Introductions in a Surrey Park

Overcast, dull, light showers, 8º, light winds.

Spending a couple of days in Surrey and as we were in Hampton Court we took a walk in Bushy Park.

The park was dominated by very noisy and “in your face”  Ring-necked Parakeets (thank goodness they are rare in Oxfordshire) with 100+ noted  also good numbers of Jackdaw and several Carrion Crow, Jay and Magpie and around some of the streams and lakes were Egyptian Geese and a few Mandarin Duck with the assorted versions of Mallard.

Surprisingly very few small birds present a small flock of Long-tailed and Blue Tits, a couple of Redwing heard, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker and a single Blackbird and Robin seen.

An interesting Yellow Brain Fungus found by Loren.

Ring-necked Parakeets are an Afro-Asian species established in the mid to late 20^th century in the UK with sizable populations in Surrey and Berkshire.

Mandarin Duck another species established in the 20^th century in the UK with escapees from various collections, once widespread in Asia but now confined to Eastern Russia, Eastern China and Japan and the British population may now be larger than the population in its native area.

Egyptian Goose introduced in the UK in the 18^th century and has established populations in East Anglia and the Thames basin. It is a widespread species in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mandarin Duck

 Egyptian Goose

 Ring-necked Parakeet

 Robin

Yellow Brain Fungus