The Friends held multiple summer wildlife walks within Gedling Country Park each with slightly different themes:
Friday 06 April - Dawn Chorus Walk at 6.00am
Yes, you read that right - 6.00am! The Friends of Gedling Country Park went for a walk at dawn in the park. The group sighted 29 different birds listed below:
Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blackbird, Pheasant, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Tawny Owl, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Magpie, Kestrel, Chiff Chaff, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Coot, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Common Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Jay, Linnet.
Tuesday 22 May
We looked for: Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak Butterflies, in addition to the usual Peacocks, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Commas, Green-veined Whites etc. By the ponds (rare sights) Hairy Dragonflies and the Little Egret. We tried to spot (or hear) grasshopper, willow reed and garden warblers, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats and chiffchaffs. A cuckoo passing through. Miner and other bees. Spring wildflowers.
Friday 06 April - Dawn Chorus Walk at 6.00am
Yes, you read that right - 6.00am! The Friends of Gedling Country Park went for a walk at dawn in the park. The group sighted 29 different birds listed below:
Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blackbird, Pheasant, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Tawny Owl, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Magpie, Kestrel, Chiff Chaff, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Coot, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Common Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Jay, Linnet.
Tuesday 22 May
We looked for: Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak Butterflies, in addition to the usual Peacocks, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Commas, Green-veined Whites etc. By the ponds (rare sights) Hairy Dragonflies and the Little Egret. We tried to spot (or hear) grasshopper, willow reed and garden warblers, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats and chiffchaffs. A cuckoo passing through. Miner and other bees. Spring wildflowers.
| A report of the first two walks including photos can be downloaded here: | 
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Monday 04 June
We looked for Orchids - Southern and Northern Marsh, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids. More butterflies - Small Copper, Holly and Common Blues, Brown Argus. Hundreds of moths. Heron on the ponds.
Friday 29 June
Our target was to find 15 species of butterflies, including the Ringlet (270 spotted by Mark in 2017 - did we beat that?) On the lower ponds, dragonflies and damselflies. Top reed pond coots, moorhens, reed buntings and warblers.
We also had a 'goodie bag' of the following items donated to us to celebrate National Insect Week (18-24 June 2018):
We looked for Orchids - Southern and Northern Marsh, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids. More butterflies - Small Copper, Holly and Common Blues, Brown Argus. Hundreds of moths. Heron on the ponds.
Friday 29 June
Our target was to find 15 species of butterflies, including the Ringlet (270 spotted by Mark in 2017 - did we beat that?) On the lower ponds, dragonflies and damselflies. Top reed pond coots, moorhens, reed buntings and warblers.
We also had a 'goodie bag' of the following items donated to us to celebrate National Insect Week (18-24 June 2018):
- Introduction to Insect Science; wrist bands; keyrings; pens; pencils; magnifying card; wildflower seed packets; Post It notes; Mini Guides to: garden pond insects; farmland insects; garden butterflies; British ladybirds; garden bees
| A report of the walks on 04 and 29 June including photos can be downloaded here: |
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Friday 27 July
We looked for mainly wildflowers, darter dragonflies, damselflies, hoverflies and other insects - the busiest time for these. Possibly the kingfisher on the ponds. Wild strawberries.
Friday 10 August
The last walk of the year covered the western side of the Park, leaving the main path to explore what’s hidden in the grasses - Common Blue butterflies with many hoverflies supplementing the bees in pollination efforts.
We looked for mainly wildflowers, darter dragonflies, damselflies, hoverflies and other insects - the busiest time for these. Possibly the kingfisher on the ponds. Wild strawberries.
Friday 10 August
The last walk of the year covered the western side of the Park, leaving the main path to explore what’s hidden in the grasses - Common Blue butterflies with many hoverflies supplementing the bees in pollination efforts.
| A report of the final two walks on 27 July and 10 August including photos can be downloaded here: |
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