The Pied Wagtail is the most common wagtail species in Britain & Ireland. Distinctive with its black, white and grey plumage and bobbing tail.
Pied Wagtail.
nature spots
Worm Dance.
Over the last few years, I have noticed that Gulls mainly Herring Gulls sometimes Black-headed Gulls do what I call a “worm dance”.They stand on grassland often on the side of the road or in the centre of a roundabout either alone or in small groups and tap their feet. This tapping seems to encourage the worms to the surface, making a good meal. I have been watching bird behaviour all my life and this “worm dance” is relatively new. The birds must pass this trick on to each other as it is widespread here in the UK. I wonder if Gulls in other countries do this?
Park views.
The last month I have visited the city park with resident Ring Necked Parakeets at least once a week. Without fail each visit I have seen the birds. Normally I see 1 to 4 birds but I think there is a population of at least 6 around this site. Today despite the dull weather I was happy with my pictures.
How to make a hole?
In the sun of a Friday morning, the local Paraketts were very noisy and active – they seemed to be trying to make a hole in one of the trees. I looked last year for a nest site without luck, so I hope this may be a place to watch as we move into the nesting season in a few months.
Watched by the male bird the female spent some time pulling off bits of wood and dropping them.
Colour on a dull day.
Corvus corax.
The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a large all-black bird. It is massive – the biggest member of the crow family. This lone bird was using a dead tree as an observation post so hence I could not get very close across the open heathland.
These pictures are cropped in so much more grainy than I would have liked. Spotted New Forest.
- UK breeding birds -7,400 pairs
- Weight800-1,500g
- Wingspan120-150cm
Waiting.
#Wordless Wednesday
Spoonbill.
Nice to see a Spoonbill at Titchfield Haven this morning perhaps one from the group of 12 I saw at Pennington Marshes a few weeks ago blown of course in last night’s storm.
Not for the shops!
Well, we did not go far today a couple of hours into the City. Not for the shops but for a walk around one of Southampton Parks.
Berlin Express leaving the container port. Wishing her a safe trouble free trip. This German-flagged containership is heading for Algeciras in Spain.
Some views of Southampton Water from Mayflower Park.
City Birdlife.
Magpie.
There are many variations of the Magpie rhyme, but one of the most common versions is the version that I know :-
One for Sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten a surprise you should be careful not to miss.
Eleven for health,
Twelve for wealth,
Thirteen beware it’s the devil himself.
Continued Reflections from my World. 