BIRD NEWS:583

On my next trip - again solo - I walked through Rustington and on to Mewsbrook Park. I got a much better look at the swan family on this trip. They appear to have 8 cygnets! They were hanging out with one parent, while the other stood guard, watching from the bank.

The youngsters were all swimming about munching at the weeds and grasses in the pond and at its edge. Eventually, after having their fill, one or two of them took a nap, burying their beaks in their back and doze-swimming.

Mr or Mrs Mute was minding them still though. I was pleased to see they were more or less tame. Some adults can get very protective of their cygnets so hiss and flap at humans. I JUST managed to get them all in one picture - although I only got the accompanying parent's head, while managing to get the other adult captured in shot.

In the above shot, I managed to get the distant parent with a dozing offspring, whereas in my final picture for today I have a close up of a dozing youngster.

BIRD NEWS:582

Mr Bob regards his options at the feeder pole. I walked to the local garden center early in July - without my camera - but spotted a half dozen show pigeons munching in the pick your own fields, a skylark diving down behind the crops, and at least a dozen swifts bouncing about in the air on the other side of the path.

It is now July, and I began the birding month by taking a photo of one of my friends standing on top of the noisy-neighbor's van. I took a short wander into the woodland to try to cheer myself up a bit, so here is a piccie of Goggles on his pond.

Goggles was not alone. A mallard family were sharing his pond with him on this occasion. I was alone, so did not stay out long - but took one more shot of Goggles on my way home.

HERE is the link to an article about coo-ing and cuckoos.

On my next short trip I spotted a kestrel - at least, I think it is a kestrel - it was not close enough to tell for sure. Goggles was hiding in the pondside woodland as I passed him on my way up the lane - and on my way back home again shortly after.

BIRD NEWS:581

A mystery bird landed on one peanut feeder, while a sparrow paused to observe me and my 'lil pink box' from another. Was it a jay? - no....so....

A woodpecker!! A juvenile greater spotted wodpecker to be precise. You can see its coloring better when it flew from pecking at peanut pieces to the fat balls.

It was still June and it was still warm and sunny - but still with Corona restrictions banning|Liz and I from joint hike-chats. I popped back up Swillage Lane and took another solo hike, though truth to tell I am getting fed up of my own company and will be glad when Liz and I can go hiking together again. Way up over the fields was a bird of prey....

After some observation, I determined it to be a red kite, based mostly on its tail shape and color. My final shot for today's post is of Goggles taken on my way home. This time, he was hiding...so you can only see the neck!

BIRD NEWS:580

Here are the dust-bathing sparrows again. Next up is Goggles - meaning another stroll into the local woodland at Angmering Park farms.

HERE is a link to a video I took to show the woodland between Swillage and Selden Lanes. It also demonstrates the sounds that accompany me on my hikes when I am solo, rather than trotting along with my best friend Liz. With Liz, I often chatter and miss the bird song - or have it as an undertone to our own conversation.

Here we see Goggles again, signifying the end of that little excursion. A change of scene now - this gull stands on the banks at Mewsbrooks Lake. It got to mid June and I was fed up of having no coffee-hikes with Liz. I needed both her company and exercise - the virus situation forbade the former, so I trotted off to Rustington, public toilets now open I was able to extend my trip beyond one shop and stroll the pond - a little - but not much as it was too busy.

This gull hangs with a pigeon on the banks, midst the buttercups and clover. On the island, we have some more waterfowl.

Also in the lake-park we can spot wood pigeon! I did try to take a shot of the swans with 6-7 cygnets - but I was too far away - too many kids crowding the area where they were. Back home, and the goldfinches were munching on the feeder pole still.