Well following my post dated 20th March, I have had a reply from the council with a clause at the bottom saying the information is for the addressee only so I can’t publish verbatim their reply however in a nutshell the Park is for recreation and Health and Safety is paramount.
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Two weeks ago I watched a singing Nuthatch in this oak tree….
it was prospecting this nest site which is sadly no more..
Two years ago I watched Nuthatches successfully nest in this tree..
and last summer one day I was watching a nest full of nearly fledged Sparrowhawks and the next day this was what was left of its nest…
For three years in succession Nuthatches nested in this hole - following the removal of large branch above hole the Nuthatches have not used this site again.
Today the staff are strimming lower branches of every Lime Tree along the Lime avenue - just what you need to be doing on the first day of spring with a Wren and Long-Tailed Tit actively nest building just yards from you.
Need I say more…. probably yes! I’m told Normanby Hall comes under the Leisure Dept so I’ll send them this link and wait to hear from them. No-doubt the phrase Health and Safety will come into play as so many people in Scunthorpe have been killed by falling branches! I am told that as soon as a tree has the slightest sign of disease it has to be taken down but at what cost - Normanby Park use to be the stronghold in Scunthorpe for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers but since the continuous removal of trees they have abandoned the area and I can only see the same happening to the Nuthatches - if only the Council could recognise the importance of what they control and how their decisions affect the wildlife and don’t even get me started on Central Park….
If only this was Lincolnshire but this household is still firmly of the opinion there are no breeding Goshawks in Lincolnshire so we left the county for the annual dose of Goshawks and at a conservative estimate of 8-10 birds there was plenty of activity to see throughout the day and when the Goshawks were quiet Crossbills took over.
Probably Britain’s best known amphibian, these images were taken by my Father in his small garden pond - we have counted nine in total and spawning has begun so the pond will soon be crammed full so if anyone needs some frog spawn you know where to come!
..the Winter Aconites are now in full bloom in Normanby Park but just as exciting was the sighting this morning of 4 Common Newts in our new pond - I have been anxiously awaiting their spring arrival and last night seems to have been the night - on the way back from Louth late last night Wayne says the road was littered with Frogs/Toads on the move. Also in the garden this morning was a Goldcrest and I’m on particular guard for Mallards - if anyone has any legal ways of stopping them wrecking our pond please advise as they too will soon be descending on us for their spring exploits!
Amazingly these birds are on the British List so with Wayne and Neal’s Lincolnshire list beckoning we headed east to Grimsby! yes Grimsby - it has been suggested that the paler female with half a tail has suffered from her long migratory return from the tropics!
Yes it’s that time of year again and the Snowdrops are looking particularly good this year but I think I say that every year! Also in the park singing and calling this morning were 2 pairs Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Redpoll, several Goldcrest and Treecreepers and a pair of Kestrel and Common Buzzard causing havoc over the wood.
Snowdrops with Normanby Hall in the background.
