PARK CASTLE HILL COUNTRY FRIENDS OF CASTLE KEY ENTRANCES HILL COUNTRY PARK & Castle Hill COUNTRY PARK User Group THE BIRDS OF A Friends of Group for Castle Hill Country Park was established in 2008, and are active- CASTLE HILL ly involved in park improvements and events. A Park User Group meets locally on COUNTRY PARK a quarterly basis to discuss park manage- ment matters. If you are interested in joining the Friends of, or attending the User Group meetings, please contact either Park Services or the Friends of Castle Hill Country Park.

Organization REDWING

CASTLE HILL COUNTRY PARK

Park Services, Tel: 0116 454 1003 Top: KESTREL.. Bottom (L) BUZZARD; (R) ROBIN email: [email protected] Tel: 0116 454 1003

BUZZARD Friends of Castle Hill Country Park email:: [email protected] CHCP Natural History Series Leaflet No.2: Birds

T H E Birds frequenting the Birds typical of B I R D S O F Park’s trees, hedgerow the Park’s grass- CASTLE HILL COUNTRY PARK and woodlands include lands include the likes of Yellowham- the Pheasant (a mer, Bullfinch, Chaf- common site at The diverse habitat of Castle Hill Country Park, finch, and a variety of Castle Hill) and with its mix of trees, hedges and woodlands, and Tits —T he Great Tit may Warblers feed- its grasslands and wetlands support an interest- often be heard and / or ing on grass / ing and extensive variety of birds. MUTE SWANS ROTHLEY BROOK observed in the large PHEASANT flower seeds. crack willow trees that Records from border the Rothley Brook and its tributary stream. The more Buzzards and the 1980s to- elusive Tree Creeper may also be glimpsed searching for Kestrels are com- date list over insects on the knarled trunks of the old Willows. mon: Kestrel 80 different often hover bird species The Green Woodpecker above the Castle for the Park, is often heard and occa- Hill Earthworks including sionally glimpsed, most in search of Field over-flying notably at ‘Bluebell Voles and other and winter IBLUE TIT Wood’. The Jay, a shy, LARGE SKESTREL small creatures. visitors. large woodland bird of Buzzards nest in the Crow family, is also the vicinity of the Park, The City Bird Survey / Breeding Bird Survey of present, The Jay’s habit with two or more often 2008 recorded some 43 bird species, including 6 of burying acorns is seen riding the thermals,. birds included on the UKBAP list priority, protect- MEADOW TREE CREEPER probably responsible for ed or local ‘BAP’ (Biodiversity Action Plan ) spe- the small Oaks growing at the ’Hill Ground’ field margin. The Barn Owl, Tawny Owl cies i.e. The Common garden birds such as the Blackbird, Robin, and and Sparrowhawk have Yellowham- Magpie also frequent also been observed hunt- mer, Bullfinch, the Park’s trees, hedges ing on the Park. Winter House Spar- and woodlands. visitors include Redwing row, Starling, and Fieldfare, flocks of Song Thrush Waterfowl such as the which often descend on and Skylark. Coot, Mallard, Moorhen the Park’s hedgerows to and Swan may be feed on red berries.. Castle Hill FIELDFARE GATEKEEPPIED WAGTAIL found in the Rothley Country Park Brook, along with the was considered to be of particular importance as CASTLE HILL COUNTRY PARK occasional Heron and a breeding ground for the Song Thrush. GOLDFINCH Kingfisher. The Gold- finch, perhaps our most colourful bird, may sometimes be

seen feeding on Teasel growing besides the Brook.

Park Services, Tel: 0116 454 1003