BIRD NEWS:439

This robin thinks it is a duck, assumedly. That brings us to the close of my Arundel trip late September. On the final day of the month I was off out again, though - this time to Bosham with Liz. I had not been told where we were going, as she hadn't decided when she called to invite me along. I therefore didn't take my noccies - but did pack my camera, water, wallet, and wear hiking boots - which came in very useful!

This board shows the general map, along with bird species sightable in the area - we saw turnstones, gulls, an egret. You may note that the info board states the flooding dangers of the coastal path - which was the one we were trotting along quite happily - watching for the tide to turn, and planning to turn when it did. We would have been approximately halfway between the warning sign and the black stripe indicative of a ferry when the tide did turn.

We were too late to get back without wet feet! Another half hour and we would have had no chance of being able to return the way we came - though we might just have managed to reach the end of the flooded part and gone to the parking area and taken the road back to Bosham - perhaps.

As shown above - along with a seagull - the pathway was flooded on our return - in 2-3 patches. The first I was able to navigate by stepping directly up to the wall and slowly walking carefully to the other side - but then we came to a deeper patch around the corner and this time I joined Liz in taking my shoes and socks off and wading thru, paddling...

Back home, and I was getting ready to clear the back yard and make adjustments before winter - the bird bath is not even visible currently, for example. Liz's neighbor's house is now sold, and I was offered a feeder pole or two to add to my collection - it being only 3-4 minutes trot round the block, I was happy to receive the gift. I therefore redesigned the entire bird-feeding set up.

Here is the current layout, complete with the new feeder pole, old short one, and original duo, now moved across. The first customer was a great-tit who came down to munch a peanut and beat me fetching the camera - but next up was a small group of sparrows who tucked in happily. Later in the day, a mixed flock of around 7-8 long-tailed tits and blue tits investigated while flying by.

BIRD NEWS:438

A hoard of pigeons flew overhead, and I turned back towards the cafe to photograph them before continuing to leave - they flew over me onto the cafe.... Next up some information.

The duck with the blue beak has appeared in a video or photo of mine before....I now know its species title to be white-headed duck! I would have called it a blue-bill, but...

...then it might get confusing - as some other ducks have blue-bills, such as this species! I turned round a few more corners and took another shot of my happy moment - finding the trumpeters back on their lake.

As I headed back towards the cafe building from the other entrance/exit side, I took another shot of the Bewick family too...

BIRD NEWS:437

I saw far more Dustys than sandmartins on this trip! There were other species to observe, but it was predominantly seagulls and mallards - with the odd goose or swan. Here are a pair of dozing ducks, though, for a little variety.

...and another Dusty or two...

At the feeding area near the cafe, I spotted some pigeons - of course, these just had to sneak into my camera collective for the day!!

I turned, and walked back again after watching the pigeons, and back round the corner at the feeding station spotting a swan with the other munchers. One goose did a lovely ballerina pose for me!

BIRD NEWS:436

Starting today with another pair of Dustys, I proceeded to visit a couple more hides - but as the former ones, very little was on view. I heard plenty of sand martin activity, though. Have another Dusty!

Looking across the way as I wandered along the next stretch, I spotted a rooffull of pigeons! Yes, real birds in this photo! Talking of which, back home in the yard we have sparrow activity continuing. I think they are back for the winter season, now. I am currently refilling the seed tube daily. Have another Dusty...

Other than the sparrows, we have a great-tit visiting each morning to grab a peanut, and a few other birds occasionally arriving, investigating, and departing after a nibble. The only other regulars as fall breaks free of summer are Mr Bob and Pidge - both of whom like to munch seed from the windowsill early in the morning.

Mother swan and her........Hawaiian geese! An unusual grouping of pals strolling about together as if family. Plenty of activity at the feeder station here at WWT year round - you can spot geese, jackdaw, pigeon... Alas, the feeder poles have yet to be refilled.

BIRD NEWS:435

Starting with another Dusty sculpture, I continue with my late September Arundel trip to WWT. Alas, none of the three mentioned species on the info-board were in sight at either hide. In fact, very little other than gulls and mallards was showing itself - the odd goose, perhaps - definitely no herons, kingfishers, egrets, lapwings....

So have another pair of Dusty sculptures! I wandered along to the Bewick swan habitat, wondering if the 4 cygnets would still be present - as cygnets have a tendency to be removed at a certain age. I was happy to find all 4 still in situ this trip, however - along with another nearby Dusty.

I was about to see how the black-necked swans were doing in the former trumpeter swan enclosure, when to my surprise and delight I discovered the trumpeter swans swimming towards me! That really made my day, as these are my favorite swans! It was a lovely surprise to find them back in their former home - though I have yet to discover what became of the black-necked pair.

BIRD NEWS:434

The show exhibited various birds of prey - but not those I generally get to photograph in the wild on my excursions. Back home, little activity occurs. The sparrows are munching thru a whole cylinder of seed each day again, but they feast for a couple hours then vanish. Pidge and Mr Bob share the windowsill seed with various sparrows ands starlings, but little other regular activity is going on - at the moment.

October approached...but there were still two days left in September when I ventured birdfully out again. On the 29th, I took a day's excursion to Arundel. I began by taking an hours stroll along the River Arun, as I neared the end of this hike I encountered a pair of white (mute) swans and the Black Rabbit pub in my view - time to get out my 'lil pink box'.

Just before I turned into the path that led to the main road leading between the pub and the WWT, I spotted a buzzard hovering nearby. Alas, in the noccies it came out clearly, but on camera - it was yet another 'blurry buzzard-blob'.

I began by warming up with a coffee - and looking - but could only spot ONE eider duck! I then made a clockwise circle of the site, followed by an anticlockwise circle. My total time on the site was a little over 2 hours.

The Dusty Duck sculptures are back for kids this month - so I thought I would capture each one I passed on camera for those readers who did not catch them last year!