BIRD NEWS:275

Here is one more shot of a Trumpeter youth swimming serenely on their lake. Next up, some information to help you identify a couple of similar birds.

Well, look what i discovered in the woodland hide - a pigeon! Actually, as I wandered inside the hide, 2-3 small birds flew out. I think some blue tits were sheltering in there, or looking for bugs on the floor and walls, maybe. The next thing I saw was the pigeon, though.

Here is a great tit about to go to the peanut feeder. The second shot above is of the great tit actually munching. Along came a blue tit also eager to have a peanut feast...

The bird accompanying the wood pigeon might be new to my blog. I do not think I have photographed one before, but I may have done so and forgotten as I have now seen so many birds. I wonder if anyone can identify it? More will be revealed in my next post. My final shot for today is a pair of blue tits on a branch above the peanut feeder.

BIRD NEWS:274 and goldfinch info

The answer to my question is - a pub with a bird related name! Next, yet another statue before we return to real life birds. I don't recall having seen a Christmas penguin before.

From this latest shot you will know I wandered along the moatside avenue if you are a regular reader. You might also spot and recognize mallards - male and female - in the moat. In my next shot, I also captured a coot, moorhen and a swan.

Well this shot should alert regular readers that I did something other than Xmas festivities while visiting Arundel - it is the pair of resident Bewicks' swans I regularly photograph in the wetlands reserve. Regular readers may be well aware that I usually go around the reserve in a clockwise direction and know more or less what to expect as I progress.

Here is some info on the Bewick's swans that regular readers may well know all about by now. Talking of swans, here are the Trumpeter swan family - complete with teenage preeners.

Finally for today - HERE are some goldfinch facts.

BIRD NEWS:273

The answer to the question in my last blog is more statues! Here we see a peacock at the next shop-house-studio I paused outside of. There were also a pair of birds on a bird bath rim and an iron peacock at the same location - and more...

Ah, doves and pigeons generally feature heavily in my blog posts and here are a pair! I took two more shots at this location - one of another iron peacock and one of another dove/show pigeon.

That might be rather a lot of bird statues and my next photograph is not of a bird statue - but neither is it a real live bird. I wonder if anyone can guess what it is likely to be?

While I leave you guessing, I will post an early December update from the yards at home. The blackbirds have been munching the yellow berries on the shrub posted a few blog posts ago while the magpies have been resting in the dead trees at the end of the back yard. The sparrows and starlings have not visited as much as usual lately, but Beatie the blue tit has been pinching peanuts from the feeder quite regularly this first week of the month.

In the front yard, Mr Bob has been active along with a few sparrows - but not much activity is going on. Across on the corner I have recently begun to spot a collection of city pigeons, though - and this is pleasant for me. Its lovely to hear their familiar coos - that once filled my former back yard every single day.

BIRD NEWS:272

What is this little bird? Well, it was a wren - alas, my photos did not come out very clearly. My next shot of sparrows on the feeder pole came out better and concludes my brief interlude between trips covering early December back yard birds.

My next trip regular readers may anticipate involved the Christmas celebration - Arundel By Candlelight. Each December for the past 3-4 years, I have attended and usually I take a lot of photos of the moat and a few of statues while strolling around the ancient town and sampling hot roast chestnuts and mulled wine.

I wonder if you can find more than one bird in this photo? The next shot shows a close up of two you might have missed and then a better shot of the 'rocking duck' toy.

Then there were a couple of robins on the tree also - here they are along with two more that were not in the first shot. Finally for today and this display, a pair of penguins. I wonder if you can guess what the first picture in my next post will be of...? More statues perhaps, or some birds on the moat, or...

BIRD NEWS:271

Before my next excursion, here are some early December pictures taken at home in the back yard. Firstly, Mr Black takes a bath and drink in the water.

Next, some sparrows enjoy the bird feeder pole. A wood pigeon strolls the new dug over area of back yard near the fence - where I have replanted some roses and a fushcia along with other hedge-like plants with the aim of creating a 3-4 foot high hedge with odds and ends sticking out of it.

Wood pigeons like the tree outside my bedroom window too. Normally, I like seeing them resting in peace on the tree - but this day I was hoping to wash the window and floor ready to redecorate my room - I had to wait.

A wood pigeon staring in as it strolls along the fence top is nothing new since the new fence was erected next door. Finally for today, here is the berry bush outside the kitchen window. It has been busy in earkly december - with blue tits hunting for grubs and blackbirds devouring the berries.

BIRD NEWS:270

As I made my way towards the town center - where the bus stop was located - I walked along the moat-side. On the way to the reserve I had walked on the field side. Evidence of the amount of rain we had had locally overnight was in view - for the moat was 'full'.

Why did I take THIS shot you may be wondering - searching all over for a bird, possibly a pigeon. While that might be what is sighted in the tree, the purpose of my photo was the sighting while eating lunch of another kingfisher. This time on the riverbank. Alas, my pictures did not show it clearly. This is the best shot I got and the blue that distinguishes its identity is not really visible. (It is sitting on the pipe).

Back home, Pidge decided to hang on on top the bird feeder - despite the rain

And a pair of magpies occupied the old dead trees at the base of the yard - keeping the smaller birds away.

BIRD NEWS:269

What have we here? This picture was taken on my excursion to Arundel on the third weekend in November. The next shot shows the infoboard on the species and following is a clearer view of the live bird.

Next up, I was passing this bunch of beauties and just had to take a shot or two...

By the variety of colors, you can see that much interbreeding between city and show pigeon has occurred to produce this flock. I wonder if maybe this might be the result showing in our gang back in Wollongong had I stayed another 3-4 years.

That was not the last of the pigeons discovered on my current trip - I had no sooner walked round the corner, about to go to the next area when I spotted....a tree FILLED with my friends!!!!

As you can see the skies were darkening, although they had not been very bright all day through, and rain and wind had both been heavy to begin with. I was beginning to think it might shortly be time to return home. For my final picture today, a close-up of the treefull.