Some of the other birds at Chichester Marina

By Words | Published December 31, 2009

Yesterday's post concentrated on the cormorants (of which there are more photos here). Today, it's the turn of some of the other species. First up is an oystercatcher, knee deep in silt.
Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher in flight

There were several redshanks also out trying their luck.
Redshank

Redshank in flight

Along the canal a small colony of sparrows had adopted a small tree as their favoured location.
Sparrow

And a family of swans showed up as well.
Adult swans with juvenile

In the background of the previous shot you can see a pair of mergansers. Here's a better look at the male.
Merganser

And another photo of one of the swans.
Swan

The juvenile was rather more inquisitive and swam up to the jetty for a closer look.
Juvenile swan

And all the while the cormorants sat around, watching. Except this one, which struggled to make the short flight from water to jetty.

It finally made it on its third attempt.

Success!
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in water birds and tagged , , , , , .

18 Comments

  1. Words December 31, 2009 at 12:12 am #

    Hi Gonzalo! Thanks for stopping by. I plan to keep posting for a while yet! And, of course, a very happy New Year to you too! :hat:

  2. gonzalotravieso December 31, 2009 at 12:12 am #

    Hi.
    I've been following your blog for some time and never left a comment, so I'm writing now to wish you a happy New Year. Keep posting your amazing photos.

  3. gdare December 31, 2009 at 6:12 am #

    Beautiful photo of a juvenile swan :yes:

  4. cakkleberrylane December 31, 2009 at 12:12 pm #

    Lovely variety of birds! I always find it so interesting to see the action shot of the birds – verey nice shot of the cormorat getting out of the water.

  5. SittingFox December 31, 2009 at 3:12 pm #

    The length of waders' legs makes much more sense in silt than it does on sand! 😆

  6. anonymous December 31, 2009 at 4:12 pm #

    DaveABirding writes:

    Great Shots of the Corm liftoff and the Swans. Here's wishing you a foxful New Year from across the pond. Thanks for the entertaining posts, I check back often.

  7. RobinL December 31, 2009 at 7:12 pm #

    Wonderful shots. I was waiting for the Oystercatcher, as I saw it in the background the other day. Really like the juv swan at the pier.
    All the best for the New Year!

  8. Ukwildlife January 1, 2010 at 8:01 pm #

    Some good photos and sightings. The juvenile swan close up and the cormorant sequence especially

  9. Words January 1, 2010 at 11:01 pm #

    Darko, thanks. It was nice to see the young one with the two adults.

  10. Words January 2, 2010 at 12:01 am #

    Erwin, thanks!

  11. Words January 2, 2010 at 12:01 am #

    Lois, it's a great spot for birds. That cormorant had been really struggling to get up there for some reason. The photo would make a good caption competition.

  12. Words January 2, 2010 at 12:01 am #

    Adele, I think that's about the first time I've seen waders actually 'wading'. It makes identification by leg/bill colour slightly tricky though. Everything is 'mud brown'.

  13. Words January 2, 2010 at 12:01 am #

    Dave, thanks! I did see a fox shoot across the garden tonight, but it didn't hang around long enough for a picture.

  14. Words January 2, 2010 at 12:01 am #

    Robin, thanks! I couldn't get properly close to the oystercatchers, but it was good to see them out there.

  15. Words January 2, 2010 at 12:01 am #

    Neil, the swans were a bit of a treat, but I could have watched the cormorants for hours (and more or less did!)

  16. studio41 January 2, 2010 at 4:01 am #

    lovely sparrow photo!

  17. Words January 2, 2010 at 10:01 am #

    Jill, thanks!

  18. Wulpen October 19, 2012 at 8:10 pm #

    Great and wonderful Pict :up: