Breeding Bird Survey 2026.

 On Monday 26th April 2026 the Breeding Bird Survey Route was walked for the first time. A chilly but fine morning and the survey started at 9:15 AM. The Bird Song recognition app Merlin on an Android phone was used to  record and identify names of birds. The route taken is shown on the accompanying map. It is believed that most of the identifications were accurate and could be relied on but there were some which are open to doubt including Marsh tit, Common Redstart and Brambling. It is also thought that the Lesser Whitethroat identification may have been confused with an ordinary common Whitethroat which is much more likely.

Results. 

Section 1. Blackbird. Great Tit. Dunnock. Robin. Blackcap. Woodpigeon. Goldfinch. Wren. Ring- necked parakeet. Greenfinch. Great tit. Robin. Chiff chaff. Blue Tit.

Section 2. The boardwalk. Blue tit. Coal Tit. Ring- necked parakeet. Song thrush. Mistle thrush. Wren. Blackcap.  Nuthatch was recorded here calling strongly by another observer a couple of days ago.

Section 3.  Stock dove. Chiffchaff. Wood pigeon. Blackbird. Great tit. Robin. Ring- necked parakeet. Song thrush. Long tailed tit.  Jackdaw. Goldcrest? Wren. Blue Tit. Blackcap.

Section 4.  Lesser White throat? Magpie. Coal Tit. Green Woodpecker. Song Thrush. Robin. Great tit. Goldfinch. Magpie. Blue Tit. Blackcap. Wood pigeon. Mistle thrush. Wren. 

Section 5. Blue tit. Great tit. Chiff chaff. Robin. Jackdaw. Willow warbler. Brambling? Common Red start?

Section 6. Nuthatch. Goldcrest? Chiff chaff. Marsh tit? Blackcap. Great tit. Wren. Dunnock. Chaffinch. Long tailed Tit. Woodpigeon. Robin.

A second visit will be paid in the middle of May to pick up any late nesters and late migrant arrivals.

Myxomatosis reported on the park 7th March 2026.

 A Rabbit suffering from myxomatosis has been reported from the Park on the 7th of March. It was seen at the Newton Drive end of the Park. Details have been reported to East Herts and advice given to visitors through our Facebook group. A tour of the whole park today including the Spring Hall Field area has not found any more cases. There is a lot of rabbit evidence in terms of scrapes, droppings, paths and fur from fighting. 3 live rabbits were seen in healthy condition but thankfully nothing suffering from myxomatosis as yet.

Pleased to see that rabbit's appear to be using the burrows damaged by Bramble removal.

 There is evidence that rabbits are using the burrows that were originally within Bramble thickets, the evidence being droppings at the entrances.

First signs of life on the trees. 5th March 2026.

 The Elder budburst is one of the first signs that the Woodland Trust ask us to keep an eye open for and this Elder tree in the Maple belt is well advanced.

In spite of the fact that Dutch Elm disease still strikes this tree they nevertheless survive somehow and this one is on flower along the ditch from the main road.

Cowslips showing new leaves. Thurs 5 March 2026.

 I

t is too early for cowslips to be on bloom but the new leaves are pushing through.

Warm weather entices insects out.

 A lovely sunny afternoon with the temperature at 18 degrees centigrade. 7 Spot ladybirds out and about in some numbers and Bluebottles and Grey flesh flies sun basking fences and tree trunks.

Lichens on the Park as indicators of air quality.

 The following pictures show lichens growing on tree stumps or trunks. They are all nitrogen tolerant which means that they can grow where the levels of air pollution are quite high. This is to be expected because of the main road running along the West side of the park. The Yellowish one is Xanthoria, the one with black spots is Lecidella, the grey green crusty one is Flavoparmelia, the one with greenish spikes is Cladonia and the dusty grey one is Lepraria.