Fun & Games at Bingham's!

Firstly, a Mute Swan update - as regular readers will know, the female swan was taken to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre as it had a damaged wing. I then received reports of the male being seen in Great Western Road and then disappearing. More recently, courtesy of Graeme, I was advised that 2 Mute Swans were back on the pond.

This morning, I paid a visit and two swans were present. A male Mute Swan, probably the resident bird, favoured the north edge and a female the southern edge. They did not interact in any way. Then the fun began! Two other Mute Swans arrived separately - one immediately interacted with the male and the other with the female - photos follow............................................

For a short period there was peace and harmony and then the male bird (and new female) decided they didn't want to share the pond...............................................

 

 

The male eventually chased off one of the other birds and started on another just as I was leaving.

 

In addition to the 'swan soap story', I got nice views of a Common Gull, with the Black-headed Gulls...............................................................................

 

 

 and a ringed Black-headed Gull, I'll let you know more when I get further details....

Finally, there were also a good smattering of birds in the trees including Treecreeper (my first here since October 2010), Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit.

Frozen Bingham's & Waxwings

This morning I popped down to Bingham's Pond to see how the cold weather was affecting the local wildfowl. As expected, part of the pond was frozen......................................

A partially frozen pond with 3 Goosander in the foreground

 

Despite the icy conditions, there were a good range of species to be seen:

1 Mute Swan (we await news of it's mate at the rescue centre), 32 Mallard, 25 Tufted Duck, 8 Goosander, 4 Coot, 23 Moorhen, 130 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gull and 12 Herring Gull. The hybrid duck and 3 domestic/cayuga duck were also still present.

Other birds included 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Blackbird, 1 Robin and 2 Blue Tit.

 

Mute Swan

Six of the 25 Tufted Duck

Common Gull with 2 Black-headed Gulls in the foreground

 

Having left the Pond, I decided to check out Shelley Road, an area that has been good for Waxwings in the past, although none had, as yet, turned up this year. I am pleased to say I found at least 40! As you can tell from the Bingham's photos the light was not great this morning but I managed a few record shots, one of which follows..................................