BIRD NEWS:371

I appear to have taken far more pictures of the Bewick swans than I thought I had - but then, I took a lot more than planned overall. I had intended to just take 2-3 shots of each bunch of swans and maybe 2-3 other photos all trip, focusing on using the new binoculars, but I seem to have see-sawed between bins and camera. Another swan up next - the Trumpeter.

Not sure where the other one was - I only saw one on this trip. Perhaps that white splodge to the right of the island is the other swan? Maybe they are having nesting attempt #2 for 2017...

Some information for you next up, on starlings and water rails. Both of these birds have been pictured in previous blog entries.

Today's final shot shows yet another swan - the black-necked swan! If you are getting bored with swans - click HERE and HERE for a couple of articles about a couple of smaller birds.

BIRD NEWS:370

That brings us to my next excursion - yet again to Arundel WWT. This trip was taken mid-September and included a walk entitled 'Discover Bird Surveying', which turned out to be quite interesting. My first shot is of the lake beside the cafe preceding the walk/talk and whilst taking a quick vegetarian lunch from the cafe before a stroll right round first! It shows a row of seagulls with some mixed ducks beyond.

Next up, one more shot with more variety, taken whilst sipping pear juice and munching a hommous/roasted veg sandwich. Next, an info board about robins, with information that was new to me.

I began to wander round on my regular clockwise circle of the site - eager to test out my new noccies. Before doing so, I grabbed a photo of a group of Australian wood ducks. I came upon the Bewick swan enclosure - it was no surprise to find the cygnets almost adult in size and color. After all, it has been several weeks since my last encounter.

I spent a little while observing them swimming from the bank to the water and onwards before I too moved onward.

As you can see, the cygnets are now almost as large as the parents and not much greyer.

BIRD NEWS:369 & Darwin

My next excursion was to Worthing, with the aim of attending the chili fiesta that is usually held in Shoreham. I was not extremely impressed with the Worthing version, as there were less stalls and the vegetarian curry cart I had been looking forward to dining from did not show up. I wandered around the streets a little also, and found a pigeon to photograph.

I ended up buying a tub of vegetarian Thai flavored rice noodles from the noodle bar and sitting in a shelter on the beachfront to eat lunch - and found a bunch of old pals. Long time readers may recall Worthing used to bring about shots of 'the beach gang' - well, here are the present gang.

That last shot is of one of the old members who remembered me! He came up to see if I had any seed or crumbs - but alas, hot and spicy noodles were not suitable to share.

Some encountered geese and ducks that inhabit the Swillage Pond that I pass on my way to various hikes I have recently taken have as yet eluded my camera, as I have not taken it with me on these walks. I intend to trot down to the pond at some point in the next few weeks with the sole purpose of taking a few shots to share of these birds, though. For the time being, let me introduce them as white ducks, colored ducks, mallards and geese of some sort.

Finally for this posting - some information about Darwin relative to birds - HERE.

BIRD NEWS:368

Here is another shot of the duck - the answer being an eider. It is not very clear in the photos though, as the tell-tale beak is hidden. I briefly took one last circuit before leaving - though I did not stop at the hides or stroll slowly on the last leg - but I took another shot of the Bewick swan family!

I also took a shot of the mystery duck - whether it is a species not listed in my bird books, or one in summer plumage that is not listed in them, I do not know. It was hanging out with the mallards - but male mallards usually look like the females rather than dark with white patches - so I am unsure.

One last shot of the trumpeter swans and I wandered back into Arundel town on my way home. I did stop to take another photo or two though - as I spotted a heron in the fields to the side of the avenue.

On my next trip, I attended the Bognor Country Fair at Hotham Park. I prefer the park empty of stalls and with less people, as I can then hang out with the 'crows' (or rooks?) etc, but I did manage to find some owls on display to take photos of. That was all I took of birds on that outing.

BIRD NEWS:367

My last take on the black necked swans for this current trip to Arundel - along with a reminder of some information about them. As I wandered towards the exit, I spotted a pair of pigeons - and so of course I had to take their photo.

There were a few more pigeons at the bird feeder station - but it was mostly jackdaws. One jackdaw has got the hang of getting up to where the seeds come out! It just clung on and pecked away at them.

I wandered on, slowly, towards the cafe and exit. The various varieties of geese, gulls, and ducks were all hanging out together.

I wonder if anyone can identify this duck species? Regular readers gain the clue that it was in the lake next to the cafe/exit.

BIRD NEWS:366

I came across the blacknecked swans next, shortly after passing an identification board which I also took a photo of - in case the mystery bird from my last post was one of those - but the bill is different, so I will stick to assuming it to be a young thrush.

The blacknecked swan was hovering around the feeding area for diving birds - as eager as the gulls to get a taste of what lay inside - but not able to dive under the enclosure to reach the food.

I turned aside briefly and thought I got a shot of the duck at the top of the info board, but seemed to have chopped it out. I went back to take another shot or two of the swan.

The other one came up soon after to join it. I assume their nest produced no young, as there have been no cygnets in sight this year.

Finally for today's post - HERE is some info on the blue tit and HERE is another article on the field fare.

BIRD NEWS:365 and gold finch info

Well, while taking the last shot that I asked about - this fellow appeared from behind the tree. The actual bird I had attempted to grab a photo of was a kingfisher that had dived into the water then returned to the bushy tree from behind which the heron appeared.

I took a few shots - hoping the kingfisher would appear in one, whilst the heron made it worthwhile to take them anyway - alas, no sign of the red-blue splash of kingfisher. I wandered on a bit further, and came upon a baby moorhen - too cute not to take a picture!

Here we have a blue tit and either a great tit or coal tit sharing the feeder. I then came across a strange bird. It was sitting on the ground behind the wire fence. It looked a bit like a thrush. It may have been a young thrush, or something else.

Finally for today, HERE is some information on the goldfinch.