Strolled about for a bit. The Reed Bunting was in his usual tree and today there was a LBJ. Wish I knew my birds better - its song was delightful and although I visited the RSPB site and listened to several warblers - I couldn't find the relevant song. By now, it had started to drizzle but not too badly. It doesn't help under these conditions to receive a text (thanks Pete) saying how warm the sunshine is!!
BUT I did see 3 House Martins (my first this year) hunting over the pond - lovely!
I then went down by the River Thames in the Hampton Court area as my daughter had seen a pair of Grebes there - they'd now gone!
But I was greeted by a singing Mistle Thrush as I walked along the river
From there I set off for Painshill Park to check out the Grebes there. I parked in the car park. I listened to the rain now beating down relentlessly on the car roof. Right, I'll nip into the nearby supermarket to get the bits I need - still pouring when I came out. So off home I went!
I did manage to watch a Grey Heron for a bit in Bushey, that was standing on, what looked like, a coot's nest. He decided to fly over to the other side and headed straight for a coot's nest where the coot was only a couple of feet from it. The coot took umbrage and charged the Grey Heron which instantly flew off!
Heron happily standing on a coot's nest
Coot.... "you're not welcome here"
"so go away".....
Heron "I'm off, that coot means business" !
So home and I resigned myself to the rain which was just as well as it hasn't stopped since.
Further frustration to day when I tried to upload these pictures to blogger. They wouldn't upload. Rebooted the PC - just in case - no change. Decided the pictures might be corrupt as I'd uploaded a different picture successfully. So, resized all the pictures again and hey - bingo! You'll have noticed it worked!!
So a frustrating day but I have seen quite a few birds in the garden and around and about - included the two Lesser Redpolls in the garden again. There is a glimmer of a silver lining!
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15 comments:
HI Tricia, yes you get that sometimes with Blogger. It is more to do with how many people are on it already which slows it all down.
Nice story about the Heron. I have seen a pair of Coots drive off a male Mute Swan before now they arn't afraid of anything them little so-n-so's.
Lovely Heron sequence.
Pity about your weather. I'd better not mention what it has been like here.
Great final head shot - all that is missing is a pair of pince-nez as it looks distinctly short sighted.
Hi tricia,
House martins everywhere it seems! Could your LBJ have been a Willow warbler ? A lovely 'descending' song
Roy: I know - blogger can be very temperamental at times but on this occasion it think it was my pictures. I could upload some - but not others.
John: I know some areas had some great sunny and warm weather today and I assuming you are in one of them! The heron is squinting a bit Lol
Warren. It may well have been. Needless to say it was high up in the tree, but I couldn't see any yellow eye stripe but.... maybe I'll see it again and get a picture. It certainly had a descending note at the end of the song.
Good pictures despite the weather Tricia. Love that last Heron shot.
Had rain here all day, and stuck in work. Got a day off Sunday, so hopefully the sun will shine. :)
I especially like the first photo of the heron taking flight. I went and found a recording of the mistle thrush song - and its lovely!
Hi Tricia, just to make you feel better, the weather Ooop North was just as bad!! not a good birding day. Love the shots of the Coot/Heron chase LOL. Just a thought, your LBJ, not a Dunnock eh? they do like a high point to sing from, and can be misleading.
paul.
I had a similar problem late last night Tricia & decided to leave it for 24 hours and now the same pics have uploaded without any error messages....must be the wet weather!
I see you managed a clearer pic of the 'Storm Cock' than my attempt.
I think we were getting too used to the nice weather Tricia, it has been wet and miserable here too.
Well done that Coot I say, blooming cheek!
Keith: only Sunday off? poor you - fingers crossed you will get some really good weather to go out in!
Mick: thanks. It's a pretty song isn't it!
Frank: I think it was my pictures but all seems OK now. I think the Storm Cock was appropriate for today's weather down south!
Jan: I believe you're right about getting used to good weather. Comes as a bit of a shock all this wet stuff! The coot was really viscous and not deterred at all by the heron's size!
Paul: the chase didn't last long but was dramatic for the time is lasted!
Thanks for the suggestion but definitely not a Dunnock - different bird altogether.
Love the Mistle Trush...more please.
Hi Richard: thanks. Had a song thrush in the garden a minute ago - but its such a dreadfully wet morning that no light to take a picture!!
Weather exactly the same here in the Black Country Tricia, didn't stop you getting out and capturing some more excellent shots though - well done once again!!
Jayne
Hi Jayne and thanks. More of the wet stuff again this morning alas!
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