Every week 2 members from the WVBS take a walk around Pensthorpe Natural Park and record every species that they have seen / heard and how many they have seen. This is submitted into our recorder, David Gibbons, and he collates all the data and sends it on to the County Recorder. 

Below are the results from the recent monitoring visits, including a short summary from members. 

                                                          ​Friday 2nd April

Back, at last after the latest lockdown, on a bitterly cold, slightly windy but dry day.
Despite this several summer visitors were on site although bird song was very
limited,
Species included c14 Swallow, 6 Chiffchaff, a single Blackcap and Cetti’s Warbler.
Geese included 45 Greylag, 38 Barnacle along with Canada & Egyptian Geese.
Moving to raptors, a single Marsh Harrier and Red Kite and 4 Buzzard were sighted.
A good selection of gulls with 360 Black-headed, 3 Mediterranean, with Herring,
Common, Lesser & Great Black-backed also present.
Waders included a single Ruff, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Avocet & 12 Oystercatcher.
A good selection of wildfowl with 112 Tufted Duck, 19 Gadwall, 14 Mallard,
also present were Shoveler, Shelduck & Teal.
Coot numbered 24 along with 4 Moorhen.
Finally, with the highlights, 2 Little Egret, a Tawny Owl and Green Woodpecker were
added to the records.
Many thanks to Kathy Blake & Ray Gribble.