Priory Park is a haven for wildlife.

The sound of the Woodpecker can be heard during spring and summer and you may see majestic Buzzards, which nest in the park, circling in the sky overhead.

If you are lucky, you may see a small deer called a muntjac. They tend to be very shy around humans and will run away.

There are many rabbits and their burrows are found in numerous locations.

At dusk, look out for the nocturnal residents of Priory Park. Tawny Owls and red foxes hunt while pipistrelle and noctule bats flit around the night sky.

To help our wildlife, there are 23 bird boxes, three bat boxes and one Tawny Owl box in Priory Park.

Interesting articles from the Warwick County Record Office about the Wildlife of Priory Park:

Moths in the Archive

Earth Star Fungus

The Hornet That Isn’t, and a Sparse Warwickshire History

Birds of Priory Park

Most Seen

Birds that you should see or hear most visits to Priory Park:

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Wren, Magpie, House Sparrow.

Spring / Summer

In Spring / Summer you usually will regularly hear Chiffchaff and Blackcap too.

Often Seen

Birds you’d often see or hear:

Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Jackdaw, Jay, Dunnock, Long Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Black headed gull, Mallard, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Starling.

Spring / Summer

Spring / Summer should often see over head the House Martin, Swift and Swallows. 

Winter

Winter there will often be Redwing.

Occasionally Seen

Birds you will occasionally see or hear:

Common Buzzard, Grey Heron, Raven, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch.

Fly Over

As the park is quite high, you’ll occasionally see Mute Swan and Canada Geese flying over and other wildfowl.

Very Occasionally Seen

Very occasionally seen or heard:

Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Siskin, Bullfinch, Kestrel, Tawny Owl.

Good Luck!

If you’re lucky, you can catch the Peregrine Falcon over the park that is regularly on St. Mary’s church tower.

Early in the Year

Also occasionally seen early in the year is a Kingfisher down along the brook.

Migrants and Rarities

There are sometimes migrants and rarities seen in the park as it can be a good stop over point for migratory birds or just flying over. Some heard or seen for example in the past are Cuckoo, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatchers and a Little Owl.

Images from https://www.rspb.org.uk