BIRD NEWS:676

 

A woodpecker was here methinks! This was taken on our excursion to Leonardslee Gardens & Pulborough Brooks - on the penultimate Saturday of January. I spotted a treecreeper...

I was just walking along then spotted a movement - that turned into a bird - that turned into a treecreeper - hence, out came the camera...

I have had to encircle the bird - as it is so small, and my camera is not good at close up shots of distant birds.

I kept shooting in case at least one shot came out well....hopefully.... Alas, that was the best I got. It remained a good spot, if not good shot!

We walked a little further and spotted a jay!

Then - another treecreeper - which also evaded a good shot but remained a good spot!

On our next hike, Liz and I went up Highdown Hill - a local on-foot trip. We spotted 6 robins, some blackbirds, a woodpecker.... but I was not able to take any photos on this excursion.

Here, in my back yard, is one of the doves...a pair of whom regularly visit currently.

There is a starling down there pecking up dropped feeder pole seed with it in my final shot for the day.

Before I finish my post, HERE is the link to a short video of dalmation pelicans being fed at WWT, taken on the last week in January, when Liz and I took a trip to Arundel.

BIRD NEWS:675

 

Pigeon -and jackdaw!

We left the lake and wandered back to Arundel town past the moat. Upon which we spotted an odd couple.

A farm duck and.....a distorted mallard. Assumedly, the farm duck and mallards got together and produced some weird combo of coloring.

Along the moat a tad further we came across a mute swan family

Mommy mute, daddy mute, and some cygnets of last years cropping.

On our way home, we passed Goggles' pond.....and Goggles.

Goggles was not being friendly, but hissed at us today. He sure is a grumpy goose!!

HERE is an interesting article about bird song, packed with information.

BIRD NEWS:674

 

When Liz and I came upon the trumpeter swan enclsure, we were saddened to find one of the duo seemed distressed. It walked up and down the fence, chest bumping it, biting it, as if it wanted to escape.

Maybe it didnt like its mate, the new trumpeter swan enclosure, or missed its old lake. We did not know... but I mentioned it to the WWT webpage and the following day Liz returned and checked - although it seemed happier, she mentioned it to the desk as well.

We went onward to the woodland hide - alas, not much to view here. A pheasant - and some blue tits, great tits, mallard, and one chaffinch.

At least the Bewick family were still in situ and seemingly content. The aviary for diving birds directly next to them was empty/shut though - and wasted space, as were 2-3 other areas....nothing there....empty....disused, being redone or closed. We were quite disappointed in how much was uninhabited and glad we were members - as to pay £14 to see the few exhibits still open would not have been worth our while.

We picnicced at swanbourne lake for lunch.

There were tons of birds here....tufted duck, mallard, moorhen, coot, mute swan, pigeon, seagull...

This tree alone contained half a treefull of seagull and half a treefull of pigeon!

Yes, someone did mention PIGEON!!!!!

BIRD NEWS:673

 

Our next trip was to Arundel. On arrival, our first stop was for coffee. We went to a cafe and sat ready to order - spotting a wood pigeon on a near by wall. However the pigeon dived to the ground as I tried to take his photo.

We walked towards the WWT, and spotted a song thrush and moorhen.

We began our WWT trek with the dalmation pelicans...

The quartet of specimens were preening and sunbathing - though there was little sunshine. We proceeded towards the aviary - only to find it was shut for winter. Apparently due to bird flu, tho it did not say so and we had to ask to determine why.

Next, we came across some ducks.....not mallards!

Along with nene, there were greylag and canada geese and some ducks, moorhen and coots on the next exhibits lake.

Next, we came across a mute swan cygnet from 2021, laying claim to a patch of grassland.

BIRD NEWS:672

 

Walking homeward, Liz and I passed Goggles' pond - and a mallard. In the distance was Goggles and a mallard.

Goggles did not want to know...

Back home, I spotted a thrush behind the pond.

It then bounced into the border down the side of the house in front the kitchen window - where nasturtiums still grew.

I took a few shots in hope....but did not get any really good pictures on this dumb camera.

I tried and tried, but...

Soon after, I got a shot of goldfinch, sparrow, and wood pigeon, all at once.

BIRD NEWS:671

 

A flock of longtailed tits arrived on the scene.

They were not there that long, but I managed to grab a few shots.

They are such cute little birds!

I just couldn't miss the opportunity to take their picture.

But eventually, I thought I must have got at least one good shot, so stopped and waited to use my camera on the next chance.

My last shot from Warnham was of the entry/exit lake again - this time with mute swans and pigeons!

HERE is an owl identification guide.

BIRD NEWS:670

 

A female pheasant with the wood pigeons start my next blog post. This wood pigeon is really tucking in to the seeds in the tree stump - as witnessed not only by Liz and I but a small bird in the hedge behind.

A pheasant strolls close by, with the wood pigeons and moorhen beyond. Of course, a few squirrels decided to hang out with the wood pigs too...

Alas, my close up shot did not turn out too well - this damn camera!!!!

I then spotted a reed bunting in the trees.

A blue tit and reed bunting share this photo.

The male pheasant came back!

Along with a robin! An unusual combination of bird in a single photo.

Ending the year 2021, my list of birds spotted thru the year totalled almost 100...

avocet

blackbird

barrows goldeneye

bewick swan

blackheaded gull

blacknecked grebe

blackbacked gull

bluetit

blackcap

brent goose

buzzard

coot

canada goose

cuckoo (heard not seen)

cormorant

coal tit

crow

common tern

dalmation pelican

dunnock

eider duck

farm goose

gold crest

greylag goose

grey heron

greater spotted woodpecker

great tit

great crested grebe

godwit

golden plover

grebes

green woodpecker

grey wagtail

harlequin duck

herring gull

jay

jackdaw

kestrel

longtailed tit

lapwing

longtailed duck

little grebe

magpie

mallard

marsh harrier

marsh tit

merganzer - scaly sided

moorhen

meadow pippit

mute swan

nene

nuthatch

nightingale (?)

oyster catcher

owl

pheasant

pied wagtail

peregrine falcon

radjah blackbacked shelduck

red kite

red breatsed goose

reed warbler

reed bunting

redshank

ringed plover

reed bunting

robin

rook

seagull

sandmartin

scoter

spotted flycatcher

skylark

song thrush

sparrow

starling

shoveler

stonechat

spectacled eider

shelduck

swallow

trumpeter swan

teal

turnstone

tufted duck

waterrail

wren

wood pigeon

woodwarbler

widgeon

yellow wagtail

pied wagtail