This page was updated on Tuesday, 31-Jan-2023 19:36:08 GMT

WICK COUNTRY PARK WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS - January 18th 2023

Our first walk of 2023 saw freezing temperatures, lots of ice and glorious winter sunshine! We also had a special guest, Helen Innes from the Essex Wildlife Trust, who came along to see what we get up to! The park looked great in the sun, and we soon caught up with one of our winter favourites, Redwing, with a fine-looking bird sitting in a tree near the picnic tables, this was the first of several we saw on the walk. Lots of birds were active in the hedgerows, with Blue Tits and Great Tits both feeding here, with a few Blackbirds flying around too. We were also greeted by the usual friendly Robins, who always look great against an icy background. A small flock of birds seen flying over the large field to the left of the bridge, were identified as the other winter thrush we see here - the Fieldfare. The lake was half covered in ice and was at the highest level we had ever seen it - at one stage the lake had over-flowed onto the path. A mini iced up lake had to be tackled here - as I always say, wellies recommended at this time of year. The highlight of the day for many of us, was a beautiful Fox, sunbathing on the bank of the recently cleared dipping pond - brilliant. At the end we were chatting in the pavilion car park and birds just kept appearing in front of us, a flock of Long Tailed Tit, a big flock of Fieldfare overhead - at least 50, and then a small flock of Lapwing. Having not seen Lapwing for virtually 3 years, we have now seen them on our last 2 visits! We also picked up a very nice Song Thrush here. Four thrush species seen in one day is always a good day. Full sighting details are below.

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

Remaining dates for 2023

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

Summary of sightings

Birds - 24 Species

Common Name

Scientific Name

Date

Total Count

Notes

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 18/01/2023 33 A couple flying around the park and a flock at the lake balancing on the ice
Carrion Crow Corvus corone 18/01/2023 5 Usual birds around the park
Common Blackbird Turdus merula 18/01/2023 7 Quite a few active birds today
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 18/01/2023 4 At the lake
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 18/01/2023 8 Around the park
Dunnock Prunella modulari 18/01/2023 2 One in the pavilion car park and one near the smaller pillbox
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 18/01/2023 15 Very active today all over the park
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 18/01/2023 3 Seen from the recently cleared dipping pond
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 18/01/2023 2 At the lake
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 18/01/2023 1 A fly past the pavilion car park
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 18/01/2023 5 Around the park
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 18/01/2023 3 Only a few today - nice view of a single bird at the lake
European Greenfinch Chloris chloris 18/01/2023 1 One seen from the pavilion car park
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus 18/01/2023 1 One flying over the large mound
European Robin Erithacus rubecula 18/01/2023 6 Several friendly birds in the park
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 18/01/2023 60 Small flock seen over the large field left of the bridge, then a big flock over the pavilion car park
Great Tit Parus major 18/01/2023 5 A few feeding near the picnic tables and one in the pavilion car park
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 18/01/2023 1 At least one heard near the main gates
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 18/01/2023 5 A nice little group seen from the pavilion car park
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 18/01/2023 2 At the lake - male and female
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 18/01/2023 9 A group flew overhead from the pavilion car park
Redwing Turdus iliacus 18/01/2023 15 Several dotted around the park and overhead
Rock Dove (Feral) Columba livia 'feral' 18/01/2023 2 Seen from the recently cleared dipping pond
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 18/01/2023 2 One near the smaller pillbox and one from the pavilion car park - both seen well

Mammals - 2 Species

Common Name

Scientific Name

Date

Total Count

Notes

Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 18/01/2023 3 A least three seen scurrying through the hedges
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes 18/01/2023 1 A fabulous specimen sunbathing on the banks of the recently cleared dipping pond