Here are a few images taken at Belvide over the 14th and 16th February.
A line-up of 4 drake and presumably 4 duck Wigeon though one bird is partly hidden.
A drake in close-up.
A drake Wigeon takes flight showing the big white area on the inner forewing and the small green speculum.
One of the local Buzzards taking advantage of the fine weather.
The mild weather prompting thoughts of breeding. One of this pair of Great Crested Grebes was collecting weed and starting to build a nest.
Now you know the inspiration for the 1980's ‘punk’ hair styles: all down to Lapwings.
I guess these are, on the left, a first-year Lapwing with the short crest and pale-edged back feathers: and, on the right, a full adult with a long crest and almost no white fringes to the back-feathers. As far as I can tell from my books both adult males and females have long crests, the females showing some white speckling in the breast.
This pair of Oystercatchers had been asleep but were awakened by Canada Geese wanting to use the same bund. They were forced to move.
This seemed to be a mating posture as ....
The next second this happened. Actual mating did not seem to take place, perhaps a pair-bonding activity.
Well after that exertion we’d better get the feathers back in order.
Still a bit scruffy.
Several Song Thrushes were disputing territory around an Ivy-covered tree. After a skirmish one popped out almost too close.
Another ‘almost too close’ was the Wren. Note the ring on its right leg.
Head-on male Reed Bunting, its head not quite jet-black for the breeding season.
A different bird from a different perspective.
(Ed Wilson)
