Ducks arrived a few days ago. They nest in a neighbours garden.
But breakfast in our garden 
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Brilliant time of year for wild life… had a great afternoon on the scrapes…
An avocet taking to the air…
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Early bird, early alert
The firs crane of the season flying towards the river. His non stop yammering in midair allowed me to prepare the camera well before he showed up his face.
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Out of curiosity, Count, did the little fella survive the heavy weather?
Yes Tony, here’s the little one right this minute. Been coming in every day, just before dusk. Look at the mess! My mate now. Nest building will start in the next 2-4 weeks and then he will not roost overnight.
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Loud and Clear
A seagull is chasing away a Juvenile Bald Eagle who had shown interest in a fish which did not belong to him.
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Looks like a herring gull… as ‘seagull’ is a generic term for many gull species … interesting as eagles are predators of many gulls… now if the gull was greater-black-backed gull… the largest gull species in the world, now that could give an adult eagle a run for its money…
Yes, there is no species called a Seagull, but it is what we all call them.
It’s what some call that group of bird species, I guess, but they are so varied in size, appearance, social patterns, habitats etc it does feel strange referring to them generically as ‘seagulls’, but I guess it’s no different as to referring to wolves, foxes, alsatians, huskies and chihuahuas as dogs.
What is exciting with gulls is that new species are still being discovered from time to time.
There were a dozen very loud gulls flying in circles around the eagle. The picture does not lie, it was the gulls intimidating the Juvenile and forcing him to leave the area over the river.
Sure… when the Eagle is fully grown or matured I suspect it might be the other way around unless a great black backed gull, but yes a dozen herring gulls could be quite intimidating - the picture I think only shows one.
A point of order Simon & Haim, when Bald Eagles fledge they are fully grown.
There bones are full size and as they have to fend for themselves they tend to lose weight after fledging.
FYI to compare to local USA regions gull populations, Bald Eagle wingspan: 66 - 96 inches (165 - 244 cm)
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Interesting - perhaps as they get older into full adult hood they get bolder and more aggressive?
I have noticed larger gulls tends to leave larger geese well alone…
Yes the adult Great Black-Backed Gull has a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.7 metres so for the most part is smaller than the Bald Eagle.
The adult male Herring Gull has a wingspan of 1.2 to 1.6 metres
Juvenile Bald Eagles are afraid of everything, they scrap amongst themslves but ravens can make them move over.
They get more agressive when they start breeding from around 4 years old when defending breeding territory.
I used to spend a lot of weekends on the north shore of Lake Superior when I worked in Minneapolis, camping, fishing, bird and bear watching … ahh those were the days
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My pet pigeon turned up a few days ago, haven’t seen him since the autumn.
I knew it was him, I recognised the walk. My wife didn’t believe I could recognise his walk, but I did.
He’s become less tame. Flew off when I went to feed him, which is something he doesn’t normally do.
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Sparrow hawk crashed into the window heavily. She didn’t come to any harm, but the blackbird in her talons did.
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A balancing act
…under 45 mph wind gusts. The red and yellow epaulettes showed up ten days ago, perhaps a bit too early since we are expecting some snow overnight.
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