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Friday 27 January 2012

Whooper is back & the Big Garden Birdwatch

With a report of the Whooper Swan re-appearing on the Rother levels between Northiam (East Sussex) and Newenden (Kent) in recent weeks, the parents paid the area a visit this morning, before purchasing a Stephen Message art print later in the day (http://www.message-wildlife-art.co.uk). They were fortunate to find the Whooper in a ditch on the Sussex side of the river with 2 Mutes for company. This seems to be the norm with this bird, as can be seen in the photographs that I took of, presumably, this individual on the 30th January last year. As to what the origins of this bird are..... well that is anybodies guess. It does not appear to be seen in the summer...

Whooper Swan with Mutes - 30th January 2011
Whooper Swan - 30th January 2011
On the flooded fields on the other side of the road there were 30-40 Gulls, 70-80 Lapwing and a single Golden Plover.

Also a reminder that it is the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. A 45-minute watch in the garden this morning, in preparation for the big event, revealed little of note (as expected considering the relatively mild weather of late) but totals were: 12 House Sparrows, 1 Dunnock, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Blue Tits and only 2 Starlings !!! Things can only get better.

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