BIRD NEWS:518

4 bluetits and one sparrow I believe in this shot of the home feeder poles. The next trip I went on was to Leonardslee Gardens with Liz. I came across a flock of pigeons, so out came my camera.

We came across some peacocks as we wandered around that early September morning. They also have hens there...

About a week later, Liz & I popped into Pulborough Brooks RSPB and one of the first things I spotted was - pigeons! Mind you, that is not unusual - what was unusual is that I took no other photos of birds that day - just pigeons...

Well, unless you count signposts with cut out birds of prey attached - we spotted this as we wandered out of the reserve towards Pulborough - though we didn't go all the way into town this trip - but yes - plenty of pigeons!

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BIRD NEWS:517

The black necked swan took a short break from preening - but not for long. I left it to make itself beautiful for no-swan and wandered along towards the bus.

Upon my way home, I passed Swanbourne lake - briefly - and spotted a mute swan with cygnets just slouching about near the ice cream kiosk. That was not the end of the swans either - for as I crossed the bridge to the bus stop, I spotted another mute swan with cygnets in the river!

Now we are home - and here are a trio of bluetits eating peanuts on my feeder! There were actually a whole family/flock - they kept nibbling nuts then flying to the tree and swapping places.

The bluetits like the two peanut feeders - one they can munch whole nuts from and take them to the tree to nibble at - whilst the other allows them to peck pieces thru mesh. My last photo shows a sparrow arriving and about to tuck into the seed.

BIRD NEWS:516

Let's start off today with a Nene - well, a Lego Nene at any rate - and a bunch of pigeons, munching. Oh, there is a pretty one!

Oh look - I found even more pigeons! I think most readers will have figured out that I rather like pigeons....

Lots of birds there - pigeons, Nenes, Canada geese... To finish today's post, here are a couple of shots of the black-necked swan. Alas, still solo - it swims restlessly about calling for a mate that is not there - or preening.

Back home, and sparrows are in high number, along with blue tits and great tits on the feeders.

BIRD NEWS:515

As I walked along the boardwalk, I passed a young moorhen. As I wandered past the woodland overview, I spotted a blue tit and a coal tit, feasting.

Next, I popped into the woodland hide to see what was munching in there. This time, it was a mallard picking up crumbs - along with a rat. The merganzers seemed to be hiding as I arrived at the waterfall exhibit - you can just see the top of a head....

I was patient - waiting til movement appeared and angling the camera above my head so it got a better view than me...

Ah there is one - or two - finally!

BIRD NEWS:514

This is a pair of curious Nenes - but if you had no idea what the mystery species in my last post was - join the club. I assumed it was a goldeneye/barrows goldeneye - but after checking the species out, I assume maybe I was wrong....unless it is females without males...

The Bewicks were still relaxing, napping as I passed by them again. More Lego coming up...

In fact, I took quite a few shots of Lego this trip. I attempted to get the info boards in with number of blocks and time to build facts included.

Next, I arrived at the Trumpeter Swan lake...they were on their island at the time I passed by. I passed some more swans - mute swans - preening.

BIRD NEWS:513

I start today where I left off in my last post - with Orange Tag and Silver Tag the Bewick swans at Arundel WWT. Here they are hanging out in peace with a moorhen and bunch of mallards. Why look what I spot - a Lego creation - photographed here with the real thing in the background - the Red-Breasted Goose. This must mean it is August - AKA school holiday season.

This is a mute swan - or regular 'everyday' swan - in one of the lakes viewed by a hide. Next up is more proof its school holiday season with another Lego creation.

I am sure they had installed this owl Lego creation on my last trip - but not put the sign up at that point, as it was not 'quite' time for the Lego exhibit/trail. This next shot depicts an Emperor Goose munching something on the fence...

FAKE! This is NOT Orange Tag or Silver Tag - the real Bewicks! Just another pile of assembled Lego for the pleasure of children or aware of adults, considering the amount of time and blocks required to create these Lego sculptures.

Ahhh, now does anyone recognize this bird? Whatever it is - its a resident of the Arundel WWT and has young.... but any idea WHAT species? (I am leaning towards goldeneye - or Barrows goldeneye, or some such bird - but have not got it ID'd as yet.)

BIRD NEWS:512

There were a lot of sparrows hanging around the feeder pole and originally I assumed that the local tribe had had another burst of offspring. I later learned that a neighbor had chopped their shrubbery, so a mass of sparrows were suddenly homeless and moving into nearby territory - AKA my yard.

This duo of lovelies should inform regular readers of my first August vacation excursion destination - Chichester! Alas, I had expected rain and cloud, so worn a rain coat and no sunnies - so the fact it turned out dry and sunny meant I was not comfortable and did not stay out as long as originally planned. I did not stroll down the canal for instance - but I did sip a Caffe Nero latte (made with oat milk) in Priory Park.

Hence a bunch of photos were taken of the budgies in the aviary. Maybe not as many as usual, but 4-5. My last shot of them did not come out too well.

My next picture is of a robin - and this might have been taken in Chichester - or equally likely in Arundel WWT which was actually my next August excursion with bird photography and the sighting.

The appearance of an Emperor Goose proves we are now at Arundel with my photography. My final shot for today's post is of Orange Tag and Silver Tag their current pair of Bewick swans.

Find out about bird song HERE!