BIRD NEWS: 838

 

Looking down from their lookout, we spotted a bluetit nearby.

It appeared totally unafriad....or unaware of us. It just bug-hunted in the shrubbery beside the look out.

Not long afterward, a great tit and a dunnock shared the bar.

They did not seem to mind one another...

...or us.

Then, another greattit appeared.....

Then one dissappeared.

Then both great tit and bluetit dissappeared, leaving a solitary dunnock!

HERE is a link to information concerning both swans and pigeons!!!! Two of my favorite subjects.

& HERE is the link to an upcoming exhibition.

 

BIRD NEWS: 837

 

Next, I spotted a kestrel.

I took a few pictures as it hovered above the flood waters.

This shot above shows how vast the waters were on this occasion - generally, this shot wouold include fields of grass with brooks running through them - fields we could walk across, alongside the river, into Pulborough itself.

I took quite a few shots of the kestrel, as I was unsure if it would come out clearly, or be turned to show up in the cloudy skies.

I took so many I thought it best to limit how many I shared on the blog.

So, I made 4 shots into one picture.

One final shot of the background with the kestrel.

BIRD NEWS: 836

 

In the wildlife garden area we saw greenfinch - alas they did not show up very well in the pictures.

Next, as we walked round the sodden reserve, I spotted a red kite.

I took a few shots, in case it didnt show up clearly in the first.

Luckily you can JUST spot the forked tail - if not the coloring.

Then we went along the muddy path to the lookouts. What used to be brooks/lakes in a green fields - was now a massive ocean of flood plain fully flooded.

We spotted mallard of course - and quite a few other birds through the scope Liz had brought with us - including shoveller, shelduck, wigeon, teal and mute swan as well as Canada geese.

But there were no waders as there was nowhere to wade....

BIRD NEWS: 835

 

Alas, the stork in the top nest had hidden itself, it seemed. We evenutally moved onward.

So, here is another Naboo piccie before we begin my 2024 photos.

Our first trip in 2024 took us to Storrington then Pulborough Brooks RSPB.

As we sat at Storrington car park sipping coffee, I spotted pigeons - show and city - on nearby rooves.

I missed the fly in to one roof, but caught a few shots of 2-3 on another roof.

I hope to catch a shot of a flock in flight....but alas, failed on that score too.

I kept trying - as usual.

BIRD NEWS: 834

 

As we hiked the Downs link, we saw weasel, fox, blue tit, great tit, robin, blackbird, wren...and possibly a fieldfare - tho its chest patch was small and mostly grey. However I didn't manage to capture any living wildlife on this trip.

Our trip hiked us from Southwater CP to Slinfold and back. Here is Naboo:

Our next excursion was to Knepp Park. We hiked the longest route - 10 km.

& spotted a stork nest with a stork in situ.

I did not know if I would get a close enough view of ther stork to come out, so took a few shots trying different camera options.

But the stork seemed to settle down, stop preening, and gradually....

.....disappear into the nest.

BIRD NEWS: 833

 

Liz and I went to Leonardslee Illuminated with her family. At certain spots in the path, we spotted bird lights.

There were also some illuminated bird statues in one part of the display.

Meanwhile, back home, I took the last photos off my old camera before gifting it to my 3 year old friend.

I had two shots of a magpie at the bird feeder to share.

Now, we are back to regular late December pictures...and left over Naboo shots!

Our next excursion was to Southwater Country park. We did spot cormorant and swan and coot and....birds on the lake, but only popped into the park itself to use their toilets before hiking up the Downslink.

As we left Southwater village, I took a couple of shots of a nesting box on a pond in a new estate.

BIRD NEWS: 832

 

The songthrush stayed for quite a while, eating dropped sunflower hearts.

The siskin kept munching...and dropping up above on the feeders.

They kept taking new poses...

...so I kept taking more pictures.

The duo were quite entertaining.

but eventualy I had taken sufficient photos and we left.

 

HERE and

HERE and

HERE are three short videos of Naboo. I think he began to wonder if I would ever stop taking videos and pictures - but it was his last day staying with me and there was going to be a very long time before he was to be seen again - so I have plenty more to share.