Psilos
Bird Journal |
Tuesday April4th
2006 |
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"Another
first " |
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My day started with a birding
surprise before I had even left the house this morning. Over the last
two weeks there have been a number of goldfinch around which I think
are nesting at the bottom of my garden. Sat at the table I caught a
movement out of the corner of my eye and as I looked I stared straight
into the eyes of a goldfinch that was sat on my windowsill looking in
from about three feet away. For the briefest of moments I just marvelled
at his beauty and then he was gone. To say that I was surprised is an
understatement as it is not a bird you expect to see in such a place
but never the less it was a wonderful way to start the day! |
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Anyway excitement over and
with the sun shining brightly I went off in search of a reported drake
Garganey at Moses Gate country park. This distinctive duck would be
a first for me in the wild. Quickly I managed to find someone who had
seen it the day before. Extensive searches of all the lakes found tufted
duck, goosander, grey heron and a first sighting of a swallow here this
year but sadly no drake Garganey. |
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Stood on the walkway
that goes round the back of the park jays were clearly vocal and seeing
one fly out of the woods into a nearby tree decided to watch them for
a while. There were two birds calling, no doubt a pair and they were
clearly calling to one another. One of the jays was restless and kept
flying across allowing me to get some flight shots. Then he would fly
back and perch in the same tree where he would answer in turn the other
jay. I have to say that I have never seen behaviour like this from Jays
and it was really interesting. |
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As I watched a wren was flitting
around in the undergrowth. I saw him a number of times and listened
as he belted out his song. Going back to that same spot later in the
morning I saw him in the same spot so he clearly has a nest close by.
Wrens were very vocal today and I heard them everywhere I went. A little
further up the path I entered the woods and heard my first Chiff chaff
of the year. Sun shining and chiffchaff calling is how I always think
of spring and I was thrilled to hear him. Eventually got some brief
glimpses of him but he was far too high up in the trees to even consider
taking photographs but no matter Im sure there will be plenty of other
opportunities during the coming months. |
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As ever the Mute
swans, Canada geese, mallards and the pair of call ducks were present
and the geese and mallards particularly gave me plenty of opportunities
to practise my flight shots. By now the sun was really warm and sitting
on a rock I also found shelter from the cold wind. Nearby I noticed
a coot sitting on a nest so I started to watch and photograph. Not long
after a group of Canada geese swam by and took an unhealthy interest
in the nest. Easily they scared the sitting coot away and one goose
looking more avidly at the nest jumped out of the water and stood in
it. The poor coot becamse highly agitated and whether I did the right
thing or not I got up and shooed the goose away. A quick look into the
nest revealed that there was no eggs and after the goose left the coot
quickly returned. |
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After such an intrusion the
coot clearly thought that some house cleaning was clearly in order and
she spent a short time trying to find a new resting place for a rather
large stick. The male seeing that the coast was finally clear came over
and decided to try his luck with the female. Clearly unsettled that
her nest had been invaded she wasn’t prepared for the males advances
and loudly told him so. However he wasn’t going to be so easily
dissuaded and so for the next five minutes he chased her round the lake
whilst she called in protest. Finally though after failing to catch
the female he gave up the chase and turned to preening whilst the female
returned to her nest and finally managed to sit on it in peace. |
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After the lakes I had a quick
walk up to the canal and then down by the river hoping to see the kingfisher
who has been missing for several weeks. Up by the canal it was really
quiet and returning by the river didn’t produce much of interest
either. The only bird of note was a beautiful male Grey wagtail sat
in a tree over the river as I returned over the bridge into the park.
Watching him I suspect he has a nest somewhere very close by. |
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Before heading for home I sat
by the side of the lake and tried once again to photograph diving tufted
ducks. I am trying to get a shot of it mid leap with its face half in
half out or just about to enter the water. Even when you have the camera
on continuous burst before the duck dives it is such a fast movement
that even the camera misses the exact moment I am after. I did get a
bit closer today as I got the shot I wanted but it was out of focus
so I know that it is possible. I will just have to keep trying! |
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