Psilos Bird Journal
Tuesday July 1st 2008
     
"Black and wild"
 
 
The first of a new month brings wonderful hot sunshine. Decide to make a long awaited visit to Moses gate country park to see if there are any signs of the grebes breeding. First glances were disappointing then after careful scanning the presence of a second bird made things look more hopeful. Even later when they evicted a coot and its well grown chick from its nest and got into the nest things looked ever more positive. For some reason the birds nest really late on this lake so there is definitely hope yet..
Nothing much was happening out on the lake so I sat in the sun and was cooled by a light breeze coming off the water. Someone said it was going to be the hottest day of the year today but sadly not here. Was delighted to hear the the one black swan we have here has been joined by another and that they had bred and produced a chick. So in great excitement went off to find them.
Managed to find both swans easily enough and their nest out in the middle of the fishing lake but sadly there is no cygnet. If they had one then it has died. The birds still seem interested in the nest site though and as they have Australian origins which are on a later breeding cycle they may well try again. It is great to know that they are a breeding pair. Seeing black swans breed in the wild here is so vey rare.
The summer progresses and babies can still be seen everywhere. Damselflies are busy egg laying, fish fry swarm in the water and the Coot chicks are as loud as ever. Followed one little family for quite some time.
Coot juvenile
 
 
 
 

Apart from the Coot chicks that are always very vocal there is very little bird song today. A couple of Blackcaps are the only birds that capture my attention. Back on the water and the increasing numbers of juvenile Black headed gulls squabble and fight. They are such lovely birds.