birdwatching

Great White Egret (again).

/ Andy Finnegan / 6 Comments

Some more Great White Egret pictures from this morning at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve 4 birds were spotted by one of the warden 1st thing – we spotted 3 individuals. There were also a number of Little Egrets and several Grey Herons. (you can see these in some of the pictures and YouTube film which gives size comparisons).

A large Egret.

/ Andy Finnegan / 9 Comments

It was nice to see two Great White Egrets at Tichfield Haven on Thursday. Although they were on the far side of the reserve I was able to get some pictures, they are large birds about the same size as a Grey Heron.

Population:

 UK breeding:8-12 pairs

UK wintering:72 birds

Leucistic bird.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

 Leucistic birds have affected plumage which lacks the melanin pigment due to the cells responsible for melanin production being absent. This results in white feathers, unless the normal plumage colour also comprises carotenoids, these remain unaffected by the condition.

Below is a Grey Wagtail I photographed and posted earlier in the year.

Today in the New Forest we spotted A Grey Wagtail with a Leucistic head cap.

Garden visitors.

/ Andy Finnegan / 1 Comment

Garden visitors or just passing through. Yesterday morning I thought I was dreaming as I woke I heard parrots! The noise got louder and interrupted by the cackle of Magpies. Our garden is small and divided at the bottom of the garden by large Beech and Sycamore trees.

Four Ring-necked parakeets were high in the Beech trees eating the beach nuts. With their strong beaks they can easily remove the nuts from the husks. At this point the Magpies try to steal the nuts.

Yesterday evening and this morning the sound of parakeets are again in the trees although I did not see them again.