I managed to find the time to visit my local lake this Sunday - the rather fetchingly named Surrey Dive. The last time I visited a few weeks ago I sat between two reed beds and and a great hour or so with birds all over the place. This time I discovered that the place has become a worksite! More than half of the lake has been fenced off and much of the vegetation on the far side removed - this is all temporary so I am told - but (as they say in Yorkshire) "I was not best pleased".
I sat with the picnickers and model boat enthusiasts and saw some very nice Dusky Moorhens - well they were as nice as Moorhen can get. This species is Gallinula tenebrosa. Its about 40cm long and looks pretty much like all the other moorhens I have ever seen. There were a few birds with chicks, and these little balls of grey fluff are rather amusing - although I think that the splodge of red on their heads is faintly silly!
For all my sarcasm about them, they are busy little birds that are rather fun to watch. And they were much better to watch than the model boats!
Now it's your turn. Click the link below to join in WBW. Visit as many WBWers as you can and don't forget to invite any bloggers you know who would enjoy the meme.
Interesting birds!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeletevery pretty shots, stewart.
ReplyDeleteI like moorhens! That last shot is adorable with the baby :) Good ones all around!
ReplyDeleteThey are so interesting to observe. I got some captures of this variety in Brul, Germany.
ReplyDeleteI like those chicks and like you I think the red on their heads are pretty silly too.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Merry Christmas. :)
You got some lovely shots Stewart!That last shot is very sweet.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of activity going on at the lake.
Very nice takes of all.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
God bless!
Beautiful pics. I haven't got a chance to shoot a moorhen!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about your park being taken apart but at least they left enough habitat for the moorhens to live.
ReplyDeleteMy mother had Moorhens on her little pond in Florida years ago. They were always her favorites ... kind of the love of an underdog. The are homely and awkward, but oh so cute ... Loved your pictures. Brought back many fun memories.
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Beautiful! Very similar to ours.
ReplyDeleteYorkshire born and bred, your post really did make me smile!
ReplyDeleteI like your photos - and this bird, which I have never seen! :)
ReplyDeleteWish you a Merry Christmas and thanks for hosting! /Pia
A bird that reminds you of Blighty Stewart? Lovely to see.
ReplyDeleteLooking remarkably similar to our UK Moorhens Stewart. Nice photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! I hope the alterations at the lake don't frighten the birds away :(
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of this interesting duck! I took shots of a anhinga today, but Bertha (5DMII) refuses to focus properly, so I'll miss another week of WBW. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. I love the Moorhens.
ReplyDeleteAmazing captures! I am seeing them for the first time! They do look elegant! Have a nice day Stewart :)
ReplyDeleteAny day outside looking at birds is better than one inside working!
ReplyDeleteYour Dusky Moorhen is very similar to our Common Gallinule (Gallinula chloropus). The folks in charge of Naming All Birds changed its common name from Gallinule to "Common Moorhen" several years ago and then recently decided to go back to Gallinule. Poor bird - causing so much fuss!
I'm glad I clicked on them to see larger. I especially like the last image. Very sweet!
ReplyDeleteStewart, great shots of your Moorhen. Except for the work going on I am glad you were able to get out and watch the birds. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI love Dusky Moorhen babies! they are so funny with their orange heads! amazing how fast they grow and paddling around so quick.
ReplyDeleteOh I think they are lovely. Especially love the shot of parent and little one .... what a sweet shot!
ReplyDeleteSometimes common critters is all we got and we should make good use of that opportunity as you did! I personally think the Moorhen is a rather fetching bird..
ReplyDeleteNice post!
A species so much like our own UK version Stewart. Like you say, not very exciting but they are always entertaing, especially when they fight to amongst themselves. Thanks for hosting the gallery and joining all the birders in this way - this morning I've been all over the world for nowt and I'm not even a Yorkshireman
ReplyDeleteThis is similiar to the Common Moorhen here. Love this day. I get to read a lot about birds:)
ReplyDeleteLovely shots, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful shots Stewart!Lovely birds!
ReplyDeleteDimi..
They are a lovely bird,Stewart!As always,thanks for hosting!phyllis
ReplyDeletelovely bird!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteThey be common but always fun to watch as they ramble among the reeds.
ReplyDeleteThanks foe hosting WBW, Stewart.
Have a wonderful day :)
ReplyDeleteThe Moorhen is a very interesting looking bird, and any time one watches water birds, has to be a fun time too~
You have some amazing bird followers! The young are interesting to watch. I keep forgetting you have spring/summer, the perfect time to find those young fowl.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget they are not common to everyone. I don't think I've ever seen one. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDelete