Thursday 24 July 2014

Tern on a fence post.


Earlier in the week I paid a visit to Tices Meadows, a site that has grown in popularity over the past few years for many Surrey birders due to the increasing number of species being recorded there. This obviously has a lot to do with the overall management of the water levels and the diverse habitats.

Walking into the site through the copse I noted numerous pairs of Speckled Wood performing their dancing courtship flights and one perched for a side view only. Other species logged included Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Peacock, Large White, Large Skipper and a very fresh, second brooded, Common Blue.

This is not a location where it is particularly easy to get close views of the birds without a scope or exceptionally large lens but the fence posts way out in the water offered an opportunity to snap two species.

An adult Black-headed Gull (nearest the camera on the right) and a noisy offspring on the furthest post.

Other species logged around the site included Canada Geese (82), Egyptian Geese (2), Mute Swan (2 plus 2 cygnets), Mallard, Tufted Duck with youngsters, Coot (too numerous to count), Moorhen, Great-Crested Grebe (3), Little Grebe, Little Egret, Lapwing, Grey Heron (7), Starling, Crow, Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail.


I watched an adult Common Tern fly in with a catch, presumably for its youngster.

The two parents looked slightly bemused ... "Where has our child gone now!"

"Hey ... I'm up here".    Juvenile Common Tern on another post.

As I failed to find any waders that had been recorded on previous days I drove over to Thursley Common and spent some time photographing a very small Darter (Sympetrum danae) that will feature in a forthcoming post but you can get a sneak preview by clicking hereFAB.

12 comments:

  1. so very cute. :) thanks, frank!

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  2. How lovely, Mum Dad hey I am up here :)

    I love the three posts with the gulls.....lovely composition.

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  3. Looks a lovely place to spend some time finding birds and butterflies. Grat shots as usual Frank.

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  4. Frank wat een prachtig gebied.

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  5. Great photos. You really know your birds. Thank you for visiting my Not So Good Fence.

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  6. awww... love the shots... so nice with the water in the background...

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  7. It sure is a sensational day to be alive! Lovely view, thanks for sharing this.

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  8. great timing on the one flying in with a catch! love the gulls on the posts!

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  9. Beautiful shots! I love the tern with the fish!

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  10. The noisy offspring is settled in and just waiting for some lunch! I wondered at first why he wasn't standing like the other two. The terns are lovely. Looks like a great place to bird!

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and I always appreciate your comments and feedback.

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