europe, but winter in Northern India and Southern Africa. In flight they have narrow, swept back wings and a long tail. I would say they are similar to the peregrine but much smaller in size. |
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Birds in the park
