BIRD NEWS:394

Well, what have we here? This bird might mystify regular readers whose knowledge of English bird life is limited to my blog, as I have never seen, let alone photographed one of these before!

As you can see, it is a smallish bird, little larger than a wren in size - but with far more abundance of color. The answer lies in the info board pictured below. I was wandering past the wildlife garden between hides and saw a group of photographers centered on a bush on the outside of the area. I was curious and stood to the side/back watching the bush. I soon spotted this little fellow bouncing about and clicked away. 3 of my 6-7 shots came out fairly well.

Next up I wandered by the trumpeter swan area and spotted another bird of note to photograph. A yellow wagtail - once again, a bird I had not seen before but managed to get a couple of shots of.

I did not find a board with information about the yellow wagtail, but did find one about the pied wagtail.

I also found some information about a hawfinch - but alas, did not see one of these today. HERE is an article about the bird for those interested.

BIRD NEWS:393

I finally managed to get another Arundel WWT excursion in - although as it was so cold and with an icy wind, I only stayed about 2 hours. First up, an information board to supplement my own ramblings. This time, concerning the kingfisher - regular readers will have spotted a few photos of this bird in previous entries, although I did not see one today.

Next, a post sitting duck - one of those strange ones that when moulting turn blackish brown with a white patch, then gradually shade up back into mallard-like coloring, as you can see here.

It was very cold, as I have already mentioned - so a hot coffee at the cafe was taken not long after my arrival. I therefore took a shot of the eiders and other aqautica on the cafe-side lake, whilst indulging in my lonesome cuppa.

This is one of the 2017 Bewick swan babes eyeing me as I walked past its enclosure. I ex-zoomed to get a picture of the foursome family from which it was wandering, before moving on to the Trumpeter enclosure.

The Trumpeter swans were gliding about by the island today - not close enough for a decent picture. I did try again on my way back around for the second trot later on, but still they were too far away to get a proper picture this excursion

BIRD NEWS:392

That is the last photo I took of the jay. Recently, there have been a coal tit and great tit enjoying the peanuts along with the blue tits. Also recently, the blackbirds have been eating the berries - so it must be cold. Mr Black has stood on the ground under the berry tree, flown up, snatched a berry in his beak, and landed below to eat it several times in a row in order to get a winter meal.

Another of Mr Black's antics is captured above - being a ground feeder, unlike the starlings and sparrows who cling to the feeder itself with their toes while munching, blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, etc stand and peck - usually on the ground or a sill. One starling, Chackie, and Mr Black have learned to stand on the holder and beak at the suet balls, though.

Another poor shot here - of Plateface the elusive winter-only thrush taking a drink in the stone water bowl. The other 3 occasions on which I have noticed Plateface, I was too late to run to the spare room and grab my camera.

Does anyone notice anything strange about my bird feeder pole? Perhaps not...but there is a large lump that is not usually in sight that you may have noticed. It looks a bit like a hedgehog...

It is actually a sunflower head, complete with seeds, that our organic fruit n vegetable delivery company Riverford gave away for free in January. Recalling how a flock of cockatoos flew into my back yard from their usual haunt in the park across the street when I lived in Wollongong, I grabbed the chance of reconstructing the venture locally. Alas, 3 days later and not a single seed appear to have been munched...

Of course we do not get cockatoos in England, but goldfinches and sparrows and pigeons all favor sunflower seeds...