Moorhen chick – look at my feet!
Moorhen Chick
birds and birdwatch,
Family.
A first for me Little Grebe chicks. Returning to where we had seen a Little Grebe last week it was a real surprise to see a family with 3 chicks. We had not noticed a nest deep in the lily pads. There is one egg still in the nest given the chicks are around 2 or 3 days old it is unlikely that the last egg is fertile.
Dabchick.
The Little Grebe is also known as a ‘Dabchick’.Although they are recorded as common, Little Grebes are elusive. They will often stay hidden amongst vegetation on the edges of lakes, and ponds. They are the UK’s smallest Grebe they’re only around 100g in weight and just over 25cm long. These little water birds are great underwater swimmers and can be spotted diving under the water in search of food.
Blackcap{Juvenile.}
This morning I returned to the area where we spotted adult Blackcaps who were collecting insects last week. I guessed they must be feeding chicks. I was right and spotted at least 3 fledgeling on today’s visit. Young blackcaps are similar to adult female birds even sporting the same brown cap. Identifying a young blackcap from an early age can be done by looking out for their cap alone. By late winter, young males will display dark brown-black caps, and by the following spring are in full adult plumage.
Movies. hunting.
Film making this afternoon a Marsh Harrier and a Grey Heron both hunting. Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve Hampshire.
Reed Warbler
Wordless Wednesday. {sound up}
Bullfinch.
Regular visitors to my mum’s garden are two pairs of Bullfinches. Male Bullfinches have a bright pink-red breast and cheeks, a black cap and grey wings. Females have a much duller grey-pink breast. Both sexes have a white rump that is visible in flight Bullfinches have a short, powerful-looking beak.
Blackcap.
The Blackcap is a greyish warbler. It gets its common name from its black cap. The female’s cap is chestnut brown. Although primarily a summer visiting bird from Germany and north-east Europe. Blackcaps are increasingly spending the winter in the UK. It was unusual to see this woodland bird over water. He was catching small invertebrates from the Lilly flowers on a local pond.
Stonechat.
Male Stonechat New Forest.
Female Stonechat New Forest.
Tufted Duck
Smaller than a Mallard the Tufted Duck is a medium-sized diving duck the male is black on the head, neck, chest and back, and white on the sides. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In winter, numbers increase because birds are moving to the UK from Iceland and northern Europe {The female is entirely chocolate-brown, with yellow eyes }.
Continued Reflections from my World. 