BIRD NEWS:654

 

Next, I passed a Nene.

Then I walked onward to the Trumpeter swans.

However, they did not appear to be very interested in me. So, I moved on...

As I walked along I saw what looked like 'maybe a jay?' dash behind the bushes and out of sight...A little further along I found it - perched up in the top of a tree. But it was not a jay!

It was a bird of prey. Alas, I did not have my noccies on me on this trip, so I could not see what it was - however, a fellow visitor was setting up camera to capture it - so I figured it must be something exciting rather than  pigeon with an abnormally large head.

It just looked like a young wood pigeon to me... so its identification had to wait til later on, when home. Apparently it is a female marsh harrier - COOL!

Alas, soon after my shots more people came by chattily and scared it away. Well... I then headed to the sand martin hide...

...and found a heron!

BIRD NEWS:653

 

The pelican lasses were still in situ - and I spotted a couple of red breasted geese with them.

There were a few redshanks hanging with the avocets. I am not too good at telling them from other waders, but the avocets are unmistakable and there was a plaque telling me they were redshanks, so on this occasion I was certain.

The next shot was predominantly of Eider, but had a couple of redshanks and other ducks in situ. They were only to one side of the former photo...

Harlequin ducks and common scoters were next up in the aviary.

I walked past, and took another shot of the spectacled eider and harlequin ducks as I passed.

At the next area, I spotted a bunch of pigeons as well as a few canada geese and some seagulls. Regular readers will know only too well that this means at least one photo of pigeons....probably more.

& more there were!

BIRD NEWS:652

There appeared to only be seagulls and mallards on the pond.

But there were plenty of birds at Wakehurst Place including this pheasant.

There was a little bird at the feeders, and we were unsure if it was a coal tit or marsh tit... Liz tried to explain the difference as the white at the neck-head, but could not recall which was which.

I got a good shot of a blue tit though.

We did not spend all day at the feeder station - but wandered around the bulk of the land. At one point, we discovered a wood carved turkey! We had spotted a couple of woodcarvings on a previous trip - but this visit had us find a few more hidden away on a track we must previously have missed.

We then spotted a bird of prey land on a tree...but it was not close enough to tell what type - possibly a kestrel.

My next excursion was a solo trek to Arundel WWT. I walked through the woodland, so passed Goggles and his gang of mallards. I continued on my hike and arrived at Arundel WWT after about 2.5 hours - due to taking a different route to the quickest one.

From HERE you can view a link to include - scroll down - a good shot of a grey wagtail. I have one of these visit my pond quite often.

BIRD NEWS:651

 

I managed to spot a pair of Canada Geese - which seem to be everywhere these days.

I could not see much other activity on the pond though.

These geese and goats seem to share their land amicably...

As I walked towards my village, I spotted the house with the dovecote - complete with either doves or pigeons.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, plenty of pigeons here!! lovely! It being a private house, i did not like to stand and stare for too long, even though I adore pigeons,

Back home, and the dozey dove was in the bird bath. I also spotted a goldfinch eating - and dropping sunflower hearts that a squirrel was eagerly munching below...

It gets quite entertaining watching all the wildlife enjoy my garden - although my neighbors to one side certainly don't - they think it's a mess of overgrown weeds!!

Our next trip was to Wakehurst Place and Liz and I sat down for refreshments...only to obtain a companion!

HERE is the link to a movie about robins...

BIRD NEWS:650

 

As we wandered around Leonardslee, we came upon the 10 white farm ducks dozing on a bank.

We had almost finished our excursion - but I brought out the camera once more when passing a robin who sung to us as we passed.

I now have a dove that dozes....

My next excursion was a solo trek up Swillage Lane and around Patching. My first shot on the trip was of Goggles the farm goose...who ignored me today!

I spotted a small bird - maybe a warbler? maybe a brambling? but alas, it flew away before i got a close shot.

I then spotted a wood pigeon sitting in the tree above me, watching me.

I then arrived at Patching Pond. On my last trek here, with Liz, we found several goats, and I wanted to take their photo but I also wanted to view the pond - which is usually hidden behind trees and undergrowth.

HERE is some more swan ID info.

BIRD NEWS:649

 

At Petworth Park, there are a couple of lakes. On one of these we spotted some birdlife. Above are a couple of Indian ducks.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Canada geese floated about the main lake area. Along with some mallards and coots...

Our next excursion came in November and was to Leonardslee. We spotted a group of 5 birds in the treetops...

Zooming in, you can see 4 cormorants and one...

Well, it looks similar, but has a lot more white on it than the others.

After a little research, I assume it to be a juvenile.

As we left the area, we spotted them again, this time through the leaves.

Know your swans.... HERE is a link to an ID video.

BIRD NEWS:648

 

My garden is a peaceful place - apart from when other people's pe(s)ts enter and destroy. Here, symbolizing such, is a dove - resting on the path. It just sat there dozing for almost half an hour, while I washed up and made a coffee.

Dove below, with sparrow, blue tit, and goldfinch on the feeders...peaceful!

There was a goldfinch on the bird bath in my next shot. And then...

...there were two! Meanwhile, the dove just sat there, meditating, relaxing, dozing, whatevering...

The dove then decided to go have a drink...

It then decided to stand there - in the bath...sip and snooze.....

I decided to take a video - which you can see HERE - thinking it would be drinking....but mostly, it just stood staring at whatever, relaxing peacefully in my back yard.