BIRD NEWS:543

A second shot of the female blacknecked swan brings us to the next post. I am still on my second circuit of WWT Arundel on the first weekend in December - prior to enjoying Christmas festivities in the town.

I was observing blue tits, great tits, and a coal or marsh tit - trying to decide which of the two it was - when WHOOSH!!!!!

What I think must be a sparrowhawk shot down and all the small birds scurried for cover. At first I thought it was a wood pigeon coming in to join the feeding - but then, as the birds stayed absent, I realized it might be a bird of prey and took a couple of photos. Both trumpeter swans were in my second round of pictures.

Back to the Bewicks next, as I almost ended my second reverse direction lap of the reserve. My visit was then finished and after lunch I strolled back into Arundel town.

Most years, I attend the Christmas festivities in Arundel. They have stalls, carol singers, lights, live music, mulled wine, hot roast chestnuts, and many of the tiny shops open. I don't bother with most of the shops for purchasing, but some of them appear to be worth looking at when done up for Christmas. Though you wont find as much modern commercial nonsense as your city department store...it's more quaint, olde worlde, oddities here.

My last photo from this trip is of statue birds - not real ones - taken at one of these little shops in the side streets. Finally for today, a shot of one of our bluetits on the feeder at home. They, along with the great tit, are still regular and are getting thru more peanuts than the other birds are seed.

BIRD NEWS:542

Here is the info board that advertises why the lake is now a pile of mud and machinery, with no eiders! Next up, 2 more infoboards depicting birds still in situ.

The final infoboard for this visit depicts yet another seasonal fact - relative to turtle doves.

Back to some real life birds now - and what better subject for my lil pink camera than pigeons!

My last pigeon shot for today was taken just after re-casing my camera and preparing to move along - on my second circuit of the WWT at Arundel. A pigeon stood on the fence and looked at me as if to say 'why not take my picture too!'  I just had to - he was so cute.

Going past the blacknecked swans again - here is the female preening busily. Finally, a little something about our local WWT reserve -HERE.

BIRD NEWS:541

The Bewick duo popped their heads up eventually, but were so busy feeding that they just took a quick look at me and went on back to their meal. Some pretty pigeons paraded upon a nearby shed roof.

I wandered along to the trumpeter swan enclosure. One of them was on view - the other hiding behind the reeds. Next up, a bit of information about Christmas carols -

I had not taken a picture of the magpie geese for a while, so did so. I was then upon the blacknecked swans - yes, swans again!

Canada geese and African shelducks are in my next shot.

My last shot for today's post shows a collection of pigeons that were hanging out the new area for handfeeding the birds. The cafe-side lake where they had eider, whistling ducks, pigeons, mallards, Aussie woodducks, etc is no longer in situ, and that is where they used to have a hand-feed area where you could buy a pile of grain for a few pence to feed the birds. This exhibit has now shut and is being drained - in preparation for a brand new aviary etc exhibition. I will miss the eiders and Aussie woodducks, but....

BIRD NEWS:540

Here is the male pheasant, not far away from the duo in my last post. That brings me to the close of that excursion - and of November. Early in December, Liz & I were off out hiking again - this time to Petworth Park.

I spotted a bird of prey fairly close, and it wasn't chubby enough to be a buzzard - luckily it stayed around for a long enough time for us to spot the giveaway tail and for me to get a few photos - a red kite!!

It looked more like a pterodactyl in the above shot! One last picture...

My next trip was a solo excursion to Arundel, early in December. My first task was to arrive, cross the road, and walk along the river to WWT. As I crossed the street, I looked over the bridge and spotted a pair of mute swans in the river. On arrival at WWT, I spotted some pigeons hanging out near the Bewick swan lake...and then the swans.

You will notice a coot, moorhen and a pair of mallards in the lake with them - and that the duo are busy feeding - so did not notice me directly.

BIRD NEWS:539

I could not leave without farewelling my Bewick pals - who hardy noticed me this time. Maybe they were watching the wood pigeons in the tree nearby...

I had just put away my camera ready to leave, when i got it out again - spotting this seasonal little fellow on the gate. My next trip was when Liz drove me to Wakehurst Place. One of the first things we noticed was ornamental lights in the shape of birds. The first one we came across was a robin...

Then we came upon a tree of what we assume is blue tits or longtailed tits. Oh look - another real robin!! It m ust be coming up to Christmas and they know they are needed for photographs!!

Lastly for today, a pair of female pheasants. We had really gone to see the last of the autumn colors - but we found quite a few birds as well!!

BIRD NEWS:538

Starting today's post, here is another shot of the Trumpeter swans preening. Then it was back to the Bewicks.

I took a snap of this Canada Goose on my way towards the cafe for lunch. After dining, I did one more circuit before departing. I found an American wood duck to photograph.

Ending today's post - here are the black necked swans again.

Back home and we have cat trouble - not only are there two selfish adamant black cats parading about my back yard whenever I don't shoo them out, but now a white cat has joined in, sigh.

BIRD NEWS:537

This is the answer - the last shot on my previous post was of baby harlequin ducks. Here they are again.

Next, I wandered past the open air woodland feeder station - where you can see a variety of smaller birds, also sometimes larger ones such as wood pigeons or woodpeckers. Always you can find a great tit and blue tit, and often a coal tit. I took a shot of the chaffinch I spotted on the ground below.

This robin has learnt how to feed from the feeder - like one of ours at home, they are generally ground feeders but do sometimes learn new skills. Next up the coal tit was at the feeder, replacing the robin who only stayed for a few seeds.

I tried to get a better shot and got a worse one! Finally for today, the trumpeter swans were preening as I walked past between reflexology session and lunch.