Pittville Park, Cheltenham

[AlanR]

A few notes on my local patch, Pittville Park. It’s a public park, just a short walk from the centre of Cheltenham, but a great place for birds. It’s not so bad just for a rest or a walk or for walking the dog.

This is divided into sections because of the file attachments limit. This first section shows one view of the park where you can see the West Lake. This is the wilder area although the lake does allow fishing and have boats on it.

This lake has had a pair of Mute Swans for some years. This year the female died as a result of an accident with fishing wire. The male has continued to look after the cygnets and eight of them are now nearly fully grown. I think the authorities will try to introduce a new mate next year - and may try to move them to the safer East Lake.

Also shown are some Canada Geese. These are occasional visitors.

Alan

[AlanR]

You would expect ducks at a park like this and there are plenty of Mallards with the usual annual crop of chicks.

In the winter we sometimes also see Goosanders on the West Lake.
Alan

[AlanR]

The Mallards are joined in winter by a few Tufted Ducks and sometimes a Pochard or two (not shown).

For me the star of the waterfowl is the semi-permanent Muscovy Duck. She is nearly always visible somewhere around the East Lake but does occasionally fly off briefly in the morning to be fed elsewhere.
Alan

[AlanR]

To complete the waterfowl there are always Coots and Moorhens with young ones on the summer.

And we have a resident breeding pair of Great Grested Grebes nearly always visible on the West Lake.

Alan

[AlanR]

Gulls - these are pretty ubiquitous in Cheltenham. Depending on the season, Black-headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls can be seen. Apart from the Black-headed (often seen on the grassy areas) they stay well in the middle of the lake.

The more surprising sea bird seen here is the Cormorant - seen either perched high in a tree or sometimes on the lake.

Alan

[AlanR]

Pigeons are very common in Cheltenham - they are on its coat of arms - and the park has its own residents. They are very approachable for photographs, usually with the Mallards by the East Lake. We also have Wood Pigeons almost everywhere. I have seen Collared Doves at the park, but no pictures.

Sometimes a Green Woodpecker can be seen. I think a pair breed every year, and I have seen a young one both last year and this year.
Alan

[AlanR]

Crows and Magpies are always seen here. As always these are not easily approached for good pictures.
Alan

[AlanR]

Blackbirds are very common and quite visible. You can be a bit lucky and find a Song Thrush, particularly if you look under bushes and trees. I have also occasionally seen a Mistle Thrush.
Fieldfare and Redwing can be seen in winter on the larger grassy areas.
Alan

[AlanR]

Shown here are a Great Tit and two of the rarer birds. There is at least one Grey Wagtail living near the Western end of the lakes, and I have seen Treecreepers a few times.

Alan

[Just one picture of a Squirrel. There are lots of these, some of which will pose for pictures!]

[AlanR]

That's all the ones for which I could find pictures.

Also seen but not photographed - Swifts, House Martins, Starlings, Pied Wagtails (quite common), Dunnocks (always visible by the East Lake), Robins, Wrens, Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches and Goldcrests.

That’s 42 species that I’ve seen but I’ve probably missed a few. From what I see in my garden I would expect Buzzard, Kestrel and Jackdaw to show up occasionally.

Feel free to comment and let me know if I've missed any birds!
Alan

[AlanR]

... I should have included House Sparrow in my lists. There aren't many but some are visible in the hedges by adjacent housing.
So that makes 43 species.
Alan