BIRD NEWS:709

There were mostly pigeons at Swanbourne Lake shore - but the odd other bird.

We then proceeded to walk past the moat towards Arundel, making our way homeward. A group of mallard-distortions hung out the path and one took a fancy to Liz's shoe. in fact, it nipped it twice, then stood right next to it....

There were 5 of this weird colored mallard in total - all hanging out in the 'weirdo' group. Back home, and there were young sparrows, starlings and more amassing upon the birdfeeder pole.

The baby sparrows were so cute...

I ended up taking a video - HERE.

Next, I caught a family of baby blue tits feeding....

Our next excursion took Liz and I to Itchenor, where we strolled along the coastline to West Witterings, around he island, and back - starting with coffee in Itchenor and including a picnic lunch on WW beach. We saw a few posters mentioning a petition to sign....

BIRD NEWS:708

 

Mostly Bewicks, but a couple of mallards start today's post from Arundel WWT taken in May 2022.

Orangetag, Silvertag, and a mallard....

Silvertag came over to munch grass near us - but then along came a grumpy canada goose that hissed at us, so Liz wanted to move onward to the next exhibit.

Whiteheaded duck were next on the agenda - and I managed to get a real life sample in the same shot as the ID board - as I also did with the Orinoco geese.

Some greylag goslings decided to cross the path.

Another goose, more goslings....at the picnic area near the boat ride jetty.

When we left the WWT, we took a look round Swanbourne Lake - and had ice creams with our feathered friends.

BIRD NEWS:707

 

Here are a family of ducklings - with....3 mixed species parents? um....

Ah, that's better - two youngsters and one parent - moorhen in this case, spotted on our reedbed boardwalk walk.

Plenty of blackheaded gulls in the house marten hide area which has now been reopened and filled up. There were also a couple of house martens around - but no terns.

Here are the Bewick family - Orangetag and Silvertag and their 3 teenage youngtsers from last year - with new nest in situ.

It looks as if they are still adding the final touches to the nest....but after last year's success, they may have another mob coming eggfully along shortly.

Here is one of last years youngsters.

and another of the trio to finish today's post....

HERE is info for summer sunshine days....relative to birds.

BIRD NEWS:706

 

After visiting the castle grounds, we wandered around a bit then ended up at the WWT. 3 of the 4 pelicans were having a swim on this occasion. We spotted an oyster catcher roaming the meadows beside the pelican enclosure.

Next, we came upon a greylag family strolling along the path.

I took a shot of a dozing Nene - along with some other birds, including barrows goldeneye, black backed radjah shelduck, pintail and American woodduck.

The next bunch of birds were enjoying the daisies.

Next, we came upon the trumpeter swans....

They were not getting up to much, just lazing about. However, whilst at their little lake, we spotted something else - not a swan.

Either a baby mallard or a baby mandarin duckling...swimming about totally unparented.

We saw a lot of mallards and mandarins on the bank dozing but none of them seemed to have any young with them or be watching this young duckling. It was swimming about on its own in the lake, actively biting at flies and getting some food....totally alone. We thought it a bit young to be solo, but it seemed to be OK. We did report it later on to a staff member who said it could fend for itself at that age food wise, and would just need to find shelter. Hopefully, it did.

BIRD NEWS:705

 

Whether tree creeper or blue tit, we watched it for some time trying to figure out its identity. We then strolled onwards.

Mute swan, mallard, and Canada goose inhabited the first pond we spotted.

I took a few shots as the clouds were looking interesting as well. In my last shot you can almost see some of the rhododendron/azalea colors.

On the infoboard, you can see some of the birdlife spottable on the surrounding parkland trails. We took the longest of three hikes on offer and spotted a green woodpecker, yellowhammer, redstart or stonechat, and a few warbler like birds.

Back home, and one of the two greenfinches was down on the feeder.

Our next excursion was to Brighton, and did not have any birds, just views from up high. However, the following weekend, Liz and I went to Arundel - walking thru the woodland and then strolling round the allium festival in the castle grounds. There was a young coot swimming about a lake we saw shortly before our picnic lunch.

A second young coot was hanging with its mommy for food.

How to identify a cattle egret.

BIRD NEWS:704 - warning dying rat in 4 pictures

 

The last 4 shots of our Lancing-Shoreham excursion are somewhat sad - if 'nature'. A crow appeared to be attacking/killing a rat...

It kept pecking at the head/neck, then grabbing the tail and dragging it back to the path as the poor half dead creature attempted escape with its last energy thrusts.

Whilst you can feel sad for the rat, you can also feel happy for the crow.

That brings me to the end of April 2022. Our May excursions began with Liz and I spending a day in Sheffield Park. Firstly, we sat down to have coffee and somebody came to sit on a spare chair beside our table and join us.

I got a really good photo, at it sat just the right distance for my camera to steal a well focused shot.

Liz rewarded our unexpected guests with some cheese crumbs from her lunch box. It consumed one with a gulp and flew off with the second. We then began to explore the gardens. Trust me to spot a pigeon-hole on a stick!! Ha ha.

We then came across what Liz thought to be a tree creeper. We decided that although it might have been a tit or strange colored robin, she was probably correct. This was based on its actions and her having spotted white, and its size. I have only seen them going up and down tree trunks before, not along branches, so I was still unconvinced to 100% that it wasn't a blue tit, but...we will call it a tree creeper.

BIRD NEWS:703

 

We saw nesting swans on the lagoon.

Actually, 2 islands had this spectacle to observe.

But between the two nest-isles, we spotted a crowd of pigeon, mixing partially with gull.

We took a wander up the estuary and spotted city pigeon nesting/hanging in the underpasses to bridgework.

Alas, my photography was somewhat lacking in camera-function.

I got some odd angle shots, but.....

Regular readers might have been expecting an infoboard or two... this one came from our estuary rambles. A pair of oyster catchers and a gull inhabit my final shot for today.

HERE is some info on why birds are useful.