Black Park Country Park

An afternoon visit in sunny but cold conditions provided two new species for my year list, Woodcock and Tawny Owl. While walking in the vicinity of the heathland a single Woodcock was flushed by a park ranger who was busy cutting back the gorse. The bird flew a full circuit in front of me before disappearing into nearby woodland. Then while returning back through the woodland towards my car I was alerted to the agitated calls of Eurasian Jay and Common Magpie. As I neared the area in question a Tawny Owl appeared from the canopy and landed in front of me. I watched it for a few minutes before it took to the air and headed toward thicker cover. A full list of species observed as follows:-
Great Crested Grebe (2), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (1), Canada Goose (2), Egyptian Goose (2), Mandarin Duck (22), Mallard (39), Tufted Duck (15), Red Kite (2), Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (1), Common Moorhen (1), Eurasian Coot (34), Woodcock (1), Black-headed Gull (28), Common Gull (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Tawny Owl (1), Green Woodpecker (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch.

                                                            Mandarin Duck (male).

                                                           Mandarin Duck (female).

                                                                Egyptian Goose.