Wildlife update by visitor ranger Sophie Rolfe

There were interesting wildlife sightings aplenty in the Park last month. Do keep us informed if you spot anything exciting on your January walks and share your photographs with [email protected]. 

Some of the avian highlights in December included:

• Curlew
• Snipe (a difficult spot but there are a good number around sitting among the tussocks in Heron Meadow)
• Water Rail (sometimes tricky to spot, more often heard than seen. Their call is similar to a squealing pig, not the prettiest of bird calls but certainly distinctive)
• Little Egret
• Barn Owl
• Tawny Owl
• Siskin
• Goldcrest
• Goosander
• Linnet
• Little Grebe
• Golden Eye
• Pochard
• Skylark
• Great White Egret
• Coal Tit (seen on the feeders)
• Bullfinch (look out for the bright pink plumage of the male)
• Kingfisher (pair often showing well along Ham Cut)
• Fieldfare
• Redwing
• Lesser Redpoll
• Stonechat (spotted on the Rural Estate) 

Other highlights:

• Otters – often seen from Ham Bridge, but also reports of a couple of families enjoying the river throughout the Park.
• Common Seal – probably travelled up from the Wash as one often does at this time of year, and is currently quite happy in the river around the Orton Staunch area.
• Weasel – has been seen a few times running across footpaths around Ferry Meadows.
• Snowdrops are starting to pop through around the wildlife garden, often one of the first wild flowers of the year.