Hello
Yesterday evening (Wednesday) saw the club's evening outdoor meeting to Kelmarsh Hall. Presumably there would have been a few more of us if England hadn't been playing Denmark in the Euro semi-final!
On arrival an adult Spotted Flycatcher was feeding at least one fledged youngster near to the overflow car park and the adult was still present when we finished the walk at about 8.45pm. British White Cattle were grazing in the adjacent field as we admired the flourishing plants and flowers within the Walled Garden. Red Kites and Song Thrushes were noisy in the distance. We took a look at the Swift Tower erected earlier this year and seconds later saw two Swifts gleaning the skies above - no interest in the tower yet but maybe one day...
We then walked through the mosaic of managed hedges and trees, a Yellow Wagtail shouted as it flew over, and we headed down towards the lake. Treecreeper was probably the best bird encountered. At the lake the female Gadwall was furtive (possibly her ducklings were in the reeds) and Coots and Mute Swans showed off their respective young. As we crossed the wooden causeway between the lakes, a Kingfisher flew towards us and cut across the grass - we heard and saw it a couple more times but glimpses only. A couple of Red Kites clattered out of the trees and a Grey Heron waded through the silted edges of the lake. Nuthatch was heard and one of a couple of singing Blackcaps flitted past us. A distant Common Buzzard was perched in a hedgerow tree overlooking the event field.
On our walk back up to the Hall and Orangery, a Common Newt stood in the middle of the path, initially unseen by the people heading our little group!
The weather looked moody but we stayed dry, the wind dropped and it was a very pleasant evening - and so concluded our first outdoor meeting for two years. Oh and England won the football!
Here's hoping that the BBQ planned for next month also attracts decent weather!
Regards
Neil McMahon
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| British White Cattle are managed on the Kelmarsh Estate. |
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| Cob Mute Swan on Kelmarsh Hall Lake. |
