Bird of the day!

pressld2 · #**1631** (**permalink**) 20-03-2008, 12:15 AM

A very hard-working wren, to whom I owe an apology!

I visited the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve for the first time today and as I was approaching one of the hides I saw a wren with a beak full of moss. I stopped to watch and he was constantly flitting back and forth with this moss, obviously nest-building, but I couldn't see where he was taking it. As he was regularly pausing on the same few branches I decided to try for a photo. So I got everything prepared, tripod set to the right height etc., then threw my camo net over everything and carefully moved into what I thought would be a good position. Then I waited. And waited. Then I waited some more.

After just over an hour I was frozen to the core, had cramp in both feet and pins and needles in both legs and hadn't seen hide nor feather of him. So I gave up and went into the hide to eat my lunch and rub some life back into my legs. When I stepped out of the hide about 20 mins later there he was again, only this time I could see where he was taking all that moss. Hidden under some leaves there was a hole in the mud bank about a foot to the left of where I had set up my tripod!

So I had another go and this time the freezing, the cramp and the pins and needles were all worth it!

Here he is just about to exit the nest hole - you can just make out his head under the leaf...

Dave P.

Dan Salter · #**1632** (**permalink**) 20-03-2008, 12:59 AM

Pressld....Great story ! GREAT photos..of what must be an all time great bird in my opinion !

What did you think of SWR?...i know the place and have some connections...but must admit have only spent one full day there ...and boy did my legs ache after i walked the entire perimeter...i didnt see any birds of note though sadly...but i do remember a lovely big patch of Ragged Robin growing near the "kingfisher" hide?

pressld2 · #**1633** (**permalink**) 20-03-2008, 10:35 AM

Thanks Dan - definitely worth the pain!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

What did you think of SWR?

I loved it, and I only saw less than half of it. Got there shortly after 9am and went into the Grebe hide (next to the visitor centre). They've hung some feeders about 3 feet from the windows so there were blue, great, long-tailed and coal tits, chaffinches, goldfinches and siskins almost close enough to touch. Plus the usual dunnocks on the ground underneath sweeping up! So I was there for about an hour and a half. Then I walked out as far as Kingfisher hide, stopping at a couple of others on the way. The hours I spent on the wren meant I had no time left to look at the rest of the site. But that's not a complaint, it's just a good excuse to go back as soon as possible!

Dave P.

Gill Catton · #**1634** (**permalink**) 20-03-2008, 01:38 PM

well my brain woke me up again this morning (06:14 am) to tell me the blackcap was singing again - though it didn't sing for long or with much intentisty so seemingly is just practising - interesting to see if it vanishes....

Dan Salter · #**1635** (**permalink**) 20-03-2008, 05:52 PM

as per my seperate post...i was up at 8am and stopped in my tracks while cleaning my teeth as i heard my first cuckoo!...still kind of confused about it but i guess we are near the end of march?

leifus · #**1636** (**permalink**) 20-03-2008, 05:58 PM

I once saw a Bittern at Leighton Moss up north. My birds of the day are 9 yellowhammer which visited the edge of my garden to feed in the newly plowed field. Great sight!

shei111 · #**1637** (**permalink**) 21-03-2008, 10:36 PM

I was over the moon this morning when I looked out and saw 2 birds that I knew I hadnt seen before, I quickly got binoculars and bird book out they were a pair of siskins on the nijger feeder I admit it was the first time I have seen siskins before

. I was more than pleased as our garden now seem a magnet to so many different birds. It was a lovely sight them with 2 goldfinches on feeders,when you get new birds coming to your garden its so entertaining to watch. Im sooooo pleased.

badgerwatcher · #**1638** (**permalink**) 21-03-2008, 10:59 PM

I've never seen siskins. I'd love to see those.
At the moment my garden is full of beautiful long tailed tits, one of my favourite birds at the moment, as I've only seen them fleetingly in previous years. They are all over the fat feeders all day at the moment, and I'm delighted.

Dan Salter · #**1639** (**permalink**) 22-03-2008, 07:05 PM

My feeders and feeding area have been jam packed all day, i guess they sense the bad weather we have coming ( or already here) but my bird of the day is the final return after a long absence (or at least has been elusive to my eyes) of my Nuthatch! ...(or at least a nuthatch).