It’s been a washout of a summer – for humans anyway. My barbecue has stayed under wraps for the third year running, the patio table is a permanent fixture in the utility room and the hammock has not felt the weight of a human body since I brought it out in May. (Though it’s provided a useful loo for the magpies!)
But are there any birds that thrive in wet conditions? Any that like to come out to play when it is bucketing down? Or during the sunny breaks in the showers?
Actually the Park has quite a few foul weather friends, and not all of the feathered variety. There have been more sightings of otters and anglers are reporting healthy trout stocks.
The result of all this rain is a lusher, greener landscape. More plant growth and flowers means more insects for swifts, spotted flycatchers and other bugmunchers. And more insects also means more fish and more opportunities to see the resident herons and cormorants at the Park.
Cormorant suns itself on Lisburn's Island Centre's fountain - in winter! (photo by Dave Scott)
Berries and fruits seem to be earlier and more prolific – have you noticed the bumper blackberry harvest? All good news for birds which need to stock up before the winter and migration.
It’s been a record year for hazelnuts, favourite food for jays. Around now jays will be gathering up and burying hundreds of the nuts in the leaf mould for winter nibbling. Those that get forgotten eventually become the hazelnut trees seen all over the Park.
There’s also been a bumper harvest of snails and enormous squelchy slugs to keep thrushes and blackbirds happy. And the rain has brought oodles of worms to the surface. So now’s the time to watch out for buzzards which like to congregate in brown fields for a wormfeast. Right now in Lady Dixon Park near the towpath you can see two adults coaxing their two young into the air.
Even small seedeating birds like sparrows and starlings don’t mind a rainy day. Lots of lovely puddles to splash in.
So no matter what the weather is doing, get out to the Park and see the sunny side!
P. S. This weekend is Wilderness Fun Day at the Park. Birds of prey, falconry displays, storytelling and activities for the kids, guided walks and loads more fun stuff. All kicking off at 11am this Saturday at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage.
althhough weve had rain here in surrey there certainly not too much
my frogs have done well the rains falling at night then hot sun drys it up the next day