Belfat Birding - Part 2

This post today is a continuation of yesterday's and as I cannot leave replies (frustratingly) to any of your comments I would just like to say that all the photographs yesterday were all taken from inside the RSPB Reserve, as are the first 3 below and I appreciate all those people who enjoy the researched information that I add to most posts.

Common Tern

Lapwing Juvenile

Moorhen Juvenile

 Now just along the road from the RSPB Reserve is any area called Kinnegar and it is always worth having a look to see what is about. 

I saw this Hooded Crow above with the young one below however I have a feeling the young one is a hybrid.  Any thoughts on this I would appreciate?

To the right of the road is a small lake and that is where I saw the birds below.

Little Egret which was quite a distance away so this shot is not great.

As well as the Little Egret and Black headed Gulls there was a young Heron on the left of photo.

These are some Redshank and a few Black tailed Godwits having a snooze.

This Magpie's eye looked a bit funny to me.  Anyone know why?

There was only 1 Mute Swan and this Black tailed Godwit on this side of the road so today I thought I would share some interesting facts about Swans with you. Many of you will know some of them however there may be a few you have not heard of.

The beautiful snowy feathers and long graceful neck have created a picture that many artists have worked hard to recreate. There are logos, associations, organisations, home decor and more inspired by the beauty.

Mute Swan and Black tailed Godwit

• The mute swan is the one that most Americans and Europeans are familiar with.
• A swan mates for life.
• The adult male is called a cob. He is the only known bird to have a penis.
• He is both a devoted father and husband. He has been known to use a blow from the “knucklebone” of his wing to defend his family. His blow is said to be strong enough to break a man’s arm according to Donald and Louise Peattie in “Legend with Wings.”
• The Mute Swan is perhaps the noisiest of all swans having eight different sounds in its repertoire.
• Swans can fly as fast as 50 to 60 miles per hour.
• Some have a wing span of 10 feet.

• Swans were nearing extinction in the 1930s in the U.S. but due to measures taken to protect them their population is again growing.
• A baby swan or cygnet has a grey feathered coat until it reaches about 20 pounds. Then it too will become snowy white like its parents.
• A baby swan pecks at the inside of the egg for 24 hours prior to making its entrance.
• The female swan is referred to as a pen.
• Visually the most noticeable difference between the male and female swan is size, unlike many other animals where the male and female are coloured differently.
• The typical weight of a swan is from 25 to 35 pounds and height while standing alert 4 feet.
• From the tip of the bill to the end of their tail they measure 5 feet.

Mute Swan on left hand side of road on sea side.

• The regal beauty is one of the reasons for the swan to be considered as a royal bird in England and all swans found in the open waters belong to the crown.
• A mother swan has a sound similar to a yipping puppy, which it uses to call the young to her.
• Swans are the largest known flying bird.
• They are not known to attack humans without cause, and actually can remember humans that have been kind to them.
• They dine off of aquatic vegetation, insects, tiny fish and tadpoles. Because they are able to reach far below the water’s surface, they have actually broken plants apart and left them floating on the water which enables smaller birds to find ready food.
• The mute swan’s neck has 23 vertebrae which is more than any other bird.
• Their life expectancy in a protected environment is as long as 30 years.
• Swans are another of the many marvels created by God.

 Oystercatcher and 4 Ringed Plovers

 Ringed Plovers are one of my favourite small waders and there are some interesting facts about them.

• If a potential predator approaches its nest, the Common Ringed Plover will feign a broken wing to lure the intruder away.
• It will sometimes use "foot-trembling" to stir up food and startled prey into movement.
• Males tend to perform more night time egg incubation, while females incubate more during the day.
• A group of plovers has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "congregation", "deceit", "ponderance" and "wing" of plovers.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I thanks you for visiting it.

MANY THANKS TO ALL who left comments on any of my post yesterday.