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.

BIRD NEWS:770

 

We wandered round the gardens area and came across a bird related sign. 2 jackdaws and a pigeon were nesting in the old castle framework.

Wandering along the avenue of trees after our castle visit, Liz wanted to check out the stream from the area that had someting to do with trout fishing. First up we spotted a swan - then a pair of grey wagtails. I caught the former on camera, but my camera was messing about making noises and flashing when I turned the flash off - so I lost the wagtails.

Next we stopped breifly at Swanbounre Lake....

& I took some shots of the pigeons....and gulls, tufted ducks, mallards, etc

We then proceeded to WWT and I bought a vegan pasty, spotting a goose peeping into the cafe. As we exited to eat our picnic lunch at a table, we saw the goose still peeping inside.

There were still 2 female pelicans in their lake.

I found a couple of nenes.

BIRD NEWS:769

 

I tried again, but again failed to get a decent shot of the pochard. However, I had better luck with taking a shot of nesting Canada geese! Mommy goose was turning her eggs...

Meanwhile, as we passed the picnic area, I spotted a pheasant rudely standing on top a table. It made a good photo, though.

Our next excursion was to Chanctonbury Ring and Steyning. Here we see a pigeon on Steyning church tower's window.

I also spotted a building with birds that looked like pigeons from a distance depicted upon the support wall. They might have been eagles or something , though to me they look like pigeons!!

My final photos from this day were taken in the back yard. I went out to collect dry laundry from the washing line and discovered a mass of twigs and grass sticking out from my jeans...

Apparently, jeans making a great nesting site for robins!! Alas, I thik they realised that the wind was too strong to keep that nest. I did leave my jeans hanging on the washing line in case though, as I saw nesting stuff further up a leg...

The next trip Liz and I took was to Arundel. We started off at the tulip Festival at Arundel Castle. One area was no access this year due to swans nesting....

I didnt know that THESE guys were Aussie.

BIRD NEWS:768

 

Starting today with Silvertag Bewick, starring on the bank of her lake in the first picture.

Orangetag Bewick is hanging out with mallards while preening in the rear.

Neither took much notice of me on this occasion.

The coots had young too!

So I took a few pictures of the parent coot hanging out with her babes and feeding them.

Also, of two of the trio feeding for themselves. It appears that akin to Australian blackbacked magpies, the young of this species will eat for themselves but still expect mama to feed them too! Maybe it is the same for all species....

A not so hot shot of a pochard ends todays' posting from Arundel WWT.

BIRD NEWS:767

 

Next, we came upon a row of dozing mallards - two male for every female.

We then spotted a pheasant strolling in the daffodils.

The swans were just hanging out casually grazing...

so I played with the shape of the photos...

A white farm duck was with the Trumpeters.

Meanwhile, in the woodland hide...we spotted a mallard with twin babes!

Back to swans, the Bewicks this time....

HERE is a list of several recently sighted newbies.