Sefton Park, 26th September 2010

We got the 82 from Liverpool ONE bus station, got off at the stop before Aigburth Vale and we were at Sefton Park lake by 10.30. It was a cool day, but sunny and bright. Following the upheavals and renovations of the last year or two it was good to see the park getting back to normal. At the south end of the lake there were lots of Black-headed gulls and Canada Geese, a few Mallard, one each of Moorhen and Coot and nine adult Mute Swans with three full-grown cygnets. The cygnets were bred in the park this year, but their mother was killed by a dog during the summer and they are now in the sole care of their father. Further up the lake we saw a Coot sitting on a nest on a floating raft, but when it moved off we could see that there were no eggs. There was a young Common Gull on a post at the boating barrier. Rats are common on the banks, coming boldly into the open, and we also saw Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies and a Grey Squirrel.
The newly-built café at the southern end of the lake is open but the new Ranger Station and restaurant on the site of the old café will not be complete until next week. Near the new wild flower bank by the Palm House we saw Wood Pigeons, a Blackbird and a Jay, a Speckled Wood, three Red Admirals and a Comma.
We joined Ranger John’s walk after lunch then some of us went back to the Palm House for an afternoon concert by the Liverpool Ladies Barbershop Singers. Very civilised! Soon after 2.30 the last of us left for buses home.