Psilos
Bird Journal |
Saturday December
16th 2006 (page 2) |
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"Avian
airways " |
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Making our way back down to
the Swan link hide we have to pass the bird nursery. At this time of
year most juveniles have been placed in the park but not so the Gooders.
These birds which are a cross between the Eider duck and the Goosander
were born two years ago and live permenently in there. Today I was trying
to get a full body photograph of the male in his breeding colours but
as usual he was asleep. Managed a head shot only. A fascinating bird. |
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A thriving Tree sparrow population
can be seen feeding at the new feeders along the path. An alarming Greater
spotted woodpecker also alerted me to his presence. Flying out of a
nearby tree I saw him at the last minute and nearly went over backwards
getting this one shot of him. |
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Arrived at the Swan link hide
and one thing is very obvious this year. Ducks numbers are well down!
Teal which are always in close cannot be seen and large rafts of pochard
are absent. My desire to photograph flocks of Pintail in flight also
look threatened. One duck that does seem as numerous as ever is the
Shelduck. Come feeding time they are everywhere. |
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Wigeon are also scarce but there were a few individuals to be found displaying. |
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Whooper swans are
my real favourites and they continued to come in until really late in
the afternoon and it was starting to get dark. |
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and then they are
fed and everyone is happy..... |
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