My blog is mostly about wildlife, particularly birds, walking, days out, all growing things and anything else that comes to mind.
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Thursday 2 April 2009

Tuesday's visit to Bushey Park continued...

After my very brief post on Tuesday, I then went out for a meal with my Daughter and Grandson - had a lovely evening and my daughter drove so I could have a birthday drink!

The day in Bushey Park was overcast with lighter sky in the afternoon. Nonetheless we managed to see a lot of activity. The female Grebe was sending out a very clear invitation to the male - who totally ignored her. I understand from Richard Peters (a fellow photographer that we met in the park) that he saw 3 further attempts by the female all of which were equally ignored by the male. I'm now going to be watching for signs of eggs and the female on the nest more.

The Happy Couple

This Reed Bunting was flitting from one tree to the next and back again - would it stay still and on view? NO!


One of the four Egyptian Goslings - just after a satisfying scratch

and a quick dip!

The Mallards were very active and flying about, circling overhead.

Jack Daws enjoying the Fallow Deer's coat which makes very good nesting material.



and a youngster having a scratch!

The Red Deer stags were hanging about in the pond


Whilst this rather obliging Grey Heron was flying backwards and forwards across the far end of the pond ....






..fishing..!


A good day all in all!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent pictures again, Tricia. You`re definately getting the knack regards the flight shots.

Anonymous said...

Great photographs, love the heron in flight and the deer in the water.

You share the same birthday as my sister who lives in Australia. Belated birthday wishes!!

You had lovely weather for your trip to Sussex yesterday. Jackie.

Midmarsh John said...

Lovely series of Heron flight shots. My local Heron disappears at the slightest sight of movement.
I hope they were loose hairs the Jackdaws were taking! Reminds me of the day I watched a Blue Tit struggle to pull pieces from the coconut lining of a hanging basket.

Warren Baker said...

I like the jackdaws Tricia. I watch them collecting all sorts of nesting material,

Neil said...

Great photos tricia, especially the deer and herons

swatson said...

Brilliant shots of the jackdaws gathering their nesting material.
Sheila

SPD said...

Fantastic mum your composition just keeps getting better! Really think its time for a trip to yellowstone!
Lv
SPD

mick said...

Very interesting to see the jackdaws on the deer. It doesn't seem to mind.

Tricia Ryder said...

Dean: Thanks - you should seen the ones I binned!! The light was horrid - bright but no sun.

Jackie: thank you for the wishes!

John: thanks. I think Herons in Bushey Park are so used to people that, on the whole, they're not bothered. But it was very intent on fishing (as was a Cormorant in the same spot) that I think it was ignoring everything else.

Warren: I managed to track where one of the went so I can keep an eye on the nest now.

SPD - thank you. I'm on for Yellowstone! Who's paying?

Mick: I think the Deer are completely oblivious of the birds. The deer are beginning to moult their winter coats so the Jack Daws help with the process.

Tricia Ryder said...

Neil and Sheila: thanks to you both.

ShySongbird said...

Lovely photos again Tricia. The goslings look so cute and I love the Mallards in flight, the Heron, the Deer in the water and the Jackdaws collecting nesting material.

ShySongbird said...

Forgot to say Very Happy Belated Birthday Tricia.

Tricia Ryder said...

Hi ShySongbird - thank you; the goslings are cuties but they have to grow up...

and thanks for the birthday wishes. :)

Anonymous said...

Lovely Heron Shots Tricia and the Mallard pair is just great.
What is wrong! with the Male Great Crested Grebe.

Lily said...

Amazing photos, wonder if I could get the local jackdaws to groom my dog - she's certainly got plenty of spare hair, it rolls around the house like tumbleweed!

The Quacks of Life said...

love the jackdaw and deer photos.

holdingmoments said...

Wow! Great collection of pictures Tricia.
The Jackdaws and the deer are amazing. Love seeing shots of wildlife going about their business.

avalon said...

Happy belated birthday to you. Glad you had a good day! Loved the jackdaws and the heron we have a heron that sits in our stream on the bridge he's never there long enough to get a piccie!

Graham James said...

A belated Happy Birthday, Tricia. Great flight shots, especially the Mallards.

Chris said...

Hi Tricia,
Oh my, I still have cramps in the stomach because I laugh so much!!! I love the scratching Egyptian gosling and the jackdaw selection of warm clothing for their nest... These are amazing pictures, but the whole post is. Thanks for sharing these moments.

Tricia Ryder said...

Roy and Pete: they were fun to watch and the deer so unconcerned.

Holdingmoments: Same here - and wildlife on the doorstep too!

Lily: I used to put out the hair from my daughter's dog, in the garden, When I cleaned out a nest box it was very evident that the hair had been used!

Avalon - thank you :) One day he'll be intent on fishing; that's the time to get the picture.

Tricia Ryder said...

Graham: thank you. The Mallards could be much better but given the light .....

Chris: Glad to have entertained you and thank you for the comments.

Tom said...

WOW...
What pictures you have today... I have come to expect by now to be pleased with what I see and read here, but the Heron in flight, and the Jackdaws plucking the fur for the deer are great captures.

I'm leaving here today with a smile on my face and a longing to be out and about with my camera.

Tom
Wiggers World

Tricia Ryder said...

Hi Tom and thank you for your kind comments.

The heron's slow flight does make it so much easier to get some passable shots! And those Jackdaws and deer just were in the right place at the right time for me.

Tricia Ryder said...

and Tom - hope you can get out today with your camera - I shall be popping by later :D

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