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| Stonechat, Saxicola torquata |
I have visited Arundel WWT most days recently and sat in the
Sand Martin hide for hours hoping for a kingfisher to land on the tall post. It
has done this a number of times. One time I was set up with a wide angle lens
to record video as it flashed by the hide. On this occasion it flew onto the
tall post and stayed there for 25 seconds, a record. Unfortunately the bird was not in good focus and I attempted to zoom in, not a great idea! The birds bank
away if they see a lot of people moving around in the hide. On another occasion
I was alone in the hide when a kingfisher landed on the post. At that moment,
just as I was about to take the shot, someone walked into the hide and the bird
immediately flew off. On most days I get many sightings, sometimes of one bird
following the other a few metres behind. Yesterday it hovered by the post,
dived in and came up with a fish. Pity it didn’t fly up to the post with its
catch. Yesterday the sun showed up the wonderful colours of the kingfisher’s plumage.
A resident Grey Wagtail has performed on the posts and the raft in front of the
hide. Common Darters are showing well.
These photos cover the past week, including a trip to
Climping Gap for the Stonechats. From the Sand Martin hide I have seen 21
species: Heron, Little Egrets, Lapwing, Kestrel, Kingfishers, Teal, Gadwall,
Little Grebes, Black-headed Gulls, Mallards, Common Gull, Cormorants, Grey
Wagtail, Magpie, Mute Swans, Shelduck, Shovelers, Tufted Duck, Mandarin Ducks, Moorhens,
Coots.
Tuesday October 21:
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| Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
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| Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
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| Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
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| Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo |
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| female Mandarin Ducks, Aix galericulata |
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| Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus |
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| Mute Swan, Cygnus olor |
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| Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus |
These appear very year at the entrance to the hide
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| Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus |
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| Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula |
Climping:
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| Stonechat, Saxicola torquata |
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Brent Goose, Branta bernicla
|
Friday October 24:
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| Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea |
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| Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis |
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| Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos |
Saturday October 25:
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| Canada Geese, Branta canadensis |
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| Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo |
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| Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo |
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| Grey Wagtail shaking its head, Motacilla cinerea |
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| Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea |
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| Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus |
Sunday October 26:
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| Verdigris Agaric, Stropharia aeruginosa |
I found this fungus while metal detecting in the morning, my best find! It was green in the field, not the blue in the photo. It is believed to be poisonous like the Fly Agaric.
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| Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
A lot of energy goes into taking and maintaining control of this perching post. A bird flies in and the incumbent either relinquishes control or stays put, often with much vocalisation to make its point.
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| Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea |
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| Kingfisher on the far side of the lake, Alcedo atthis |
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| Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna |
Monday October 27:
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| Canada Geese flying off late afternoon, Branta canadensis |
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| Little Egret, Egretta garzetta |
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| Little Egret, Egretta garzetta |
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| Shoveler, Anas clypeata |
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| female Shoveler, Anas clypeata |
There were five Shovelers on the lake
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| female Shoveler, Anas clypeata |
Wednesday was a wet day so I made chutney.
Thursday October 30:
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| Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum |
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| Common Gull, Larus canus |
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| Herring Gull, Larus argentatus |
It was good to see different gulls on the perch
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| Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea |
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| Hoverfly, Myathropa florea |
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| Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis |
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| Magpie on the roof, Pica pica |
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| Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus |
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| Teal, Anas crecca |
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