BIRD NEWS: 949

 

We stayed and watched the display of sand marten airial antics.

It was the right day to get some good shots of the species due to their extra close activity.

They were diving and floating past the windows rapidly – so the camera just went click click click and hoped to get some shots...which I did!

There were so many and they were so active, I managed to get multiple poses and some interesting pictures on this visit.

It was such a delight to observe them, so we stayed a while, taking advantage of the unique opportunity.

I got photos of them swirling and diving and gliding about – at all angles and in all sorts of poses.

My camera just went click click click...and 9/10 got a good shot.

BIRD NEWS: 948

 

As we walked along the wildflower lane, we spotted a tufted duck with nine babies.

That is rather a lot for a tufted duck family and it featured on the FB page as others spotted it also.

We spotted an egret and cormorant in one tree from the hide we then entered.

The Bewick duo were lazing in the summer sunshine.

Next, we entered the sand marten hide and WOW!

They were very active and flying very close to the hide windows.

I got some great shots on this occasion.

BIRD NEWS: 947

 

Our next trip was a quickie to Arundel WWT. Here we see the pelicans.

There is a mute swan in with the dalmation pelicans.

In the aviary we came upon the avocet...with a redshank...

...and spectacled eider.

We wandered onwards...following a greylag who strolled along the path in the Nene area.

We didn't want to rush it.

We wandered on through the woodland area and spotted a moorhen on its nest.

BIRD NEWS: 946

 

Liz and I went to the beach at West Beach Littlehampton and walked towards Bognor and back.

On our multi-houred coastal hike I spotted a group of city pigeons hanging out –

- so I took a bunch of shots.

Back to the beach again – but this time at Brighton and Hove – the next weekend – and Liz and I found another bunch of pigeons hanging out on the prom.

Once again, I took a bunch of pictures.

Despite using the same setting on the same camera, this group came out much closer and clearer.

That brings us to the end of the second pigeon-only excursion week photos.

BIRD NEWS: 945

 

There dives a sand marten - into its nesting hole.

Then we arrived at the Bewick lake – thankfully both Mr Silvertag Bewick and Mrs Silvertag Bewick were still in residence.

No nest again this year though.

It looked like the one standing nearest to us had a tag on both legs, though.

Assumedly Mrs Silvertag Bewick as there was a tag on it's right leg....

...but it had another band on it as well.....so just assumedly. Further along, we encountered a bunch of dozing mallards. Alas, the trumpeter swan was nowhere to be seen – so in all likelihood the single remaining swan was shipped out to another reserve for its mate introduction and WWT Arundel no longer have any trumpeters.... sad.

That leaves just one more bird related photograph taken at WWT Arundel, before moving on to the next excursion.

BIRD NEWS: 944

 

It was good to see the Emporer geese again. Also the Swangeese.

The incubator rearing rooms were occupied this trip.

Personally, I would prefer the mum ducks to raise their own brood, but at least these babes looked healthy, if not natural.

Mummy moorhen had her own babes with her.

We watched them stroll and peck around the wildflower meadow.

The trumpeters were not back on their lake, and I wondered if the sole survivor had been given a new home and new mate or was still in the former diving birds cage.

The sand martens were busy flying and diving into their nesting holes though.

BIRD NEWS: 943

 

Alongside the avocet sextet, were spectacled eider, scoter, and mandarin ducks.

The spectacled eiders were a spectacle indeed....

It may not be evident in the still shots. But in the video below it should show them clearly swimming up and down along one edge in a trio.

Next up, a swan goose.

The black backed radjah shelducks and goldeneyes were lazing on the shingle bank while the mute swan preened.

They seemed happy there. The shingle beach hadn't been there before.

The emporer geese are back!