BIRD NEWS: 887

 

As we walked back, we spotted an egret. It was definitely a pleasant summer's walk for us - with plenty of variety. Not just birds, but old stuff to see as well.

My last shot from this trip shows some of the 15 swans we encountered on our way to Bramber earlier in the day - still enjoying the quiet stretch of river.

Our next excursion was a double up. We began at Woods Mill. Straight away, we found a woodpecker - depicted on the toilet block wall.

Waterrail and nightingales are also apparently around....

We found yet another bird depicted on the toilet wall....

....well, actually, lots of them!

Top left is a buzzard, but down below is....a nest box!

BIRD NEWS: 886

 

Our next excursion started at the old cement works just north of Shoreham. We parked in the layby just north of it and began our hike where we usually stopped to turn around when hiking the River Adur from Shoreham. I clicked pics of the bird ID board and we walked the Downs Link north, towards Bramber, our destination.

Liz counted 15 swans as we strolled along and spotted a group of mute swans. It was nice to see them swimming freely and peacefully along, near a bunch of blackheaded gulls.

Here is a map of part of our route, including plenty of the local birdlife.

Here is the map showing our route for the Saturday hike. The red line is the route we took to get to Bramber, the yellow one was our wandering around a bit and returning after we explored Bramber.

In Bramber we came across a lot of historical stuff - including a castle ruins and church from 1079, a Tudor house, and several quaint cottages. In one garden I spotted this:

I don't think I have ever seen anything like it in my life before!! But then, Bramber has a lot of stuff I don't often encounter - such as the ancient castle ruins and the Tudor house...

We wandered along the river towards Upper Beeding to find a spot to munch lunch just past the town and encountered more swans. We concluded that the giant bunch of 15 might be 1-3 year olds not yet ready to mate, and any pairs were the escapees who had found a partner. Another info board covered in birds ends today's post.

BIRD NEWS: 885

 

Another couple of shots of the stork in its nest at Knepp Park start today's blog post. Talking of the KP storks, they have recently been sighted flocking over WWT Arundel - possibly the youthful ones searching for potential territory for when they return to mate in a year or two's time.

That was the last picture from that trip.

Here are a couple of Naboo from his visit with me last year.

Looking out the windows of my home, I spot birds.

Ditty & Ditsy the collared doves, for example.

They like to hang out on the branches of my pittisporum and laurel trees that interminlge.

They rest on the tree waiting to be fed sometimes....and are tame enough to recognise me as the bringer of food. Finally for this post, Naboo....

BIRD NEWS: 884

 

Liz and I started our next trip walking from Rustington through Littlehampton. I spotted seagulls, but not a lot else birdwise.

We walked onward, across the footbridge and along West Beach towards Bognor, which was our destination. Not much else but seagulls, yet again.

Not swallows, but martens or swifts in a mixed flock greeted us as we walked the coastline in the Climping district.

That was the end of that excursion. The following week brought us to July 2024, and we took a trip to Knepp Park rewilding reserve. There were bound to be more birds here.

Well, these bird remains were on a table underneath a large nesting box - indicating a large bird was nesting in the box and dropping out its debris - possibly an owl and its undigestable food scraps.

Maybe it was an owl, or possibly a bird of prey....

It would be unlikely not to see a stork when visiting Knepp Park. We saw one standing on top a nest, throwing out debris. It appears it is spring cleaning season for birds at KP. So once again - perhaps a second batch of young might be planned for.

BIRD NEWS: 883

 

Another shot of the young egret starts today's blog post. The Bewick swans were also napping rather than nesting when we passed.

Mrs Silvertag Bewick is closest to us, with Mr Silvertag Bewick beyond.

They have moved the Philipine ducks in with the Bewicks.

So much action going on in there - ha ha.

These mute swans had cygnets, though not as many as some swan families have.

I spotted a tufted duck and mallard in there, too.

Finally, ending our trip to WWT, the mismatched duo. I think, as it's the second time I have spoitted them together, they must have partnered up - though they are geese of differing species.

BIRD NEWS: 882

 

Next up, the Trumpeter duo - no babes this year. We then popped into a hide and saw...

...a young heron on the island. There were sand martens and other birds around too.

Mallards and seagulls were also swimming about in the district.

I tried a get a few photographs of the sand martens - but...

...no perfect shots.

I did manage to capture a young egret that walked in front of the hide, though.

There you go - young heron, young egret, and a flying sand marten all in one shot - by luck!

BIRD NEWS: 881

 

These statues are to my liking - geese!

I took a few pictures from differing angles as I walked arounbd their lawn.

I found the detail intriguing.

But that was not the only bird sculpture at Denmans garden.

Whilst not as detailed, this duo caught my heart.

We then went onwards to WWT Arundel. Whilst munching lunch at the cafe tables we spotted several families of geese, with the young almost as large as the parents.

Canada Geese - and a coot - covered the path next, as we wandered around the reserve. Finally for this post, an ID board with information.