BIRD NEWS:67 & video

Two more shots of the gulls, showing many of the youngsters in the flock. People were also lazing on the beach later on, but at the time when I arrived it was mainly birds. I wandered along a bit further to see if I could find the beach gang pigeons I have got to know, and spotted two of them down by the sea.

As they did not come near to me, I disappeared to pop into a store, returning about a half hour before my next bus leg. This time, the gang ate the seeds in their usual spot.

I also saw a couple of those big black birds wandering about - checking out if the food offered was to their liking, but seeing it was ONLY seed, ignoring it.

HERE is what elephants do with swallows...

BIRD NEWS:66

After Bubster-Pidge's failed hiding performance, the tree was not vacant for long. Ditty and partner were soon to return to their favored branch and proceeded to get romantic. Firstly, the 'I want to nibble your face feathers' look appears...

...followed closely by the 'will you let me' attempt. Next comes the 'OK, you look like you are ignoring me, but...' and then the 'what do you think you are looking at'...

Bubster-Pidge reappeared, preenfully. A day or so later, Teen-Pidge regally sat upon a branch, staring at me as if to say that he was king of the tree. Then, I was off out on the second weekend of the month, on one of my 700-runs! We start off with a shot of seagulls on Worthing Beach. It was really nice weather for the majority of the day, so not only did I get some good pictures, but all the regulars were out on display - except one of the beach gang pigeons, which flew overhead earlier on, but failed to reappear at seed-time.

BIRD NEWS:65

Alas, I begin today's blog with some saddening excitement. I was looking out of my window and spotted a bird in the tree with plum plumage and it wasn't a wood pigeon. As I watched, I saw it had a small sparrow for prey and was ripping feathers out. Later on, I looked the bird up to identify it online, as none of the birds of prey resembled it in my 3 bird ID books, and the blue stripey part reminded me of a jay...

...which is what it turned out to be. I had no idea that jays ate small birds until I researched them. I have never seen one in our yard before, only in other people's yards when out walking. I got a good shot of one of my wood pigeon friends standing on the sill later on.

It was soon back to peace and serenity in the tree and yard, as July entered its second week I caught sight of Ditty and partner lazing away on a branch. Bubster-Pidge did a hide-n-seek act on me, but was not very successful, as you can see...

BIRD NEWS:64

Parent and youngster coot were still swimming below as we wandered onwards - but not very far. We did not get far before a swan appeared - with 2 cygnets. It was only when we were about to leave, that a third swam up into view, too late to be caught on the camera...

I managed to get some interesting shots, as the swans were swimming up directly below us, hidden by plants on the waters edge.

Our group wandered onwards - towards our inevitable coffee stop. Back home, as I typed up my memories and cropped the photos, the sounds of a hungry baby bird greeted my ears - I am not 100% sure, but it sounds to me like a new baby pigeon has been born in my tree! I shall look forward to meeting it shortly, as soon after squeak-mode, the generally emerge and appear in the tree - then sill...

BIRD NEWS:63

Taking a look closer to the bridge or wooden bar that we leaned upon, there was much activity. A parent and child coot were enjoying the waters below us. HERE is some information about this bird.

Back home, and the garden birds were busy entertaining me. Yet again an inquisitive young blackbird flew up onto the kitchen window and peeped in while I cooked one morning - for the third time this year! Glancing out over the front yard while meditating with a mug of coffee, a female blackbird walked past, jackdaws amassed across the road and grabbed some delicacy from our neighbors' bird table, and a sparrow darted from one hedge into another...

But back to the trip - here is one last shot of the grebe.

BIRD NEWS:62

Before sharing pictures from my latest trip, I have one more shot of Bubster-Pidge lounging about the bird table roof to share. Then, onward to the waterfowl at Southwater Country Park...

...oops, and my friend's arm! Ducks, coots, swans and a grebe are coming in this trip's posts. It was a pleasant summers day in early July and it did not take long before my camera appeared and went snap, snap, snap. (Thankfully, my friends know me by now - and they all like birds too.)

This last shot is of the grebe. HERE is some information about this species.

HEREis some information on this specific variety of grebe.

BIRD NEWS:61

Ditty has been seen quite often in the tree recently, along with partner and a younger dove - I assume they are the current laurel tree inhabitants. As July arrived, Ditty has learned that it is safe to sit in the tree and watch as I scoop up and put out seed - and that this is now the only way to get enough seed at our place. Bubster-Pidge still likes to hang out the yard and tree - and often sits down and meditates. Here he is on top the bird table one day early in the month.

That is not the only activity going on in the yard - Curio and Mr Black have a youngster. Here is Mommy and child investigating my veggie plot.

Teen-Pidge still hangs out - and still stands up erect and haughty as if thinking itself superior to all other birds and beings alike. In my next post, I will share some shots of my next excursion with you. My friends and I headed over to a place near Horsham called Southwater Country Park - and naturally, I had my camera along with me!