BIRD NEWS: 959

 

Still at WWT Arundel, here are a couple of shots of the ducklings in the incubation room.

...and a few details of what we are seeing on the noticeboard.

Next, the beautiful Bewicks....

Mr and Mrs Silvertag Bewick.

You probably cannot see it without bins, but there is a peregrine falcon on a tree branch.....

In the next hide we spotted several birds of interest to us – including a cormorant in the tree pictured above, a kingfisher and egret....

Below, are pictured a greater and lesser egret - both on the island. So it is a good opportunity to see the difference in their size.

BIRD NEWS: 958

 

This shows around half of the pigeon population of the area. Next, we were back to WWT Arundel...

The pelicans seem to be mixing slightly now, rather than staying female group and male group. One was waterbound the other three resting up on this occasion.

The next shot is of mainly spectacled eider and avocet, hanging out on the footpath through the aviary.

With scoters in the background, the birds were all relaxed and relaxing.

Here we see what we are about to see...

a duck....as described above.

My final shot for today's post is of the now returned emporer geese - currently resident in the former trumpeter swan lake

BIRD NEWS: 957

 

One last picture of Mr and Mrs Silvertag Bewick at WWT Arundel.....before out next trip.

A meadow of farm geese, lazing about opposite the coffee truck at the Weald and Downland Museum.

Near the gift shop/cafe, there were a hoard of mostly mallards. Kids can buy food to feed them with at the shop, so they all hung about traipsing after people with small bags of food.

Although birds was not the main reason for out attendance, we did spot some other birds – sculpted ones for example.

As we walked up the wooden stairway to view the top of one building, we saw the notice and actuality of a nesting pigeon.

A wood pigeon – slightly wary, but not that afraid of people approaching his nest then bearing left into a room at the top pf his stairway.

Before continuing on our next excursion, I have a shot or two of the local pigeon flock. Circa 25 in count if all are present.

BIRD NEWS: 956

 

Here are the spectacled eiders and lots of swan geese.

And look who have appeared from nowhere after several months absence!

Here are the scaly-sided merganzers.

In two separate cages.

Next up my favourite display – the bewicks!

Mr and Mrs Silvertag Bewick were gliding about serenely...

...oblivious to our regarding them. They used to recognise me, but it seems they no longer do.

BIRD NEWS: 955

 

Of course, being a pigeon-empath/lover, I had to take a few shots of the show pigeon.

I wonder if it was a reborn show pigeon from my back yard in Australia....one that knew me from a former life....

After all, it did keep looking at me... and I was not eating anything it might have fancied munching.

Of course, it might have been a magician's dove, but despite the different shaped face and eye, it seemed more likely to be a show pigeon.

And that is the last shot I took of the tame show pigeon. Our next trip was to WWT Arundel again, as we sought a half day trip following Liz having had covid and feeling blah.

There are the pelicans and two mute swans....

My final picture for today is of the avocets in the wader-diver aviary.

BIRD NEWS: 954

 

We stopped off at Old Barn garden center on our way homewards, and I spotted a pied wagtail to attempt to photograph.

I tried and tried...but it was very fast and there were tables with people eating and drinking at the cafe in the way.

There was also a lot of rubbish people had dropped....so no wonderful pictures were captured.

It was a master at hiding between table legs and in the shade, sigh.

Our next trip was back to Pulborough Brooks – but this time we did not go into the reserve, but walked 2-3 woodland/brookland walks outside it. We did use the cafe and toilets at RSPB though, so I caught some show pigeon pictures!

There appeared to be a trio dancing on the rooftop.

After a while, jut as I had put my camera in my rucksack again, one flew down towards us.....

BIRD NEWS: 953

 

We did manage to get a bit closer, as they approached the gate we were headed towards also.

Some turned off into a field on one side.

We caught up to the other bunch, heading thru the gate.

Finally we were getting close enough to get them at s fairly good size, using zoom.....

And then they were gone. Our next trip was to Pulborough Brooks. There was a dunnock on the pond rim near the hemp agrimony.

We did not see that much this trip, bird wise.

But we did spot a grey heron.