BIRD NEWS:166

Here are the gulls in my last posts' final photo in close up, followed by a couple of shots of gulls out over the ocean on the bus trip home. On my way from the bus to home, which takes around 30 minutes walk, I spotted some birds in the school field -

- why, yes, that is a magpie in the foreground - but behind it are some familiar birds - pigeons!

One more shot of the magpie, and my camera stayed in my carry bag til I arrived home. But back home, as I unpacked such delights as new Reeboks, baklava, garlic naans, mango powder, and Indonesian noodles, I spotted our resident chimney dwelling big black bird - and this one I know for a fact to be a jackdaw.

Well that was that trip over and done with and due to a friend's husband's accident/hospitalization, my vacation was unplannable. I was 'on call' in case their neighbor - a mutual friend - needed any help.

BIRD NEWS:165

Still in Shoreham and on the top storey of a double decker bus, I took a couple more shots out the window on my return trip. I finally managed to capture pigeons rather than seagulls!! I have chosen the main view and the close up to show you.

There were some more pigeons further along towards Lancing, yet again on a roof top. Alas, only one of the three shots I took came out at all, and it came out poorly.

However, in Lancing itself, I managed to capture a 'big black bird' in the park near the beach. I was soon back in Worthing - although I did take two more shots of the above bird that did not come out first. I had a smoothie/toilet break and then hopped on another 700 to continue my trip homewards. As I sipped my smoothie, I managed one shot of a pair of gulls though - here they are in full view.

BIRD NEWS:164

This is the final photograph taken in my unsuccessful attempts to capture a goldfinch. The goldfinches may have escaped before the camera went click, but this last shot turned out really well, I think. It shows a blue-tit and sparrow on the top of the tree tops at the end of our garden.

The next day was the first of a 10-day vacation for me, although I still took an elderly friend for a walk most days and did 2 private cleaning jobs for friends. I took off on a 700-run. I did not decide until 20 minutes before leaving that I would go - so it was not planned. My first stop was Shoreham, where I hopped off to explore the French markets, have a coffee, and buy bras.

While I did not spot the toilet-road pigeon gang this trip, I did spot the seagull at the church. My next stop was Brighton, where I bought new Reeboks and Indian groceries - and took a few pictures from the top storey of a double decker bus - such as this distant seagull...

...and this seagull on a lampost (top left hand of shot). As I approached Shoreham on the return trip, I got a few more shots in - alas, no really good ones - such as this seagull flying through the skies and the second shot of a seagull on a rooftop as we approached the town.

BIRD NEWS:163

This was the blue-tit about to enter its bird house - I took multiple shots, but alas none actually caught the parents entering to feed their young. I managed to get a few shots of the parents on the tree, though.

Ok, so...what is it? or where is it? you may ask - YES, there is a bird in the shot, someplace - I did not just take a photo of the tree varieties. HERE you go:

Here is one of a few photographs I took in attempts to capture the goldfinches visit to the yard. I caught sparrows, instead! However I do like the photograph - especially the way the leaves on the very right look a little bit like a bird in their shape! They are only leaves though, not an exotic greeny-gray dove...

Finally for today, another try to get a goldfinch photograph to share with you. There is a sparrow and a blue-tit, but alas, no goldfinch - they were too quick again!

BIRD NEWS:162

Here we are on the final week of April, with a shot of Pidge and Mr Black enjoying the grassy area below the feeders - and all the crumbs dropped there by sparrows and starlings. Pidge looks cute among the forget-me-nots, doesn't he?

Mr Black actually looks at the camera and I accidentally manage to capture a sparrow taking a drink. You can now see more blue flowers - bluebells - the yard is full of spring color right now.

This next shot is rather strange and therefore amuses me. That is NOT a flying banana peel near the top, I swear! It is actually a goldfinch that escaped before my camera went click! Below it, there was a starling doing likewise...

This lil lass might be familiar to long term readers - Curio! She flew onto the sill with 2 starlings and a sparrow to scoop up suet and seed more or less as soon as they had been put on the sill, this morning.

This tail belongs to a sparrow...the shot was actually supposed to be another goldfinch, but yet again it flew away too quickly. Three times this morning the goldfinches have investigated the yard and feeder. I am hoping this may mean they have found an alternative to the large fir/pine tree that got cut down next door and a new nesting site - or at least will continue to visit for food and water.

BIRD NEWS:161

Here is Pidge below the feeders and another shot of Ditty with partner on top of the feeders - where they have hung out three days in a row for around 10-20 minutes. In fact, I took several photos of our resident doves.

Recently, I planted a chili seedling in a ginger wine bottle to put on my bedroom windowsill. This is the reaction Pidge gave to the new decor...

We have now reached the last week of April 2016 - in my photos, if not posts. Updating everybody that regularly tunes in, Beatie and partner have indeed moved into the new nest box and been quite active for a few days - then not so active for 2-3 days, but are once more highly active this morning. I assume the brief interlude may be due to 1-2 eggs hatching while the others were still eggs, as only one adult seemed to leave the nest and only every 10-15 minutes return to the box.

BIRD NEWS:160

Above is my last photo of Swanborne Lake for this April trip. As I walked back to town along the moatside sidewalk, I spotted something I had missed entirely on my way out from town earlier - a nesting moorhen!

Of course, this necessitated a few photographs...

...& that concludes my April excursion to Arundel picture wise.

April reached its middle, and looking out of the kitchen window I spotted the new Ditty and partner having a rest...

...on top of the bird feeder, where they decided to vegetate and preen peacefully for some time. In the background you can see the birdhouse on the tree behind the poly tunnel - well, there is some good news - Beatie and partner have moved in and from the way I see them scurrying about, I assume are feeding young!

BIRD NEWS:159

I had almost half-finished my coffee when I spotted yet another bird to photograph, resting just a little to one side of my bench.

I then decided to head back towards Arundel town and try out the Indian restaurant's vegetarian take away menu. As I exited the lake gates and walked alongside the lake on the street outside, I spotted more dozing ducks -

- and geese.

I am not sure what that duck behind him is thinking - but it certainly looks attentative!

I headed back towards town - taking a few more shots en route. On my way here, I had missed a few birds and sites...