BIRD NEWS:448

I have a few more photos of the bullfinch that visited my garden on the third Sunday of the month. Today's pictures were taken from the coffee lounge, whereas in my last post they were taken thru the kitchen window.

After these shots, it was seen for a 3rd trip on the bird bath later in the day - so it spent at least one day exploring a potential new home. Whether it will become a local drop in or new inhabitant I do not know. I did not see it on Monday, but...

I moved the paving slabs from various 'stepping stone' points that I do not use to the front of the pond and within minutes of my retreating indoors, Mr Bob the robin and the newest male blackbird had decided to grab a quick snack of the grubs and bugs still in situ on the moved pavers.

This wintry looking scene taken towards the end of November might give you a clue to my next excursion - Arundel WWT. I started with a hot coffee at the cafe...

A mass of pigeons flew overhead in the above shot, as I sat there lazing after a 45 minute trot along the riverbank and arrival. They had been dislodged from the cafe roof by a grumpy seagull. They floated back to land soon after making a couple of circles around.

You can see in this shot not only their daytime hangout when not feeding, but the cafe below - and indeed the large room above the cafe where they held the Yoga sessions on wellness weekend.

BIRD NEWS:447

Here we see the infoboard and real thing - of red-breasted geese - and a seagull...

Along with the small geese, were some wigeon and their board. Finally for my Arundel trip in early November, a tit on the feeder. It could be a marsh tit - but the underparts are grey rather than brown, so maybe a coal tit with a wrong shaped bib?

At home, the monster of a black furball has committed murder yet again - on another of my pigeon pals. It is getting so fat, although it only half eats the birds it kills - we are hoping it eats itself into ill health and leaves my lil birdies free and ALIVE!

The next excitement was a spotting mid November of a bullfinch in the back yard. I have not seen them in our gardens before - so was quite excited and hoped at least one of my numerous photos would come out.

At first, he sat on the bird bath and took a drink - and twice I missed him by going to fetch the camera....But then he went on the path to feed and I managed to take a few shots and hope they came out.

BIRD NEWS:446

One last shot of the kingfisher...and I was strolling onwards once more. My next encounter was with a cheeky robin who perched on the fence and stared at me...

I wandered along further, and came across some jackdaws on the fence, pigeons on the path, and birds assembled about the feeder station munching food.

At the cafe-side lake, eiders were back in view after several weeks of not seeing many. Maybe the ones here migrate too - though I am sure on one year I saw females without males, so am not sure if they are resident or mobile.

An info board and group of Emperor geese are next up. I pottered past the Bewick swan lake again to see if I could find the missing parent - but still there were five rather than six swans in the enclosure. One of the youngsters seemed curious.

BIRD NEWS:445

The Trumpeter swans are friendly - even if one preferred to eat than be photographed on this occasion - they swam towards me as usual. Perhaps I am as familiar to them as they are to me! Even after a stint in the hide, they spotted me return to their lake and came towards me again...

Now, what can we see in this tree....perched on the branch? Yes, it's a bird - but until further photos, you might not spot what type.

Then it moved - and now you can see it better, you will probably recognize it as a kingfisher. Well, apart from this bird, on exiting the hide TWO kingfishers flew past me - right in front of my face. Later on, I spotted one dash past again - and on the boat trip, a shot of blue whooshed past... 5 sightings in one day!