This page was updated on Saturday, 25-Feb-2023 10:37:34 GMT

WICK COUNTRY PARK WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS - February 15th 2023

We had a very nice sunny winters day for the walk on Wednesday 15th February 2023, but it felt more like a spring day and certainly some of the birds were active and singing as if it was spring. However, the most spectacular sight of the day were winter birds - a large flock of Redwings flying around and landing in the trees near the car parks. I counted at least 67 but there may have been as many as 80+ present. Also with the Redwings were their cousins, Fieldfare, with at least two birds in the flock. Both looked very good in the sun as did their British cousin, the Song Thrush, with one providing good views from the pavilion car park. The hedgerows were very active with Robins, Blue Tits, and Great Tits all feeding and singing, getting ready for the breeding season. At the lake we had a surprise - three Tufted Ducks, two males and a female. Very nice to see. The biggest surprise of the day however, was a female Blackcap, again from the pavilion car park. Presumably, a bird that had over-wintered in the UK and not a very early migrant. Also, worth noting were at least five Greenfinch in the park, including two singing males, again looking very good in the sun. Good news for this much declined species. Also, yet again from the pavilion car park, we saw two male Chaffinch, sadly, another much declined bird species in our area. A very good day in the park and full details of all we saw are below,

Our next walk will be on Wednesday 15th March 2023 - email reminders will be sent nearer the date to those who have registered with Martin Singleton, the walk organiser.

Remaining dates for 2023

  • March 15th
  • April 12th
  • May 17th
  • June 21st
  • July 19th
  • August 16th
  • September 13th
  • October 18th
  • November 15th
  • December 13th

Martin Singleton

Summary of sightings

Birds - 24 Species

Common Name Scientific Name Date Total Count Notes
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 15/02/2023 21 Mainly at the lake with a few flying around the park
Canada Goose Branta canadensis 15/02/2023 2 Just two at the lake
Carrion Crow Corvus corone 15/02/2023 3 Seen well in the trees behind the cleared pond and on the grass
Common Blackbird Turdus merula 15/02/2023 3 One in the field after the boardwalk and a pair near the bridge
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 15/02/2023 2 Two very nice males from the pavilion car park
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 15/02/2023 4 At the lake
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 15/02/2023 17 Estimated number around the park
Dunnock Prunella modularis 15/02/2023 3 Two in the pavilion garden and one behind the lake
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 15/02/2023 1 A female seen from the pavilion car park - good early record
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 15/02/2023 13 Very active today in the park
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 15/02/2023 2 Two from the car park
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 15/02/2023 1 At the lake
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 15/02/2023 5 Around the park
Eurasian Wren (British) Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus 15/02/2023 2 One heard from the boardwalk and one seen well opposite the teasel field
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 15/02/2023 2 One overhead and one from the pavilion car park
European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis 15/02/2023 1 Heard calling from the large mound
European Greenfinch Chloris chloris 15/02/2023 5 One singing from boardwalk, three in the hedges after the bridge and one from the pavilion car park. Excellent!
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus 15/02/2023 1 Usual bird gliding over the park
European Robin Erithacus rubecula 15/02/2023 16 Another bird very active today - singing and feeding all over the park
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 15/02/2023 2 At least two birds seen with the very large Redwing f lock, possibly more
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 15/02/2023 1 One seen overhead near the picnic area
Great Tit Parus major 15/02/2023 4 Two from the car park, one near the large mound and one from the pavilion car park
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 15/02/2023 3 One at the main gates and two more from the pavilion car park
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 15/02/2023 1 Just one flew past us near the bridge
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 15/02/2023 6 At the lake
Redwing Turdus iliacus 15/02/2023 67 Large flock in the trees near the car parks, giving us some good views
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 15/02/2023 2 One overhead behind the large mound and one from the pavilion car park
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 15/02/2023 3 Two males and a female at the lake - a good record for the park

Mammals - 1 Species


Common Name Scientific Name Date Total Count Notes
Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 15/02/2023 1 One seen in the first large oak before the second bridge