Rutting Time in the Park.

It's that time of the year when things get noisy in Bushy Park with Red Deer stags emitting their deep, loud bellowing roars; proclaiming their fitness by responding to their rivals calls.

From the size of his rack and the number of tines I'm guessing this is one of the more mature stags in the herd and probably at least eight years old.

Nearby a Grey Squirrel popped out of hiding to see what all the commotion was about!

 Every now and again he trotted off to try and round up another wayward hind.

Checking to make sure that none of his ladies have wandered away. I counted about 20 hinds in this group, a couple still with their fawns in tow, so he will have his work cut out over the coming days as other stags try to poach some of his harem.
 

I have more images from this session to share in a forthcoming post but for now its time for him to take a rest. Wishing you a glorious wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are.  FAB.

Linking to Camera Critters and Saturday's Critters.

Farlington Marshes.

Earlier this week I drove to the south coast for a wander around Farlington Marshes. 

Arriving some two hours or so before high tide the immediate view out over the estuary appeared to be a barren mass of mud but careful searching with the bins produced a few distant ducks, gulls and feeding Curlew. So with the distinctive odour of salty seaweed on the breeze I headed for the entrance to the 308 acres of grazing marsh on the northern shore of Langstone Harbour.

I decided to follow a clockwise circuit and after passing through the gates a large flock of Starlings erupted from the bushes and swirled around overhead, creating amoebic patterns in the sky,  before promptly diving and disappearing into another area of bushes. This activity was repeated and each time the numbers joining the flock increased. I finally estimated that there were around 500 individuals and I've no doubt the numbers will increase by the time they finally go to roost at dusk but I wouldn't be around to witness that fantastic sight.

 

As I headed alongside the stream towards the Information building I logged Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Teal, Canada Geese, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Reed Bunting and a Cetti's Warbler uttered its distinctive call from its nearby hiding place while a Grey Heron lazily passed over the reed bed..   

As on many of our coastal reserves cattle are regularly used to maintain the grazing marshland. This small band were taking a rest from their daily tasks.

Finally my footsteps get me to the sea wall where the view is still one of slimy green mud but slowly this was being invaded by the rivulets of water that would eventually flood this vast area just leaving a few shingle islands where many of the birds will take refuge until their feeding habitat is once again uncovered at low tide.

Numerous Little Egrets were feeding way out on the mud but one individual was striding around one of the inland pools and close by I spotted two Dunlin. Small flocks of Oystercatchers were moving about in the harbour seeking a fresh resting spot as the tide came in. I also located my first views of Brent Geese that return here every Autumn plus good numbers of Wigeon that will also overwinter here.

Towards the end of my clockwise circuit I start to head inland; the high tide now filling the harbour on my left;  and a distant view of ducks and waders collecting on the main inland pool. While a Kestrel hovers high overhead I spot and a few Stonechats flying over the reeds.

A cropped shot of some of the waders gathered on the far side of the pool. The most numerous where Black-tailed Godwits and Grey Plover, some in their full winter plumage, plus Redshank, Greenshank, two Curlew Sandpipers and a single Little Stint. Ducks included Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and a few Northern Pintail.

Before heading for home I finally get a closer view of a Black-tailed Godwit feeding.   FAB.

Linking to GOOD FENCES hosted by TexWisGirl.

Vandalism or Art?

Last month during a butterfly foray I was taken onto a brownfield site that was once a brickworks. Clay extraction started on this site in the 1940's but the works closed in the late 1970's since when nature has been slowly reclaiming the remnants of the factory buildings. On any abandoned site it is not unusual to see some form of immature daubed scribbling but I wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted me after negotiating through the lush green birch trees that now screen much of this derelict site.

In 2004 the main factory roof collapsed and diggers were brought in to clear the wreckage, thus opening for the first time large areas of the site, and almost every space on the remaining brick walls had become a canvas for graffitists who have covered them in bright murals and tags.

 

I can't say that I am a particular fan of graffiti art, but many of these are pretty special; whole walls covered with colourful artwork which must have taken hours to complete.

Graffiti is still a form of vandalism although many consider the 'wildstyle' form containing the calligraphic writing style of interlocking letters etc. to be art. This derelict and hidden away site has now become decorated with a varied mixture of styles including tags, throw ups and more elaborate pieces.

So whether you consider it vandalism or art I certainly had to admire the artistic ingenuity and thought that went into some of these creations. FAB.