More Garden Blackcaps

 Lots of Blackbirds still around in the garden, most seem to be males. Some, like the one above have duller bills and slightly brownish plumage, these may be continental birds or possibly first winter birds.

 There are still three Blackcaps feeding under on the ground, gleaning the bits dropped by the finches on the feeders above.

 Collared Doves join the throng to clean up the left overs. 

 Joining in today were two Robins, not a good situation, as they spend to much time squabbling to make much of an impression. 

 Chaffinches spend more time on the ground than on the feeders, and areby now the males are quite smart.

 I sat with the a sliding door open and managed quite a few shots of the female Blackcap. Although there were two males around they were much more easily spooked and the slightest movement of the lens had them scurrying off. 

 One of the Blackbirds with a bright yellow bill. I'm still amazed that they are feeding as close to each other as they are in such a tolerant group.

 It was good to see groups of Curlews out on Worth Marshes. These are probably wintering migrants from further north.The British breeding population is in trouble.

 The UK breeding population of Eurasian Curlew are declining rapidly. Between 1995 and 2011 the UK Breeding numbers have shown a decline of 45%. The decline is variable between regions Local studies have implicated nest predation and low breeding productivity as causes of decline. However, changes in vegetation structure through changing grazing pressure in the uplands may also have an effect of habitat suitability. 

 At the Restharrow Scrape most birds were huddled round the edge to avoid the cold wind. One Little Grebed ddi come quite close on a fishing expedition.

It caught quite a decent sized |Three Spined Stickleback. I didn't see the end of the story as the heavens opened and the wind meant that the windows needed to be rapidly closed.

Back to the only winters day so far

I have a rotten cough and cold at the moment.This along with the One Day International v South African followed by the Calcutta Cup meant it was a rather sedentary date, punctuated by a few leaps up in the air and loud cheers. A good day for England supporters. I did have the chance to have a look at a few photos I took on the 21st Jan when the Restharrow Scrape was mainly frozen over.

Restharrow Scrape

A slipping and a sliding Coot.

A couple of Dabchicks with the wind up their tails

Eigeon and Gadway graze on the nearest island.

Drake Shoveler looking good.

Some of the 300 or so Teal on the edge of the ice.

Drak Mallard looking rather smart.

A few Herring and Great-black Backed Gulls gathered at the back of the scrape.

Greylag Geese

All fluffed up

I was watching a Dabchick diving for food at the Restharrow Scrape, Sandwich Bay today when I noticed something that I should have already been aware of.

When the Grebe first broke the surface it immediately fluffed up its feathers looking almost like a fluffy ball.

It stayed in this pose for a while, presumably using the trapped air as an insulation.

Then quite quickly it seemed to deflate and the tail end when down and the bird became much more streamlined.

All of the air was squeezed out of the feathers, as like a submarine it became submersible.

|The characteristic dive followed, with a little leap out of the water, showing just how far back the legs are set on the body.

The little tuft of a tail disappearing under the water as it went in search of small fish.

Of course at this time of year Teal are the commonest bird on the scrape. The female may not be as striking as her partner but is still subtly beautiful.

The more striking males are now all in full breeding plumage, and many were already in the mood for pairing up, with much head bobbing, up and down, being performed in front of the females in order to impress them.  

 There seemed to be a lot of Gadwall around and these also were mainly in pairs. It was good to be out in the sunshine, albeit rather cold as |I attempt my acclimatisation after the warmth of mid-summer in Queensland.

Time to build the Ark?

On January the second, I had a wander along to the Restharrow Scrape. 

A far as I c an remember we were already well into the wet season, and the water level of the scrape had already reached a height that exceeded the norm. Nevertheless there was still quite a large island in front of the hide on which a lot of the ducks chose to sit around.

Yesterday, despite the days benign weather, there was, as it has been for sometime now, no obvious sign of a island.

But a careful look at the identical area of water show that the top of the island is just about high enough to allow a couple of Shelducks the luxury of standing.

 On of my favourites on this particular puddle are the Dabchicks, and at this time of year they are in splendid plumage and can be good fun to watch. The are not too impressed when an uninvited guest invades their territory.

And the braying noise, I suppose that it could be called their song, that they used to advertise their ownership, is one of the great sounds in the spring.