(English) Wildlife Watch – Jan 2022

Orange, ruffled fungi grow on a decaying log surrounded by green moss. The wood shows visible texture and grain, contrasting with the vibrant colours and organic shapes of the moss and mushrooms.
Turkey tail fungi (photo: Suzie Fraser)

25th January 2-3.30pm – With Caroline, Suzie, Max and Penny

Well its always a huge bonus when an ornithological expert turns up to your monthly wildlife watch!  Local residents Max and Penny saw the publicity for January’s walk on Facebook and decided to come along – and how glad we were that they did!  We spotted (and heard) more birds on our January watch than we ever have before – thank you Max and Penny!

 Llun agos o flodyn periwinkle porffor bywiog gyda phum petal, wedi'i amgylchynu gan ddail gwyrddlas, sgleiniog. Mae'r cefndir ychydig yn aneglur, gan amlygu'r blodyn fel y prif ffocws.

It was a grey cloudy day but as we walked around the Park we heard dunnock, blackbird, and saw celandine, wild strawberries, cheering green primrose leaves and the spiked lords & ladies coming up through the leaf litter.

 Llun agos o dri chynffon oen bach hirgul, pinc yn hongian o gangen denau, gyda chefndir aneglur o frigau noeth a lliwiau naturiol tawel, yn awgrymu dechrau'r gwanwyn neu ddiwedd y gaeaf.

Near the pond we heard / saw 2 moorhen, jay, pigeon and mute swan, mistle thrushes, long tailed tits, great tits and blue tits.  We noticed the pale yellow catkins, like tiny lambs tails – important early pollen for bees – on the hazel around the pond. 

 Mae clystyrau o fadarch oren-frown yn tyfu ar ac o amgylch boncyff coeden sy'n pydru, wedi'u hamgylchynu gan ddail sych, planhigion gwyrdd a brigau mewn lleoliad awyr agored naturiol.

More primroses along the ha-ha path and turkey tail fungi on a log pile there.   In the walled garden we heard song thrushes and a chaffinch, a very exciting turn up –a greenfinch in the apple trees!  You can ID a greenfinch by its distinctive green colours and its repeated ‘cheese’ call – find out more.   

Mae dail eiddew gwyrdd a choesynnau cochlyd-frown yn ymledu ar draws arwyneb carreg llwyd, garw, gan greu patrwm naturiol o ddail a gwead.

The greenfinch population has been decimated in recent years due to ‘trichomonosis’, a disease that prevents the birds from feeding properly – and they are now on the ‘red list’ of UK endangered birds.  Intensive farming has also diminished its food supply.  To help stop the decline of the greenfinch population – make sure you clean your birdfeeder regularly – find out more.

What will you see in the Park today?