Ferruginous Ducks and Black-necked Swans

Black-necked Swan, Cygnus melancoryphus

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Yesterday was Heyshott work party day. We were fortunate with the weather and enjoyed blue skies, though a cold wind blew on those working at the top of a hill. I called in at Arundel  on the way home. No Goldcrests by Lake Swanbourne, but plenty of photo opportunities at Arundel WWT. I saw the Kingfisher zoom to the other side of the lake and photographed Long-tailed Tits again. They move so fast in and out of the rambles and reeds that photography is a challenge, but the soft afternoon light was good. The beautiful  pair of Bewick’s Swans gave a lively display on the lake. They are so graceful and have a captivating call. A pair of Nēnē, the Hawaiian Geese, gave me some close-up shots. I added a few more species to my WWT gallery, including Ferruginous Duck, Black-necked Swan, Common Pochard, Pintail and a Dunnock.

Bewick's Swans, Cygnus columbianus

Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna Autumnalis

Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus

Common Pochard, Aythya Ferina

Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca

Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus

usual view of a Long-tailed Tit

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

taken from the Sand Martin hide 100 yards from the opposite side of the lake with a Nikon 70-300mm lens at full zoom.

Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris

Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

Pintail, Anas acuta

Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), Branta sandvicensis

Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator

Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina 

Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula

Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus

Indian Clock Vines

Indian Clock Vine,
Thunbergia mysorensis

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Today I made my first visit to the 2013 Wisley butterfly exhibit where I met Mark. This was a good place to be on a damp day. There were some great scents in the gardens and the snowdrops were in full bloom. We saw one new tropical butterfly, an Emperor Swallowtail which unfortunately was in very poor condition. The prize exhibits for me were the lovely red and yellow flowers of the Indian Clock Vine.

Cethosia biblis, Malay Lacewing

Catonephele orites, Orange-banded Shoemaker 

id needed

Hypolimnas bolina kezia, Eggfly

tatty Emperor Swallowtail, Papilio ophidicephalus

African Mocker Swallowtail, Papilio dardanus

Indian Clock Vine,
Thunbergia mysorensis

faded Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho

one of many orchids in the glasshouse

Owl, Caligo memnon

id needed

Parthenos sylvia, Clipper

Parthenos sylvia, Clipper

this butterfly varies in colour

Robin, Erithacus rubecula

 this robin sang heartily in the glasshouse

Tree Nymph, Idea leuconoe

Scarlet Peacock, Anartia amathea

Morpho polyphemus, White Morpho

Tree Nymph, Idea leuconoe

These hippos are a new addition to the glasshouse pool

Snowdrops, Galanthus species

Nēnē, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Long-tailed Tits

Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus

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A trip to Arundel WWT this afternoon gave me Long-tailed Tits, Nēnē  (Hawaiian Geese - pronounced naynay) and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. The Nēnē is one of the wildfowl species that Wildlife and Wetland Trust has helped save from extinction.

Coot, Fulica atra

Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna Autumnalis

Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

This Moorhen was nesting 3 feet up in a bramble bush.

Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris

Mute Swan, Cygnus olor 

Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), Branta sandvicensis

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator

Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator