BIRD NEWS:777

 

We spotted a pied wagtail on our travels in Knepp Park. I was having difficulty with my camera, however, so did not get to see all the pictures I had tried to take.

Our next trip was a local wander - up Highdown Hill to the gardens then down into and around Patching woodland. Thats where I took a shot of Goggles on our return.

Well, actually, I took 2....as my camera was being difficult. It ended up that I had to buy a new camera. This meant trouble lay ahead. Argos was my only choice for a quick purchase, as only they did 'same day delivery' and that evening was the only time I could ensure I was at home and not occupied by a zoom meeting. This limited me to 3 el-cheapo no-way models, a model similar to the one I already had that hadnt lasted more than 1-2 years and wasnt ideal, or...the one I purchased.

The above is my first bird picture taken on thr new camera. Yes, it is fairly good shot - BUT I dont like this camera at all. It was necessary however, as below you can see the same shot taken on the old camera.

Likewise, I took a shot of my house guest, Naboo....on the OLD camera...

...and on the new camera....

I think you can see why I have to persevere with this new 'thing' for now - despite disgust. The new camera makes start and stop noises that cannot be turned off, doesnt obey setting instructions until set, turned off, then turned on again, and does not have a manual mode option, only various scenarios - none of which include 'as is' or 'bird in wildlife setting'. It also whirrs as it takes up to 10 seconds to focus while taking a shot.

One last shot of Naboo for this post.

BIRD NEWS:776

Here is another shot of my visitor - Naboo. And, one last shot for now of my house guest.

The next trip Liz and I took was to Knepp Park.

After a smaller blackbird, the next series of shots were of a stork and young in a nest. Something new for me...

I took quite a few photos, trying to capture both the predominant adult stork and the younger heads bobbing up and down from the nest.

Liz and I counted 3 young total.

We didnt spend all day at this nest, of course....wandering on past the first nest to see many more birds as well as animals on our day out.

But as we wandered.....we saw more storks! This time 3-4 of them were flying in the distance - probably adult and young from another nest.

BIRD NEWS:775

Here are the bewick swans...also no longer nesting, depite a sucessfull hatching last year. My final photo (I dont like using a work phone) from that trip is of Muku with a toy duck....

Out my bedroom window - on the recently worked upon tree, sat a pair of collared doves.

They seemed to be looking as if to say 'who are you?'

On our next excurison, Liz and I went to Nymans & Leonardslee. There was a jackdaw on the lawns - alas, he decided to turn away JUST as I aimed the camera.

The two collared doves seem to be relaxing away their day.....and more used to me now. I think they are this years young - but they might be last years dove with a new partner.

Yeah - I think they have moved into the treeborhood!

Next, I have a house guest. Naboo has come to visit for a vacation. Long term readers may recall I used to go to visit Naboo on my way to Brighton, before Covid...

BIRD NEWS:774

Still at Wakehurst, Liz and I arrived at one of the 2 bird-feeding lookouts. Nuthatches and tits were in abundance.

Liz had brought some of the spare seed we had put aside, but there were already piles of seed and berry-suet pellets put out, with another watcher putting out more suet.

Here is evidence that nuthatches enjoy berry infested suet pellets. The bluetits, great tits, coal tits and marsh tits also enjoyed these. The chaffinches and pheasants preferred seed though.

As we wandered around on what was mostly a bluebell spotting expedition, I saw a wooden turkey.

Back home, and I looked out my bedroom window into what is left of the expensive to deal with pittisporum. There was pidge!

...and Ditty!

Next, Liz and I took Muku to WWT Arundel. I didnt have my camera, but did try to compensate with my work phone.... Here she is seeing the trumpeter swans....who no longer seem interested in their nest.

BIRD NEWS:773

 

Back home, and robins were nesting in my work jeans.... One day I hung them up on ter laundry line to dry, and when I went out to fetch them in 2 days later, robins had built a nest inside.

The robins moved out but wrens moved in after I adjusted the position slightly to ensure the nest wouldnt be spoiled if there were gales....Here is one wren!

A couple of days later I went to get my tunic in - only to find nesting activity going on yet again. I was mildly concerned that at this rate I would have a washing line full of birds nesting in my laundry....but it will give me a good view and be cat-proof.

Our next excursion was to Wakehurt, and soon after arriving Liz and I spotted a greylag wandering around.

...then a pheasant...

...or two.

In fact, quite a lot of pheasants were around on our trip this time - including this duo - though we were unceratin if the duller one was a small female or a youngster out with dad.

HERE is an article about nightjars.

BIRD NEWS:772

 

More babes from the WWT Center at Arundel, geese this time!

Next up, a pair of lapwings being observed closely - not only by myself on this occasion.

There is a peregrine falcon up there somewhere.....We overheard the boat guide say so to his excursioners as we wandered past the reedbed lakery.

There is another lapwing in the lapwing hide this time!

All in a row - Greylag goose, lapwing, and canada goose! Much nesting going on.

Also a stage further than last trip - here is the reedbed nesting saga update - Mommy still on eggs but there may be some fluff too indicating at least one youngster has popped out!

My final picture for todays' post is from a solo Saturday hike to Littlehampton - via the coffee cart of course - as Liz was busy with a friend who had fallen and her family. I stopped at Mewsbrooks lake on my return home from popping into the commiunity fridge and spotted another show pigeon. I had already found one to enjoy on my way there, but hadnt taken my phone-camera out my rucksack.

BIRD NEWS:771

 

Here is a shot of the great egret. This is a species often spotted when living in Wollongong, Illawarra, NSW, Australia by my son and self - but much rarer in Sussex, England, where we are more used to the little egret - or even cattle egret.

Next up the Trumpeter swan enclosure - and guess who was nesting! Mrs Trumpeter was....while Mr Trumpeter was feeding in their lake. It is the first time this pair of trumpeters have nested, both being fairly new to the collection at Arundel WWT.

We then spotted a pied wagtail from the next hide we checked into - up very close behind the reeds and iris on the edge.

I managed to get a fairly good shot of the lil fellow.

I was delighted to discover that the Bewick duo were also nesting!

Remember the baby coots in a recent post when I visited WWT last? Well they have grown up some.

Both babes are almost independent now.

HERE is a link to a video explaining stock dove and wood pigeon dfferences.