Wallasey Central Park is a medium-sized and pretty park near Liscard. The wooded edge along Liscard Road had a Chiffchaff calling, a Blackbird and several Wood Pigeons. Small White butterflies were about, and there were clumps of Spanish Bluebells scattered among the trees. Next to the old church called Egremont St John there appears to be a tree nursery, with small shrub-sized trees planted in straight rows – Whitebeam, Hawthorn, Rowan, Horse Chestnut, Scots Pine, Oak and Field Maple. In the main park many trees were in flower. Cherry and Crab Apple with their brightly-coloured blossom are obvious, but many trees have green flowers that look at first glance like they are leaves. An example is Wych Elm, which has no leaves yet, but is fully clothed in immature winged fruit. The seed is the little bump in the centre of the wing.
We also looked at breaking shoots of London Plane. There are tiny little leaves, and the hanging red-brown ball at the bottom is the female flower which will become a seed ball in autumn. The male flower are nearer the twig and yellow, but I didn’t notice them because I didn’t look them up until later!
The little duck pond had Mallards, Moorhen and Starlings. There was a brief glimpse of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, then it disappeared. Had it gone into a tree hole? We walked around trying to get an angle that wasn’t into the sun, but never saw the bird again.
In the warm, sunny walled garden Grey Squirrels scampered about. Goldfinches. Magpies, and Holly Blue butterflies were going about their business. A Wren was singing softly in the shrubbery, not making the more common loud alarm call. Wood Pigeons called and also at least one Collared Dove. We spotted it, basking high in a red Norway Maple.
At the north end of the big fishing lake the grass bank was almost completely white with Daisies. The birds were Canada Geese, Mallards, Feral Pigeons, juvenile Herring Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Coot. We had been told there were some cute Mallard ducklings to see, but could find no sign of them. A lady turned up with two big bags of bread and all the birds queued up.
So much bread in the diet is said to cause the permanent deformity in geese and ducks called “Angel Wing”, and one of the Canadas was showing it.
On the other side of the lake, someone had tried to feed them a more “green” diet by scattering mixed frozen veg onto the parapet, but nothing was interested in it.
We took the path at the far end of the lake, leading past the allotments towards Poulton Road and the playing fields. We have found this to be a nature hot-spot. May (Hawthorn) blossom was out and the Sycamores were flowering, with hanging flower clusters of the type called racemes.
There was a Robin on the fence and House Sparrows cheeping in the hedge. They and several Blue Tits appeared to be hunting insect food in the large Bramble patch on the open ground. There were several Holly Blue butterflies on the wing along the top of the hedge, and also many Whites, none stopping to be identified. An Orange Tip butterfly sped past. There were several Speckled Wood butterflies looking very smart, probably recently emerged from overwintering as pupae.
Also this very worn and damaged Small Tortoiseshell, resting on the pathway. It was alive despite its battered appearance, because it stirred and flew off strongly to another resting place. It must have overwintered as an adult, possibly in an allotment shed. It ought to have mated and laid eggs by now, but looks like it can’t be long for this world.
We headed back via the big lake. I was remembering the old country saying about whether or not it will be a wet summer, as predicted by the emergence of the leaves of Oak and Ash. “Ash before Oak, you’re in for a soak. Oak before Ash, only a splash.” I took pictures of the emerging shoots of both trees. The Ash has the remains of the flowers and what appears to be only the first pair of leaves emerging, with hints of the second. The Oak has its flowers just out, with the male pollen tassels hanging profusely, and what seem to be two or three pairs of leaves. Although it’s a close-run thing, I think the Oak is slightly further on and is “before Ash”. Just a splash then, and a dry summer is forecast.
Public transport details: Bus 433 from Sir Thomas Street at 10.18, arriving Liscard Road opp Chatsworth Avenue at 10.42. Returned on bus 433 from Liscard Road / Martin’s Lane at 1.51. arriving Liverpool 2.10.
Next week we plan to go the Festival Gardens. Meet Central Station at 10 am.