Psilos
Bird Journal |
Wednesday August
6th 2008 |
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"Swapping
places " |
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Today the lake is quite active.
The Great crested grebes are still sitting on their nest and they were
being harassed by a very restless and aggressive Common tern. |
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The tern flew repeatedly backwards
and forwards harrassing many different birds before settling on a post
at the back of the main lake. I decided to see if I could get up close.
With the aid of a weeping willow I didnt do too badly in the end. |
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I also decided
to test my stalking skills out on a Grey heron on one of the smaller
back lakes. I wasnt kidding an yone though for he always knew I was
there. It just came down to how close would he tolerate me to come. |
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| Whilst watching
the tern settle on the small back lake I was intrigued by the sounds
of many baby birds. Suddenly the alarm went up and birds took to the
skies. There must be a Sparrow hawk about. Waited with bated breath
as the smaller birds continued to alarm but no bird appeared. It must
have stayed within the woods. Later I could hear the persistent call
of young raptors up by the dual carriage way. Their call carried along
way but getting closer was impossible as it was too inaccessible. The
call of small birds intrigued me further and I decided to take a walk
through the woods. The woods are dark and not good for photography so
just for once I thought some good old fashioned bird watching was in
order. The commonest sound was that of the Long tailed tit. In one small
area there was a very large family group feeding and calling to one
another. Mixed in with them there was also Gold crest, Coal tits, juvenile
Greattits and a family group of Tree creepers. I saw at least three
creepers but as they moved around constantly I couldn’t be sure
of their number.Moving on and suddenly the air was punched with the
raucous call of the jay. They were sounding very annoyed and as usual
it was their old foe the magpie that was getting their feathers in such
a knot. Magpies and Jays are always fighting and their dispute filled
the woods as they flew around the tall canopy. |
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Was very interested to see
the Black swans working together on the back lake. The male was spending
his time pulling up lilly pads and placing them behind him. At no time
did he attempt to take them to the nest. He just kept moving them from
one place to another. I would guess that instincts drive them to do
this even if they are not using them to build the nest. |
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Then the male bird
moved closer to the nest. The birds were constantly calling to one another
in their soft piping call as they built. Slowly he made his way into
the nest and the female rose up from the eggs and stood on the nest
edge. During this time the eggs would be uncovered. For several minutes
they both stood in this way before the male put his beak under her belly
and gently pushed her out of the way. With a low grunt she moved off
the nest and left him to look after the eggs. I know both sexes do share
the role. I had just never seen the swap over happen before. For a while
he stood turning the eggs and I grew anxious that the eggs may be cooling
down too much. |
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Eventually though the male
stopped turning the eggs and settled down to continue sitting. Now I
could breath a sigh of relief. |
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