BIRD NEWS:682

 

I spotted a tree full of pigeons! The Trumpeters were sailing about their pond.

They dont know me as well as the Bewicks do - yet!

They were gliding about while a keeper was chasing off the ducks a little - so the swans could get some food that she was giving them.

One did come over to Liz and I though...

Although they shot on over once the keeper began to feed them, they didnt seem that interested in the food...a few nibbles and more swim...

There is something in the watery field.....

A waterrail!!

HEREis a link to an article with sounds about bird calls of the heathland.

BIRD NEWS:681

 

Liz and I trotted off to Littlehampton on the final day of January - spotting some turnstones - but also this larger flock of oyster catcher en route to our destination.

Voila, one song thrush!

Our next excursion for Liz and I was to Arundel, then walking along the river into Amberley. We stopped for refreshments at the riverside cafe-restaurant, but our picnic lunch was taken by a pond situated between Amberley Castle and Amberley swamp. There was a coot on the pond...

On the castle, next the church, we saw a bunch of jackdaws...only the two on the church roof stayed for the first photo I took though.

Here you can see that they did use the castle - mostly. My next shot would have been a kestrel we spotted on our way past Amberley swamp back down the river towards Arundel - only it dived into the bush.

Once we got back, we discovered it was around an hour before the WWT closed - so hopped round it. Here we see the dalmation pelicans...

Two were in the water, and two were out.

HERE is an article about birds as parents.

BIRD NEWS:680

 

The majority of Swanbourne Lake was covered in floating seagulls.

We got closer to the entrance/exit, and found a few other species sharing the waters with the gulls - mostly show pigeon, to my delight.

Additionally, a few mallard, coot, moorhen, tufted... & a pair of swans....wow...so unexpected!!

We were determined to give it our best chance to spot this elusive glossy ibis I had heard so much about on the FB page....but we passed our Bewick buddies again en route to the next attempt - on our second entry to the WWT that day.

Teal, Gadwell, mallard, shoveller...but nope, still no glossy ibis!

I found a few photos I do not seem to have added to the December batch...of the doves in my back yard, so am entering them here.

and here.

BIRD NEWS:679

 

Gadwell and shovellers in abundance....but no glossy ibis! We gave up for the time being, and leaving the hide Liz spotted a water rail!

A rare sighting for some, we are used to spotting them most winters at WWT Arundel now.

 

In the above shot, you can see the comparative size of a water rail, as there is a coot foraging behind it....

Next, we came upon the Bewick family. Orangetag, Silvertag, and their trio of teenage Bewicks....peacefully preening, swimming, and hanging out.

You can spot Arundel Castle in the background, but I prefer to observe living Bewick than dead brick, myself!

Liz and I left the WW reserve and walked beyond the Black Rabbit pub & restaurant along the road and track towards South Stoke. She had previously located a track she wanted to explore another day - and today was that day. I spotted a dovecote to begin with! Alas, not a dove or show pigeon in sight, but....

My next shot shows where we were walking....attempting to take the circular track back into Arundel via Whiteways Lodge, we decided. We actually almost made the intended track - but finding a road - not sure if we should stick to the small grassland stretch beside it or cross, we turned back - picniced up a side track below the chalk mine cliff, and snuck thru Arundel Park to cut out walk a little short.

We did spot an amazing sighting of a red kite during this stretch of our trip - but it was not camerable on THIS camera of mine beyond a smudge in the sky, so I just watched thru bins...

We walked back thru the land in the park near the Bury Hill track that leads to Swanbourne Lake - where we stopped briefly to take a few shots of the seagulls all over the lake.

BIRD NEWS:678

 

Wood pigeon and moorhen share the under-feeder crumbs in the woodland hide at Arundel WWT.

This blur is a bird landing or leaving the feeder....alas, not identifiable due to its haste.

Two chaffinch share the feeder with a greenfinch in the above shot. Below, a greenfinch shares sunflower hearts with a bluetit, while another bluetit munches peanut.

A greenfinch and a chaffinch or godfinch share the seed in my next 2 shots.

&

As I mentioned earlier, our trip was predominantly to try to sight the glossy ibis, that neither of us had as yet seen...This was the hide closest to the reported sightings, but....we spotted shoveller and gadwell, not glossy ibis.

Behind the shovellers and gadwell were some teal...

...all the usual winter gatherers for this lake, but no elusive ibis!

BIRD NEWS:677

 

We strolled around the WWT, hoping to spot the glossy ibis that has been seen there recently. Before the area it has been seen in however, we had many birds to view. Past the dalmation pelicans and closed aviary, we popped out at pigeon path and the near feeder station. Canada geese, pigeons, jackdaws, moorhen, coots, 1-2 seagulls along with a Nene tucked in either there or the other station.

A moorhen and a mallard joined the magpie geese.

We then approached the Trumpeter Pond.

On this occasion, neither swan was showing distress, so we hoped the former visit's behavior was a temporary upset for the swan.

They were both serenely hanging out their pond-patch on this trip - along with mallard and moorhen.

On this occasion, all was well.

We progressed to the woodland hide - where we spotted much more activity than on our last visit. Today, we spotted blue tit, green finch, chaffinch - as pictured  - plus great tit, dunnock, female pheasant, and more.

HERE is an article talking about bird nesting boxes - and what you might find inside. I loved learning about the use of lavender and mint...as the lid on my bird box is stuck and I can no longer clean it out - but I have both these plants in my garden - so might clean it up by popping some inside!

BIRD NEWS:676

 

A woodpecker was here methinks! This was taken on our excursion to Leonardslee Gardens & Pulborough Brooks - on the penultimate Saturday of January. I spotted a treecreeper...

I was just walking along then spotted a movement - that turned into a bird - that turned into a treecreeper - hence, out came the camera...

I have had to encircle the bird - as it is so small, and my camera is not good at close up shots of distant birds.

I kept shooting in case at least one shot came out well....hopefully.... Alas, that was the best I got. It remained a good spot, if not good shot!

We walked a little further and spotted a jay!

Then - another treecreeper - which also evaded a good shot but remained a good spot!

On our next hike, Liz and I went up Highdown Hill - a local on-foot trip. We spotted 6 robins, some blackbirds, a woodpecker.... but I was not able to take any photos on this excursion.

Here, in my back yard, is one of the doves...a pair of whom regularly visit currently.

There is a starling down there pecking up dropped feeder pole seed with it in my final shot for the day.

Before I finish my post, HERE is the link to a short video of dalmation pelicans being fed at WWT, taken on the last week in January, when Liz and I took a trip to Arundel.