BIRD NEWS:770

 

We wandered round the gardens area and came across a bird related sign. 2 jackdaws and a pigeon were nesting in the old castle framework.

Wandering along the avenue of trees after our castle visit, Liz wanted to check out the stream from the area that had someting to do with trout fishing. First up we spotted a swan - then a pair of grey wagtails. I caught the former on camera, but my camera was messing about making noises and flashing when I turned the flash off - so I lost the wagtails.

Next we stopped breifly at Swanbounre Lake....

& I took some shots of the pigeons....and gulls, tufted ducks, mallards, etc

We then proceeded to WWT and I bought a vegan pasty, spotting a goose peeping into the cafe. As we exited to eat our picnic lunch at a table, we saw the goose still peeping inside.

There were still 2 female pelicans in their lake.

I found a couple of nenes.

BIRD NEWS:769

 

I tried again, but again failed to get a decent shot of the pochard. However, I had better luck with taking a shot of nesting Canada geese! Mommy goose was turning her eggs...

Meanwhile, as we passed the picnic area, I spotted a pheasant rudely standing on top a table. It made a good photo, though.

Our next excursion was to Chanctonbury Ring and Steyning. Here we see a pigeon on Steyning church tower's window.

I also spotted a building with birds that looked like pigeons from a distance depicted upon the support wall. They might have been eagles or something , though to me they look like pigeons!!

My final photos from this day were taken in the back yard. I went out to collect dry laundry from the washing line and discovered a mass of twigs and grass sticking out from my jeans...

Apparently, jeans making a great nesting site for robins!! Alas, I thik they realised that the wind was too strong to keep that nest. I did leave my jeans hanging on the washing line in case though, as I saw nesting stuff further up a leg...

The next trip Liz and I took was to Arundel. We started off at the tulip Festival at Arundel Castle. One area was no access this year due to swans nesting....

I didnt know that THESE guys were Aussie.

BIRD NEWS:768

 

Starting today with Silvertag Bewick, starring on the bank of her lake in the first picture.

Orangetag Bewick is hanging out with mallards while preening in the rear.

Neither took much notice of me on this occasion.

The coots had young too!

So I took a few pictures of the parent coot hanging out with her babes and feeding them.

Also, of two of the trio feeding for themselves. It appears that akin to Australian blackbacked magpies, the young of this species will eat for themselves but still expect mama to feed them too! Maybe it is the same for all species....

A not so hot shot of a pochard ends todays' posting from Arundel WWT.

BIRD NEWS:767

 

Next, we came upon a row of dozing mallards - two male for every female.

We then spotted a pheasant strolling in the daffodils.

The swans were just hanging out casually grazing...

so I played with the shape of the photos...

A white farm duck was with the Trumpeters.

Meanwhile, in the woodland hide...we spotted a mallard with twin babes!

Back to swans, the Bewicks this time....

HERE is a list of several recently sighted newbies.

BIRD NEWS:766

 

There was a bullfinch in a tree. Then, on a feeder, we saw a chaffinch.

Our next trip was to Nymans then Leonardslee. We spotted a peacock in the shrubbery behind the potted plants.

It was just sitting there, doing nothing....

A fortnight later, Liz and I returned to Nymans then Leonardslee. This time we spotted a robin on a high hedge on one side of the ruined house at Nymans...

On the next section of hedge round the corner, we found a jackdaw posing.

At Leonardslee, we spotted a jackdaw with the wallbies.

We stopped at the bird hide and spotted several birds - one of which was a kingfisher that swooped across the lake out of sight. I had hoped my camera would pick it up - but I can't see it in my photo.

HERE is a link to an article concerning the royal occasion and how the former Queen supported swans...

BIRD NEWS:765

 

I tried unsuccessfully to get a good shot of a treecreeper next. Then I took a photo of a stockdove. I have only seen them once before - in my own garden...they are quite rare.

Here you can see a pair of them. You can tell they are not wood pigeon - as they have green not purple necks, fatter necks, and no white stripe on wing or neck.

Nor are they city pigeon as they are larger and plumper. Here they are joined by a crow.

My next photograph depicts a male pheasant....and a robin. No, the pheasant isnt carrying or eating the robin - even if the picture looks like that. The robin is behind the pheasant...

Blue tit, goldfinch, and greater spotted woodpecker - all in a row!

They are soon joined by a second goldfinch.

From the heron hide we spotted one on land and one in a tree.

HERE are the birdwatch results from January.

BIRD NEWS:764

 

I tried and tried and tried to get a good shot of the redwing...without success. However, I did manage a shot or 2 of a chaffinch.

or 3....

Then we moved hides....and I caught a blue tit and a bullfinch

This unusual shot pictures a male and a female bullfinch on one feeder with 2 bluetits on the second food supply.

Once again, I tried to take more than 1 shot - just in case....

I think the next shot is my best at capturing the bullfinch duo.

Then I caught a longtailed tit on a feeder.

MORE info on waders here...