Rose-ringed Parakeet.

During a stroll through the parkland today a brief period of winter sunshine provided an opportunity to take some images of one of our noisiest non native species, the Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) also known as the Ring-necked Parakeet.

This colourful and gregarious parakeet originates from the foothills of the Himalayas and whilst there have been various suggestions as to how this species was introduced locally its numbers have grown substantially mainly due to its ability to cope with our milder winters. In 2006 the winter roost at Esher Rugby Club was c. 6,000 but they have since disbursed elsewhere. A few winters ago 70-100 birds roosted just 100 yards from our house! 

Having a diet of berries, buds, nuts and seeds means that they are frequent visitors to our garden feeders.  For various reasons they are now considered a nuisance due to their mass foraging habits and ability to take over the nest holes of other native species but at least they brighten up a winter morning walk.  FAB. 

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Ruffled Feathers.

Grey Heron ... It's definitely chilly outside.

Just another bad hair day!  FAB.

Linking to Saturday's Critters.

Bittern at Barnes.

It was a chilly but clear morning on Sunday when I joined a Surrey Bird Club field-trip to the London Wetland Centre at Barnes. Some of the shallower parts of the extensive pools showed how cold it had been overnight with a thin layer of ice enabling this Coot to 'walk on the water'.

There were a number of species on our wish list and it wasn't long before the star attraction, a [Eurasian]  Bittern, (Botaurus stellaris) was located on the edge of a distant reed bed.

Typical of this well camouflaged species it stood stock still for many minutes before adopting its upright pose to scan the vicinity for a possible meal before disappearing into the reeds.

Other species logged included Lapwing, Mallard, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Northern Shoveler, Wigeon, Mute Swan, Canada, Greylag and Egyptian  Geese, Gulls (Herring, Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed), Grey Heron, Robin, Stonechat, Tits (Blue, Great and Long-tailed), Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Ring-necked Parakeet, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Blackbird.

Whilst high up in the Peacock Hide I watched a male Sparrowhawk dashing low over the marsh scattering the wildfowl, Pigeons and Starlings before coming to rest in a tree close by but getting a clear shot through the foliage was near impossible.

On returning to the WWT Hide with one of my colleagues we were both fortunate to get another view of the Bittern that had reappeared in almost the same spot.

After walking up through the reeds it eventually decided to fly off to another distant reed bed. 

For many of my fellow birders this was probably the best ever views they had experienced of this elusive species and I'm pleased to have got a few record images to share for this weeks edition of Wild Bird Wednesday.  FAB.