BIRD NEWS:394

Well, what have we here? This bird might mystify regular readers whose knowledge of English bird life is limited to my blog, as I have never seen, let alone photographed one of these before!

As you can see, it is a smallish bird, little larger than a wren in size - but with far more abundance of color. The answer lies in the info board pictured below. I was wandering past the wildlife garden between hides and saw a group of photographers centered on a bush on the outside of the area. I was curious and stood to the side/back watching the bush. I soon spotted this little fellow bouncing about and clicked away. 3 of my 6-7 shots came out fairly well.

Next up I wandered by the trumpeter swan area and spotted another bird of note to photograph. A yellow wagtail - once again, a bird I had not seen before but managed to get a couple of shots of.

I did not find a board with information about the yellow wagtail, but did find one about the pied wagtail.

I also found some information about a hawfinch - but alas, did not see one of these today. HERE is an article about the bird for those interested.

BIRD NEWS:393

I finally managed to get another Arundel WWT excursion in - although as it was so cold and with an icy wind, I only stayed about 2 hours. First up, an information board to supplement my own ramblings. This time, concerning the kingfisher - regular readers will have spotted a few photos of this bird in previous entries, although I did not see one today.

Next, a post sitting duck - one of those strange ones that when moulting turn blackish brown with a white patch, then gradually shade up back into mallard-like coloring, as you can see here.

It was very cold, as I have already mentioned - so a hot coffee at the cafe was taken not long after my arrival. I therefore took a shot of the eiders and other aqautica on the cafe-side lake, whilst indulging in my lonesome cuppa.

This is one of the 2017 Bewick swan babes eyeing me as I walked past its enclosure. I ex-zoomed to get a picture of the foursome family from which it was wandering, before moving on to the Trumpeter enclosure.

The Trumpeter swans were gliding about by the island today - not close enough for a decent picture. I did try again on my way back around for the second trot later on, but still they were too far away to get a proper picture this excursion

BIRD NEWS:392

That is the last photo I took of the jay. Recently, there have been a coal tit and great tit enjoying the peanuts along with the blue tits. Also recently, the blackbirds have been eating the berries - so it must be cold. Mr Black has stood on the ground under the berry tree, flown up, snatched a berry in his beak, and landed below to eat it several times in a row in order to get a winter meal.

Another of Mr Black's antics is captured above - being a ground feeder, unlike the starlings and sparrows who cling to the feeder itself with their toes while munching, blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, etc stand and peck - usually on the ground or a sill. One starling, Chackie, and Mr Black have learned to stand on the holder and beak at the suet balls, though.

Another poor shot here - of Plateface the elusive winter-only thrush taking a drink in the stone water bowl. The other 3 occasions on which I have noticed Plateface, I was too late to run to the spare room and grab my camera.

Does anyone notice anything strange about my bird feeder pole? Perhaps not...but there is a large lump that is not usually in sight that you may have noticed. It looks a bit like a hedgehog...

It is actually a sunflower head, complete with seeds, that our organic fruit n vegetable delivery company Riverford gave away for free in January. Recalling how a flock of cockatoos flew into my back yard from their usual haunt in the park across the street when I lived in Wollongong, I grabbed the chance of reconstructing the venture locally. Alas, 3 days later and not a single seed appear to have been munched...

Of course we do not get cockatoos in England, but goldfinches and sparrows and pigeons all favor sunflower seeds...

BIRD NEWS:391

Well, December did give us two hours of snowfall - but as you can see, not much of it laid and stayed - BOO! The garden was not frozen enough for it to disrupt the birds however, which was one good point - even if some of us humans were hoping to be building a snowman!

As you can see by this female blackbird, there was still food around to be found. Mr Bob put in frequent appearances in the back yard. He is one of the few birds to be there EVERY day. Today for instance, the final Friday of the month and year, Mr Bob, Plateface the winter-only thrush, Beatie the blue tit and a handful of starlings were all that was seen in an entire hour.

On NYE I looked out of the kitchen window, shortly before doing a load of laundry and spotted the jay back in the yard, eyeing the food supply.

After he took a good look all around - at the four food options and the peanuts spilled on the ground when I refilled the container yesterday, he decided to eat a dozen or so peanuts out the feeder - then to fly down and pick up 2-3 more before flying away.

Finally, please sign THIS petition to stop Trump harming migratory birds.

BIRD NEWS:390

The answer as shown above is the Trumpeter swan. Some more information follows, concerning two birds I often spot but do not often take much notice of. (Liz can recognize the wigeon just by its sound, though.)

I progressed around the wetland reserve and came to the woodland hide - still goldfinches enjoying the seed and nuts along with the tits, and still the mallards beneath...

I did not stay very long on this trip, so we are already up to the black necked swans. I had sinus issues and had basically just fancied sitting on a bus and taking a casual stroll, rather than learning something new &/or a vigorous walk on this occasion.

Here are a genuine living example and a board shot of a Philippine duck. Finally, for today's post, a shot of the eider-lake - including some Canada geese, gulls, and other ducks.

BIRD NEWS:389

On my late December Arundel visit, my first photos were of the Bewick swan family. You can see that the cygnets have almost lost their gray coloring and become practically white, like the parents.

I then encountered a long tailed tit - but my pictures were not very successful. I have taken better photos that I have shared in previous posts.

Ok, swan identification time - which of the four breeds of swan is this? Bewick, Trumpeter, Mute or Blacknecked? The above picture should rule out one species - and this next shot the remaining 2, leaving you with the result:

Finally - another shot to go with, before making your choice...

The answer will be in my next post. Back home, little is going on, apart from me chasing 2 black furballs out of my yard. There are very few birds around thanks to this pair of bullying pigeon-murderers.

If you are interested in which species are around England apart from in my yard - click HERE.

BIRD NEWS:388 and Christmas

The answer to my last post's question is that it was a mute swan. My next shot was a lucky-to-have-the-camera-handy shot of the jay munching peanuts from the feeder.

There was a recent unfortunate incident among the more pleasant backyard sightings of bluetits, great tits, blackbirds, robins, pigeons...

I was wandering into the kitchen one afternoon and happened to glance out of the window, as I often do. I spotted a black shape by my pond - a furry cat - before I could spot the second MONSTER the other side of the pond, I shot out, as the furry one closest to view was pawing at what I assumed was a frog.

As I approached, both cats stared at me as if to say 'WE are cats - YOU piss off', til I got closer - then they scarpered. I had now found the being they were swiping at to be a pigeon - now sitting on the plants in the center of the pond, petrified and with blood under its wing/on its head.

I succeeded in chasing both furballs out of the yard, but not in scooping up the injured bird to place into a position of safety - directly. It sheltered from the pond net under the bush to one side. Later on, when dashing out to chase those murderers away for the 2nd or 3rd time, the pigeon was up by the poly tunnel - and after following it with the net,  I finally managed to scoop it onto the rim and lift it up onto the apple tree - where it climbed safely from the net into the ivy covered branches.

I do not know if it lived or died - but I am hoping it survived, as it looked in tact, just scared and feather-ripped apart from the head gash. I have now started to look out for those bullies and chase the fur balls OUT of my yard everytime I spot them - I won't tolerate such behaviour from pe(s)ts....only wildlife seeking a meal has the right toi kill in MY garden.

Here are links to articles about woodpecker species:

LINK ONE

LINK TWO

Finally - if you have Christmas leftovers - check HERE.