St Andrews Park

Although the chilly, overcast weather suggested winter was unwilling to relinquish its grip, there were thankfully a few signs of spring. The full list is as follows:

Redwing - about 40 counted. A remarkable count for a small urban park.
Starling - at least 20 seen, often associating with the thrushes
Mistle Thrush - we wondered if there might be 2 pairs in the park and that one individual might have been prospecting for a nest site
Goldcrest - 1 individual seen well as it fed in a pine tree near the war memorial
Goldfinch - several birds seen and heard, some possibly pairing up
Chaffinch - 1 or 2 seen
Greenfinch - a bit thin on the ground today - just 2 or 3 seen
Robin - plenty seen and/or heard
Blackbird - a few seen but no song heard
Magpie -  several, including nest-building individuals
Blue Tit - 1 or 2
Great Tit - a few seen and heard
Coal Tit - a couple of birds seen
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 or 2
Herring Gull - 1 feeding near the children's play area
Chiffchaff - one heard calling and seen briefly in trees at the pond. Could have been a new arrival or an overwintering bird
Blackcap - 2 individuals heard singing. Almost certainly overwintering birds 'tuning up'
Feral Pigeon - the usual gang, mainly near the café
Woodpigeon - several around
Collared Dove - one heard singing near the toilets
House Sparrow - several seen. This species seems to be having a bit of a revival I'm glad to say
Long-tailed Tit - brief views of 1 or 2 birds near the bowling green
Carrion Crow - several birds, including evidence of nest-building
Dunnock - a couple seen by Lois
Pied Wagtail - flight call heard and 1 had been seen earlier by Lois

Mistle Thrush

Other signs of spring included Willow catkins, Kingcups and toadspawn.

Toadspawn

Kingcups

Willow catkins