Kestrel and other wildlife

We have seen new wildlife in the park this week like the kestrel up near the bandstand and the playing fields.

Latin name

Falco tinnunculus

Family

Falcons and allies (Falconidae)

Where to see them

Kestrels are found in a wide variety of habitats, from moor and heath, to farmland and urban areas. The only places they do not favour are dense forests, vast treeless wetlands and mountains. They are a familiar sight, hovering beside a motorway, or other main road. They can often be seen perched on a high tree branch, or on a telephone post or wire, on the look out for prey.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Small mammals and birds

The Greylag goose was seen for an odd day he did that last year popped in for a short while

Latin name

Anser anser

Family

Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)

Where to see them

Greylag geese are easily seen in lowland areas of the UK all year, sometimes even in suburban parks with lakes but especially on low-lying grassy fields in river valleys. Wild ones, however, are found mostly north of the Solway and can be seen at RSPB nature reserves such as Mersehead (Dumfries & Galloway), Vane Farm (Fife) and Loch of Strathbeg (Grampian) from September to April. Wild breeding greylags can be found at Forsinard (Caithnes & Sutherland).

When to see them

All year round in the south; mostly September to March or April where wild visitors appear in the north.

What they eat

Grass, roots, cereal leaves and spilled grain

A young female Wagtail with a yellow head was very tame around the lake

This is a winter scene at the park with a frozen lake and note all the rubbish thrown on the ice. Over the last couple of weeks we have had more bins in the lake than we have had on land