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Sightings
Here you will find statistics on wildlife, (mostly birds), current bird species and populations, and unusual sightings in the park. They are compiled monthly and updated on a weekly schedule as well as upon the occasional rare sighting, By no means complete or regular, but a casual list of some of the rarer or unusual bird.
A mention of a sighting on this page indicates more of a check than anything else, and a notification for visitors to try and spot these. Where possible, and if taken, a photograph may temporary be displayed here. With the herons now nesting and hatching we should be able to update weekly on estimated numbers. As with all wildlife, even if seemingly tame, they are wary, scare easily and feel apprehensive when nesting.
(Please see the appropriate ‘Photo Gallery’ for a permanent display of these birds).
Final herons numbers for 2009:
Nests: counted: 26 Young: counted: 55
estimated: 30 estimated: 60
Heron numbers so far, as of 28th May 2010:
Nests: counted: 24 Young: counted: 50
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Bird numbers
A count of the lake birds can be found here, updated once a week.
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2010 June 02, Wednesday
Swan. Cygnets born on Sunday 30th May. A well anticipated event in the park is
the arrival of cygnets -
For only a few days after birth, Mum obliges the cygnets by allowing them to ride
on her back. Five cygnets were seen on the 1st June on Mum’s back, when she then
took them back to their nest on Egg Island in the early evening. The 6th cygnet,
which for some reason seems to follow Dad rather than Mum, trailed behind.
Probably to their confusion, the riding cygnets were tipped from their ride when Mum had to climb the bank onto the island. With only a little difficulty the 6 cygnets duly followed.
Unfortunately one of the cygnets has been lost, probably due to predation, which is not unusual, but we were hoping it would not have been so soon, leaving 5 cygnets. (Thanks to both Simon Aaron and Nick Baelz for these photographs).
2010 May
(
Below) The number of Mandarin males have increased and 8 little ducklings soon appeared
in mid May (unfortunately now down to 7 after 1 was predated, by a cat). This photograph
(left) was taken just below the main bridge, showing the remaining 7 ducklings with
their mother. (Thanks to Simon Aaron for this photograph, left).
A Morehen with its new born chick (above) on Egg Island. (Thanks to John Burns for this photograph).
2010 March 02, Tuesday
Egyptian goose, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mandarins, Swans.
Egyptian goose; first reported sighting in Kelsey Park was on January 2009, and this year from the 25th February 2010. Most likely from the nearby Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve, about 11 miles, 18 kilometres away in straight flight, as there are breeding colonies there. As the population of Egyptian geese increases locally, we are likely to see more of them in the future. Currently seen almost, if not daily, and sometimes by the west of the lower lake as well as on the west bank of the larger lake, opposite Heron island.
It is tame enough to approach closely, although as with all wildlife, they startle easily.
The Little Grebe was seen by the south east side of the lower lake.
Two cormorants were fishing in the lower lake before drying its wings in the sun at its usual
perch, on a low branch just off the south side of Heron island. Facing the Sun, reflections from the water ripples played along its height. It is also often seen higher up on a branch on the north side of the smaller island.
On Swans, two of the 2009 cygnets have now left, leaving nine; but it looks like a couple are pairing up on Heron Island, so they will be watched.
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2010 February 27, Saturday
Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Egyptian Goose, (lone, visitor).
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2010 January 18, Monday
Mandarins.
Mandarins now often number 13 males & 9 (lucky) females. (The numbers of Mandarins have increased steadily and on one day 33 were counted in the park.
Many of them are still around but are paired off and looking for suitable nesting holes).
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2009 December 25, Friday
Treecreeper, Robin.
A keen eye spotted a treecreeper in the park during an Xmas Day stroll -
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2009 December 23, Wednesday
Pochard, first of the winter was reported today.
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2009 December 03, Thursday
The park now has a total of 11 swans (6 adults and 5 cygnets). Of the 6 adults, 2 are parents of the 5 cygnets of 2009 (born 28th May), and the other 4 are the cygnets from 2008 now grown up. Of the mandarins, 7 pairs were seen 2 weeks ago (in the lower lake to the north end of the park). A kingfisher is seen occasionally and the last sighting was 2 weeks ago, also by the lower lake, but is also seen by the upper lake to the south end of the park.
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2009 November 22, Sunday
Swans, the park now has a total of 11 swans (6 adults and 5 cygnets). Of the 6 adults, 2 are parents of the 5 cygnets of 2009 (born 28th May), and the other 4 are the cygnets from 2008 now grown up. More photos here.
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19th June 2009 -
A small duck of South American forests, but could not have flown all the way here.
It must have come from a local collection, probably from some small lakes at Holydale
open space near Keston. One of these lakes has all sorts of ornamental birds, so
we think its likely that the bird bred there and then every so often they go exploring
further afield. We first had a ringed teal in Kelsey Park in 2007. Since then
it has visited lots of times and is always very popular. We have also had a white
cheeked pintail and a south Georgian pintail (2007-
Taken on 1st April 2008 close to the main bridge, (not an April fools’ joke).
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Once a month, usually the 2nd Tuesday of the month, there is an official bird count carried out by a group of enthusiastic volunteers.
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This page was last updated on: 2nd June 2010 webmaster
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