Lugwigsburg is a city in Baden Wurttenberg, southern Germany, about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) north of the Stuttgart district, and near the river Neckar and has about 88,000 inhabitants. I stayed here for 10 days, and for 8 days I explored these wonderful parks. I visited two parks the Favourite Park and the Schloss Park. The Favourite Park is in Ludswigburg is a fantastic place to visit. It is widely recognized for its 72 hectares of parkland with established woods, rare trees, meadows, and deer, plus a Baroque castle to enjoy as well. This place can be best enjoyed while visiting in the winter. The castle has been restored but many of the original furniture, walls, and statues are still present there. The Schloss Park has a small loch/lake which you can walk right round. Although quite far and almost separated from Favorite Park by farmland and it is connected to the rest of the grounds by way of pedestrian paths. It has two minor palaces on the estate, along with the main one. The smaller ones were used as hunting lodges. So this park gave me some birds not seen in the Favourite Park such as Common Kingfisher. Palace in the Favourite park. Main path in the Favourite park. Mouflon are wild sheep, a species regarded as one of the two original ancestors of modern-day sheep. Their coat is reddish-brown and short-haired, and a dark stripe runs along their back, with lighter colored patches on the side. They are very wary animals. The males have large horns of a sickle shape, prized by many trophy hunters. Farmland between the two parks. The Schloss park and lake. Grey Herons were seen daily in the Schloss park. 30 species of bird were seen. It was was quality rather than quantity in respect of the birds seen. For example I saw three species of Woodpecker – one which I had not seen before, Middle Spotted Woodpecker. The list of birds seen with comments follows. Great Cormorants were seen on the Schloss park loch, five or six a day. Likewise, Grey Herons were seen daily at the Schloss park loch. Common Buzzards were seen daily in the Favourite park. A Common Sparrowhawk was seen once at the Favourite park. Common Kestrel were seen in the farmlands separating the two parks. Common Moorhens were seen daily at the Schloss park loch. Common Wood Pigeon were seen daily in both parks. Collared Doves were not so common as the Wood Pigeons and only seen in the Favourite park. I had one sighting of Common Kingfisher at the Schloss park. Green Woodpeckers were seen and heard calling loudly daily in both parks. Only a single Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen, a fine male in the Schloss park. I was delighted to see Middle Spotted Woodpeckers in both parks because, in a rare event it was a new species for me! European Robin was seen in both parks daily, but in much lower numbers than Alcossebre. Black Redstarts were also in much lower numbers than seen in Alcossebre. I only saw one Song Thrush in the Favourite park. Common Blackbirds were seen daily in both parks. Both species of Tits that I saw Great Tit and Blue Tit were in good numbers, seen daily. Another species that I don´t see in Alcossebre was the Eurasian Nuthatch, seen and heard daily – with a very distinct call note. Next was Short – toed Treecreeper, another species we don´t get in Alcossebre, Seen a couple of times. Common Magpie, dispite there name were not that common here, just single birds seen. Yet another bird not seen in Alcossebre, was the European Jay – a colour full bird with loud racucous calls. Seen daily in both parks. Jackdaws were seen overflying both parks. There was a flock of 30/40 Rooks seen daily in the Schloss park. Carrion Crows were seen daily in both parks. The Common Ravens were were as common as Carrion Crows and seen daily.
Flocks of Common Starling were seen in both parks. The only Finch seen was the Common Chaffinch, but not very common.
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This September had above average rainfall, above average day temperatures with some cooler nights.
The first week in September started off with two days of rain. The other five days were mainly sunny. Winds were light or gentle. Temperatures were 3C above the day average of 27C, and average for night time. The second week in September was mainly sunny, some days with high thin cloud. Winds were mainly light. Temperatures were again 3C above the day average and average for night time. The third week in September had two days with rain – including an overnight thunderstorm with some heavy rain on the 16th September. There were moderate to strong north east winds on the 18th, 19th and 20th September. Temperatures were 4C above the day average, but 2C below the night average. The fourth week in September again had two days with rain, and another overnight thunderstorm on the 23rd September. The other days were settled with sunshine. There were two days with moderate winds, the 23rd and 24th. Temperatures were 3C above the day average , but 1C below the night average. The last two days in September were fine and sunny, with gentle winds. The average day temperature was 29C (84F). The average night temperature was 17C (62F). The highest day temperature was 35C (95F) on the 15th. The warmest night was 21C (70F) on four nights. The coldest day was 25C (77F) on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th. The coldest night was 14C (57F) on the 30th September. Total rainfall was 7 inches (1.77mm) over 7 days. The average rainfall for September is 5.2 inches. 55 species were seen or heard in the Alcossbre area in September 2021. No new species were added to the impressive 240 species seen here. September is the start of the autumn migration, with thousands of birds flying south, mainly Barn Swallows. No new species were added to the Alcossebre list which stands at an impressive 240 species in total. So a list of birds seen this month follows with comments. Despite the hunting season being in full swing with hunters shooting birds on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, three Red-legged Partridge were seen on the 15th September. Likewise, Ring-necked Pheasants were seen in the rural farmlands , single birds seen or heard on the 20th, 26th and 28th of September. Great Cormorant numbers were quite low with 5 flying south on the 7th, 4 flying south on the 9th and 9 flying south on the 19th September. Only two Grey Herons were seen this month, one flying south on the 4th September and one at the Torre estate pond on the 27th September. Two Little Egrets were seen at the coast on the 6th September. Up to 19 Cattle Egrets were seen daily in the rural farmlands. 11 Black-crowned Night Herons flew south on the 5th September, and one roosted overnight in the juvenile camp site on the 30th September. A Short-toed Eagle was seen on a distant pylon on the 12th September. A female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting in the rural farmland on the 9th September. The first Eurasian Sparrowhawk of the autumn was seen on the 17th September, thereafter one or two birds were seen. Up to four resident Common Kestrels were seen daily. Common Moorhen numbers started to increase at the Torre estate pond, and by the end of the month up 7 birds were seen. 8 Stone Curlews were seen on the 12th September, flying along the Rio San Miquel dry river bed. Black-headed Gulls were scarce this month, with only three sightings of up to four birds. Audouin´s Gulls were seen daily, but not in big numbers, maximum 5 birds. Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen daily, with a maximum of 17 birds seen. The only Tern species seen was Sandwich Tern – seen all the year round here. A flock of 52 birds flew south on the 3rd September. Woodpigeon numbers took a dive at the beginning of the month due to the hunters, however with an influx of birds later up to 130 birds were counted by the month end. A late Turtle Dove was seen on the 18th September. Collared Doves unlike the Woodpigeons were not subjected to shooting because they tend to stick around farms and houses, numbers were up to 153 birds by the month end. Resident Little Owl numbers were low with only one or two birds seen or heard daily. Friends Barbara and Derek Plummer reported a late Scops Owl calling at the Torre estate on the 20th September – it has a very distinctive call like a submarine sonar note. Only the one Common Kingfisher was seen this month on the 2nd September at the Torre estate pond. The last of the summer European Bee eaters were seen flying south on the 6th September. The last Roller of summer was seen on the 13th September. This has been the best year for sightings of this species. Resident Hoopoes were seen daily, with up to 7 birds seen together. The last Woodchat Shrike of summer was seen on the 1st September - a juvenile. The last Golden Oriole of summer was seen on the 2nd September. Resident Eurasian Magpies have increased in numbers with up to 32 birds seen daily. Resident Crested Lark numbers are low with only a maximum of 6 birds seen. The last passage Sand Martins were seen on the 28th September. Barn Swallows passed through daily in their thousands, and were still passing through up to the month end. Red-rumped Swallows were flying south, but in much smaller numbers – maximum of 8 birds seen. Up to 120 House Martins flew south daily – last seen on the 24th September. Resident Great Tit numbers were low with only 3 birds seen daily. Passage Willow Warbler numbers were also low, with a maximum of 3 birds. The Western Bonelli´s Warbler first seen in late August, was seen again on the 1st September. Resident Zitting Cisticola numbers were at an all time low with only a pair seen twice in the month. Resident Sardinian Warbler numbers were better with up to 6 birds seen daily. The last of summer Spotted Flycatchers were seen on the 6th September. The first of autumn Pied Flycatchers were seen on the 1st September. The first of autumn Northern Wheatear and Whinchat were seen on the same day - 17th September. Resident Eurasian Blackbirds were scarce with only single birds seen. The first of autumn/winter Common Starlings arrived in good numbers on the 14th September. Resident White Wagtails numbers were low – maximum of four birds.
The escaped Rosy-faced Lovebirds and Dutch Blue Lovebirds were still enjoying their freedom, seen in various places in Capycorp. |
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