Some bits n bobs

I managed a couple of hours off my local patch and was delighted to see a pair of Dippers and this Grey Wagtail. 

I think I said in an earlier email, there were four Bullfinch visiting the garden and just a record shot through the window with an old camera to record three feeding together. The male at the top appears to be the dominant male and has a brighter red chest, whereas the male at the bottom is more 'pink'. Normally they come in pairs and I'm surprised they tolerate this other male, while no evidence does make me wonder if it is their offspring, although he does get seen off if gets too cocky or close!

Just recently I have seen the male Bullfinch appearing more on their own, which may be a good sign... only time will tell.

Back on my patch I was surprised to see two Redwing in mid-April, high in the canopy, I guess on their way home.

And just glad the Tornado is on our side... and as long as he doesn't have any accidents with those things strapped under the wings near my house, always glad to see them.

What a grey day

said Larry, for those that remember

Grey Wagtail, enough said except, I was trying to get a reasonable reflection – which had me wondering... do they see their own reflection?

We know Blue Tits and Blackbirds and others often go beserk at their own reflection in a car wing mirror, primarily around breeding time, so I wonder if birds see their reflection in water at other times.

And nearly another car crash as I slammed on the brakes, as it was windy and wet just for a change when I came across three friends (or relations) sat on fenceposts out of the corner of my eye – trapper result!

Another study in Grey

I think it was 28 March 2011 when I saw my local Grey Wagtails and it appears to be thereabouts when they turned up this year, although sightings have been limited so far this year.

I managed to creep up on this female Grey Wagtail and spent some 25 minutes or so watching it feeding on gnats and anything flying within range. There was something not quite right and I couldn't figure it out, but realised this Grey Wagtail was not walking and running as they do, but lowered itself onto it's belly each and every time it landed.

I always enjoy getting close to these Grey Wagtail and do hope they will be making regular appearances again – I'll be watching out for them.

all but for a blade of grass

As you can see from these later images this individual has growths on its legs/feet and while it was flying and feeding well enough, clearly walking and running was a difficulty... I hope it survives and improves; the big question is will the male be prepared to put up with her and mate or will a new female be introduced to the fold – only time will tell.

The Grey Wagtail saga... five years or so

You will recall an earlier post dear reader of my encounter with a Grey Wagtail some weeks ago in poor light... I returned...

as you can see in sunshine.... I prepared the post yonks ago but didn't want two posts on the same subject and time passes...

...however the real reason for the post is because I was going through the archives and starting to think and plan about the coming months and what I might think about catching up with, for instance I have an 'odd' Chiffchaff on my patch that has returned over the last two years and hopefully he'll be back ('he' because he does all the singing) and I'll try and catch up with him, but he tends to conceal himself very well and high up in the tree canopy...
...and also, I suddenly realised I have had Grey Wagtails on my patch for the past five years or so in the same location, a pair last April; and then I remembered photos I had taken in 2007, of a Grey Wagtail collecting food in June...

collecting food in June 2007... for? (old camera equipment)

obviously to feed the young.... and I hadn't appreciated the significance of it at the time... breeding Grey Wagtails! I will have to make more of an effort this year. Must do better (as my form master always said).

A Car Park Surprise

Greetings for a enjoyable, safe and prosperous 2012 dear reader.

For once in the right place at the right time as these photos of a Grey Wagtail were actually taken in an 'unfinished' private car park. As always (nearly always) I had the camera with me and was able to creep up on this Grey Wagtail in the car. An unexpected pleasure. (Again low light levels meant 99% of the photos were soft, out of focus and or blurred, especially as you know Wagtails are just that, wagging their tails  and for ever bobbing and weaving – bah humbug. Must do better this year).

(I think everyone now knows, that by double clicking an image opens larger photos slide show).

reflection – nearly

turning leaves - soft and out of focus... gggrrrgghhhhh

These images are all the same bird and it was 'paddling' in some puddles, turrning over damp leaves – I have no idea what it was finding to feed upon, if anything. I was attempting to capture it with it's own reflection in the water to illustrate the bright yellow under-belly etc. 

As you can see, the sun came out once and what a difference it makes! Of course what I should add is, the photography is a bonus, just watching and being so close to this character was a joy to behold and lightens the heart: however...

This constant local wet, miserable, grey, overcast weather is driving me nuts... now I understand why people sod off to Spain and the like. Personally I have always fancied Baja (California) but I see there are proposals for large scale developments even down there. Bah humbug! Perhaps Manley Beach (Sydney) or Freetown or somewhere... (hopefully somewhere where there are no mobile telephones or the internet, "hello, HELLO, HELLO can you hear me? I'll be home in two minutes"... garump! I blame it on the weather... when of course it's just me, miserable old sod).

Like a Polar Bear?

Yes I know it's that male Grey Wagtail AGAIN but dear reader, bear with me – do you know the colour of the calamus, because I didn't, I do now – I think!

Bandits at 11 o'clock, looking for flying insects overhead

Scratch

Time for a 'spruce-up'

including the tail

wings

and certain feathers, note the upper half

and the 'white feather' is in fact 'black' for the half closest the skin

back to business

It is great to get those 'award winning' photographs of birds we all hope will be in our collection but a lot of the time 'birdwatching' is just that, the photography a bonus. So while birdwatching, having seen 'that' bird for me it isn't about dashing off to the next one but to spend as long as possible with the subject to watch and study. I'll not bore you that lecture suffice to say, spending time with the Gret Wagtail(s) has been interesting and here re some images of the male having a clean up. From what I can see from some of these photos, the camulus on some of the feathers appear to be black(ish). It may be a well-known fact, but I had no idea. So while on the outside their white and yellow feathers and colour brightens the dullest days, underneath they are black, not unlike a polar bear whose skin is black! (I did wonder if living by running water if it was part of a strategy to keep warm).

Postscript, I am not sure this black part of the feather is actually 'the camulus', I may have may physiology and description incorrect so I would appreciate any comments or input.