Your local Patch/Reserve. (1 Viewer)

[Kits]

Splendiferous pics, Miss Wendy! Just lovely. Sounds like a good trip.

 

[Peewit]

Lovely report Wendy. :t:

Love your pictures too. The Mallard was very obliging and showed his better side.

Your BH gull picture looks very clear to me.

Glad that you enjoyed your day out, and it is very cold at the moment.

 

[Wendy Morris]

Life conspired against me getting to the coast this afternoon, so I went to Sutton Bingham to see what was about. Firstly, most of the water was frozen excpet for bits close to the edge and secondly there were dozens of birds of all sorts around. Blackheaded and GBB gulls, Mallard, Swans (3), Duck mixtures, Pied and Grey Wagtails, Rooks, Coots and Jackdaws were all present in varying numbers.

Some of the Mallard had popped through a hole in the fence where I parked and were literally walking over my feet and looking up for food! They are always hungry, but today they seemed a bit desperate.

 

[Pam_m]

Super photo's Wendy, especially the Grey Wagtail! :t:

Shame to see the Mallards seemingly desperate for food!

 

[palval147]

Lovely photo's Wendy. Perhaps not many people have been visiting there with food for the wild birds, which is why those ducks seemed so hungry. Don't they have a warden there who feeds them? In our local park & on our river we have people who do this in bad weather. At Stover they put out all sorts of feeders for birds & food for the wildfowl too.

 

[Pam_m]

Lovely photo's Wendy. Perhaps not many people have been visiting there with food for the wild birds, which is why those ducks seemed so hungry. Don't they have a warden there who feeds them? In our local park & on our river we have people who do this in bad weather. At Stover they put out all sorts of feeders for birds & food for the wildfowl too.

Aah, now I see where you asked the question, Val!:t:

 

[Pam_m]

Deciding against a trip to Upton Warren thinking it would be very quiet with the Pools and Flashes still frozen a 'local' reserve was visited! This was our first visit to Bumble Hole & Warrens Hall Reserves. It is very close to the centre of an urban industrial town and a good ten minute drive from my home on a quiet traffic day such as today (Sunday)! Some of the pools have evolved from the industrial activities which once took place, others have been created to increase the diversity of plant and animal life. Not a lot of birds to be seen today as it was rather a windy day but fortunately much milder than of late. Bullfinch, Chaffinch and L.T.Tits were the highlights! This area has a lot of potential in the warmer months for Dragon and Butterflies so it will be one to definately return to through the coming months.

I read on BF in the evening that the Bittern had been showing very well indeed at the Moors Pools, Upton Warren! Oh well, you win some and lose some!

http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-an...bumble-hole-and-warrens-hall-local-nature-res

 

[palval147]

Good to see a patch of wild habitat in an urban area, Pam. Shame you missed seeing the Bittern, another day, I've no doubt, you will.

 

[Peewit]

Hi Wendy

Loved reading all about your trip and your birds. Your pictures are lovely Wendy, and I enjoyed looking at them.

The Grey Wagtail is a beauty anyday. They are a bird in a million, and great report from yourself.

Yes, those birds ike their food but we supply them so we are their saviours.

Hi Pam

A great report and I enjoyed hearing that your patch has the Bitterns so that makes it special. I wish you had a chance to see them, Pam

The areas looks very oldie worldie charm, and it shows even the most built up areas have bird life/wild life of all types. Love the old fashioned buildings, and it is a haunting type of feeling from the pictures to show how life has changed and moved on.

Loved to hear about your trip Pam indeed, anyday! :t:

 

[Peewit]

A day out at Great River Ouse/Bedford Park

Hi there

The weather was beautiful today with a blue sky, although a little on the chilly side at times. So we decided to go on another walk because the weather was so nice.

So our aim was to feed the Swans and Wildfowl at the Great River Ouse and Bedford Park. Also to go for a coffee and Costa's, and relax. We also took some Swan food (purchased yesterday for the occasion).

We went to the river, and all of the wildfowl came up to us wanting food as they always do. So we tested out the Swan food and see if they would like it. We got a mixed response, and the one bird that loved it was the Swans themselves (no bread and cakes on the menu from us at all). The Mallards likes it - so it was a hit with some birds over others birds.

There was a lone Cormorant fishing on its own. The bird itself, was to far away to take a photograph, and it spent most of its time diving for fish. So there must be a few fish around for the Cormorant to eat.

Picture 1 - Mallard
Picture 2 - Canada Goose
Picture 3 - Albino Mallard
Picture 4 - Bedford river towards town
Picture 5 - Bedford river away from town

 

[Peewit]

another set of pictures.

While walking along the pathway along beside the river this very confident Canadian Goose decided to follow us. He was after food big time!!

My OH placed the Swan food on the rivers edge and the swan placed its chin so it could eat the food from dry land. so sweet and it shows how pampered those Swans are by the public. At least the river was not frozen like it has been

A lovely picture of Mr and Mrs Swan. It is although they are talking to one another o
Look at the mad rush of Swans When they worked out we had food they came up in their droves of about 50 or so. A lot to feed at one time.
OH took a picture through the stone railing and it was quite effective. :t:

Picture 6 - Alert Canadian Goose
Picture 7 - Swan wanted individual feeding.
Picture 8 - Pair of Swans
Picture 9 - Dinners up! :eek!:
Picture 10 - Views through stone railings

 

[Peewit]

A few Black Headed gulls hung about while we fed the Swans and we found out that they do not like Swan food so may as well. The Gulls are much faster then the gulls.

A gaggle of Swans (or a gaggle of geese!). This is what you call every man for himself.. The Swans where quite competitive nd there was a couple of squabbles but that was expected. nothing major though.

The statue of a Swan at Bedford's Swan Hotel. Very appropriate for the occasion.

Picture 11 - Black Headed Gull watching us
Picture 12 - Swans found us!
Picture 13 - Pictures of statue relating to Swan Hotel
Picture 14 - Ditto

 

[Peewit]

Bedford Park

Another set of pictures of Bedford Park.

The Swan parents still had their offspring around them as you can see form the darker feathers. There are 5 cygnets in all. It super to see them grown up into the birds they are now.

The parents got a little fluffed up at our presence so I do not know the reason behind it, but they where alright with us being so close to them.

The Bedford Park Lake is frozen over and the Coots, Mallards and Moorhens walked over the ice. It was not deep but strong enough to hold the birds weight.

The last picture was of the Heinz 57 Pochard. Still a good looking bird though.

Picture 15 - Parent Swans Fluffed up.
Picture 16 - Cygnets grown up
Picture 17 - Ice on Bedford Lake
Picture 18 - Walking on Ice
Picture 19 - Heinz 57 Pochard

 

[Wendy Morris]

Great selection, Kathy and much better weather than I experienced on my visit.

A trip to see a sick friend took me quite close to Sutton Bingham and so I factored in a brief stop. The main difference to the usual residents was the large number of Canada Geese....possibly as many as 150. It is not very often that they are there at all and certainly not in such numbers. Numbers of all the species was well up today, but they were not so desperate for food as last time and the Canadas were totally uninterested, prefering to sleep!

The Pied Wagtail and BHG photos were taken through the car windscreen shortly before the drizzle started. The line of Cormorants was rather too far away for a decent shot, but I counted at least 14, again, a very large number at this location.

 

[Peewit]

Great selection, Kathy and much better weather than I experienced on my visit.

A trip to see a sick friend took me quite close to Sutton Bingham and so I factored in a brief stop. The main difference to the usual residents was the large number of Canada Geese....possibly as many as 150. It is not very often that they are there at all and certainly not in such numbers. Numbers of all the species was well up today, but they were not so desperate for food as last time and the Canadas were totally uninterested, prefering to sleep!

The Pied Wagtail and BHG photos were taken through the car windscreen shortly before the drizzle started. The line of Cormorants was rather too far away for a decent shot, but I counted at least 14, again, a very large number at this location.

Thank you Wendy for your kind remarks. Sorry to hear about your sick friend, and I am sure that your trip helped her on the road to recovery. :gh:

OMG to have 150 Canadian Geese that is quite a number to deal with. They are quite domineering birds at the best of times. Great number of birds of all sorts to observe at S.Bingham

Your pictures a fabulous too. I love the ones of the Pied Wagtail. Lovely birds with great characters.

 

[Bea]

I don't go far when the weather's cold but as it was so nice this morning my dog and I set off for a walk at my local patch.

There was plenty of bird activity in the tree tops. GSW, Nuthatches, Siskins, LT Tits, Blue, Great and Coal tits, a Treecreeper and a Redpoll, which is a first for me. Lower down were Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds. I noticed that the buds of Oak and Beech were looking quite plump in the sunlight. A sign that it will soon be Spring.

Well worth the walk and my dog enjoyed it too, she found something smelly to roll in:eek!:.

 

[palval147]

That was a good selection of birds, Kathy & lots of Swans, to compliment the Swan hotel statue.

Lovely photo's, I like the ones of the Pied Wagtail Wendy.

 

[Wendy Morris]

I don't go far when the weather's cold but as it was so nice this morning my dog and I set off for a walk at my local patch.

There was plenty of bird activity in the tree tops. GSW, Nuthatches, Siskins, LT Tits, Blue, Great and Coal tits, a Treecreeper and a Redpoll, which is a first for me. Lower down were Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds. I noticed that the buds of Oak and Beech were looking quite plump in the sunlight. A sign that it will soon be Spring.

Well worth the walk and my dog enjoyed it too, she found something smelly to roll in:eek!:.

Oh, Bea...they are SO good at that aren't they?!!!! Usually on the side of the neck and so quickly done that you don't have time to yell at them!!!

Glad that you saw the Redpoll for the first time. A Treecreeper is something that I have only seen once and Nuthatches are not very common here either.

 

[Peewit]

Another one of our Bedford walks today

Hi there

It was a bright day today, so my OH and I went for another wander into Bedford town centre.
Armed with Swan food, and a camera we wandered down to the river. The plan was we feed the wildfowl. Pay our Council Tax, go for a coffee, and a snack. Then buy some more dried mealworms for our birds.

The usual route we went was along the pathway of The Great River Ouse once more, and we watched the wildfowl as we always do.

OH fed the hungry Swans ans they loved the Swan food. The Mallards, and the BH Gulls tried to eat the food, but not all of the wildfowl shared the tasty Swanfood in the same way.
The Canada Geese ate the Swanfood with relish.
The food was rejected on some occasions with birds who had not acquired the taste for less healthier foods.
Must be the tasty McDonald burgers they get with cakes for deserts. Not a good diet at all.

Anyway here are some pictures that where taken of the hungry birds.

1. Black Headed gull
2. Female Mallard
3. Flock of BH gulls
4. Canadian Geese
5 Mute Swan

 

[Peewit]

Some more shots of the food mad gulls in our midst.

The last picture was of a white Pigeon all on its ownsome, then another pigeon joined up with it. I thought they must be a Mr and Mrs P.
Cute, as they never left each others sides. o:t: