Moorhen

witham · #1 (**permalink**) 21-04-2008, 04:27 PM

This is another regular visitor to our garden and it often comes to feed on the ground under the feeding stations etc, this morning I was watching it swiming in our fish pond but couldn't get a decent pic as my husband has made a frame over it to stop our young grand children falling in, but it had managed to get underneath it, in the picture taken a few of days ago it's eating with a Dunnock

mrs fish · #2 (**permalink**) 21-04-2008, 06:45 PM

That is nice to see

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 21-04-2008, 07:19 PM

Hi witham, that's an unusual visitor for a garden..It may decide to breed in your pond.

demicav · #4 (**permalink**) 21-04-2008, 08:59 PM

Yes, highly unusual. It makes a change from the usual garden visitors.

witham · #5 (**permalink**) 22-04-2008, 07:34 AM

I am getting in a tiz woz about my cat if it happens to be out when the Moorhen's about as they are not so quick as an ordinary bird so wouldn't be able to get away from him, I know it sounds a bit daft, but do they fly?, can't remember seeing one airborne, if it's in the garden and the cat is in I close the cat flap so it can't get out but as it's one who refuses to use a litter tray it could be interesting

demicav · #6 (**permalink**) 23-04-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witham

I am getting in a tiz woz about my cat if it happens to be out when the Moorhen's about as they are not so quick as an ordinary bird so wouldn't be able to get away from him, I know it sounds a bit daft, but do they fly?, can't remember seeing one airborne, if it's in the garden and the cat is in I close the cat flap so it can't get out but as it's one who refuses to use a litter tray it could be interesting

Interesting question. I too have never seen them fly but I guess they must do. Maybe someone else will have a better idea.

I've just read somewhere online that they do most of their flying at night.

witham · #7 (**permalink**) 23-04-2008, 03:12 PM

Maybe that's why they bob about when they're walking, it's concussion from flying into things in the dark

here's a pic I took a few minutes ago, it was eating with some finches but just as I was about to take the pic the Jackdaw bustled in and the finches flew off

demicav · #8 (**permalink**) 23-04-2008, 03:15 PM

Certainly looks like He/She has made themselves right at home.

witham · #9 (**permalink**) 28-04-2008, 10:25 AM

I took these on Friday, I've not seen it over the weekend, it was perhaps a bit too 'busy' in the garden. The stones scattered about are because my chickens had just been having a scratch about which is perhaps why the Moorhen is having to poke its head in the cage to get some food as the chucks had beaten him to it.