116/365 Among the chimney pots

26 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature, spring

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, gull nesting among chimney pots, Lesser black-backed gull, nest building, nesting, urban gull nest

So this is what all yesterday’s gull screeching was about!
Mr Lesser black-backed gull was letting the neighbourhood know he had arrived and this was his territory so look out any other gull couples who thought they’d try to muscle in. And today Mr LBB and his mate were getting down to the serious business of nest building amongst the chimney pots across the back lane from my flat – or, at least, Ms LBB was – he just stood watching her do all the work. I do hope the nest goes ahead – what a thrill it would be to watch from my bedroom window as they raise their chicks!

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Nests

09 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature, spring

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birding, birdwatching, Buzzard, Carrion crow, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Magpie, Mute swan, nesting, nesting birds, signs of spring

Just like their makers, nests come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re made of all sorts of materials: twigs and branches, feathers, moss, paper and plastic, mud. They can be seen high in trees and on buildings, hidden secretively away in hedges and behind reeds, or plonked in a hole in a concrete platoon, as I saw some Coots do recently in Cardiff. Some are messy and loosely constructed, others are cosy and snug, still others are miniature works of art.

180409 buzzard

This is prime bird-nesting season so it’s quite likely you’ll see nests when you’re out walking. Please stay well away and do not disturb parents, eggs or babies. In Britain (and I’m sure in most countries) it is, in fact, an offence under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to ‘intentionally take, damage, destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built’ and to ‘intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird’. (You can read more details here.) And, rest assured, my photos were all taken with a long lens, well away from the birds, so as not to disturb them.

A mulish Magpie

15 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature, spring

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, European magpie, Magpie, nest building, nesting, nesting birds, Spring is in the air

Spring is definitely in the air here in south Wales. Wildflowers are wakening and blossom is bursting, migrating creatures are on the move and those that don’t migrate are thinking about procreation. For birds, that means nest building, and this Magpie obviously had some rather grandiose ideas about the size of nest it was going to construct. But had it bitten off more than it could chew?

Success!

180315 Magpie nest building (9)

In nesting news …

23 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature, nature photography, spring

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, chicks, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Mute swan, nesting, nesting birds

I checked out the nesting neighbourhood again a couple of days ago so here’s the latest family news.

160423 grebe

At the original three-nest site: the Mute swans appear to have abandoned their nest, which was empty – maybe they just weren’t ready for parenthood. The Great crested grebe that had chicks but lost them was still sitting on her second nest, and she was sitting tight again so I still don’t know what she’s sitting on.

The Coots that had three chicks in my last update now have just one chick remaining. The family has left the nest, though are still in the same general area. Both parents are actively feeding the little guy but, sadly, I’m not overly optimistic about its chances as there were a lot of gulls, flying overhead and perched on nearby lamp posts, just looking for the right scavenging opportunity.

160423 coot B

Nearby, at the other Great crested grebe nest, the grebe has been usurped by a Coot. Her partner was about and feeding her but she didn’t stand up so I have no egg update for her.

I recently learnt of another Coot nest, also nearby, and seeing that was the highlight of the afternoon. Six chicks, all well developed and seemingly ravenous, were frantically being fed by both parents. Very cleverly, the parents were keeping them sitting under a lip of concrete at the water’s edge, so they were quite well protected. Let’s hope they continue to thrive.

Prime lakefront real estate at Cosmeston

14 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature, nature photography

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birding, birds, birdwatching, British birds, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, nesting

During my wonderful exploration of Cosmeston Lakes Country Park on Friday, I went into the bird hide on the west lake to check out the view.

160314 nesting site (1)

There before me in the reed beds – prime lakefront real estate to a wetland bird – was a coot, pottering about on the beginnings of a nest, tweaking the position of a reed or two.

160314 nesting site (2) 160314 nesting site (3)

It headed off along the lake unaware that a pair of Great crested grebes had their eye on the same piece of real estate. Seeing an opportunity to gazump the coot, they quickly paddled over.

160314 nesting site (4)

Mrs Grebe tried the ‘nest’ for size.

160314 nesting site (5)

A conversation ensued. Did it have potential? Was it cosy enough? Did it have a good view? What about the neighbours?

160314 nesting site (6)

The property seemed to meet with the grebes’ approval as one of them sailed off along the lake, leaving the other to stand guard.

160314 nesting site (7)

I didn’t stick around to find out what happened when the coot returned!

Great crested grebes: the nesting

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature, nature photography

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Great Crested Grebe, nesting

160307 great crested grebe nesting (1)

A week ago I mentioned that I had, quite by chance, found a pair of Great Crested Grebes nesting here in Cardiff. What a joy to see! I intend revisiting them once a week or so to see how they’re progressing.

160307 great crested grebe nesting (2)

If you think sitting on a nest all day is an easy job, think again! Firstly, it seems that, just like home decorating, the nest-building process is never finished. As I watch Mr Grebe brings home some bits of weed, shows the missus, then places them carefully around the edges of the nest.

160307 great crested grebe nesting (3)

While he is off collecting more, the mate of the swan that is nesting just a few metres away comes gliding by, looking for food, perhaps with his eye on the fresh weed Mr Grebe keeps collecting. Mrs Grebe is having none of it! Feeling threatened and upset, she opens her mouth wide and starts protesting loudly at the swan.

160307 great crested grebe nesting (4)

Mr Grebe rushes home to see what’s upsetting wifey and also tells the swan in no uncertain terms to back off.

160307 great crested grebe nesting (5)

Though the swan is still quite close, the grebes calm down and hubby is about to head off for more weed.

160307 great crested grebe nesting (6)

But then another intruder gets too close: a coot comes paddling over, and Mrs Grebe gets upset all over again.

This all happened in the space of about 5 minutes. My photos are not the best but I don’t want to get too close and I don’t want to stay too long, though I don’t think the grebes even noticed my presence with all the other dramas happening.