Happy New Year to all our Friends of Emersons Green Park.

I thought you would be interested to see a picture of our kingfisher, taken just before Christmas near the Langley Arms. Lots of us have had glimpses of it. What a beautiful bird it is and kind enough to wait in the same spot while I fetched my camera!

Just before Christmas the park was also visited by this beautiful little egret. The bird stayed for around 24 hours and may have been assessing it as a nesting site. I hope he comes to stay. These birds have been gradually migrating north from the European mainland over the last few decades.

All the birds are now very busy. As the days get lighter following the winter solstice on Dec 21st, the birds seem to switch on and begin their political campaigns with tussles for territory and nest building. I saw more than seven magpies in one tree yesterday making a terrible racket.

In reply to my last post, thank you to Alison who tells us that the new tree on the lawn next to the junior playpark is a tulip tree (Liriodendron) and a replacement for the one that had to be cut down.

Best wishes for the new season