Around the Lakes

A few bird images from around the lakes today.

Images 1 & 2 - Dunnock





Image 3 - Coot taking it easy on the ice



Image 4 - Grey Heron - Not greatly focused this one



Image 5 - Fieldfare



Image 6 & 7 - Redwings




Image 8 - Another Robin



Image 9 - Long Tailed Tit - I was so so close to this one but so so far away. Hiding himself very well in the bush, had to go to manual to try and get a half decent image of him. Half the twigs ended up in the way unfortunately



Image 10 - Canada Goose



Image 11 - Loved this shot of the Swan, looked like he was facing off with the Coot.



Image 11B - Swan in Flight



Image 12 - Busy lakeside



Image 13 - Dinner



Image 14 - Domestic Mallard or Manky Mallards as they are called



Image 15 - Gadwall or Garganey. Not sure which, it might be neither

Fine selection of winter birds, singing Dunnock thinks its Spring. I like the Coot dancing on ice, and its a female Gadwall, your Garganey are in sunnier climes as they migrate.

Thanks Brian on Duck ID, was not too sure, very similar markings but had not realized Garganey had migrated. Gadwall was my initial though, just looking at RSPB image of them both threw me off. The coots were quite comical, the way they lowered their heads and being very tentative walking around.

superb Mark, I love the busy ones and the redwings are brilliant
cant believe the bird world has names for ducks hahaha

Cheers Cakey. Little happier with these today. Feel i am in need of more action bird shots really. Names for ducks?? You mean Manky Mallards??? Have a look at this website

http://10000birds.com/manky-mallards...d-mallards.htm

No12 and 13 are great. Trafalgar square of the bird world

I went down the local pond today with Marcus. I always take a bag of birds seeds with me. The birdies seem very grateful this time of year.

For No12 i needed a smaller lens on really, or a wide lens, could not get all of the birds in, there was about 40 mutes in total, most ive seen around here, countless coots, and lots of Can Geese....So glad to hear you are feeding them bird seed and not bread So sad when i see the ducks and geese with Angel wing because they have been fed bread

blimey Mark didnt realise there were so many
what is angel wing ?
Ive not fed bread for years but only because fishing clubs have banned it

Most of the Birds today Cakey were congregating on Bury Lake, i took two images but of a similar angle. The other image is showing at least 29 Mutes and i know there were more to the right of this area. Usually lucky to see 7 or 8 in one area but most of the time its between 1 and 4. Good to see a higher number in one area

Angel Wing -

Have you ever gone to feed the birds, or been fishing and noticed Canada Geese or Ducks with damaged wings, feathers missing at the end of the tips of wings or wings spread outwards , almost like they have been clipped badly.

Image here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Angelwing.jpg

Angel wing is caused when geese and ducks are overfed high protein diet, like by unsuspecting members of the public feeding their local ducks and geese bread. If caught in time it can be reversed or cure itself, but a lot of time its too late and the birds die. It effects Males more than females too, why that is i do not know........

Excellent site now bookmarked, as if ID is not hard enough without the flaming things hybridizing.