25 NOVEMBER 2025 – ROOKS and WATER BIRDS at SOUTHERN COUNTRY PARK

A bright, sunny morning got me out of the house. I didn’t think there was much chance of getting anything unusual, but I decided to go to Southern Country Park (SCP), more for exercise than anything else. But of course, I took my binoculars and my camera, just in case.

I needed to pass through Thorley Wedge on the way, but even before I got that far, I noticed several Rooks had gathered on telegraph wires/poles in Kent Crescent (just off Norfolk Way, BS) and they were unusually tolerant of me watching them at very close quarters, which allowed me to take a series of photographs. I’ve seen Rooks here on previous occasions, but never more than two at any one time, so I was curious as to why up to ten birds were here now. It soon became clear when a Black-headed Gull attempted to join them, then dropped into a garden where food had been left by the occupants of the house  whose garden it was. It didn’t manage to get a meal before first, a Carrion Crow landed on the food (which I think was bread), swiftly followed by two of the Rooks, though separately.

Previously, I’ve only managed to get fairly distant photographs of Rooks in fields, but these birds were very close indeed, so I could get some decent shots, especially as the birds were not at all concerned about my presence, which suited me fine.

On my way through Thorley Wedge, I noticed a lot of tit activity (mainly Blue tits; Great Tits and a few Long-tailed Tits) and more surprisingly, a decent flock of Chaffinches, which hitherto had not been obvious in the park all year, but I didn’t get to take any photographs.

Southern Country Park was sadly lacking in bird activity, and even around the lake, only 15 or so Mallards, with just one Moorhen and a single Black-headed Gull were obvious. I did my usual circuit without seeing anything of much interest, so as the bright sunlight was beginning to fade into cloud, I made my way home again.