BIRD NEWS:623

 

A swan glided by...

At the next hide, we were able to spot a heron on the podium, while looking back at the heron family we had seen previously.

I managed to get a really good shot - which is surprising for my camera usually only takes clear photos without zoom.

Well, more than one...

Back to the heron family - 5 teenagers and 2 adults - and the fish making splashes.

I spotted something - and we went closer for a better look. A greater spotted woodpecker - and its nest!

It was feeding young in that hole!!

We spotted a mystery bird - that Liz declared might be a waterrail....though it seemed more like a coot chick to me...

BIRD NEWS:622

 

We took a look at the chooks. Leonardslee have a variety, though they do sometimes look a little scruffy so it is hard to tell what's what.

They do have a nice large field to roam in, but still seem to peck and poke one another.

As I had little chance of telling them apart, this board may offer a better chance for you to tell which varieties they house here.

Our next day out was to Warnham Reserve, and here too we have become members for the entire year. Our plan is to visit these places every 6 or so weeks, to get a variety of sights - birds, flowers, trees, and all things nature - and our moneys worth.

You can see tern and coot in this picture, taken at the first lake lookout gate in the wildflower meadow.

A little further along, we spotted 7 herons - assumedly a family - a few ducks, and a splashy thing we assume to be 3-4 large fish - possibly carp. My next shot was supposedly a heron in a tree - but came out as trees....so we will skip that one, but stay with herons...

& another shot of the family - the big splash like lump in the foreground was that fish family.

BIRD NEWS:621

 

As we continued to stroll around the RSPB Reserve, we spotted an open-air feeder site - and a nuthatch.

I took a lot of photos, as I was unsure if the camera would take a good one or not.

Although my next shot is mostly the scenic view - I did manage to catch a magpie in the field.

My next shot was supposedly the bird on top a tree. I wanted to recall its coloration and shape for ID purposes - but my camera did not want me to. I have investigated and am going with a marsh warbler....but am not 100% sure.

My last shot from this trip is of 2 show pigeons. The reserve used to house a multitude, but they did not seem to be there this trip. Maybe covid restrictions or some other matter had them moved elsewhere....

This feather stood out as beautiful, soIi took its photograph, even if it was no longer attached to its creator.

It began our next adventure - to Leonardslee. Liz and I seem to become members of all sorts of places this year - making the most of membership being a pay once enter all year treat, and Saturdays now being our shared day trip date. Here is a pheasant I spotted not long after the pretty feather.

BIRD NEWS:620

 

The cormorants seemed to travel along with us - being spotted 1-2 more times as we strolled along the river.

A decent shot of Pidge here - who was investigating the pond rather than bird bath for watery options.

Liz and I walked from Ferring to Worthing along the coast and stopped for coffee at Cafe Nero. This pigeon decided to stroll along the mall-way!

Our next excursion was to RSPB Pulborough Brooks. We began our relaxing day with a coffee, as oft we do, and spotted a sparrow.

Well, actually it spotted us - and came to make friendly advances. Possibly in the hope that coffee was accompanied by food we would be willing to share, but....

It came really close....very, very close! Alas my camera thought it too close, sigh.

We wandered along after coffee, as did these baby moorhen.

BIRD NEWS:619

 

Perhaps it is as well that I did not capture a decent shot of the sparrowhawk eating brunch, a it was not a pretty sight.

My next photo come from an all day excursion Liz and I took walking into and out of Arundel. Here are swans on the river Arun.

In my second shot, you can see the town in the distance...

When we stopped for a picnic lunch on the riverbank, we spotted a wagtail.

Under the railway bridge adjoining the framework extension the wagtail was using, was pigeon city.

There were plenty more birds seen on our trip, as we strolled down the river side to Littlehampton. Firstly, cormorants!

But also a group of mismatches - swans, seagull and pigeons!

BIRD NEWS:618

 

There were 4 families of Greylag, with young in tow, ranging from 2 to 6 or 7 youngsters per family.

We were on our way past, when yet another family strode up about to hiss but not needing to do so, as if path owning.

Parents made sure we did not disturb THEIR babes....ensuring their safe 'road' crossing as if Liz and I were cars shooting past them.

We left the WWT and spotted yet another swan - mute swan - nesting in the entrance reed lakes. We then pottered off to sea gull and pigeon land - Swanbourne Lake. Our purpose being to grab a second round of coffee before or 2 hrs walk home. I did not therefore photogeaph the pigeons, gulls, ducks, moorhens, or coots - as i had coffee in my hands.

I arrived home to find a pair of jackdaws surveying the chimney - hopefully they will nest this year, as they do most, and not be disturbed by the neighbors workmen - as the council have informed us next door of our semi-detached unit are getting a new roof.

Soon after, I tried to take a shot of Pidge - but Pidge did not want his photo taken.

I then spotted a sparrowhawk in action - by the pond. Alas, it had caught a sparrow!

HERE you can learn about birdsong differences.

BIRD NEWS:617

 

One last shot of the Bewick duo - Silvertag and Orangetag.

Next up, the Barrows Goldeneye ducks who share their pond with them still.

We saw quite a few young on our trip - tiny coots, ducklings, goslings...

This duckling is a mallard babe. While next up is a coot bum and young.

Back to the mallards - and this male swam past showing off its vibrant spring colors.

Next we spotted some tufted ducks, also in the boat-ride reed beds.

We did see a lot of other birds that did not make it to camera on our trip - from robins, blackbirds and blue tits in the woodland, to swallows, great tits and magpies - also in the woods.

As we passed the picnic area where the boats leave from, we saw 4 families of greylag goose.