A Nature Ramble in Eaton Park, June 2021

A Nature Ramble in Eaton Park with Chris Durdin, 7 June 2021

Guest blog by Helen Mitchell, Friends of Eaton Park

Starting at the Rose Garden we meandered down Walnut Tree Avenue to the lily pond, headed across to the meadow and North Park Wood, and then down through the pitch and putt to Bluebell Wood, before returning on the inside hedge to South Park Avenue to finish at the boat pavilion.

Where's that greenfinch? (Helen Mitchell)

We started the walk with birds in mind but ended up watching red-eyed damselflies on the lily pond, admiring fairy ring champignons in the meadow, and stopping to admire some of the wild flowers too. It was a gentle, eclectic and delightful ramble.

Looking for red-eyed damselflies on lily pads (Caroline Flatt).

The birds we saw and, in italics, some of the interesting details Chris shared with us.

Blackbird
Blue tit
Carrion crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared dove – new to the UK in the 1950s and first bred in Norfolk
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Great spotted woodpecker call is like a loud blackbird’s alarm call
Greenfinch
Herring gull
Jackdaw
Jay
Lesser black-backed gull – live for 15 to 20 years
Magpie
Mallard
Pied wagtail – ballerina in Italian and bergeronnette (shepherdess) in French
Robin
Starling
Swift
Woodpigeon
Wren

Pitch and putt trees (Caroline Flatt).

Some of the wildflowers we peered at and felt.

Alexanders
Birdsfoot
Black horehound
Bur chervil
Buckshorn, greater and ribwort (lamb’s tongue) plantains
Bulbous and creeping buttercups
Common mouse-ear
Common and sheep’s sorrels
Cow parsley
Dovesfoot cranesbill
Greater stitchwort
Hedge mustard
Herb bennett
Pignut
Rough chervil
Spear thistle
Common vetch
Yellow rattle

Meadow in Eaton Park with meadow saxifrage and bulbous buttercup, 12 May 2021 (Helen Mitchell).